Daily News 21 / 04 / 2021

COLLEGE MEETING: Europe fit for the Digital Age: Commission proposes new rules and actions for excellence and trust in Artificial Intelligence

The Commission proposes today new rules and actions aiming to turn Europe into the global hub for trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI). The combination of the first-ever legal framework on AI and a new Coordinated Plan with Member States will guarantee the safety and fundamental rights of people and businesses, while strengthening AI uptake, investment and innovation across the EU. New rules on Machinery will complement this approach by adapting safety rules to increase users' trust in the new, versatile generation of products. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, said: “On Artificial Intelligence, trust is a must, not a nice to have. With these landmark rules, the EU is spearheading the development of new global norms to make sure AI can be trusted. By setting the standards, we can pave the way to ethical technology worldwide and ensure that the EU remains competitive along the way. Future-proof and innovation-friendly, our rules will intervene where strictly needed: when the safety and fundamental rights of EU citizens are at stake.” Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said: “AI is a means, not an end. It has been around for decades but has reached new capacities fueled by computing power. This offers immense potential in areas as diverse as health, transport, energy, agriculture, tourism or cyber security. It also presents a number of risks. Today's proposals aim to strengthen Europe's position as a global hub of excellence in AI from the lab to the market, ensure that AI in Europe respects our values and rules, and harness the potential of AI for industrial use.” For years, the Commission has been facilitating and enhancing cooperation on AI across the EU to boost its competitiveness and ensure trust based on EU values. The new AI regulation will make sure that Europeans can trust what AI has to offer. Proportionate and flexible rules will address the specific risks posed by AI systems and set the highest standard worldwide. The Coordinated Plan outlines the necessary policy changes and investment at Member States level to strengthen Europe's leading position in the development of human-centric, sustainable, secure, inclusive and trustworthy AI. You will find more information on the press release, Q&A document and factpage, or by asking the chatbot. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Charles  Manoury – Tel.: +32 229 13391)

RÉUNION DU COLLEGE : Initiative citoyenne européenne: La Commission décide d'enregistrer deux initiatives citoyennes

La Commission européenne a décidé aujourd'hui d'enregistrer deux initiatives citoyennes européennes (ICE) intitulées « Programme d'échange européen de fonctionnaire » et « Végétalisation des toitures ». Les organisateurs de l'initiative « Programme d'échange européen de fonctionnaire » invitent la Commission à lancer un programme d'échange et de formation entre des fonctionnaires des États membres de l'Union européenne. L'objectif du programme est d'offrir une expérience professionnelle aux fonctionnaires dans un service similaire dans un autre État membre pendant une période de 2 à 12 mois. Les organisateurs de l'initiative « Végétalisation des toitures » invitent la Commission à faciliter la création de jardins verts sur les toits des entreprises. Ainsi, les toits inutilisés pourraient contribuer à l'environnement. La Commission considère que les deux initiatives sont juridiquement recevables puisqu'elles remplissent les conditions requises et a donc décidé de les enregistrer. La Commission n'a pas analysé le contenu des initiatives à ce stade. Le communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne et de plus amples informations sur le mécanisme de l'ICE sont disponibles sur le site web. (Pour plus d'informations: Christian Wigand – Tél.: +32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tél.: +32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli – Tél.: +32 229 92729)

Education and skills: Commission launches public consultation to support lifelong learning and employability

The Commission has launched a public consultation on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability. During the next 12 weeks, the consultation will collect ideas for a common definition of micro-credentials – recognition of short, targeted learning courses – and for the development of EU standards ensuring their quality and transparency. Within Europe, a growing number of people need to update their knowledge, skills and competences to fill in the gap between their formal education and the needs of a fast-changing society and labour market. Public and private stakeholders are rapidly developing short-term learning courses. ‘Micro-credentials' are a crucial step to certify the outcomes of these experiences, thus supporting people to improve or gain new skills throughout their careers and reaching out to a more diverse group of learners. Micro-credentials have the potential to make education more inclusive, and will promote flexible, short term learning opportunities. Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “In these unprecedented times, our learning opportunities need to adapt. They should be flexible, modular and accessible to anyone wanting to develop their competences. Our European approach to micro-credentials will facilitate the recognition and validation of these important short learning experiences. It will contribute to making lifelong learning a reality across the EU.” Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, said: “As Member States strive to meet the target of 60% of adults in annual training set by the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan, we need to make learning as user-centric as possible. Whether you take a short course in coding through a VET provider or learn a foreign language with a language school, your newly-acquired skills should be recognised throughout the European labour market. The public consultation that we launch today is an important step to put this flagship action from our European Skills Agenda into practice.” The public consultation is available online. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten – Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Papua New Guinea: EU allocates €1 million to strengthen the resilience of the most vulnerable during COVID-19

The EU has mobilised €1 million in emergency aid from the Epidemics Tool to assist those affected by COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea. The number of cases has skyrocketed in the last month, pushing the country's already stretched health system to the limit. The funding will support the International Committee of the Red Cross to implement a 6-month intervention focused on the most urgent needs such as increasing treatment capacity of public health care system, supporting local health authorities to scale up the response and providing assistance to vaccination campaigns. This emergency Epidemics Tool allows the EU to provide rapid funding in case of an epidemic outbreak in a humanitarian context. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Le Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe soutient l'éducation et la formation au Portugal

Le Fonds européen d'investissement (FEI) a accordé une garantie d'un montant maximum de 25 millions d'euros à la Caixa Geral de Depósitos pour promouvoir les investissements dans le secteur de l'éducation au Portugal. Le financement du FEI est garanti par le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques (FEIS), le pilier central du Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe. Grâce au soutien du FEI dans le cadre du projet pilote relatif aux garanties pour les compétences et l'éducation du FEIS, Caixa Geral de Depósitos développera deux produits de prêt visant à accroître sa capacité de prêt à la fois aux entreprises portugaises qui investissent dans le renforcement des compétences de leurs employés et aux organisations qui offrent des services d'éducation et de formation. Nicolas Schmit, commissaire à l'emploi et aux droits sociaux, a déclaré : « Pour sortir de cette crise de manière inclusive et durable, il est primordial d'investir dans l'éducation et l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie. Grâce au soutien de la garantie budgétaire de l'UE, le Fonds européen d'investissement et Caixa Geral de Depósitos s'associent pour fournir des financements aux entreprises portugaises qui souhaitent investir dans la reconversion et le perfectionnement professionnels de leurs salariés. Je salue cette approche innovante et j'espère que de nombreuses autres entreprises et organisations suivront leur exemple. » Jusqu'à présent, le Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe a mobilisé 546 milliards d'euros d'investissements dans l'ensemble de l'UE, dont 14 milliards au Portugal. Le communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Marta Wieczorek – Tél.: +32 229 58197; Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 229 83951)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Simson participates in clean energy transatlantic events

In this important week for international climate action, Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, participates today via videoconference in three key transatlantic energy events. Cooperation with the US government and energy stakeholders, and exchanging experiences and ambitions for the clean energy transition will be on top of the agenda. This afternoon at 15:00 CET, Commissioner Simson will join US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm in a panel discussion on Just Transitions to a Global Clean Energy Future around the world. Afterwards, she will attend a transatlantic executive dialogue on “Harmonizing Efforts to Achieve Net Zero", to discuss transatlantic cooperation for achieving net zero goals, including in legislation, technology innovation, investment and finance. Lastly, the Commissioner will deliver closing remarks at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center online event ‘Raising Ambitions: developing the offshore wind industry'. More information is available here. (For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel: +32 229 58602; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel: +32 229 81325)

Commissioner Johansson travels to Slovenia ahead of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union and to Croatia

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia, to prepare for the incoming Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Commissioner will meet with the Minister of Interior, Aleš Hojs; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anže Logar, and Members of the Slovenian National Assembly. The Commissioner will discuss with the incoming Slovenian Presidency the key priorities in the area of Home Affairs, such as the upcoming Strategy on the future of Schengen, the New Pact on Migration and Asylum as well as European internal security, including the Counter-Terrorism Agenda and the EU strategy to tackle organised crime. In the margins, Commissioner Johansson will also meet with the Chair of the Frontex Management Board, Marko Gašperlin, to discuss the implementation of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation and the governance of the Agency. On Friday, the Commissioner will visit Croatia for a meeting in Zagreb with Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Davor Božinović, to discuss Schengen and migration management. (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz - Tel.: + 32 229 53156; Ciara Bottomley - Tel.: +32 229 69971; Laura Bérard - Tel.: +32 229 55721)

Eurostat press releases