Daily News 07 / 04 / 2021

Coronavirus: la Commission mobilise 123 millions d'euros pour la recherche et l'innovation contre la menace des variants

La Commission mobilise 123 millions d'euros dans le cadre d'Horizon Europe, le nouveau programme de recherche et d'innovation de l'UE, pour soutenir des recherches urgentes sur les variants du coronavirus. Ce premier financement d'urgence au titre d'Horizon Europe s'ajoute à une série d'actions de recherche et d'innovation financées par l'UE pour lutter contre le coronavirus. Il s'inscrit dans l'action globale menée par la Commission pour prévenir et atténuer les effets des variants et y riposter, conformément au nouveau plan européen de préparation à la bio-défense, l'incubateur HERA. Mariya Gabriel, commissaire à l'innovation, à la recherche, à la culture, à l'éducation et à la jeunesse, a déclaré: « Nous continuons à mobiliser tous les moyens dont nous disposons pour lutter contre cette pandémie et résoudre les difficultés que posent les variants du coronavirus. Nous devons combiner nos forces afin de nous préparer pour l'avenir, en intervenant depuis la détection précoce des variants jusqu'à l'organisation et à la coordination d'essais cliniques de nouveaux vaccins et traitements, tout en garantissant une collecte et un partage corrects des données à tous les stades. » La Commission a lancé de nouveaux appels qui complètent les actions antérieures visant à mettre au point des traitements et des vaccins, en organisant et en effectuant des essais cliniques pour faire progresser la mise au point de traitements et de vaccins prometteurs contre le SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. Ils soutiendront la création de cohortes et de réseaux COVID-19 à grande échelle au-delà des frontières de l'Europe, en créant des liens avec les initiatives européennes, et renforceront les infrastructures nécessaires au partage des données, de l'expertise, des ressources de la recherche et des services d'experts entre chercheurs et organismes de recherche. De plus amples informations sont disponibles dans ce communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Johannes Bahrke – Tél.: +32 229 58615; Marietta Grammenou – Tél.: +32 229 83583) 

Global Health Summit: Stay up to date via the new website

Today, the European Commission is launching a new website about the upcoming Global Health Summit, which will go live today at 13:00 CET. The Summit, hosted by the European Commission and the Italian Presidency of the G20, should take place on 21 May 2021 in Rome. It will be an opportunity for world leaders, heads of international and regional organisations, and representatives of global health bodies to share the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. They will also develop and endorse a ‘Rome Declaration' of principles that should guide future cooperation in preventing and responding to global health crises. These principles should serve as a basis for coordinating actions at global, regional and national levels in order to strengthen health systems and improve preparedness capacities worldwide. In the run-up to the Summit, the website will be regularly updated to serve as an information hub for citizens, governments, partner organisations and media. (For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Stefan de Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 229 84680)

Commission publishes guidance on the avoidance and management of conflicts of interest

Today, the Commission has published its guidance on the avoidance and management of conflicts and perceived conflicts of interest under the Financial Regulation. The aim of this exercise is to raise awareness and promote a uniform interpretation and application of the rules among staff of the EU institutions and Member States' authorities as well as any person involved in the implementation of EU funds. It encompasses practical examples, suggestions and recommendations to support EU institutions and Member States' authorities in this field. The guidance is part of the Commission's efforts to further strengthen existing measures protecting the EU's financial interests. Further information is available here. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Veronica Favalli - Tel.: +32 229 87269)

State aid: Commission approves €268 million Czech scheme to support operators offering accommodation services affected by  coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved an approximately €268 million (CZK 7 billion) Czech scheme to support operators offering accommodation services which had to close their facilities due to the restrictive measure that the Czech authorities had to implement to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The public support will be provided through direct grants in the form of a fixed amount per room and per day, for the period during which the accommodation facilities are closed, between 22 October 2020 and 31 December 2021. The measure follows a previously existing scheme approved by the Commission on 27 August 2020 (SA.58398), which covered the period between 14 March 2020 and 24 May 2020. The purpose of the measure is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages the beneficiaries are facing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission found that the Czech measure is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the support will not exceed the limits per beneficiary set in the Temporary Framework; and (ii) aid under the measure can only be granted until 31 December 2021. 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) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (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.61948 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 €3.7 million Polish aid to promote shift of freight transport from road to rail in Podkarpackie Province

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an individual aid measure to promote the shift of freight transport from road to rail in the Polish southeastern province of Podkarpackie near the Polish Ukrainian border. In line with the goals of the European Green Deal, the Polish measure aims at contributing, through increased intermodal transport capacities, to the development of such modal shift, and to a reduction of road congestion and CO2 emissions. The aid takes the form of a €3.7 million (approximately PLN 16.8 million) direct grant to PKP LHS Sp. z o.o, part of the PKP Group, to contribute to the costs of construction of a transhipment terminal infrastructure at the PKP LHS station situated on the broad-gauge railway line No. 65 to Ukraine and to the countries that are part of the “Commonwealth of Independent States” (CIS). The overall costs of the project amount to €12.8 million (approximately PLN 57.2 million). The terminal will serve for storage and transhipment of containers and cargo between different modes of transport and between the European Economic Area standard track gauge (1,435 mm) and the broad track gauge (1,520 mm) to Ukraine, both accessible in the Wola Baranowska Station. At present, only limited transhipment services are provided at the Wola Baranowska hub, due to outdated infrastructure. In its assessment, the Commission took into consideration the suboptimal situation of the Podkarpackie Province with regard to intermodal transport and the unique character in Europe of the broad-gauge railway No. 65 as an important cargo handling line connecting Poland to the Ukrainian border. The Commission found that the aid measure promotes the shift of freight transport from road to rail. In particular, the Commission found that the support measure is necessary, as otherwise market operators would not have sufficient incentives to carry out investments into such infrastructure. It is beneficial for the environment and for mobility as it supports intermodal transport capacities, ensuring the shift to rail transport, which is less polluting than road transport, while also decreasing road congestion. Furthermore, access to the planned infrastructure will be open to all interested companies based on non-discriminatory and transparent market terms. On that basis, the Commission concluded that the individual aid measure is compatible with EU State aid rules, in particular Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union regarding transport coordination. More information will be available on the Commission's competition website in the public case register under the case numbers SA.55679 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 the light control units business of OSRAM Continental by Continental

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of the light control units business of OSRAM Continental GmbH by Continental AG, both of Germany. The light control units business of OSRAM Continental manufactures and supplies light control units used to control automotive lighting systems. Continental is active in the manufacture and supply of various components and spare parts, notably for the automotive industry. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given the lack 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.10167. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)  

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Advania by Goldman Sachs

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Advania AB of Sweden by Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (‘Goldman Sachs') of the UK.  Advania is an information technology service corporation which offers integrated total solutions for the business community comprising software, hardware and maintenance and operation services, by providing a range of IT related services, platforms, cloud services, and support. Goldman Sachs is a global investment banking, securities and investment management firm which provides a range of banking, securities and investment services worldwide. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. 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.10199. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

STATEMENTS

Journée internationale des Roms: Déclaration de la vice-présidente Jourová, de la commissaire Dalli et du commissaire Várhelyi

Les Roms constituent la communauté minoritaire la plus importante d'Europe: ils sont 10 à 12 millions dans l'UE et la région concernée par l'élargissement. Bien que leur situation se soit améliorée tant dans l'UE que dans la région visée par l'élargissement — principalement dans le domaine de l'éducation — l'Europe a encore beaucoup à faire pour parvenir à une véritable égalité pour les Roms. À la veille de la Journée internationale des Roms, le 8 avril, Vĕra Jourová, vice-présidente chargée des valeurs et de la transparence, Helena Dalli, commissaire chargée de l'égalité, et Olivér Várhelyi, commissaire chargé du voisinage et des négociations d'élargissement, ont fait une déclaration: « À l'occasion de la Journée internationale des Roms, nous célébrons, avec notre plus grande minorité ethnique européenne, la contribution unique apportée par celle-ci à la diversité et au patrimoine européens. Nous commémorons également le 50^e anniversaire du premier Congrès mondial des Roms. De nombreux Roms toutefois sont toujours victimes dans leur vie quotidienne de préjugés, de discriminations, d'antitsiganisme et d'exclusion socio-économique. En outre, la pandémie mondiale a durement touché les communautés roms. Nous devons tout mettre en œuvre pour remédier non seulement à la crise actuelle qui les frappe, mais aussi pour apporter de réels changements sur le terrain. À cette fin, la Commission européenne a adopté un cadre stratégique ambitieux de l'UE pour les Roms, nouveau plan décennal de soutien à ces derniers pour leur permettre de parvenir à l'égalité dans l'Union européenne et au-delà de ses frontières. » Le nouveau cadre stratégique de l'UE en faveur des Roms contribue directement à la mise en œuvre du plan d'action de l'UE contre le racisme 2020-2025, et fait partie de l'engagement de la présidente von der Leyen en faveur d'une Union de l'égalité. L'égalité des Roms a également été abordée lors du premier sommet européen contre le racisme. Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter la déclaration complète en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Adalbert Jahnz — Tél. + 32 229 53156; Katarzyna Kolanko — Tél.: + 32 229 63444)

World Health Day: Statement by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides

On the occasion of World Health Day, Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, made the following statement: “Since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been clear that collaboration and solidarity offer the surest path out of this crisis and towards healthier and more equal societies. Yet tomorrow, as we celebrate World Health Day, health inequalities remain a daily reality for so many of our citizens in the European Union. Even before COVID-19 put our health systems and hospitals to the test, access to quality healthcare services was not a given for everyone in the EU. Whilst the pandemic has affected each and every one of us, vulnerable groups in our society have been more exposed to the disease. The measures taken to keep the pandemic under control have had a more detrimental effect on those in already vulnerable positions, including those from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities. On our side, by joining forces through the EU Vaccines Strategy, we are ensuring that all Member States have access to safe and effective vaccines, under the same conditions and at the same time, with a clear priority given to the most vulnerable and exposed persons. Over the past year, we have also been working with Member States to improve access to health services and to mitigate the negative consequences of the pandemic on our health systems. As we are learning from our experience with this crisis, we are laying the foundations for a stronger European Health Union. We will enhance the protection of citizens by supporting Member States to ensure high quality healthcare and making health systems more resilient to face future crises. And beyond our own borders, we will continue to support global cooperation on health challenges by supporting COVAX and by helping other countries to make their health systems more responsive and resilient. By doing so, we are clearly committed to improving health, reducing inequalities, increasing protection against global health threats and building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.” The full statement is available here. (For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Stephan Meder – Tel.: +32 229 13917)

Eurostat press releases