Daily News 04 / 08 / 2022

La Commission se félicite de la condamnation internationale de la Russie pour violation des règles de l'aviation et des sanctions de l'UE

La Commission se félicite de la décision de l'Organisation de l'aviation civile internationale (OACI), l'agence des Nations unies chargée de réglementer le transport aérien, de demander à la Fédération de Russie de cesser immédiatement d'enfreindre les règles de l'aviation internationale, afin de préserver la sécurité et la sûreté de l'aviation civile. La décision de l'OACI fait référence à la violation de l'espace aérien souverain de l'Ukraine dans le contexte de la guerre d'agression russe, ainsi qu'à la violation délibérée et continue, par le gouvernement russe, de plusieurs exigences en matière de sécurité dans le but de contourner les sanctions de l'UE. Ces violations consistent, notamment, en la double immatriculation illégale d'aéronefs en Russie volés auprès de compagnies de leasing et l'autorisation donnée aux compagnies aériennes russes d'exploiter ces aéronefs sur des liaisons internationales sans certificat de navigabilité, qui est le certificat de sécurité requis, en cours de validité. Adina Vălean, commissaire chargée des transports, a déclaré: « Il est de la plus haute importance que tous les pays défendent le système international fondé sur des règles dans le domaine de l'aviation, pour la sécurité des passagers et des équipages. La Russie continue d'enfreindre les règles fondamentales de l'aviation internationale et de donner instruction à ses compagnies aériennes de transgresser ces règles. Je salue la condamnation claire du Conseil de l'OACI, qui reflète la gravité des actes de la Russie. » Josep Borrell, le haut représentant/vice-président, a déclaré à ce sujet: « Les sanctions de l'UE, qui viennent s'ajouter à toutes les autres mesures que nous avons prises, visent à mettre un terme à l'invasion irresponsable et inhumaine de l'Ukraine par la Russie. Je salue donc le rapport de l'OACI, qui met en évidence une nouvelle violation flagrante des règles et normes internationales par la Russie, qui a pour effet de mettre des vies en danger, y compris celles de citoyens russes. » L'OACI a informé hier ses 193 États membres du non-respect flagrant par la Russie des règles essentielles du droit international de l'aviation et soumettra la question à sa prochaine assemblée générale, qui se tiendra du 27 septembre au 7 octobre 2022. Plus de détails dans le communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Adalbert Jahnz – Tél.: +32 229 53156; Anna Wartberger – Tél.: +32 229 82504)

REACT-EU: More than €31 million to support people fleeing Russia's aggression against Ukraine and for the economic recovery of four Polish regions*

The Commission has approved an investment of more than €31 million through REACT-EU under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for four Polish regions to strengthen their economy and the health and social infrastructure along with measures to welcome people fleeing the war in Ukraine. The voivodeship of Silesia will receive €12 million for improving the digitalisation of the region, increasing energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources and the development of a low-carbon economy. Western Pomerania will receive additional resources of more than €3 million to support local authorities and NGOs for projects related to the adaptation of existing infrastructure to ensure adequate conditions, including social and living conditions, for those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The Lublin region is receiving additional resources of almost €5 million for interventions in green energy production, digitalisation and energy efficiency of public sector buildings of the health sector. The Podkarpackie region receives €10 million for projects in renewable energy sources, to support the thermal insulation and modernisation of the buildings of the Mountain Rescue Services and to support refugees from Ukraine through investments in sheltered flats. The 2021 tranche of REACT-EU had allocated €40 billion to help Member States recovering from the pandemic, investing in digital and green transition and now hosting and integrating people fleeing the war in Ukraine. In addition, the Commission has paid €3.5 billion of pre-financing payments to Member States under REACT-EU since March 2022. The most recent comprehensive package ‘Flexible Assistance to Territories (FAST-CARE)', proposed by the Commission, further extends the support to Member States by offering additional flexibility in Cohesion Policy funding while also increasing pre-financing payments by an additional €3.5 billion to be paid in 2022 and 2023. The final date of eligibility for this expenditure is 31 December 2023. (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 229 53156; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 229 87269)    

State aid: Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for Denmark

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Denmark's map for granting regional aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027 within the framework of the revised Regional aid Guidelines (‘RAG'). The revised RAG, adopted by the Commission on 19 April 2021 and in force since 1 January 2022, enable Member States to support the least favoured European regions in catching up and to reduce disparities in terms of economic well-being, income and unemployment – cohesion objectives that are at the heart of the Union. They also provide increased possibilities for Member States to support regions facing transition or structural challenges such as depopulation, to contribute fully to the green and digital transitions. At the same time, the revised RAG maintain strong safeguards to prevent Member States from using public money to trigger the relocation of jobs from one EU Member State to another, which is essential for fair competition in the Single Market. Denmark's regional map defines the Danish regions eligible for regional investment aid. The map also establishes the maximum aid intensities in the eligible regions. The aid intensity is the maximum amount of State aid that can be granted per beneficiary, expressed as a percentage of eligible investment costs. Under the revised RAG, regions covering 7.5% of the population of Denmark will be eligible for regional investment aid under the derogation of Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU'). A press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

State aid: Commission approves €30 million Slovak scheme under Recovery and Resilience Facility to support intermodal freight transport

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €30 million Slovak scheme to encourage  freight transport to shift from road-only to combined road-rail and road-inland waterway transport. The scheme will be funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF'), following the Commission's positive assessment of the Slovak Recovery and Resilience Plan and its adoption by Council. The scheme will run until 31 December 2027. The purpose of the scheme is to support: (i) the development of new routes for unaccompanied combined freight transport involving a road leg and rail transport and/or inland waterway transport, and (ii) the purchase of new intermodal transport units. Under the scheme, the support will take form of direct grants to companies active in rail freight sector in Slovakia. The aid will cover up to: (i) 49% of the eligible costs in case of support for new routes; and (ii) 30% of the eligible costs in case of support for intermodal transport units. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union on transport coordination. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and proportionate to support transport coordination and  contributes to the development of a more sustainable freight transport with a view to reducing the negative environmental impact of road transport. The measure will therefore be beneficial both for the environment and for mobility. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid will have an 'incentive effect' as the beneficiaries would not carry out the investments in the absence of the public support. The Commission therefore concluded that the measure will contribute to transport coordination and facilitate the shift of freight transport from road to rail or inland waterways, in line with the objectives of the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the European Green Deal, without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. The Commission assesses measures entailing State aid contained in the national recovery plans presented in the context of the RRF as a matter of priority and has provided guidance and support to Member States in the preparatory phases of the national plans, to facilitate the rapid deployment of the RRF. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.64465 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; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

State aid: Commission approves €407 million Italian scheme to support companies of certain municipalities in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €407 million Italian scheme to support companies active in the municipalities affected by the earthquakes of 2009 and 2016 in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework and Temporary Crisis Framework. The scheme will be open to companies of all sizes that are located in certain municipalities of the regions of Lazio, Umbria, Marche and Abruzzo. The measure aims at reducing the risk of economic disruption faced by companies having a legal or an operative branch in the municipalities concerned, which are significantly affected by the socio-economic effects of the crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Under the scheme, the public support will take the form of direct grants and subsidised loans. The Commission found that the Italian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework and in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, aid assessed under the Temporary Framework (i) will not exceed 1% of the total budget of the scheme per beneficiary; and (ii) will benefit investments in tangible and intangible assets but not financial investments. Aid assessed under the Temporary Crisis Framework will not exceed €400,000 per company. In addition, the public support will be granted no later than 31 December 2022. The Commission therefore concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate (i) to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU; and (ii) to facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for a sustainable recovery of the economy, in line with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU. 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. More information on the Temporary Crisis Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.103316 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; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

Aides d'État: la Commission autorise la modification d'un régime français de subventions salariales pour soutenir les PME de secteurs particulièrement touchés par la pandémie de coronavirus

La Commission européenne a autorisé la modification d'un régime français de subventions salariales visant à soutenir les petites et moyennes entreprises (« PME ») de certains secteurs particulièrement touchés par la pandémie de coronavirus et par les mesures restrictives que le gouvernement français a dû mettre en œuvre pour limiter la propagation du virus. La modification a été autorisée en vertu de l'encadrement temporaire en matière d'aides d'État. Le régime existant a été approuvé le 27 juillet 2021 (SA.62999). La France a notamment notifié à la Commission (i) la prolongation des périodes d'emploi éligibles aux mois de mai à août 2021, de novembre à décembre 2021 ainsi que de janvier à février 2022, et (ii) l'augmentation du budget de 500 million d'euros, portant le budget total du régime à 8,9 milliards d'euros. La Commission a estimé que la mesure d'aide française, telle que modifiée, reste nécessaire, appropriée et proportionnée pour remédier à une perturbation grave de l'économie d'un État membre, conformément à l'article 107, paragraphe 3, point b) du TFUE et aux conditions énoncées dans l'encadrement temporaire. Sur cette base, la Commission a autorisé le régime modifié en vertu des règles de l'UE en matière d'aides d'État. De plus amples informations sur l'encadrement temporaire et les autres mesures prises par la Commission pour faire face à l'incidence économique de la pandémie disponibles ici. La version non confidentielle de la décision sera publiée sous le numéro SA.102799 dans le registre des aides d'État figurant sur le site web de la Commission consacré à la n consacré à la concurrence, dès que les éventuels problèmes de confidentialité auront été résolus. (Pour plus d'nformations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tél.: +32 229 98163)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Baker Petrolite by Dussur and BHC

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Baker Petrolite Saudi Company Limited (‘Baker Petrolite') by Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (‘Dussur'), both of Saudi Arabia, and Baker Hughes Company (‘BHC') of the US. Baker Petrolite will be active in the manufacture and supply of speciality chemicals used in the oil and gas industries. Dussur is a strategic industrial investment company. BHC is the parent of an energy technology group of companies, with a diverse portfolio spanning the energy and industrial value chain, operating in more than 120 countries. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that Baker Petrolite has no activities in the European Economic Area. 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.10747. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Fudura by PGGM and DIF

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Fudura B.V. (‘Fudura') by PGGM Vermogensbeheer B.V. (‘PGGM') and DIF Management B.V. (‘DIF'), all of the Netherlands. Fudura is a business-to-business (‘B2B') energy infrastructure provider in the Netherlands. PGGM is active in the administration of collective pensions for different pension funds, the affiliated employers and their employees. One of PGGM's portfolio companies, Ennatuurlijk, is an operator of district heating networks and a generator and supplier of heat in the Netherlands. DIF is an independent fund management company, which focuses on investments in the renewable energy sector. Following its assessment of possible horizontal and vertical effects, the Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.10719. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases