Daily News 26 / 03 / 2021

La Commission salue l'entrée en vigueur du programme « L'UE pour la santé » (EU4Health)

La Commission salue l'entrée en vigueur, ce jour, du programme « L'UE pour la santé », qui fait suite au vote du Parlement européen du 9 mars et à son adoption par le Conseil le 17 mars. Il s'agit de la dernière étape vers la mise à disposition de 5,1 milliards d'euros pour renforcer la résilience des systèmes de santé et promouvoir l'innovation dans ce secteur. Le programme « L'UE pour la santé » contribuera de manière significative à la relance post-COVID-19 en améliorant la santé de la population de l'UE, en soutenant la lutte contre les menaces sanitaires transfrontières et en renforçant l'état de préparation et la capacité de l'UE à réagir efficacement aux futures crises sanitaires, dans le cadre d'une future Union européenne de la santé qui se veut forte. Stella Kyriakides, commissaire à la santé et à la sécurité alimentaire, a déclaré pour sa part: « Aujourd'hui, nous commençons à tracer une nouvelle trajectoire pour la politique de santé de l'UE. L'entrée en vigueur de notre programme « L'UE pour la santé » nous donnera les outils nécessaires pour apporter des changements durables en matière de santé publique. Ce budget sans précédent de 5,1 milliards d'euros nous permettra de réaliser des investissements ciblés pour améliorer notre préparation aux crises et construire des systèmes de santé plus solides, plus résilients et plus accessibles. C'est ce que nos citoyens attendent à juste titre d'une Union européenne de la santé. » Un communiqué de presse et un Q&A sont disponibles en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tél.: +32 229 84680; Darragh Cassidy – Tél.: +32 229 83978)

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme: the Commission honours outstanding research proposals

The European Commission has awarded the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Seal of Excellence Certificate to 2,885 researchers for the outstanding quality of their research proposals, despite not being awarded the MSCA Individual Fellowship. Applicants awarded this Certificate will gain access to funding from regional, national or institutional sources. Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “To become a researcher is more than just a job, it is a vocation. I see the dedication of all those researchers who apply, and with this Seal of Excellence, they will have access to greater financial support for their projects. I wish them all the very best in their careers. It is a source of pride for the European Union to have such a depth of great research talent.” The highly competitive 2020 Individual Fellowship calls, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, attracted a record number of 11,382 proposals, of which only 1,630 could be funded. The Seals of Excellence were awarded to applications whose proposals scored at least 85% in the evaluation process but could not be funded. To date, 12 countries have set up funding schemes to support Seal of Excellence holders. A complete list of the available support schemes for MSCA Seal of Excellence holders can be found here. More information on this year's MSCA Seal of Excellence certificates award can be found here. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Sinéad Meehan-van Druten - Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Connectivity Toolbox: Member States agree on best practices to boost timely deployment of 5G and fibre networks

EU Member States have agreed on a Union-wide Connectivity Toolbox, a report of best practices that they consider most efficient in rolling out fixed and mobile very high-capacity networks, including 5G. These include, for example, permit exemptions for certain civil works; a single online portal to make all necessary information on permits, civil works and infrastructure available; financial incentives in spectrum auctions for investments in networks; and measures that support wireless connectivity to enable the use of disruptive technologies and intelligent machinery in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. These best practices will help Member States to ensure timely and investment-friendly access to 5G spectrum for mobile operators and other users of spectrum, including for cross-border industrial applications, for example in transport, energy, healthcare, or agriculture. They will also help operators to reduce the cost of gigabit broadband deployment. Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal market, said: “In the Digital Decade all Europeans should benefit from fast and secure connections. We must start today turning this ambition into a reality. The Connectivity Toolbox is the result of Member States' cooperation and commitment to remove obstacles and boost the deployment of very fast networks.” Today's Connectivity Toolbox follows up on the Commission's Recommendation in September 2020 that called Member States to boost investment in very high-capacity broadband connectivity infrastructure, including 5G, which is the most fundamental block of the digital transformation and an essential pillar of the recovery. Earlier this month the Commission presented a Communication on Europe's Digital Decade that sets out the aim to connect all European households with gigabit speeds and to ensure 5G coverage for all populated areas in the EU as well as major transport routes. The Connectivity Toolbox builds upon the Broadband Cost Reduction Directive, which is currently under review, and on the European Electronic Communications Code. As a next step, Member States should share with the Commission by 30 April 2021 their individual roadmaps to implement the Toolbox. More information is available here. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 229 83583)

Employment and Social Developments in Europe Quarterly Review analyses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the self-employed 

Today, the European Commission publishes the March 2021 edition of the Employment and Social Developments in Europe (ESDE) Quarterly Review, with a thematic focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the self-employed. The review shows that this group has experienced a strong reduction of their working time and more severe income losses than employees in most Member States. National social protection systems typically provide lower coverage and compensation for the self-employed. In the context of the pandemic, most Member States have introduced temporary measures to support the income of the self-employed, in addition to short-time work schemes and similar measures accessible for workers, which were supported by the SURE instrument. This support took many different forms, including low interest loans, paid family leave, extended coverage of sickness benefits and income replacement. Overall the review shows that job-saving measures proved effective and improved the resilience of the labour market. In the last months of 2020, the number of people in employment increased moderately and unemployment remained stable. Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, said: “In most countries and across a broad range of sectors, the self-employed have experienced particularly steep cuts in working hours and income. The Commission has launched a range of measures to support workers and employers during the crisis. SURE has been a very successful instrument in protecting jobs and incomes, including for the self-employed. We also presented EASE, a Recommendation on Effective Active Support to Employment, which provides concrete guidance to Member States on policy measures to support a job-rich recovery.” The full report is available here. (For more information: Marta Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 229 83951)

Transatlantic Data Privacy Flows: Joint Statement by Commissioner for Justice Reynders and U.S. Secretary Raimondo

Yesterday, Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced that the European Commission and the U.S. Government have decided to intensify negotiations on an enhanced EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework. Both sides are committed to comply with the judgment of 16 July 2020 of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the Schrems II case. In a Joint Statement they said: “These negotiations underscore our shared commitment to privacy, data protection and the rule of law and our mutual recognition of the importance of transatlantic data flows to our respective citizens, economies, and societies.”  They also underlined that data flows will support economic recovery after the global pandemic. The statement is available here. (For more information: Christian Wigand — Tel.: + 32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko — Tel.: + 32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli — Tel.: + 32 229 92729)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over Ucles by Macquarie and Aberdeen

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Ucles InfraCo, S.L. (‘Ucles') of Spain by Pentacom Investments (UK) Holdco Limited (‘Macquarie') and Aberdeen Standard European Infrastructure GP IV Limited (‘Aberdeen'), both of the UK. Ucles is active in the wholesale supply of broadband access services in Spain. Macquarie is a global investment bank and financial services provider covering resources and commodities, green energy, conventional energy, financial institutions, infrastructure and real estate. Aberdeen is an asset manager active in sectors including transportation, social infrastructure, waste and water treatment and clean energy production networks. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that there are only minor horizontal overlaps and no vertical links 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.10174. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vaccine production: Commissioner Breton in Spain and Portugal

Commissioner Thierry Breton, in charge of the Internal Market and responsible for the Task Force on Industrial Scale-up of COVID-19 vaccine production, is visiting Spain and Portugal today as part of his engagement with Member States and companies to accelerate vaccine production. This morning, Commissioner Breton and Reyes Maroto, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, visited the pharmaceutical company Reig Jofre in Sant Joan Despí (Barcelona), a subcontractor of Johnson & Johnson. The aim was to meet the people behind the vaccine production effort and discuss the site's production process and supply chain with the management of the company.  In the afternoon, Commissioner Breton will be in Portugal for a meeting with Prime Minister António Costa for a broad exchange on the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery. Commissioner Breton will also meet Pedro Siza Vieira, Minister for Economy and Digital Transition, to discuss internal market, industry and digital priorities under the Portuguese Council Presidency. Audiovisual material of the visit in Spain will be available on EbS. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300)

Gestion des migrations en Grèce : la commissaire Johansson se rend à Samos, Lesbos et Athènes

Dimanche, la commissaire aux affaires intérieures, Ylva Johansson, se rendra en Grèce pour discuter de la gestion des migrations et, en particulier, des conditions d'accueil dans les îles grecques. La commissaire visitera les îles de Samos et de Lesbos. La commissaire Johansson rencontrera des représentants des autorités locales et régionales, ainsi que des organisations non gouvernementales et des agences des Nations unies et de l'UE travaillant en Grèce. La commissaire se rendra ensuite à Athènes. Mardi, elle rencontrera le Premier ministre, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, le ministre des affaires étrangères, Nikos Dendias, le ministre de la migration et de l'asile, Notis Mitarachi, le ministre de la protection des citoyens, Michalis Chrysochoidis, le ministre des affaires maritimes et de la politique insulaire, Giannis Plakiotakis, et la vice-ministre pour l'intégration, Sofia Voultepsi. Plus tôt cette semaine, la commissaire a publié un article de blog soulignant la nécessité de se préparer pour l'hiver prochain: « Toutes les autorités en charge doivent redoubler d'efforts et jouer leur rôle. Par le biais du financement de l'UE, des connaissances et de l'expertise du gouvernement grec ainsi que locales, et de la surveillance des organisations internationales, nous pouvons respecter nos obligations légales et renforcer la réputation démocratique de l'Europe. Et la transparence est notre meilleure alliée. Nous en avons besoin pour nous assurer de respecter nos engagements, de dépenser judicieusement les fonds et de fournir des installations fonctionnelles. » (Pour plus d'informations: Adalbert Jahnz - Tél .: + 32 229 53156; Ciara Bottomley - Tél .: +32 229 69971; Laura Bérard - Tél .: +32 229 55721)

CALENDRIER – activités hebdomadaires des commissaires

Eurostat: communiqués de presse