Daily News 08 / 09 / 2020

European Environment Agency report: Tackling pollution and climate change in Europe will improve health and well-being

According to a major assessment on health and the environment released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA), poor quality environments contribute to one in every eight deaths of Europeans. Air and noise pollution, the impacts of climate change such as heatwaves, and exposure to dangerous chemicals cause ill health in Europe. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic provides a stark example of the complex links between the environment, our social systems, and our health, with factors causing the disease attributed to environmental pollution resulting from human activity. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said: “There is a clear link between the state of the environment and the health of our population. Everyone must understand that by taking care of our planet we are not only saving ecosystems, but also lives, especially the ones who are the most vulnerable. The European Union is devoted to this approach and with the new Biodiversity Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan and other forthcoming initiatives we are on the path to build a more resilient and healthier Europe for European citizens and beyond.” Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “COVID-19 has been yet another wake-up call, making us acutely aware of the relationship between our ecosystems and our health and the need to face the facts – the way we live, consume and produce is detrimental to the climate and impacts negatively on our health. From our Farm to Fork Strategy for sustainable and healthy food to Europe's future Beating Cancer Plan, we have made a strong commitment to protect the health of our citizens and our planet.” The report stresses that an integrated approach to environment and health policies is needed to tackle environmental risks, protect the most vulnerable and fully realise the benefits that nature offers in support of health and well-being. More information is available in the press release. (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712; Daniela Stoycheva - Tel.: +32 229 53664)

EU Cohesion policy invests in clean transport in Slovenia

The European Commission has approved an investment of €80 million from the Cohesion Fund to build a tunnel and two viaducts as part of a wider scheme to provide a second railway track between the port of Koper and the village of Divača in Western Slovenia. The new line is essential to deal with a growing demand along the route and connect a crucial core network corridor to maritime routes. Commissioner for Cohesion & Reforms Elisa Ferreira commented: “This EU investment is necessary for the improvement of rail connectivity of the Port of Koper, which is a crucial hub for freight and passenger transport with Central Europe. Therefore, on top of benefitting Slovenian connectivity, this project also supports the functioning of the internal market as it strengthens economic and social cohesion.” The improved connection will reduce existing bottlenecks along this busy route for a faster, more efficient and competitive rail transport. Finally, by redirecting traffic from road to rail, the project will help reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, improving local air quality in line with Cohesion policy adherence to the EU's Green Deal objectives. (For more information: Vivian Loonela – Tel.: +32 229 66712; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 229 87269)

Coronavirus: ground-breaking innovations awarded €60 million from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's Crisis Response Initiative

As part of the EU's efforts to tackle the coronavirus crisis, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology is announcing the EIT Crisis Response Initiative results: €60 million awarded to 62 innovation projects and 145 entrepreneurs from 32 countries to tackle the pandemic and ensuing crisis. The selected projects will help provide solutions within the EIT's key focus areas, from health and digitisation to food and urban mobility, to meet the wide array of challenges posed by the crisis. Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, responsible for the EIT said: “The €60 million provided by the EIT Crisis Response Initiative is part of the EU's comprehensive response to the COVID-19 crisis, including substantial support to innovation. Thanks to the EIT, 62 innovation projects and 145 entrepreneurs have been given the support they need to contribute tangible products and services in the face of the pandemic. Their projects are deploying rapid solutions, equipping us with new technologies to help combat the virus and save lives. The EIT Community's efficient mobilisation is a valuable contribution to Europe's efforts to overcome this pandemic.” Almost 1,500 innovators from 44 countries applied when the Initiative was launched on 14 May. The EIT Governing Board released the funding to the eight Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) on 30 June and they have now finalised their selection processes. All EIT Crisis Response activities are to be completed by the end of 2020. More information is available in the EIT press release. (For more information: Susanne Conze — Tel.: + 32 229 80236; Sinéad Meehan - van Druten - Tel.: +32 2 298 40 94)

Coronavirus response: EU Cohesion policy resources redirected to support SMEs in Poland and the Extremadura and La Rioja regions in Spain

The Commission has approved changes to the “Eastern Poland” cohesion programme, redirecting €147 million funding to tackle challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic. €113 million will be targeted at SMEs from five Eastern Polish regions, which had to reduce or discontinue their business. This measure will contribute to maintaining jobs in approximately 1550 companies. Additionally, €34 million will be channelled to support the production of medicinal products and therapies, pharmaceutical active ingredients and medical equipment as well as developing new IT tools for building services for people subject to compulsory quarantine. The European Commission has also approved the modification of two cohesion programmes in Spain to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the regions of Extremadura and La Rioja. These amendments earmark almost €57 million (€46.6 million and €10.3 million respectively) to increase the response capacity of the health sector in both regions. Moreover, the programmes will benefit from a temporary increase of the EU co-financing rate to 100%. Modifying the programmes is possible thanks to the exceptional flexibility provided under the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+), which allows Member States to use Cohesion policy funding to support the sectors most exposed sectors to the pandemic, such as healthcare, SMEs and labour markets. (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 229 87269)

Commission adopts proposals to make EU-U.S. agreement on tariffs effective

The European Commission today published a proposal for a Council and European Parliament regulation to scrap duties on certain imports to the EU. In return, the United States will reduce its duties on certain EU exports to the U.S. market. This will put into effect the agreement announced by the EU and the U.S. on 21 August 2020. These tariff reductions between the EU and the U.S. will increase access to both EU and U.S. markets by around €200 million per year. Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said: “The EU and the U.S. share the most important economic partnership in the world, with trade in goods and services worth over €1.3 trillion annually. This deal provides both sides with a true win-win outcome, helping us to strengthen our partnership even further. Lowering tariffs on both sides improves access for our exporters and reduces the cost of imported goods. Those are both critically important factors in this time of coronavirus-related economic crisis. From the EU side, we view this agreement as an important step towards improving our relationship and resolving outstanding disputes. We remain eager to deepen transatlantic cooperation wherever possible as we firmly believe that, when it comes to truly global challenges, the chances of achieving successful global outcomes are improved if the European Union and United States work together.” Once approved in line with the relevant procedures on either side of the Atlantic, the agreement will entail the reduction of U.S. tariffs on EU exports worth some $160 million a year. For more information, please see a full press release available here. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel. +32 229 99075; Kinga Malinowska – Tel.: +32 229 51383)

Pratiques anticoncurrentielles: la Commission publie les conclusions de l'évaluation du règlement d'exemption par catégorie applicable aux accords verticaux

La Commission européenne a publié aujourd'hui un document de travail de ses services qui résume les conclusions de l'évaluation du règlement d'exemption par catégorie applicable aux accords verticaux (le «règlement d'exemption»), ainsi que des lignes directrices sur les restrictions verticales. Le but de l'évaluation était de recueillir des éléments probants sur le fonctionnement du règlement d'exemption, ainsi que sur celui des lignes directrices sur les restrictions verticales, afin de décider s'il convient de le laisser expirer, de le renouveler dans sa forme actuelle ou de le réviser. Sur la base des conclusions de l'évaluation, la Commission lancera une analyse d'impact afin d'examiner les options qui existent en matière de révision des règles afin de remédier aux problèmes recensés au cours de l'évaluation. L'évaluation a montré que le règlement d'exemption et les lignes directrices sur les restrictions verticales sont toujours pertinents, car il s'agit d'outils utiles qui facilitent grandement l'autoévaluation des accords verticaux et qui contribuent à réduire les coûts de mise en conformité pour les entreprises qui concluent de tels accords. Dans le même temps, l'évaluation a montré que le marché a évolué, notamment en raison de l'essor des ventes en ligne et de nouveaux acteurs du marché comme les plateformes en ligne. Dans ce contexte, l'évaluation a mis en évidence un certain nombre de problèmes en ce qui concerne le fonctionnement des règles. M^me Margrethe Vestager, vice-présidente exécutive chargée de la politique de concurrence, s'est exprimée en ces termes: «L'évaluation a montré que le règlement d'exemption et les lignes directrices sur les restrictions verticales sont des outils utiles qui facilitent considérablement l'autoévaluation des accords verticaux par les entreprises. Dans le même temps, le marché a considérablement changé et l'évaluation a mis en évidence un certain nombre de problèmes auxquels il y a lieu de remédier. La Commission va donc réfléchir à la manière de résoudre ces problèmes afin que les règles restent adaptées à un monde qui est de plus en plus numérique et qui évolue à un rythme rapide.» Le communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

State aid: Commission invites comments on State aid rules for the deployment of broadband networks

The European Commission has launched a public consultation inviting Member States and other stakeholders to provide their views and comments on the existing EU State aid rules on public support for the deployment of broadband networks. The public consultation is part of an overall evaluation by the Commission of the relevant rules with a view to assess whether they are still fit purpose or whether they will need to be updated in light of recent technological and market developments. All interested parties can respond to the public consultation until 5 January 2021. Since the adoption of the Broadband State Guidelines in 2013 and of the relevant General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) rules in 2014, broadband technologies have significantly improved and users' needs have increased, requiring larger bandwidth as well as an improvement of the networks in terms of other parameters such as latency, availability and reliability. The purpose of the public consultation is to assess whether the Broadband State aid  Guidelines and the relevant GBER provisions have met their objectives, what effect they have had on the market and on competition, and whether they need to be updated in light of recent technological and market developments and the new EU digital policy goals.  In the consultation, the Commission aims at assessing the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and EU added value of the existing rules, in line with the Better Regulation requirements. All details about the public consultation are available online. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: ”Europe's digital transformation depends on high quality networks. These are crucial for connecting the regions in the European Union, and contribute to a more competitive and sustainable social market economy. The public consultation will help the Commission assess whether the existing State aid rules on public support for the deployment of broadband networks are still fit for purpose and are equipped to meet the challenges of Europe's digital future”. The full press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

State aid: Commission approves €1.5 million Maltese direct grant scheme to support land farmers in the context of the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €1.5 million Maltese scheme to support land farmers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. Under the scheme, public support will be provided in the form of direct grants. The purpose of the scheme is to help land farmers addressing the liquidity shortages they are facing due to the coronavirus outbreak as a result, among others, of the halting of the catering and hospitality sectors. The Commission found that the Maltese scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the aid will not exceed €100,000 per company active in the primary agriculture sector as provided by the Temporary Framework. The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measures under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.58306 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Announcements

TikTok joins EU Code of Conduct against illegal online hate speech

The Commission welcomes the decision of TikTok - a video-sharing social networking platform - to join the EU Code of Conduct on countering illegal hate speech online. Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, said: “By signing up to our Code of Conduct, TikTok has demonstrated a firm commitment to tackling illegal hate speech online. The EU needs robust cooperation with such prominent actors to make the digital environment a safe place for all.” TikTok is the ninth partner to join the Code of Conduct, launched in 2016, joining Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Dailymotion and Jeuxvideo.com. As underlined by the results of the fifth evaluation published in June 2020, the Code of Conduct has led to IT companies assessing 90% of flagged content within 24 hours and removing 71% of the content deemed to be illegal hate speech. (For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko - Tel.:+32 229 6 34 44; Alice Hobbs – Tel: +32 229 808 29)

Eurostat press releases