Daily News 29 / 10 / 2020

EU solidarity in action: €56.7 million to Spain to repair the damages of the extreme weather DANA in autumn 2019

The European Commission granted aid worth €56.7 million from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to Spain following the extreme weather conditions DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) resulting in floods in the regions of Valencia, Murcia, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalucia in September 2019. The financial assistance aims to partially cover the emergency costs of recovery operations and assistance to the local population, including repair and restoration of key water and transport infrastructure along with support to health and education. This is part of an aid package of a total of €279 million addressed to Portugal, Spain, Italy and Austria hit by natural disasters in 2019. Spain had already received €5.6 million in an advanced payment. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, commented: “Whether it is a natural disaster or a major health emergency, the EU Solidarity Fund is always there to provide relief to those who suffer. This is the essence of the European solidarity.” The EU Solidarity Fund is one of the main EU instruments for disaster recovery and, as part of the EU coordinated response to the coronavirus emergency, its scope has been recently extended to cover major health emergencies. So far, Spain has received support from the EUSF for five natural disasters, totalling more than €90 million. More information on the EUSF is available on the data story. (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 229 87269)

L'Union européenne renforce son arsenal en matière de respect des règles du commerce international grâce à une révision de sa réglementation

Hier, la Commission européenne, le Parlement européen et le Conseil sont parvenus à un accord politique en ce qui concerne le renforcement du règlement de l'Union européenne sur le respect des règles du commerce international. Les modifications convenues permettront à l'Union européenne de protéger ses intérêts commerciaux malgré la paralysie du système multilatéral de règlement des différends de l'Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC). La Commission pourra aussi intervenir si des problèmes similaires se posent dans le contexte d'accords bilatéraux. S'exprimant à cette occasion, Valdis Dombrovskis, vice-président exécutif de la Commission et commissaire au commerce, a déclaré : « Cet accord envoie un signal politique fort montrant que l'Union européenne prendra des mesures pour défendre et protéger les entreprises, les travailleurs et les consommateurs chaque fois que ses partenaires ne respecteront pas les règles. Il s'agit d'un engagement clé du programme commercial européen, que nous sommes en train de concrétiser. L'accord donne à l'Union européenne des capacités accrues pour défendre ses intérêts en cas de blocage du règlement d'un différend commercial dans le cadre de l'OMC ou de l'un de ses accords commerciaux bilatéraux. En outre, il permet de prendre des contre-mesures en ce qui concerne non seulement les biens, mais aussi les services et certains aspects des droits de propriété intellectuelle. Si notre priorité absolue, pour remédier à ces problèmes, est de parvenir à une réglementation multilatérale révisée et opérationnelle, qui s'articule autour d'un système de règlement des différends en deux étapes, nous ne pouvons pas nous permettre d'être sans défense dans l'intervalle. » À la suite de cet accord politique, le Parlement européen et le Conseil adopteront formellement le règlement modifié en vue de son entrée en vigueur dans les meilleurs délais. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d'informations : Balazs Ujvari – Tél.: +32 460 760296; Therese Lerebours – Tél.: +32 229 13963)

2030 Climate Target Plan: Commission invites initial feedback on four future legislative proposals

This morning, the Commission has published its Inception Impact Assessments on four central pieces of European climate legislation, due to be adopted in June 2021 to implement the 2030 Climate Target Plan. These four future proposals will help to deliver on the European Green Deal and achieve the proposed new emissions reductions target of at least 55% by 2030. The Inception Impact Assessments on the EU Emissions Trading System, the Effort Sharing Regulation, the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation and CO2 standards for cars are now open for public feedback for four weeks, until Thursday, 26 November 2020. They set out the potential nature and scope of the revisions for each of these policy instruments and of the analysis that the Commission will carry out in the coming months. This initial feedback period will be followed in due course by further Open Public Consultations. (For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel: +32 229 58602; Lynn Rietdorf – Tel: +32 229 74959)

State aid: Commission approves €7.7 million Greek scheme to support cultural activities in the Municipality of Athens in context of coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €7.7 million Greek scheme to support micro and small companies active in the cultural sector in the Municipality of Athens in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The public support will take the form of direct grants and it will be co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. A list of costs incurred by these companies in 2019 will be taken as a reference point to calculate the aid amount per undertaking, which may be between €10 000 and €200 000. The purpose of the measure is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that these companies are facing due to the measures that the Greek government had to impose to limit the spread of the virus and to ensure continuity of their economic activity. The measure will help companies organise cultural events that promote the cultural assets of the city of Athens. The Commission found that the Greek measure is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the support (i) will not exceed €800,000 per company as provided by the Temporary Framework; and (ii) will be granted no later than 30 June 2021. 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 of 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.59033 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 €50 million German scheme to support roll-out of infrastructure for mobile communication services in German Land of Hesse

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €50 million German aid scheme to support the deployment of state-of-the-art mobile networks in unserved areas of the German Federal State (Land) of Hesse. More specifically, the public support will cover the deployment of passive infrastructure (electricity connections, ducts, masts) for mobile communication services (voice and mobile data). The scheme aims at providing at least 4G capabilities in areas where no mobile communication services are currently available and where no private company is expected to invest within the next 3 years. The municipalities of the Land of Hesse where the relevant areas are located will receive funds in the form of direct grants or loans to either build the infrastructure themselves or to tender its construction or operation to third parties. The use of the supported infrastructure will be open to all interested Mobile Network Operators (“MNOs”) on equal and non-discriminatory terms The Commission concluded that the measure is in line with EU State aid rules. In this respect, the aid scheme will contribute to the EU's connectivity objective of providing access to mobile services throughout the EU territory, in all places where people live and work, including remote rural areas. At the same time, the scheme will help reduce important inequalities and the digital divide in the State of Hesse. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.55578 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)

State aid: Commission approves prolongation of the Polish resolution scheme for cooperative and small commercial banks

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, the prolongation of the Polish resolution scheme for twelve months until 29 October 2021. The scheme was initially approved in December 2016. It has been prolonged four times, last time in April 2020. This fifth prolongation does not introduce any changes to the previous scheme. The measure will continue to be available for cooperative banks and small commercial banks with total assets below €3 billion, only if they are placed in resolution by the competent national authorities. The objective of the scheme is to facilitate the work of the Polish resolution authorities, should a concrete case and need arise for it. The Commission found the prolongation of the scheme to be in line with EU State aid rules, in particular the 2013 Banking Communication and EU banking rules. More information will be available on the Commission's competition website in the case register under the case SA.58389 once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle conjoint d'Altitude Infrastructure THD par CalSTRS et le groupe Altitude

La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition du contrôle conjoint de la société Altitude Infrastructure THD (« AI THD »), une entreprise commune de plein exercice basée en France, par les sociétés Golden VinzClortho (« GVC »), contrôlée par CalSTRS et basée aux États-Unis, et Altitude Infrastructure Holding (« AIH »), une société du groupe Altitude, basée en France. AI THD est active dans le secteur du développement de la fibre en France. GVC est un fonds d'investissement contrôlé par le fonds de pension CalSTRS. AIH est la société holding des activités de télécommunications de gros du groupe Altitude. La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence compte tenu de son impact très limité sur la structure du marché concerné. L'opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure simplifiée du contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M.9953. (Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Ballyhoura Wind and CCWFL by AAUK2 and MUL

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Ballyhoura Wind Limited (‘Ballyhoura Wind') and CCWFL Limited (‘CCWFL'), both of Ireland, by Arjun Alliance UK 2 LP (“AAUK2”) of the UK and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance Company Limited (‘MUL') of Japan. Ballyhoura Wind and CCWFL each hold and operate an onshore wind farm in Ireland. AAUK2 is a limited partnership ultimately controlled by AIP Holdings, an independent infrastructure asset management business focusing on partnerships with institutional investors in the industries of regulated utilities, energy and renewables, and transportation. MUL is a multi-service group, with activities related to, among others, leasing and finance, rental, asset management services, aviation, real estate, environment and energy, healthcare and infrastructure and investment. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the absence of overlaps between the activities of 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.9940. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Viesgo by EDP

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Viesgo Infraestructuras Energéticas, S.L. (‘Viesgo') of Spain by Energias de Portugal S.A. (‘EDP') of Portugal.  Viesgo is mainly active in the production and supply of electricity from renewable sources in Spain and Portugal and the distribution of electricity in Spain. EDP is a vertically integrated utility company and the largest generator, distributor and supplier of electricity in Portugal, with significant operations in the electricity sector outside Portugal, including in Spain. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given its limited impact on the markets concerned. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.9929. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EU-Canada leaders meeting

Today, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, will hold a videoconference call from 14:00. EU-Canada leaders are set to discuss developments related to coronavirus, economic recovery, climate change, the digital agenda, trade and the digital tax. The EU and Canada have a very close relationship formalised through a Strategic Partnership Agreement and EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). A press conference is due to take place and will be live-streamed online. The last EU-Canada summit was held in Montreal, Canada, on 17-18 July 2019. (For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150; Adam Kaznowski – Tel.: +32 229 89359)

Eurostat: communiqués de presse