Daily News 07 / 07 / 2021

Prévisions économiques de l'été 2021: la réouverture alimente la reprise

Selon les prévisions économiques intermédiaires de l'été 2021, l'économie de l'UE et de la zone euro devrait connaître une croissance de 4,8 % cette année et de 4,5 % en 2022. L'économie européenne devrait rebondir un peu plus vite que prévu précédemment, étant donné qu'au premier trimestre de l'année, l'activité a été supérieure aux attentes et qu'au deuxième trimestre, l'amélioration de la situation sanitaire a entraîné un relâchement plus rapide des restrictions visant à lutter contre la pandémie. La consommation et l'investissement privés devraient être les principaux moteurs de la croissance, soutenus par l'emploi qui devrait évoluer parallèlement à l'activité économique. La forte croissance des économies des principaux partenaires commerciaux de l'UE devrait être bénéfique pour les exportations de biens européens, tandis que les exportations de services devraient souffrir des contraintes qui persistent pour le tourisme international. La facilité pour la reprise et la résilience (FRR) devrait apporter une contribution significative à la croissance. La richesse totale engendrée par la FRR au cours de la période couverte par les prévisions correspondrait à environ 1,2 % du PIB réel de l'UE de 2019. Les prévisions quant à l'impulsion qu'elle donnera à la croissance restent globalement inchangées par rapport aux précédentes; en effet, les informations tirées des plans pour la reprise et la résilience présentés officiellement ces derniers mois confirment largement l'évaluation réalisée au printemps. Un communiqué de presse et les prévisions économiques de l'été 2021 sont disponibles en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Marta Wieczorek – Tél.: +32 229 58197; Enda McNamara – Tél.: +32 229 64976)

Mid-Term Evaluation of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey: EU support made a significant contribution to the welfare of Syrians and others fleeing conflict in the region

Within the framework of the March 2016 EU-Turkey Statement, the European Union, through the Facility for Refugees in Turkey, has mobilised €6 billion in assistance to refugees in Turkey. The independent evaluation finds that the Facility for Refugees in Turkey has made a significant contribution to the welfare of Syrians and others fleeing conflict in the region in areas such as health, education, protection and socio-economic support. However, the report also finds that the EU needs to do more to mitigate social tensions for refugees, including developing a social cohesion strategy. As the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced at the European Council of 24-25 June, the EU Budget would provide €3 billion over 2021-2023, demonstrating the EU's continued solidarity with refugees and host communities in Turkey. President von der Leyen said: “Ten years into the Syrian conflict, our partners in the region still carry the lion's share of the burden. It is our collective challenge to protect the refugees and support their hosts.” Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “This evaluation is a valuable source of information on the EU's Facility for Refugees in Turkey; we will draw inspiration from this to guide the mobilisation of the €3 billion in additional socioeconomic support to refugees from the EU Budget so they can make their own living, a key investment for their future and the stability of the region and beyond. I look forward to continuing our good cooperation with Turkey on this joint effort.” A press release is available online together with the Main Report of the Strategic Mid-Term Evaluation, a factsheet, the Fifth Annual Report and an overview of projects on the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey. (For more information: Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150; Peter Stano - Tel: +32 229 54553 ; Elisa Castillo Nieto – Tel.: +32 229 63803)

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund to support sustainable oceans approved

The Regulation establishing the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) under the EU's 2021-2027 long-term budget was adopted yesterday by the European Parliament with an overwhelming majority. The adoption follows a political agreement reached with the Council at the end of 2020. With a total budget of €6,108 billion (2021-2027), the EMFAF will provide financial support to protect, manage and sustainably use the ocean and its resources contributing thus to the objectives of the European Green Deal. This is key to promoting biodiversity, the supply of healthy and sustainable seafood, including from aquaculture, the competitiveness of the blue economy and thriving coastal communities in the EU. Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for environment, oceans and fisheries said: “I welcome this vote by the European Parliament. The new fund enters into force at an important juncture. The coming years will be crucial for our efforts to making EU fisheries still more sustainable, while securing the livelihoods of our fishermen and women. The EMFAF will also enable us to support the green recovery of Europe's blue economy and underpin EU's leading role in promoting sustainable ocean governance worldwide. I now call on Member States to finalise their national programmes as a priority, so together we can continue delivering on our shared commitment to a healthier ocean.” Member States are expected to finalise their programmes in the coming months, to ensure that the funds can be put to work as soon as possible. More information is in the news item. (For more information: Vivian Loonela - Tel.: +32 229 66712; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

Alliance européenne pour les batteries : le vice-président Šefčovič à Paris pour la signature d'un deuxième protocole d'accord sur les compétences

Hier, Maroš Šefčovič, vice-président chargé des relations interinstitutionnelles et de la prospective, s'est rendu à Paris pour participer à la cérémonie de signature du protocole d'accord (MoU) pour mettre en œuvre l'académie de batteries EBA250, un partenariat public-privé sur les services d'apprentissage, couvrant l'ensemble de la chaîne de valeur des batteries. Signé par l'EIT InnoEnergy, par Elisabeth Borne, la Ministre du travail, de l'emploi et de l'intégration, et par Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Ministre déléguée chargée de l'Industrie, le protocole d'accord constitue une autre étape concrète importante dans l'élaboration de la stratégie de l'UE en matière de compétences dans le secteur des batteries. Il permettra de former environ 150,000 personnes en France d'ici à 2025, contribuant ainsi à faire face à une pénurie de compétences prévue à l'échelle européenne. L'industrie elle-même estime que, d'ici à 2025, il pourrait manquer quelque 800,000 emplois dans l'ensemble de la chaîne de valeur des batteries. À cette occasion, le vice-président Šefčovič a déclaré: « 2021 pourrait être une nouvelle année décisive pour l'Alliance européenne pour les batteries, notamment grâce à notre action collective résolue pour relever le défi des compétences qui se dessine rapidement. La nouvelle industrie des batteries requiert un nouvel ensemble de compétences. Les programmes de reconversion et de mise à niveau des compétences, tels que l'académie EBA250, contribueront donc à mettre les compétences en adéquation avec les besoins du marché du travail et à renforcer la dimension sociale de la reprise en Europe. Dans ce contexte, je suis heureux de constater que l'Europe reste un point d'accès mondial pour les investissements dans les batteries. D'ici à 2025, nous allons fabriquer chaque année suffisamment de cellules de batteries pour alimenter au moins six millions de voitures électriques. » La mission de l'académie des batteries EBA250 consiste à mettre en place des programmes de formation et de requalification afin de fournir une main-d'œuvre hautement qualifiée à notre nouvel écosystème émergent de batteries dans tous les États membres. Avec la France, EIT InnoEnergy met déjà en œuvre l'académie EBA250 en Espagne, le premier protocole d'accord ayant été signé le 20 mai 2021, et prévoit de déployer le programme dans toute l'Europe en 2021. La cérémonie de signature d'hier avec le discours du vice-président Šefčovič peut être visionnée sur EbS. (Pour plus d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 229 66953; Célia Dejond – Tél.: +32 229 88199; Federica Miccoli – Tél. +32 229 88199)

Coronavirus: EU channels assistance to Namibia

To help the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia, a plane carrying vital items offered by Germany is on its way to Namibia's capital Windhoek, and is expected to arrive on 8 July 2021. The delivery of the aid, consisting of personal protection equipment, antigen tests and intensive care beds, was coordinated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is in addition to the medical items delivered last week by Finland. Belgium has also offered medical supplies. Namibia, facing an increase in COVID-19 cases since the beginning of June, requested this assistance by activating the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and the delivery of aid is coordinated by the EU. Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič welcomed the offers by the EU Member States, as another tangible example of EU solidarity in the face of the pandemic. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 229 69140)

State aid: Commission publishes results of evaluation of EU State aid rules for deployment of broadband networks

The European Commission has published a Commission Staff Working Document summarising the results of an evaluation of the State aid rules for the deployment of broadband networks: (i) the Broadband Guidelines and (ii) the corresponding provisions of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The evaluation concludes that, overall, the existing rules work well and are fit for purpose. However, some adjustments may be necessary to adapt the current rules to recent technological progress and to align them with the current EU policy objectives, in particular the EU 2025 Gigabit Society and 2030 Digital Compass. In this respect, the evaluation has indicated that stakeholders would welcome an alignment of the intervention thresholds with Gigabit targets, as well as further guidance on compatible State aid measures for the deployment of mobile networks and measures aiming at stimulating demand. The Commission will take the results of the evaluation into account when reviewing the existing rules. Within the coming weeks, the Commission will publish a roadmap and will invite stakeholders to share their views on this document. A public consultation on the draft revised Guidelines will then take place in autumn 2021. The Commission aims at adopting revised Guidelines that will further enable interventions by public authorities to ensure a fair digital transformation of the EU, in line with the Next Generation EU Programme and the Digital Strategy. A full press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

State aid: Commission approves €1.15 million Romanian scheme to support airlines in the context of the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved a €1.15 million Romanian scheme to support airlines affected by the coronavirus outbreak resuming or starting regular flights from/to Târgu Mureș Transilvania Airport. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. Under the scheme, the public support will take the form of direct grants up to a maximum of €600,000 per beneficiary. The aid amount per company will be calculated based on an individual score derived from certain evaluation factors, such as for example the number of flights per week. The purpose of the scheme is to mitigate the sudden liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing due to the coronavirus outbreak and the restrictive measures that the Romanian government had to implement to limit the spread of the virus. The Commission found that the Romanian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed the limits per beneficiary set by the Temporary Framework; and (ii) will be granted no later than 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) TFEU and the conditions set out in 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.63319 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; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Competition: European Commission publishes 2020 Report on Competition Policy

The European Commission has published today a Report on Competition Policy for 2020, presenting the key policy and legislative initiatives undertaken last year, as well as a selection of decisions adopted. In 2020, EU competition policy significantly contributed to the Commission's efforts to respond to the coronavirus outbreak, both in terms of the healthcare emergency, as well as on its impact on the livelihoods of citizens. The State aid Temporary Framework, adopted at the beginning of the crisis, has enabled Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. In the area of Antitrust, the Commission published a Communication providing guidance to companies cooperating on projects aimed at addressing supply shortages of essential coronavirus-relevant products and services, such as medicines and medical equipment. Furthermore, despite the challenges brought forward by the changed working conditions, in 2020, the Commission took several decisions in this field, among which 3 cartel decisions and 5 antitrust ones. It has also launched an antitrust inquiry into the sector of Internet of Things (IoT) for consumer-related products and services in the EU. Also in the area of merger control, the Commission adopted over 350 merger decisions and intervened in 18 cases (including 13 mergers cleared subject to commitments in first phase and 3 cleared with remedies after a second phase). The Commission also adopted a proposal for a Digital Markets Act to addresses the negative consequences arising from certain behaviours by platforms acting as digital 'gatekeepers' to the single market, and published White Paper, to develop tools and policies to better tackle the distortive effects of foreign subsidies in the internal market. The full text of the Report (available in EN, FR, and DE and other languages) and the accompanying staff working document (available in EN) are available here. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

NextGenerationEU: President von der Leyen in Cyprus and Croatia to present the Commission's assessment of the national recovery plans

Today and tomorrow, President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Cyprus and Croatia, to present the Commission's assessment on the national recovery and resilience plans under NextGenerationEU. This evening, President von der Leyen will travel to Cyprus, where she will meet members of the fire brigade and of the Department of Forestry who fought the devastating forest fires in the Limassol district this past weekend. In Nicosia, on Thursday morning, she will meet the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades. In the afternoon, the President will be in Zagreb for a meeting with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, and take part in a session of the Croatian government. The President will also visit projects which will receive funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility - the Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation at the University of Cyprus and an electric car company in Croatia. (For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150; Marta Wieczorek - Tel.: +32 229 58197)

Eurostat press releases

On 1 July, the Spokesperson's Service re-opened the Berlaymont press room to a limited number of journalists. For more information, please see here.