Daily News 10 / 08 / 2022

Plan d'investissement pour l'Europe: soutien en Pays-Bas à la poursuite de l'électrification des machines de construction de location

La Banque européenne d'investissement (BEI) a signé un contrat de prêt de 50 millions d'euros avec Collé Rental & Sales. L'entreprise néerlandaise, basée à Sittard, utilisera ce financement pour électrifier davantage son parc de machines de location spécialisées dans le secteur et l'industrie de la construction. L'investissement de la BEI sera garanti par le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques (FEIS), le principal pilier du plan d'investissement pour l'Europe. Collé est spécialisé dans les nacelles élévatrices, les engins de terrassement et les machines de manutention. Grâce au financement de la BEI, Collé investira dans l'électrification de sa flotte, ainsi que dans sa numérisation pour la rendre compatible avec l'internet des objets. Ce financement s'inscrit dans le cadre des investissements réalisés par Collé dans le remplacement de sa flotte, en mettant l'accent sur les investissements dans des machines électriques (dans la mesure du possible) et plus économes en carburant, afin de contribuer activement à la réalisation des objectifs de durabilité. Paolo Gentiloni, commissaire chargé de l'économie, a déclaré à ce propos: « Ce prêt accordé par la BEI à l'entreprise néerlandaise Collé est un excellent exemple du rôle que le secteur de la construction peut jouer dans le soutien à la transition écologique et numérique. Soutenu par le plan d'investissement pour l'Europe, le financement contribuera à électrifier le parc de machines de location de Collé pour le secteur de la construction et à le rendre plus numérique. Cela profitera non seulement à Collé, mais aussi aux entreprises de construction qui peuvent louer et réutiliser les machines, soutenant ainsi l'utilisation circulaire des équipements dans le secteur. » Le plan d'investissement pour l'Europe a jusqu'à présent mobilisé 524,3 milliards d'euros d'investissements, au bénéfice de plus de 1,4 millions de petites et moyennes entreprises. Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta — Tél.: + 32 229 87024; Flora Matthaes — Tél.: + 32 229 83951)

State aid: Commission clears financing of Post Danmark's universal service obligation

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Denmark's compensation to Post Danmark for its universal postal service obligation in 2020. In March 2021, Denmark notified the Commission of its plan to compensate Post Danmark for a maximum amount of approximately €30 million (DKK 225 million) for discharging its universal postal service obligation in 2020. The notification followed a complaint filed with the Commission by a Danish association, representing companies active in the road transport and logistics sectors, alleging that the compensation to Post Danmark constitutes incompatible State aid. In July 2021, the Commission opened an in-depth investigation because it had doubts about the compliance of the measure with EU State aid rules. The Commission has assessed the Danish measure under EU State aid rules, and in particular under Article 106(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as well as the rules on public service compensation, under the Service of General Economic Interest (‘SGEI') Framework and the Postal Services Directive. The Commission concluded that, while the compensation constitutes State aid, it complies with the provisions of the SGEI Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the Danish measure under EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “In today's digital world, ordinary mail continues to be replaced by digital communications. This puts a strain on the activities of postal operators, which continue to offer a service that is important for citizens. Today's decision confirms that the compensation in favour of Post Danmark for the provision of universal postal services is in line with EU State aid rules. Post Danmark will be able to continue to provide this fundamental service across Denmark at uniform prices for consumers and companies, without unduly distorting competition.” A press release is available online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

State aid: Commission finds no aid given to Greek industrial parks manager ETVA VIPE 

The European Commission has concluded that certain public measures in favour of industrial park manager ETVA Industrial Areas SA (‘ETVA VIPE') do not constitute State aid within the meaning of EU rules. In 2019, the Commission received a complaint by companies operating in the premises of industrial parks in Greece managed by ETVA VIPE, alleging that certain public measures adopted by Greece constituted illegal State aid. The Commission assessed the Greek measures under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The Commission found that the possibility for ETVA VIPE to charge companies established in the industrial parks it manages (i) a management fee and (ii) a fee to set up a reserve fund, per industrial park, does not constitute State aid. Moreover, Tthe possibility for ETVA VIPE to impose sanctions on companies established in the industrial parks it manages, which fail to fulfil their financial obligations vis-à-vis ETVA VIPE, does not entail the transfer of public funds and therefore does not amount to State aid. The possibility for ETVA VIPE to (i) charge companies established in the industrial parks it manages for joint expenses beyond their actual consumption, and (ii) calculate its management fee as a percentage of the joint expenses, does not constitute State aid. Finally, the rejection by the Greek authorities of an application by some companies to take over the management of a building block located at one of the industrial parks managed by ETVA VIPE does not entail the transfer of public funds and therefore does not constitute State aid. On this basis, the Commission found that the measures do not constitute State aid within the meaning of EU law. 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 €22 million Polish restructuring aid for RAFAKO

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Poland's plan to grant RAFAKO S.A. approximately €22 million (PLN 100 million) of restructuring aid. The measure is aimed at helping RAFAKO, a Polish company active in the energy, heating, oil and gas sectors, to partially finance its restructuring plan and restore its long-term viability until the end of 2024. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of convertible bonds. Poland put forward measures to limit the distortions of competition, in particular (i) the divestment of RAFAKO's E-bus branch, active in the development and production of electric buses, and (ii) a ban on RAFAKO from acquiring shares in any company for the duration of the restructuring plan. The Commission assessed the measure under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular its Guidelines on State aid for the rescue and restructuring of undertakings in difficulty. The Commission found that the aid is necessary and appropriate to ensure that RAFAKO restores its long-term viability. Furthermore, the aid contributes to Poland's energy green transition as RAFAKO develops and supplies unique technologies upgrading the environmental performance of some of Poland's largest power plants and projects. The Commission also found that the aid is proportionate, as RAFAKO and its creditors will contribute to around 65% of the expected restructuring costs, in particular through asset sales and a debt-restructuring agreement that writes-off or converts into equity part of the company debt. Finally, the Commission found that the planned measure contains adequate safeguards (i.e. the divestment of E-bus and the acquisition ban) to limit any potential distortions of competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Polish measure under EU State aid rules. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.64760 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once confidentiality issues have been resolved.  (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Enhanced surveillance of Greece ends on 20 August

The European Commission will not prolong the enhanced surveillance of Greece once it expires on 20 August. Following exchanges with the Greek authorities, including at the Eurogroup meeting of 16 June, the Commission acknowledges that Greece has delivered on the bulk of the policy commitments made to the Eurogroup upon its exit from the economic adjustment programme in June 2018, and that it has achieved effective reform implementation, even under the challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, by Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. The Commission also notes that, as a result of Greece's efforts, the resilience of the Greek economy has substantially improved and the risks of spill-over effects on the Euro area economy have diminished significantly. Hence, maintaining Greece under enhanced surveillance is no longer justified. The monitoring of the country's economic, fiscal and financial situation will continue in the context of the post-programme surveillance (PPS) and the European Semester. The monitoring of the outstanding reform commitments will be undertaken in the context of the first PPS report to be issued in November 2022, which could serve as a basis for a Eurogroup decision on the final tranche of debt relief measures agreed in June 2018. Major reforms and investments are also foreseen in the Greek recovery and resilience plan. The Commission welcomes Greece's achievements and its commitment to keep on carrying out reforms beyond the end of enhanced surveillance. Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, Valdis Dombrovskis, and Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, have already informed the Greek authorities. Their letter to Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras, and his reply, have been published online. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Tommaso Alberini - Tel.: +32 229 57010)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases