Daily News 02 / 03 / 2023

Digital Services Act: Commission sets rules on supervisory fees for very large online platforms and very large online search engines

Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission is empowered to impose a fee on providers under its supervision, which is expected to be levied for the first time in autumn 2023.  Today, the Commission has set the detailed rules and procedures for such supervisory fees to be levied.

The delegated regulation aims to provide legal certainty to the service providers designated as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) under the DSA. It specifies the methodology and procedures to calculate and levy the supervisory fee, provides further details on the calculation of the overall estimated costs to be covered with the levied fees and on the determination of the individual fees. 

The DSA entered into force on 16 November 2022. The obligations for service providers designated as VLOPs or VLOSEs will become applicable four months after their formal designation in accordance with the DSA.

The delegated regulation proposed today follows a public consultation on the draft which took place between 22 December 2022 and 19 January 2023.

Following today's adoption, the delegated act will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council, which have 3 months to scrutinise it. At their request, the scrutiny period can be extended by 3 months.

(For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel: +32 2 295 86 15; Charles Manoury - Tel: +32 2 291 33 91)

 

Hydrogène : ouvrir la voie à de nouvelles normes européennes pour accélérer le déploiement de solutions hydrogène à grande échelle

La Commission se félicite de la feuille de route sur la normalisation de l'hydrogène publiée aujourd'hui par l'alliance européenne pour l'hydrogène propre.

L'établissement de normes européennes dans ce domaine soutient les ambitions de l'UE en faveur d'une économie neutre en carbone pour le climat et sur l'adoption de l'hydrogène sur le marché européen. La feuille de route donne un aperçu complet des gaps, des défis et des besoins en matière de normalisation recensés par les membres de l'Alliance. Ces gaps continuent de constituer un obstacle important au déploiement des technologies, des applications et des investissements liés à l'hydrogène. La feuille de route couvre les besoins de normalisation pour l'ensemble de la chaîne de valeur de l'hydrogène, depuis la production, la distribution, le transport et le stockage jusqu'aux applications finales.

Conformément à la stratégie de normalisation, la feuille de route comprend également un ensemble de recommandations visant à rationaliser et à accélérer le processus de définition des normes européennes. Il alimentera les travaux de la Commission et des organismes nationaux et européens de normalisation. En particulier, il permettra à la Commission de préparer un mandat de normalisation sur les normes relatives à l'hydrogène recensées à l'intention des organisations européennes de normalisation. 

La feuille de route reflète aussi les priorités recensées dans le programme de travail annuel pour la normalisation pour 2023 et fait également suite au rapport 2021 de l'alliance européenne pour l'hydrogène propre, dans lequel l'absence de normes relatives à l'hydrogène constitue un obstacle important au déploiement de nouvelles solutions pour l'hydrogène.

(Pour plus d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tél.: +32 2 295 83 00)

 

European Battery Alliance discusses main challenges in the face of increasingly assertive industrial policies globally

The 7th High-Level Meeting of the European Battery Alliance (EBA) took place in Brussels on Wednesday, chaired by Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and organised in cooperation with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The ministerial discussion, involving 27 Member States and Norway, focused on ways to foster the global competitiveness of the European battery industry in the face of assertive industrial policies globally, while in some instances, altering the global playing field.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, as well as Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Thomas Östros, and Vice-President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Mark Bowman, also addressed the participants.

In 2022, total investment in the EU's battery ecosystem topped €180 billion. This covers over 160 industrial projects in place or in the making, along the entire value chain, amounting to some 70 GWh of installed battery capacity.

To sustain Europe's clean tech leadership, the Chair and the Swedish Presidency have agreed on the key takeaways. The press point which followed the meeting is available here, and Vice-President Šefčovič's opening remarks are available here.

(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 00)

 

Conférence « Notre océan » : l'UE annonce des investissements d'une valeur de 816,5 millions d'euros pour protéger l'océan*

Aujourd'hui, lors de la conférence « Our Ocean » (notre océan) à Panama, l'UE confirmera sa ferme décision en faveur de la gouvernance internationale des océans en annonçant 39 engagements pour action pour l'année 2023. Ces actions seront financées par 816,5 millions d'euros. Il s'agit d'un des montants les plus importants jamais annoncés par l'UE depuis le début de ces conférences en 2014. 

Le thème de l'édition 2023 est « Notre océan, notre connexion », il appelle à de nouveaux engagements et à des efforts conjoints dans le monde entier en faveur d'un océan sûr, propre et géré de manière durable.

À l'occasion de la conférence, l'UE s'engage à couvrir tous les thèmes de cet événement, tels que les aires marines protégées, la pollution marine, la lutte contre le changement climatique, la pêche durable, les économies bleues durables et la sécurité maritime. En plus de ces garanties, l'UE rejoint dès aujourd'hui l'Alliance d'action contre la pêche illicite, non déclarée et non réglementée (INN).

Vous trouverez plus de détails dans le communiqué de presse, ainsi que sur le site web de la conférence.

(Pour plus d'informations : Adalbert Jahnz – Tél.: +32 2 295 31 56 ; Daniela Stoycheva – Tél.: +32 2 295 36 64)

 

State aid: Commission extends in-depth investigation into Germany's plans for early closure of lignite-fired power plants

The European Commission has extended the scope of its ongoing in-depth inquiry into Germany's plans to compensate lignite-fired power plants operators for the early phase out. The extended investigation concerns an amendment to the agreement between Germany and RWE for the accelerated lignite phase-out in the Rhenish lignite mining area.

The amendment, notified by Germany to the Commission in December 2022, included: (i) the delay from end-2022 to March 2024 of the final closure of two plants, and (ii) the advance from 2038 to 2030 of the final closure of three plants. Germany informed the Commission that the original €2.6 billion compensation to RWE remained unaltered and submitted a revised calculation of RWE's forgone profits to demonstrate that the compensation is justified and proportionate.

Therefore, the Commission has decided to extend the scope of its ongoing investigation to cover the new elements notified by Germany.

On the basis of the information at its disposal, the Commission's preliminary view is that the compensation to RWE continues to constitute State aid. However, the Commission notes that the revised calculation of RWE's forgone profits submitted by Germany appears more conservative compared to the previous calculation. The Commission will now verify whether the compensation to RWE is proportionate and whether the Commission's doubts expressed on the aid to RWE in the opening decision of March 2021 have been dispelled.

The extension of the opening of an in-depth investigation provides Germany and any interested third parties with the opportunity to submit comments. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

Aides d'État : la Commission autorise un régime français de 2 milliards d'euros visant à soutenir les entreprises consommatrices d'énergie dans le contexte de la guerre en Ukraine

La Commission européenne a autorisé un régime de garanties français d'un montant de 2 milliards d'euros visant à soutenir les entreprises consommatrices d'énergie dans le contexte de la guerre menée par la Russie contre l'Ukraine.

Dans le cadre de cette mesure, l'aide prendra la forme de contre-garanties publiques. Ces dernières visent à couvrir les garanties non financées émises par des intermédiaires financiers pour le compte d'entreprises pour répondre aux exigences en matière de sûretés découlant de leurs contrats de fourniture d'énergie.

La mesure sera ouverte aux entreprises consommatrices d'énergie actives en France, i) dont la consommation d'électricité a été supérieure à 1 GWh en 2022, pour les garanties accordées dans le cadre de contrats de fourniture d'électricité; ou ii) dont la consommation de gaz a été supérieure à 2 GWh en 2022, pour les garanties accordées dans le cadre de contrats de fourniture de gaz.

La Commission a apprécié la mesure au regard des règles de l'UE en matière d'aides d'État, et notamment de l'article 107, paragraphe 3, point b), du TFUE, reconnaissant que l'économie de l'UE subit une perturbation grave. Sur cette base, la Commission a autorisé la mesure d'aide en vertu des règles de l'UE en matière d'aides d'État.

Margrethe Vestager, vice-présidente exécutive chargée de la politique de concurrence, a déclaré : « Grâce à ce régime d'un montant de 2 milliards d'euros, la France fera en sorte que les entreprises consommatrices d'énergie puissent continuer à satisfaire aux exigences en matière de sûretés découlant de leurs contrats de fourniture d'énergie, ce qui leur permettra de poursuivre leurs activités dans le contexte de la crise géopolitique actuelle. »

Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tél.: +32 2 299 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

State aid: Commission approves €95 million Finnish scheme to support the primary agricultural and aquaculture sectors in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €95 million Finnish scheme to support the primary agricultural and aquaculture production sector in the context of Russia's war of aggression against 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 and on 28 October 2022.

Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The purpose of the scheme is to help energy intensive companies in the aquaculture sector and farmers preparing for the coming growing season by compensating them for part of the additional costs incurred especially due to the electricity and fertilizer price increases and to help them overcome their current financial difficulties.

The Commission found that the Finnish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €250,000 per beneficiary active in the primary production of agricultural products, €300,000 per beneficiary in the aquaculture sector and €2 million per beneficiary active in processing or marketing of agricultural products; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2023. The Commission concluded that the 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 scheme 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 war against Ukraine can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.106431 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 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

State aid: Commission approves €12 million Belgian scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €12 million Belgian scheme to support companies in the context of Russia's war against 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 and on 28 October 2022.

The scheme will be open to companies of all sizes active in those sectors most affected by the rise of energy prices, such as accommodation and manufacturing of food products, established in the Brussels-Capital region. Under the scheme, the public support will take the form of direct grants. The eligible beneficiaries will be entitled to receive an aid amount equal to 50% of their costs for investments in energy efficiency, up to a maximum of €50,000. Small and micro enterprises may also receive grants for external consultancy services for reducing their energy footprint, covering 70% of the consultancy costs and up to a maximum amount of €15,000.

The Commission found that the Belgian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €2 million per company; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2023. The Commission therefore 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 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 war against Ukraine can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.106461 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 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

State aid: Commission approves €1.5 million Slovenian scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €1.5 million Slovenian scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (‘SMEs') in the context of Russia's war against 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 and on 28 October 2022.

Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The purpose of the scheme is to help SMEs completing planned investments and coping with the increase of construction costs linked to the current geopolitical crisis. The individual aid amount per company will not exceed €100,000. The scheme will run until 31 March 2023.

The Commission found that the Slovenian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €2 million per beneficiary; and (ii) will be granted before 31 December 2023 (i.e. the current expiry date of the Temporary Crisis Framework). The Commission concluded that the 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 scheme 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 war against Ukraine can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.106274 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 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

Mergers: Commission clears creation of joint venture by Fortress and AIV

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Fortress Investment Group (‘Fortress') of the US, and Air Investment Valencia (‘AIV') of Spain.

The joint venture will combine the activities of Fortress' CityJet of Ireland and of AIV's Air Nostrum of Spain. Fortress is a global investment management firm, which manages assets on behalf of institutional clients and private investors worldwide. AIV is an aircraft dry lessor and provider of fleet supply services to air operators, among other. It is also active in the operation of air routes between Europe and Africa, mainly through charter flight and wet-lease services.

The transaction was initially notified in June 2019 and in July the same year, the Commission approved it unconditionally.  It concluded that, although the activities of CityJet and Air Nostrum overlapped in the provision of wet-leasing services to airlines and charter flights, the transaction would raise no competition concerns, because the companies have moderate market shares, a sufficient number of competitors remains on the market and the barriers to entry are low.

In January 2023, the parties re-notified the transaction as the deal has not been yet executed. The Commission has now concluded that the competitive landscape and market conditions remained broadly the same, and that the transaction would still not raise 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.10970.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Exyte by M+W Group and BDT Capital Partners

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Exyte GmbH (‘Exyte') by M+W Group GmbH (‘M+W Group') both of Germany, and BDT Capital Partners, LLC (‘BDT Capital Partners') of the US.

Exyte is an international company active in design, engineering, procurement, and construction in controlled and regulated environments. Exyte is currently solely controlled by M+W Group. M+W Group is an engineering and construction company active in energy projects. BDT Capital Partners is a merchant bank that specialises in investments in family-owned and founder-led businesses.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given that there are only minor horizontal overlaps between the activities of the companies 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.11002.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Tom Ford International by The Estee Lauder Companies and Ermenegildo Zegna

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Tom Ford International LLC by The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., both of the US, and Ermenegildo Zegna of Italy.

Tom Ford International is active in luxury fashion goods, including menswear, womenswear, accessories, underwear and timepieces. The Estee Lauder Companies are active in the manufacture, marketing and distribution of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. Ermenegildo Zegna is active in the creation and distribution of luxury fashion goods, and the production and distribution of fabrics and textile.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the limited overlaps and vertical links between the companies' activities in the relevant markets 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.11039.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENT

 

 

Le commissaire Wojciechowski à Paris pour visiter le Salon international de l'agriculture

Le commissaire Janusz Wojciechowski est à Paris aujourd'hui pour visiter le Salon international de l'agriculture, afin de promouvoir la politique agricole de l'UE et discuter des défis actuels auxquels sont confrontés les agriculteurs.

Il rencontrera le ministre de l'Agriculture français, Marc Fesneau ; la secrétaire d'État chargée de l'Europe, Laurence Boone ; ainsi que des représentants des différents secteurs agricoles. Une séquence est dédiée à la thématique des protéines végétales, enjeu majeur de souveraineté alimentaire. Le commissaire participera à une table-ronde sur cette thématique, avec le ministre Marc Fesneau et des représentants de la filière.

Il échangera également avec des représentants de l'Association nationale interprofessionnelle du bétail et des viandes, du Centre national interprofessionnel de l'économie laitière, de l'Interprofession nationale porcine, de la coopération agricole, des fruits et légumes frais (INTERFEL), de la Fédération nationale des syndicats d'exploitants agricoles, et il discutera avec des jeunes agriculteurs français. Il visitera aussi différents stands, dont celui de la Commission européenne.

(Pour plus d'informations : Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tél.: +32 2 299 90 75 ; Thérèse Lerebours – Tél.: +32 2 296 33 03)

 

 

 

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

 

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases

*Updated on 02-03-23, at 15:28