Daily News 11 / 01 / 2021

Coronavirus : la réserve rescEU de matériel médical s'étend à quatre États membres

Depuis aujourd'hui, la Belgique, les Pays-Bas et la Slovénie s'ajoutent à la liste des pays hébergeant le matériel médical de rescEU. En outre, une deuxième réserve médicale sera hébergée par l'Allemagne, qui est déjà un pays hôte de rescEU. Au total, neuf pays abritent à présent les stocks européens communs de matériel médical. Les stocks contiennent désormais : plus de 65 millions de masques médicaux et 15 millions de masques FFP2 et FFP3 ; plus de 280 millions de paires de gants médicaux ; près de 20 millions de blouses et tabliers médicaux; plusieurs milliers de concentrateurs d'oxygène et de respirateurs. « Le coronavirus reste un problème de santé grave en 2021 et les événements de l'année dernière nous ont enseigné que nous ne pouvons jamais baisser la garde. Avec ces quatre réserves médicales supplémentaires constituées en Belgique, en Allemagne, aux Pays-Bas et en Slovénie dans le cadre de rescEU, l'UE s'assure que les groupes vulnérables et les professionnels de la santé reçoivent le matériel nécessaire pour protéger les systèmes de santé sur tout le continent et conserver leur solidité », a déclaré Janez Lenarčič, commissaire chargé de la gestion des crises. Ce stock européen commun de matériel médical vital est distribué dans toute l'Europe en cas d'urgence médicale, par exemple lorsque les systèmes de santé nationaux sont submergés par le nombre de patients atteints du coronavirus. Il a déjà fourni du matériel médical essentiel à la Croatie, à la Tchéquie, à la France, à l'Italie, à la Lituanie, à l'Espagne, au Monténégro, à la Macédoine du Nord et à la Serbie.      Le communiqué de presse est disponible  en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations : Balazs Ujvari - Tél.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi - Tél.: +32 229 69140) 

SME vouchers: €20 million grant fund to help SMEs maximise their intellectual property assets

As of today, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) can apply for financing under a €20 million grant scheme to help EU companies to make better use of intellectual property rights. With the support of the Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund aims to help firms develop their intellectual property (IP) strategies and protect their IP rights, at national and EU level. Commissioner for Internal market Thierry Breton said: “The coronavirus pandemic has hugely impacted SMEs. We want to help SMEs capitalise on their innovations and creativity to support their recovery.” Open to all enterprises in the EU that fit the official definition of a SME, the new scheme offers financial support in form of reimbursements for IP scan services (IP pre-diagnostic) and trademark and design application, up to a maximum amount of €1,500 per business. Today, the fund opens the first of the five application windows that will run throughout 2021. The new scheme (also called IP Voucher) is the first key action of the Commission's IP Action Plan published in November 2020. The requirements, timing and other information relevant to the scheme can be found here. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300)

European Green Deal: Commission consults on EU targets to restore Europe's biodiversity

The European Commission launched today an online public consultation on the development of legally binding EU nature restoration targets. As a key element of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal, restoring Europe's damaged ecosystems will help to increase biodiversity, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and prevent and reduce the impacts of natural disasters. The initiative for the development of EU nature restoration targets also aims to improve knowledge and monitoring of ecosystems and their services. Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “Human activities have significantly altered three quarters of the Earth's lands and two thirds of oceans in recent decades, destabilising our climate and our natural life support systems. Restoring natural ecosystems is a triple win for nature, climate and people. It will help solve the biodiversity crisis, tackle climate change and reduce the risks of future pandemics. It can also stimulate recovery in a post-pandemic world, creating jobs and sustainable growth.” The Commission is also preparing an impact assessment to support the development of EU nature restoration targets, and to assess their potential environmental, social and economic impacts. The earlier roadmap for the development of EU nature restoration targets mapped out policy options for restoration targets to be explored in the impact assessment. On the basis of the impact assessment and taking into account answers received from the public consultation, the Commission will put forward a proposal for legally binding EU nature restoration targets by the end of 2021. The public consultation will remain open for feedback until 5 April. The launch of the public consultation comes on the day of the One Planet Summit, co-organised by France, the UN and the World Bank, which this year focuses on biodiversity. More information is available in the news item here.  (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

Coronavirus: Commission supports blood services to increase COVID-19 convalescent plasma collection

The Commission has selected 24 projects that will build new programmes, or expand existing ones, for the collection of plasma from donors recovered from COVID-19. The donations will be destined for the treatment of patients with the disease. These grants are the outcome of an invitation sent last July to all public and non-profit blood services around the EU, and in the UK, to apply for funding for the purchase of equipment for plasma collection. This action is financed through the Emergency Support Instrument, for a total of €36 million. The projects, which will take place in 14 Member States and the UK, are national or regional and will, in most cases, involve distribution of funds down to large numbers of local blood or plasma collection centres (over 150 in total). Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said:”When it comes to research on therapeutics for COVID-19, all options have to be explored to make sure that safe and effective treatments can be made available as quickly as possible. Thanks to the many applicants who have replied to the Commission's call, plasma collection can now be increased through the selected projects, which will help in the use of convalescent plasma as a possible promising treatment. We are doing everything possible to provide citizens with safe and effective therapeutics against COVID-19.” A press release is available online. (For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Darragh Cassidy – Tel.: +32 229 83978)

EU Cohesion policy: €160 million to modernise the rail transport in Czechia

Entering the 2021 EU Year of Railway, the European Commission has approved today an investment of over €160 million from the Cohesion Fund to replace the single line between Sudoměřice u Tábora and Votice in Czechia with a new 17 km-long double-track railway. This will enable the passage of long-distance, high-speed trains and more freight and regional trains. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, commented: “This project will modernise rail transport in Czechia making its railway network more competitive and attractive compared to other more polluting and dangerous transport modes. This will greatly benefit people and businesses not only in Czechia but also in the rest of Central Europe.” The project will contribute to greater capacity and competitiveness of railway transport. This should encourage a shift from road to rail transport, which will bring environmental benefits, in the form of less noise and air pollution, while contributing to socio-economic development in south and central Bohemia. The new line on Prague-České Budějovice railway corridor will facilitate access to the cities of České Budějovice and Prague and the town of Tábor, making it easier for people to meet the demand for jobs in these urban centres. This project is part of the trans-European railway linking Germany and Austria via Czechia and it is expected to start being operational in the first quarter of 2023. (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712, Veronica Favalli - Tel.: +32 229 87269)

Le Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe soutient la construction de logements intermédiaires en France

La Banque européenne d'investissement (BEI) a accordé un prêt de de 125 millions d'euros à la société Livie, filiale du Réseau BATIGERE, pour la construction de 1 500 logements intermédiaires en France. Cette opération est garantie par le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques, le pilier central du Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe. Ces logements seront livrés au cours des 5 prochaines années sur l'ensemble du territoire national, en particulier dans des régions densément peuplées marquées par une pression croissante pour l'accès au logement. Ce financement permettra à plus de 3 000 résidents d'accéder à un habitat de qualité avec un loyer abordable. Paolo Gentiloni, commissaire chargé de l'économie, a déclaré : « Grâce à cet accord entre la BEI et Livie, le Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe va soutenir la construction de 1 500 nouveaux logements abordables. Et puisque ces nouveaux logements seront construits selon les normes environnementales les plus exigeantes, ce projet contribuera également à la lutte contre le changement climatique. » Jusqu'à présent, le Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe a mobilisé 535 milliards d'euros d'investissements dans l'ensemble de l'UE, dont 87 milliards en France. Le communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations : Marta Wieczorek – Tél.: +32 229 58197; Flora Matthaes – Tél.: +32 229 83951)

State aid: Commission approves support scheme for energy-intensive companies in Spain

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Spanish scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies for the costs incurred to finance support to (i) renewable energy production in Spain, (ii) high-efficiency cogeneration in Spain, and (iii) power generation in Spanish non-peninsular territories. The scheme, which will apply until 31 December 2022 and will have a provisional annual budget of €91.88 million,  will benefit companies active in Spain in sectors that are particularly energy-intensive (hence with high electricity consumption relative to the value added of production) and more exposed to international trade. The beneficiaries will obtain compensation for up to a maximum of 85% of their contribution to the financing of support to renewable energy production, high-efficiency cogeneration and power generation in Spain's non-peninsular territories. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular, the Guidelines on State Aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020, which have been extended until the end of 2021. The Guidelines authorise reductions – up to a certain level – in contributions levied on energy-intensive companies active in certain sectors and exposed to international trade, in order to ensure their global competitiveness. The Commission found that the compensation will only be granted to energy intensive companies exposed to international trade, in line with the requirements of the Guidelines. The measure will promote the EU energy and climate goals and ensure the global competitiveness of energy-intensive users and industries, without unduly distorting competition. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure is in line with EU State aid rules. In connection to this scheme, the Spanish authorities have also notified to the Commission a measure granting guarantees in relation to long-term power purchase agreements concluded by energy-intensive companies for electricity from renewable energy sources, the so-called “Reserve Fund to Guarantee Large Electricity Consumers” (FERGEI). This guarantee scheme aims to facilitate the production of energy from renewable sources. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular, the 2008 Commission Notice on State aid in the form of guarantees, and concluded that the State guarantee scheme does not constitute aid within the meaning of Article 107(1) TFEU. More information will be available on the Commission's competition website, in the State Aid Register under the case number SA. 54558. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Ahlstrom-Munksjö by Bain Capital

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Ahlstrom-Munksjö Oyj (‘Ahlstrom-Munksjö') of Finland, by Bain Capital Investors L.L.C. (‘Bain Capital') of the U.S. Ahlstrom-Munksjö is a global manufacturer and supplier of fibre-based materials. Bain Capital is a private equity investment firm that invests in companies across a number of industries, including Fedrigoni, an Italian company active in the manufacturing and supply of various types of paper, including graphic and fine paper, security paper and solutions, self-adhesive label stock and stationery. The Commission's investigation found that (i) the overlaps were limited, (ii) the parties would not have the ability or incentive to foreclose markets, and that (iii) a number of strong players would remain in the market after the merger. 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.9981. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

La présidente von der Leyen prononce un discours au Sommet « One Planet »

Au cours du sommet « One Planet » qui se tient aujourd'hui à Paris, la présidente von der Leyen prononcera un discours sur l'agriculture durable, la biodiversité et la lutte contre le changement climatique, soulignant qu'il s'agit là des différentes faces d'une même médaille. Pour illustrer le soutien de l'UE à la coopération mondiale et à l'action locale, elle s'engagera à soutenir et à parrainer l'initiative phare de la Grande Muraille verte, dirigée par l'Afrique, qui vise à lutter contre la dégradation des terres et la désertification, en s'appuyant sur l'investissement de longue date de l'UE dans cette initiative. Elle annoncera également que la recherche et l'innovation de l'UE sur la santé et la biodiversité seront prioritaires dans le cadre d'un effort mondial de coopération et de coordination. Avec le pacte vert pour l'Europe, l'UE est à la pointe de l'action internationale en faveur du climat et de la biodiversité. La présidente von der Leyen soulignera le rôle de la nature et de l'agriculture durable dans la réalisation de l'objectif du pacte vert pour l'Europe, qui est de faire de l'Europe le premier continent neutre sur le plan climatique d'ici 2050. En mai dernier, la Commission a publié les stratégies « Biodiversité » et « De la ferme à la table », qui présentent les actions et les engagements ambitieux de l'UE visant à mettre un terme à la perte de biodiversité en Europe et dans le monde, à transformer l'agriculture européenne en une agriculture durable et biologique et à soutenir les agriculteurs dans cette transition. Le sommet « One Planet », co-organisé par la France, les Nations unies et la Banque mondiale, débutera par un engagement des dirigeants en faveur de la biodiversité, que la présidente von der Leyen a déjà soutenue lors de la session de l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies en septembre dernier. Le sommet cherchera à créer une dynamique en faveur de la COP15 sur la biodiversité et de la COP26 sur le climat cette année. Suivez le discours prononcé par vidéoconférence en direct sur EbS à 14h55. (Pour plus d'informations: Vivian Loonela - Tél.: +32 229 66712; Daniela Stoycheva – Tél.: +32 229 53664)

Eurostat: communiqués de presse