Daily News 09 / 09 / 2020

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Director in DG REFORM

Today, the European Commission has decided to appoint Ms Judit Rózsa, a Hungarian national, as Director for Resources and the Aid Programme in the newly created Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (REFORM), which helps EU countries to design and carry out structural reforms. The date of effect will be determined later. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 460 760296; Claire Joawn – Tel.:+32 460 756859)

Commission unveils its first Strategic Foresight Report: charting the course towards a more resilient Europe

Today, the Commission adopted its first-ever Strategic Foresight Report, aiming to identify emerging challenges and opportunities to better steer the EU's strategic choices. Strategic foresight will inform major policy initiatives and support the Commission in designing future-proof policies and legislation. The 2020 Report also introduces a comprehensive concept of EU resilience. In light of the ambitious Recovery Plan for Europe, the 2020 Strategic Foresight Report considers EU resilience in four dimensions: social and economic, geopolitical, green, and digital. For each dimension, the report identifies the capacities, vulnerabilities and opportunities revealed by the coronavirus crisis, which need to be addressed in the medium- to long-term. The Commission has relied on foresight for many years, but now aims to embed it into all policy areas, to exploit its strategic value. A first example is the recent Communication on Critical Raw Materials, with foresight helping boost the EU's open strategic autonomy. The 2020 Strategic Foresight Report proposes prototype resilience dashboards to kick‑start discussions among Member States and other key stakeholders on how best to monitor resilience.  More information is available in the press release and Q&A. (For more information: Susanne Conze — Tel.: + 32 229 80236; Sinéad Meehan - van Druten - Tel.: +32 2 298 40 94)

Coronavirus: la Commission achève de constituer son portefeuille de vaccins à la suite de discussions avec un sixième fabricant

La Commission européenne a conclu aujourd'hui des discussions préliminaires avec BioNTech-Pfizer en vue de l'achat d'un vaccin potentiel contre la COVID-19. La Commission devrait donc disposer d'un cadre contractuel pour l'achat initial de 200 millions de doses pour le compte de tous les États membres de l'UE, ainsi que d'une option pour l'achat d'un maximum de 100 millions de doses supplémentaires, à fournir une fois que l'innocuité et l'efficacité d'un vaccin contre la COVID-19 auront été démontrées. Ursula von der Leyen, présidente de la Commission européenne, a déclaré à ce propos: “Je suis heureuse d'annoncer que nous avons conclu les pourparlers avec BioNTech-Pfizer en vue d'un achat initial de 200 millions de doses de futurs vaccins contre le coronavirus. Il s'agit de la 6ème société pharmaceutique avec laquelle nous avons conclu des discussions ou signé un accord concernant des vaccins potentiels, et cela en un temps record. Nos chances de développer et de déployer un vaccin sûr et efficace n'ont jamais été plus grandes, tant pour les Européens que pour le reste du monde. Pour vaincre le coronavirus n'importe où, nous devons le vaincre partout”. Stella Kyriakides, commissaire à la santé et à la sécurité alimentaire, a poursuivi en ces termes : “Les derniers entretiens d'aujourd'hui avec BioNTech-Pfizer constituent une autre étape importante dans nos efforts visant à constituer un portefeuille solide et diversifié de candidats vaccins. Tel était l'objectif de notre stratégie européenne dans le domaine des vaccins, et nous sommes en train de l'atteindre. Nous avons bon espoir qu'il y ait parmi ces candidats un vaccin sûr et efficace contre la COVID-19, qui nous aidera à vaincre cette pandémie”. BioNTech-Pfizer est la sixième entreprise avec laquelle la Commission a conclu des discussions, après Sanofi-GSK le 31 juillet, Johnson & Johnson le 13 août, CureVac le 18 août et Moderna le 24 août. Le premier contrat, signé avec AstraZeneca, est entré en vigueur le 27 août. Plus d'informations sont disponibles dans le communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tél.: +32 229 84680; Darragh Cassidy – Tel.: 229 83978)

Green transition: Global CO2 emissions continue to rise but EU bucks global trend

The Joint Research Centre of the Commission published today a new study on “Fossil CO₂ emissions for all world countries”, reaffirming that the EU has succeeded in decoupling economic growth from climate changing emissions. Fossil CO₂ emissions of EU Member States and the UK dropped in 2019, while globally, the increase of CO₂ emissions continued in 2019, although at a slightly slower pace. Since the beginning of the 21st century, global greenhouse gas emissions have grown steadily. However, EU Member States and the UK bucked the trend, with their CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels combustion and processes dropping by 3.8% in 2019, compared to the previous year. This means the EU and the UK's fossil CO₂ emissions were 25 % below 1990 levels - the largest reduction among the top emitting economic areas around the world. Since 1990, there has also been a decreasing trend in CO₂ emissions per capita and per intensity of monetary output across Europe. These reductions have been achieved thanks to a mix of mitigation policies aimed at decarbonising the energy supply, the industrial and the building sectors, and will be continued with renewed effort under the umbrella of the European Green Deal. These are the results of the latest updates of the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR), a unique tool developed by the JRC in support of policy impact evaluation and climate negotiations, which provides a benchmark against which national and global estimates can be compared. More information is available in the JRC press release. (For more information: Susanne Conze / Tim McPhie — Tel.: + 32 229 80236/ +32 2 295 86 02; Sinéad Meehan - van Druten - Tel.: +32 2 298 40 94)

State aid: Commission approves €305 million Czech scheme to support self-employed affected by coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved an around €305 million (CZK 8 billion) Czech scheme to support self-employed that have been particularly affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The public support, which will be open to self-employed active in all sectors except the financial one, will take the form of waivers of payments and penalties and deferrals of payments of mandatory monthly health insurance contributions for the period from March to August 2020 (which means payments due in the period from April to September 2020). The aim of the scheme is to address the liquidity needs of the self-employed in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission found that the Czech scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, for waivers of payments or penalties, (i) the amount of aid will not exceed €100,000 per company active in the primary production of agriculture products, €120,000 per company active in the fishery and aquaculture sector, and €800,000 per company active in all other sectors; and (ii) the scheme is limited in time until 31 December 2020. As regards the temporary deferral of payments of public health insurance contributions, they will be granted until 31 December 2020 and the end date for the deferral will be no later than 31 December 2022. 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 measure 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.57358 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)

State aid: Commission approves €7.4 million Romanian scheme to support companies active in the bovine breeding sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €7.4 million (approximately RON 35.7 million) Romanian scheme to support companies active in the bovine breeding sector that are 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 aim of the scheme is to help companies active in the bovine breeding sector address their liquidity needs and continue their activities in order to ultimately secure food and feed materials for the food industry and maintain jobs. The scheme is expected to benefit over 1,000 companies active in the bovine breeding sector. The Commission found that the Romanian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the grants do not exceed €100,000 per beneficiary as provided by the Temporary Framework for undertakings active in the primary production of agricultural products; and (ii) the support can be granted until 31 December 2020. 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 measure 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.58453 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)

Statement

Statement on the International Day to Protect Education from Attack

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič issues the following statement: “On the occasion of the first International Day to Protect Education from Attack, the EU reaffirms the right to quality education for all and the importance of ensuring safe learning environments in humanitarian emergencies and protracted crises. Children's futures are threatened by the growing number of targeted attacks against schools, learners and educational personnel, which constitute deliberate and grave violations of the International Humanitarian Law. Together, we need to champion education to play its full role in the healthy physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of children and young people. It can rebuild their lives, restore their sense of normality and safety, and provide them with important life skills. It is also one of the best tools to invest in peace, stability and resilience. The EU is committed to supporting initiatives to promote and roll out the Safe Schools Declaration and to prioritise protection at all levels. EU-funded projects worldwide strengthen education, incorporate psychosocial support and social and emotional learning, prevent and respond to school-related gender-based violence, and promote linkages between sectors to enhance child safeguarding frameworks. The EU is a world leader in providing education in emergencies, dedicating 10% of its humanitarian aid budget to support access, quality and protection of education.” (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Eurostat: communiqués de presse