Daily News 12 / 10 / 2020

Coronavirus: President von der Leyen highlights role of regions and cities in recovery and beyond

This morning, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the opening session of this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities via videoconference. In her remarks, President von der Leyen praised the vital role of regional and local actors: “Local and regional governments have their finger on the pulse of Europe's citizens. It not only helps to solve small, everyday problems, but also to master the great challenges of our time. Coronavirus is one of those. Local authorities were the first line of defence when the crisis hit.” The President emphasised that “regions and cities will be at the core of NextGenerationEU”. She said: “All European citizens have the same right to health! NextGenerationEU's resources will therefore target the resilience of our health systems. The European funds will enable investments in new hospitals, better equipment and stronger healthcare systems - not only in the big cities but also in more remote regions.” President von der Leyen underlined the fundamental role of regional and local authorities in the recovery effort. She urged that region and cities, from the very outset, should be involved in the preparation of national recovery plans. The President also explained that #NextGenerationEU goes well beyond recovery: “NextGenerationEU will mend our social fabric and repair balance sheets across Europe. And while we are doing this, we press fast-forward towards a green, digital and resilient future. We want to use these investments not only to restart the economy. We also want to use them to improve the air we breathe in our cities, or to help small enterprises take up the digital solutions. And for all this, local administrations must be in the driving seat.” Read the full speech online and watch it back here. The European Week of Regions and Cities is an annual four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create jobs and growth, implement EU Cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. This year, the 18th European Week of Regions and Cities is spread over three consecutive weeks, each dedicated to one topic: Empowering Citizens, Cohesion & Cooperation, Green Europe. More information is available on the website. (For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 4073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150; Vivian Loonela – Tel.: +32 229 66712)

Coronavirus: Further assistance delivered to Western Balkans through rescEU and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism

The EU is sending further protective medical grade FFP2 masks and gowns to Montenegro and North Macedonia from the rescEU stockpile – the common European reserve of medical equipment created to help countries facing shortages in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. At the same time, Slovakia has also offered FFP2, FFP3 and surgical masks, as well as hygiene packs, blankets, tents and generators to North Macedonia via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. “The rescEU reserve and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism continue to prove their value in delivering assistance to those in need. Personal protective equipment remains essential as we continue fighting against the coronavirus. We are now sending more than 130,000 additional protective masks to Montenegro and North Macedonia on top of previous deliveries. I thank Germany for hosting and transporting this batch of rescEU equipment as well as Slovakia for their generosity towards our close neighbours in the Western Balkans”, said Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič. This support comes on top of 520,000 masks already delivered from the rescEU reserve, as well as in-kind assistance provided to countries in need via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The rescEU reserve is hosted by Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Romania and Sweden who are responsible for procuring the material, while the Commission covers 100% of the costs and coordinates distribution. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

State aid: Commission approves Danish wage compensation scheme to support companies prohibited from operating due to coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a Danish scheme to support companies that are subject to an operation ban implemented to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The scheme will be open to companies in all sectors, except financial institutions. The public support will take the form of direct grants. The scheme aims at alleviating the beneficiaries' wage costs, thus helping them to ensure that their employees can remain employed and receive their salaries, while the operation bans are in place. The Commission found that the Danish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the support is limited to companies that are subject to a governmental prohibition to conduct business due to the coronavirus outbreak and that, for this reason, have no revenue and, as a result, no means to remunerate their workers. The Commission concluded that the scheme 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.58515 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)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Burgo by QuattroR and Holding Gruppo Marchi

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Burgo Group S.p.A. (‘Burgo') by QuattroR SGR S.p.A. (‘QuattroR') and Holding Gruppo Marchi S.p.A (‘HGM'), all of Italy. Burgo manufactures pulp and paper. QuattroR is a management company investing in companies that are having financial difficulties. HGM is a holding company controlled by the Marchi family. HGM already has a controlling stake in Burgo. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that it does not result in any new overlaps or supply relations between the companies. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.9928. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Lancement du Forum des régions ultrapériphériques avec les commissaires Ferreira, Breton et Sinkevičius

Les commissaires Ferreira, Breton et Sinkevičius participeront au Forum des régions ultrapériphériques qui se tiendra les 12, 13 et 14 octobre 2020. Ce forum établira un état des lieux de la situation causée par la pandémie du coronavirus et son impact socio-économique important sur les neuf régions ultrapériphériques de l'UE, et débattra des solutions de relance pour une réponse ciblée à la crise. Elisa Ferreira, commissaire en charge de la cohésion et des réformes, a déclaré à cet égard : « La Commission dans son ensemble est fermement résolue à fournir un soutien sur mesure aux régions ultrapériphériques dans leurs différentes politiques. Je suis profondément préoccupée par l'impact de la crise du coronavirus sur ces régions reculées, qui ont été particulièrement touchées, notamment dans les secteurs des transports et du tourisme. C'est pourquoi je souhaite discuter du soutien à apporter à la reprise de ces régions dans le cadre de notre stratégie ciblée, qui reste pleinement valable et nous permet d'adapter nos mesures à la situation sans précédent et de contribuer à apporter la croissance et les emplois dont ces régions ont tant besoin. » Thierry Breton, commissaire au marché intérieur, a souligné : « NextGenerationEU doit profiter à ceux qui ont été les plus touchés par la crise, comme les régions ultrapériphériques de l'UE. J'encourage nos régions ultrapériphériques à s'emparer de NextGenerationEU pour exploiter leurs atouts uniques afin de se relever de la crise encore plus fortes et de diversifier leurs économies pour une résilience plus forte. Les régions ultrapériphériques peuvent compter sur notre soutien. » Virginijus Sinkevičius, commissaire à l'environnement, aux océans et à la pêche, a ajouté : « Les régions ultrapériphériques disposent de solides atouts naturels qu'elles peuvent exploiter pour sortir de la crise tout en se lançant sur la voie d'une économie plus verte et plus durable. Je m'engage à créer des solutions d'économie circulaire et de biodiversité adaptées aux régions ultrapériphériques, tout en inscrivant leurs spécificités dans nos actions du Pacte vert. À mon tour, je compte sur ces régions pour contribuer à nos efforts d'écologisation en devenant des champions de l'économie circulaire. » En octobre 2017, la Commission européenne a adopté une Communication pour un partenariat stratégique renouvelé avec les régions ultrapériphériques de l'UE. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Vivian Loonela - Tél.: +32 229 66712, Veronica Favalli - Tél.: +32 229 87269)

European Tourism Convention to launch dialogue on sustainable and resilient EU tourism

Today, the Commission is organising the European Tourism Convention, to facilitate a dialogue on the sustainable recovery of the ecosystem from the coronavirus crisis and on the tourism of tomorrow. It is the first step towards a European policy framework for tourism with shared priorities to underpin investments, facilitate cooperation among Member States and mobilise industry. The Convention, announced in the Communication Tourism and transport in 2020 and beyond in May, targets all actors of the tourism ecosystem and will call for pledges to improve the sustainability, digitalisation and resilience of the EU's tourism sector. Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “Tourism - one of the biggest sectors of our economy - is most hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission is providing unprecedented support for this extraordinary situation, including financial means for struggling businesses, and will continue to do so. And although the virus is still with us, now is the time to pave the way for a greener and more digital tourism. That is the aim of today's Convention.” The Convention is a public online event, which gathers more than 700 participants, including national and regional public authorities, representatives of European sectorial associations and the tourism and travel industry, international organisations, academics and NGOs. Throughout the day, participants will map out key challenges and opportunities of the EU tourism sector and propose a set of actions as a basis for pledges and further discussion feeding into the European Agenda for Tourism. Follow the event here. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300)

Eurostat press releases