Daily News 11 / 08 / 2022

Ukraine: the EU has coordinated the delivery of more than 60,000 tonnes of life-saving assistance

As of today, the EU has coordinated the delivery of 66,224 tonnes of in-kind assistance to Ukraine from 30 countries via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The assistance delivered includes 180 ambulances, 125 fire-fighting vehicles, 300 power generators, 35 heavy machinery vehicles, and 4 pontoon bridges. This is by far the largest, longest-lasting and most complex operation via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism since it was established in 2001, with an estimated value so far of over €425 million. To support this operation, logistics hubs have been set up in Poland, Romania and Slovakia where assistance is then chanelled directly to Ukraine. Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič said: “We are all horrified by Russia's atrocities in Ukraine. By providing emergency assistance, we can at least ease the immense pressure on Ukraine's emergency response systems. Today we have reached an important milestone – over 60,000 tonnes of in-kind assistance coordinated via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism have arrived in Ukraine. I am extremely grateful to every single Member State, together with Norway, Turkey and North Macedonia for having offered help that we have then channelled most effectively through the Mechanism. This solidarity is the proof that the EU is with Ukraine not only in words but in actions.” On 15 February, Ukraine activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in preparation for a large-scale emergency. Ever since, the EU Emergency Response Coordination Centre has maintained close contact with the Ukrainian authorities to determine the specific needs, and to coordinate the EU's crisis response. The press release is available online. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer - Tel.: +32 229 99075; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Feux de forêt : L'UE envoie de l'aide pour lutter contre les incendies en France

Suite à une demande d'assistance de la France via le mécanisme de protection civile de l'UE, la Commission européenne a envoyé quatre avions de sa flotte de lutte contre les incendies rescEU positionnés en Grèce et en Suède. En outre, des équipes de pompiers d'Allemagne, de Pologne, d'Autriche et de Roumanie sont en route pour soutenir les premiers intervenants français. À cette occasion, le commissaire européen chargé de la gestion des crises, Janez Lenarčič, a déclaré : "Cette saison des incendies est particulièrement féroce sur notre continent. Lorsqu'une catastrophe met à rude épreuve les capacités de réaction nationales, les pays touchés peuvent activer le mécanisme de protection civile de l'UE pour bénéficier d'un soutien européen. Pour les incendies en cours en France, je remercie les autorités de protection civile et les premiers intervenants de Grèce, de Suède, d'Allemagne, de Pologne, d'Autriche et de Roumanie qui se mobilisent rapidement pour soutenir la France. L'UE est pleinement solidaire lorsqu'un pays est confronté à une situation d'urgence." Le centre de coordination des réactions d'urgence de l'UE est en contact étroit avec les autorités françaises pour soutenir la coordination des opérations de lutte contre les incendies, et a déployé un officier de liaison pour aider à l'arrivée de l'aide européenne. En outre, le satellite Copernicus de l'UE a été activé par la France pour recueillir des données essentielles aux premiers intervenants sur les zones brûlées. (Pour plus d'informations: Miriam Garcia Ferrer - Tel.: +32 229 99075; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 229 69140)

State aid: Commission approves modifications to Polish scheme, including €5.1 billion budget increase, to support companies in context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The European Commission has approved modifications, including a budget increase of €5.1 billion (PLN 24.5 billion), to an existing Polish scheme to support companies across sectors in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The amendments were approved under the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July 2022. Poland notified the Commission of its intention to amend the existing scheme to increase the overall budget by €5.11 billion (PLN 24.5 billion). In particular, the total budget for State guarantees on factoring products will increase from approximately €209 million (PLN 1 billion) to €793 million (PLN 3.8 billion). When it comes to guarantees on new loans, the total budget will increase from approximately €939 million (PLN 4.5 billion) to €5.5 billion (PLN 26.2 billion). In addition, Poland notified the Commission an amendment with respect to the maximum amount of aid in the form of guaranteed loans for newly established enterprises specifically. The Commission found that the Polish scheme, as amended, remains 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 Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendments to the Polish scheme under EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The amendments approved today will help Poland to further support companies across sectors and to continue to mitigate the higher than expected economic impact of the current crisis and the related sanctions. We continue to stand with Ukraine and its people. At the same time, we continue working closely with Member States to ensure that national support measures can be put in place in a timely, coordinated and effective way, while protecting the level playing field in the Single Market.” 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 €200 million Irish scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €200 million Irish scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July 2022. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of: (i) limited amounts of aid to address current liquidity shortage, and (ii) aid for the additional costs that the eligible beneficiaries incurred due to exceptionally severe increases in natural gas and electricity prices. The scheme will be open to companies of all sizes affected by the crisis and active in (i) manufacturing, (ii) information and communication, (iii) professional, scientific and technical activities, and/or (iv) administrative and support service activities. Credit or financial institutions, coal or steel producers, and companies in the primary agriculture, fishery or aquaculture sectors are excluded from the scheme. The Commission found that the Irish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, when it comes to limited amounts of aid, the support will not exceed €500,000 per beneficiary. As regards the aid for additional costs due to exceptional natural gas and electricity price increases, the overall aid per beneficiary will not exceed 30% of the eligible costs, up to a maximum of €2 million. In addition, the aid will be granted no later than 31 December 2022. The Commission found that the Irish scheme 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 Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules. 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.103569 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 amendments to Greek scheme, including €1.55 billion budget increase, to support companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic

The European Commission has found the amendments to an existing Greek repayable advances scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic to be in line with the State aid Temporary Framework. The Commission approved the original scheme on 7 April 2020 (SA.56815) and its subsequent amendments in July 2020 (SA.58047), in November 2020 (SA.59069), in December 2020 (SA.59900), in July 2021 (SA. 62081), in August 2021 (SA. 64273) and in November 2021 (SA.100637). Greece notified the following further modifications to the scheme: (i) the introduction of two new rounds of aid, allowing companies to receive aid for the period from January to March 2021; (ii) a €1.55 billion budget increase related to these two new rounds of aid, bringing the total budget of the scheme to €8.75 billion; (iii) an extension of the period, in relation to which the aid may be granted, until 30 June 2022 (i.e. the expiry date of the Temporary Framework); and (iv) a change in the repayment requirements, namely the extension of the grace period and the number of instalments, as well as the possibility to benefit from an early payment discount. The Commission concluded that the scheme, as modified, remains necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union 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.63905 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

State aid: Commission approves amendment to Italian scheme to support the road haulage sector in context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The European Commission has approved an amendment to an existing Italian scheme to support the road haulage sector in the context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The amendment was approved under the State Aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022, and amended on 20 July 2022, among other things, to increase the limited amounts of aid to companies affected by the current crisis or by the subsequent sanctions and countersanctions. The Commission approved the original scheme in July 2022 (SA.103480). Italy notified the Commission of its intention to amend the scheme to increase the maximum amount of aid by €100,000 to €500,000 per beneficiary. The Commission found that the Italian scheme, as amended, remains 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 Crisis Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendment under EU State aid rules. 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 number SA.103966 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)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of DGN by Infrafibre and DG Fibre

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Deutsche GigaNetz GmbH (‘DGN'), by DG Fibre Holding Limited (‘DG Fibre'), both of Germany, and Infrafibre Sàrl of Luxembourg. DGN is active as a fully integrated fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) telecommunications provider for private, commercial and carrier customers in Germany. DG Fibre is a holding company owned by an infrastructure fund managed by InfraRed Capital Partners Limited. Infrafibre is a portfolio company of a European infrastructure fund managed by subsidiaries of DWS Group GmbH & Co KGaA. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the lack of overlaps and the very limited vertical links between the companies' activities. 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.10801. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Tideway by Amber, Dalmore and Allianz

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Tideway by Amber, Dalmore, all three of the UK, and Allianz Group of Germany. Tideway is an infrastructure provider responsible for the design, construction, commissioning and maintenance of the Thames Tideway Tunnel (London),Amber is an international sponsor and manager of infrastructure focused on long-term, lower risk and cash flow generative investments. Dalmore is an independent fund manager focusing on lower risk opportunities for institutional investors in the UK infrastructure sector. Allianz Group is a global financial services group active in insurance and asset management. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the very limited overlaps between the companies' 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.10835. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 98163)

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