Daily News 11 / 11 / 2021

Prévisions économiques de l'automne 2021: de la reprise à l'expansion malgré les turbulences

L'économie de l'UE rebondit plus vite que prévu après la récession induite par la pandémie. À la faveur des progrès des campagnes de vaccination et de la levée progressive des restrictions, la croissance a repris au printemps et s'est maintenue tout au long de l'été, soutenue par la réouverture de l'économie. Malgré des obstacles croissants, l'économie de l'UE devrait poursuivre son expansion au cours de la période couverte par les prévisions, et enregistrer un taux de croissance de 5 % en 2021, de 4,3 % en 2022 et de 2,5 % en 2023. Affichant près de 14 % en termes annuels, le taux de croissance du PIB dans l'UE au deuxième trimestre 2021 a été le plus élevé jamais enregistré, tout comme la chute sans précédent du PIB lors de la première vague de la pandémie à la même période l'année dernière. Au troisième trimestre de 2021, l'économie de l'UE a retrouvé son niveau de production d'avant la pandémie et est passée d'une phase de reprise à une phase d'expansion. Néanmoins, la dynamique de croissance est confrontée à de nouvelles turbulences. Des goulets d'étranglement et des perturbations dans les chaînes d'approvisionnement mondiales étouffent l'activité dans l'UE, en particulier dans son secteur manufacturier hautement intégré. Bien que les incidences de la pandémie sur l'activité économique aient considérablement diminué, la COVID-19 n'a pas encore été neutralisée et la reprise dépend fortement de son évolution, tant dans l'UE qu'en dehors. Un communiqué de presse et les prévisions économiques de l'automne 2021 sont disponibles en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Veerle Nuyts – Tél.: +32 229 96302; Andrea Masini – Tél.: +32 229 91519)

President von der Leyen stresses accomplishments of the strong EU-US partnership upon receiving Atlantic Council's Distinguished Leadership Award

Yesterday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the Atlantic Council's Distinguished Leadership Award in Washington DC, honouring her for “her lifetime of accomplishment as a true European and transatlantic citizen, and for her positive impact advancing a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace”. In her acceptance speech, the President expressed that she feels like a European and transatlantic citizen, thanks to her upbringing and life journey: “The story of the transatlantic ties is made of millions of stories like mine. But most importantly, it's made of shared values and interests between the two shores of the Ocean.” The President highlighted that the EU and the US are “natural partners”, who together can shape the economic recovery, fight climate change, rewrite modern rules for the global economy and protect democracy. The President notably recalled the joint efforts and pledges announced at the COP26 in Glasgow only days ago as well as cooperation in the EU-US Trade and Technology Council to diversify and improve resilience. Finally, President von der Leyen urged: “It is again time to stand up for the values that define our democracies. We believe in the freedom of citizens with both rights and responsibilities. We believe in the rule of law, every human being is equal before the law. We believe in the dignity of every person and thus the fundamental rights. It is again time to speak up for our democracies.” Read the full speech online and watch it back here. (For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150)

Climate migration: Joint Research Centre report highlights importance of focusing on local adaptation solutions

Today, the Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes a new report on climate change-induced displacement in and from Africa. The report highlights the need for a joint effort in migration, climate adaptation and development policies to protect the affected communities as adverse impacts of environmental change continue to undermine their livelihoods. Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said: “Data-driven and evidence-based research is fundamental for understanding and responding efficiently to global challenges such as the impact of climate change on human populations and mobility. The JRC report sheds some more light on this very complex topic and can help us in setting priorities for the years to come.” Today's report quantifies the populations that will be exposed and vulnerable to climate change impacts in the future and identifies associations between climate change and net migration in the recent past. Global climate patterns are changing, triggering slow changes in ecosystems and agricultural productivity or sudden onset disasters, including hurricanes, heat waves and droughts. Climate change will have a profound impact on population dynamics, but research shows that the reality is complex. In an effort to understand to what extent migration can represent a coping strategy for the communities hit by climate change impacts, JRC scientists analysed past trends and future population projections through the lenses of different climate scenarios. The EU is active in providing support and targeted relief to prevent the negative impacts of climate change and to foster adaptation strategies in the most affected regions. Besides its ambitious action on climate mitigation, climate adaptation is an absolute priority for the EU. In February, the Commission adopted a new Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change, setting out the path to prepare for the unavoidable impacts of climate change and become climate-resilient by 2050 in the EU and around the world. In 2020, close to 50% of the funding for developing countries was dedicated to either climate adaptation or cross-cutting action (climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives). Earlier this week, the Commission announced a new pledge of €100 million for the Adaptation Fund. Find more information in the report and news item. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel.: + 32 229 58615; Célia Dejond – Tel.: +32 229 88199)

La commissaire McGuinness annonce la voie à suivre proposée pour la compensation centrale

Hier, Mairead McGuinness, commissaire chargée des services financiers, de la stabilité financière et de l'union des marchés des capitaux, a annoncé la voie à suivre proposée par la Commission pour la compensation centrale. La Commission reste d'avis considère que la dépendance excessive à l'égard des contreparties centrales (CCP) établies au Royaume-Uni pour certaines activités de compensation est une source de risque pour la stabilité financière à moyen terme et poursuivra ses travaux visant à développer la capacité des contreparties centrales établies dans l'UE afin de réduire cette dépendance excessive. Toutefois, afin de faire face à un risque éventuel de stabilité financière à court terme, lié à une interruption brutale de l'accès aux services de compensation pour les banques européennes, la Commission proposera bientôt une extension de l'équivalence pour les contreparties centrales établies au Royaume-Uni. La Commission a également l'intention de proposer l'an prochain des mesures visant à rendre les contreparties centrales établies dans l'UE plus attractives pour les acteurs du marché, en tenant compte des résultats de l'évaluation actuellement menée par l'AEMF sur l'importance systémique des contreparties centrales établies au Royaume-Uni. Le commissaire McGuinness a déclaré: « La voie à suivre proposée établit un équilibre entre la préservation de la stabilité financière à court terme — qui nécessite de prendre une décision d'équivalence afin d'éviter une rupture brutale pour les acteurs du marché de l'UE — et la préservation de la stabilité financière à moyen terme, qui nous oblige à réduire cette dépendance excessive risquée à l'égard d'un pays tiers. L'extension de l'équivalence devrait être suffisamment longue pour nous permettre de réviser le système de surveillance des contreparties centrales de l'UE. » La déclaration complète est disponible ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Veerle Nuyts — Tél.: +32 229 96302; Aikaterini Apostola — Tél.: +32 229 87624)

State aid: Commission approves €208 million German federal ‘umbrella' scheme to compensate companies active in trade fairs and congress sector for damage suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €208 million German federal umbrella scheme to compensate companies active in the trade fairs and congress sector for damages suffered due to the coronavirus outbreak. It follows another similar German scheme that the Commission approved in January 2021 (SA.59173). The scheme will be open to owners and operators of fairs and congress infrastructure in Germany, as well as intermediary companies that lease trade fairs and congress infrastructure from the owner to third parties, as well as those third parties leasing it. In order to be eligible, companies must have incurred a loss of profit between 1 January and 31 December 2021 due to the restrictive measures put in place by the 'Länder'. The scheme covers up to 100% of the loss of profit directly resulting from a government prohibition of all events or of all large events (with a capped number of allowed attendees). In general, the damage will be calculated as the difference between the average operating profits in the reference period in the years 2018 and 2019, and the actual profits in the same period in 2021. A beneficiary cannot claim compensation in relation to periods when in the Land concerned there were no prohibitions on trade fairs and congresses. In case of prohibition of only large events (which could thus still take place, but with a cap on attendees), losses that may result from lower attendance than still allowed (e.g. due to general reluctance of people to attend such events), cannot be compensated since they are not linked to the governmental measures. The scheme includes a claw-back mechanism, whereby any possible public support in excess of the actual damage received by the beneficiaries will have to be paid back to the relevant granting public authority. The Commission assessed the measure under Article 107(2)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which enables the Commission to approve State aid measures granted by Member States to compensate specific companies or specific sectors for the damages caused by exceptional occurrences, such as the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission found that the German scheme will compensate damages that are directly linked to the coronavirus outbreak. It also found that the measure is proportionate, as the envisaged compensation does not exceed what is necessary to make good the damages. The Commission therefore concluded that the scheme is in line with EU State aid rules. More information on the 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.64494 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)

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of joint control of Open Fiber by CDP and Macquarie

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Open Fiber S.p.A. by CDP Equity S.p.A., both of Italy, and Macquarie Group Limited of Australia. Open Fiber, currently jointly controlled by CDP Equity and Enel S.p.A., is a wholesale-only operator developing, managing and maintaining an optical fibre network in Italy. CDP Equity is a long-term investor in companies of significant national Italian interest, solely controlled by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A. (‘CDP') which, in turn, is solely controlled by the Italian State. CDP is also a minority shareholder and a board member in Telecom Italia S.p.A. (‘TIM'), the Italian telecommunications incumbent. Macquarie is a multinational investment bank that manages, among others, funds investing in infrastructure and other real assets. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given the absence of horizontal overlaps or vertical relationships between the activities of Macquarie (including its portfolio companies) and Open Fiber. Finally, the Commission also assessed whether, in light of CDP's interests in TIM, the transaction would increase the risks of coordination between Open Fiber and TIM. Without prejudice to the applicability of Article 101 and 102 TFEU or any other national equivalent provision on possible anticompetitive effects, the Commission has concluded that the possible anticompetitive concerns are not specific to the proposed transaction, as CDP Equity already had joint control over Open Fiber. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information will be available on the competition website, in the Commission's public case register under the case number M.10450. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Nippo by Eneos and Goldman Sachs

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Nippo by Eneos, both of Japan, and Goldman Sachs of the US. Nippo manufactures and sells asphalt mixtures exclusively outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Eneos is a diversified company active in energy, oil, metal and gas development. Goldman Sachs is a global investment bank active in securities and investment management. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because Nippo has no activities in the EEA and there is no link between the activities of Nippo and those of Eneos and Goldman Sachs. 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.10466. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

La présidente von der Leyen et des membres du Collège participent au Forum de Paris sur la Paix

La quatrième édition du Forum de Paris sur la Paix se tiendra du 11 au 13 novembre 2021, sous forme hybride. Sur base de l'édition 2020, la réunion de cette année est axée sur la recherche de solutions multilatérales aux défis posés par la pandémie de COVID-19 afin de garantir une reprise inclusive, tout en remédiant aux lacunes de la gouvernance mondiale: le déficit d'action, d'ambition, d'inclusion, et l'écart de solidarité Nord-Sud. L'Union européenne étant un partenaire stratégique du forum, les dirigeants de l'UE participent depuis la première édition du forum à la vision commune d'un multilatéralisme renforcé et inclusif, et d'une gouvernance mondiale forte. Aujourd'hui, le 11 novembre, la présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, prendra la parole lors d'une session en ligne sur les questions numériques et les technologies. Le haut représentant/vice-président Josep Borrell interviendra également lors de la session « L'ère de la non-paix: Préserver la coopération internationale pour un avenir plus pacifique » cet après-midi. La commissaire chargée des partenariats internationaux, Jutta Urpilainen, participera par vidéoconférence à un débat sur la gestion de la transition numérique « partenariats mondiaux pour un internet ouvert et libre ». Le vendredi, 12 novembre, elle présentera également par vidéoconférence l'initiative Team Europe sur la production et l'accès aux vaccins, aux médicaments et technologies de santé en Afrique. Le même jour, Věra Jourová, vice-présidente chargée des valeurs et de la transparence, participera à une session consacrée à la promotion de l'intégrité de l'information grâce à l'initiative JTI (Journalism Trust Initiative). Le samedi, elle accueillera favorablement la création de l'Observatoire international de l'information et de la démocratie. Le programme du haut représentant Borrell inclura également sa participation ce vendredi à la conférence internationale sur la Libye, coprésidée par la France, l'Allemagne et l'Italie. Cette conférence aura lieu à un moment crucial pour le pays et dans la perspective de la prochaine période électorale, qui débutera le 24 décembre. (Pour plus d'informations: Ana Pisonero - Tél.: +32 229 54320; Christian Wigand - Tél.: +32 229 62253; Nabila Massrali - Tél.: +32 229 88093)

EU at COP26: Executive Vice-President Timmermans to brief press on negotiations in Glasgow

Today, Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans will give a press conference at 16:00 CET on the state of play of negotiations at COP26, together with MEP Peter Liese. You can follow the press conference live. He is also holding a number of bilateral meetings with negotiators, with Xie Zhenhua, special climate envoy for China; Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Environment Minister of Japan; Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Labour and Employment, Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India; and Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Climate and Environment of Norway. In the evening, he will again brief youth representatives on the progress of the negotiations and meet with Jennifer Morgan, Executive Director of Greenpeace International. This morning, the Executive Vice-President and EU ministers received UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the daily EU coordination meeting. You can find Executive Vice-President Timmermans' speech at yesterday's stocktaking plenary here. (For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 229 58602; Lynn Rietdorf – Tel.: +32 229 74959)

Vice-President Schinas in the United Arab Emirates to address the situation at the Poland-Belarus border

Today, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, is in Dubai as part of the follow-up to President von der Leyen's statement on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border. The visit is the first of Vice-President's travels to partner countries key to helping put a stop to the instrumentalisation of people by the Lukashenko regime. The Vice-President will meet with H.E. Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the United Arab Emirates President, and H.E Reem al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation Affairs and Director General EXPO2020. Vice-President Schinas will travel to Beirut tomorrow and to other countries in the coming days. (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz - Tel.: +32 229 53156; Ciara Bottomley - Tel.: +32 229 69971; Laura Bérard - Tel.: +32 229 55721)

Commissioner Gabriel in Denmark to discuss innovation and start-ups as key drivers for the green and digital transition

Today, Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, is on an official visit to Denmark, which will focus on the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve the goals of the green and digital transition and to ensure an economy that works for all. Commissioner Gabriel will meet with Professor Anders Overgaard Bjarklev, President of the Technical University of Denmark, where she will later attend the presentation of the living lab for innovation and entrepreneurship, DTU Skylab. Located at the main university campus, DTU Skylab is serving as an open community platform for students, researchers and corporate partners to exchange knowledge and develop visionary solutions for real world challenges. She will also meet with the Tech Nordic Advocates, Northern Europe's largest tech network of start-ups, investors, universities and public sector organisations. Among other things, they run the ‘Women-in-Tech' growth support programme – an International Mentoring, Accelerator and Umbrella Venture Fund programme, designed to help women in tech launch, grow and scale technology businesses. Commissioner Gabriel will later deliver a keynote speech at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards, where she will meet with the local tech start-ups. The visit recognises the work of home-grown networking groups of investors, researchers and entrepreneurs ensuring Europe's Digital transformation by 2030. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel.: +32 229 58615; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 229 83583)

Liste des points prévus à l'ordre du jour des prochaines réunions de la Commission

Veuillez noter que ces informations sont données sous réserve de modifications.

Prochains événements de la Commission européenne

Eurostat: communiqués de presse

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