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Daily News 05 / 04 / 2023
Commission to pay €50 million in financial support to Moldova
The Commission will pay €50 million in financial support to the Republic of Moldova, as part of the ongoing Macro-Financial Assistance operation worth €150 million in total. Under this second instalment, today Moldova received a €10 million grant, and a further payment of €40 million in loans will follow at the beginning of May. This constitutes important support from the EU to one of the countries most directly and heavily impacted by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
The war has significantly impacted the Moldovan economy, adding to sizeable pre-existing challenges and imbalances. The support will help Moldova address its urgent financing needs and support overall macroeconomic stability while enabling wide-ranging and ambitious reforms.
This comes after the Commission concluded that Moldova has fulfilled the policy conditions agreed with the EU for the release of this disbursement. Moldova strengthened public sector governance, with actions taken to improve the management of public investment projects. The government made progress on financial sector governance, with the adoption of a new public finance management strategy. The Moldovan authorities also made progress on strengthening the rule of law, filling management positions in several anti-corruption institutions. The Parliament also adopted a new programme to recover criminal assets.
Macro-Financial Assistance support is part of the wider EU effort to support Moldova in the wake of the multiple challenges over the last years. It will also help Moldova advance on its European path.
The Commission had already paid €50 million to Moldova under a first instalment in August 2022. The Commission also proposed in January this year to increase the ongoing Macro-financial Assistance to Moldova by up to €145 million. This proposal is currently under consideration by the European Parliament and Council.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Laura Bérard — Tel: +32 2 29 55721)
Judicial cooperation: Commission proposes rules on the transfer of criminal proceedings between Member States
Today, the European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Regulation on the transfer of criminal proceedings between Member States. Increasing cross-border crime has led to more and more cases where several Member States have jurisdiction to prosecute the same case. Parallel or multiple prosecutions can be inefficient and ineffective, but also possibly detrimental to the rights of the individuals concerned as a person may not be prosecuted or punished for the same offence twice.
This proposal will therefore help prevent duplications of proceedings and avoid cases of impunity where surrender under a European Arrest Warrant is refused. Furthermore, it will help ensure that criminal proceedings are conducted in the best-placed Member State, for example, in the State where the major part of the crime occurred.
In order to improve the efficiency of the transfer procedure, the proposed Regulation also provides for jurisdiction in specific cases. It is expected to reduce the level of fragmentation, provide greater legal certainty and eventually increase the number of successfully transferred criminal proceedings. More information on the proposal is available in our press release and accompanying Q&A.
(For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 2 296 22 53; Katarzyna Novak - Tel.: +32 2 296 34 44; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 291 31 73)
Un million de signatures dans le cadre de l'initiative citoyenne européenne «Sauver les abeilles et les agriculteurs!»: un signal fort aux co-législateurs de l'UE de maintenir l'ambition environnementale
Aujourd'hui, la Commission répond à l'initiative citoyenne européenne (ICE) intitulée « Sauvons les abeilles et les agriculteurs! Vers une agriculture respectueuse des abeilles pour un environnement sain ».
La Commission se félicite de l'initiative et reconnaît l'importance de l'ICE, en particulier parce que les crises interdépendantes du changement climatique, de la pollution et de la perte de biodiversité constituent des défis croissants pour l'agriculture et la sécurité alimentaire de l'Europe. Dans l'UE, une espèce d'abeilles, de papillons et de syrphes sur trois est en déclin, tandis que 80 % des espèces végétales cultivées et fleurs sauvages dépendent de la pollinisation animale. La moitié des terres agricoles de l'UE courent déjà le risque d'un déficit de pollinisation. La menace qui pèse sur l'existence des pollinisateurs constitue une menace pour la sécurité alimentaire et la vie sur la planète.
Le succès de l'initiative citoyenne est un signe clair du large soutien public à l'action en faveur des pollinisateurs, de la biodiversité et de l'agriculture durable.
La Commission invite le Parlement européen et le Conseil à trouver rapidement des accords ambitieux sur les propositions législatives déjà présentées, qui contribueront à protéger et à restaurer les pollinisateurs européens et à traduire l'ambition des citoyens en droit. Vous trouverez plus d'informations dans notre communiqué de presse et fiche d'informations.
(Pour plus d'informations: Adalbert Jahnz – Tél.: +32 2 295 31 56; Anna Wartberger – Tél.: +32 2 298 25 04)
Commission launches public consultation on the digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel
The European Commission has launched today a public consultation on a new legislative initiative for the digitalisation of travel documents and facilitation of travel. This initiative was announced in the Schengen strategy and aims at establishing a uniform standard for the digital travel documents used in the Schengen area. Digital travel documents (e.g. digital passports and identity cards) can facilitate border checks and support international travel, and are faster to issue than a physical one.
The consultation will gather views on how the initiative could contribute to the smooth travel of people across its borders as well as to the security of the Union. It will be open until 28 June 2023.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: + 32 2 298 56 91; Andrea Masini Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 299 15 19)
MSCA Seal of Excellence: Commission supports high quality Postdoctoral Fellowships proposals
Today, the Commission will award the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Seal of Excellence certificates to 1607 researchers for the outstanding quality of their research proposals submitted under the Postdoctoral Fellowships call in 2022. This label enables individual applicants who could not be funded due to budgetary constraints secure alternative funding, whilst giving host institutions the chance to attract international talent.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “I warmly congratulate these 1607 talented researchers for their achievements. They will join the ranks of over 1,030 Postdoctoral Fellows who have proved the significance of the Seal of Excellence to identify alternative funding, since 2017. We encourage organisations as well as regional and national authorities to attract Seal of Excellence holders by setting up their own support schemes.”
The Seal of Excellence is awarded to project proposals submitted under a Horizon Europe call that reached a high score (85% or above) in the assessment but were not funded due to budgetary limitations. Currently, 22 funding schemes are in place across 14 EU Member States to support MSCA Seal of Excellence holders. Certificate holders are advised to consult the list of available support at national or regional level.
More information on the MSCA Seal of Excellence can be found here.
(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 00)
Digital Markets Act: Registrations now open for workshop on data-related obligations
The European Commission has today opened registrations for a technical workshop on the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Specifically, this will focus on ensuring effective compliance with the provisions related to the processing of data, the combination and cross-use of personal data by gatekeepers, the use of non-publicly available data of business users, and data portability.
The workshop will take place on 5 May in Brussels, but remote participation will also be possible. It will give interested stakeholders the possibility to provide input and views on how designated gatekeepers, meaning digital platforms that provide an important gateway between business users and consumers, should comply with certain specific obligations envisaged by the new rules. More information is available on the event page.
The DMA, which entered into force on 1 November 2022 and will start to apply as of 2 May 2023, is the EU's new law to ensure fair and contestable markets in the digital sector. It does so by establishing a set of clearly defined objective criteria to identify so-called ‘gatekeepers.' Gatekeepers are large digital platforms providing core platform services, such as online advertising services, online social networking services, online search engines, video-sharing platforms, app stores, and messenger services. This event follows three prior workshops focused on interoperability, self-preferencing and app stores.
(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)
Aides d'État: la Commission autorise un régime d'aides français d'un montant de 3,5 milliards d'euros visant à soutenir les petites entreprises dans le contexte de la guerre en Ukraine
La Commission européenne a autorisé un régime d'aides français d'un montant de 3,5 milliards d'euros visant à soutenir les petites et moyennes entreprises («PME») et les microentreprises dans le contexte de la guerre menée par la Russie contre l'Ukraine. Le régime a été autorisé au titre de l'encadrement temporaire de crise et de transition en matière d'aides d'État.
Dans le cadre de ce régime, intitulé amortisseur électrique, le soutien public consistera en des aides d'un montant limité sous la forme de subventions directes. Le montant de l'aide individuelle par entreprise sera modulé en fonction de son prix contractuel réel pour 2023.
La Commission a conclu que le régime français était nécessaire, approprié et proportionné 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 de crise et de transition. Sur cette base, la Commission a autorisé la mesure française en vertu des règles de l'Union en matière d'aides d'État.
Margrethe Vestager, vice-présidente exécutive chargée de la politique de concurrence, a déclaré: « Ce régime, d'un montant de 3,5 milliards d'euros, permettra à la France d'atténuer les effets de la forte hausse des prix de l'électricité sur les entreprises, en particulier les entreprises de plus petite taille. »
Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne.
(Pour plus d'informations: Daniel Ferrie – Tél.: +32 2 298 65 00; Nina Ferreira - Tél.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 2 299 05 26)
State aid: Commission approves €2 billion Austrian support to Wien Energie in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
The European Commission has approved a €2 billion Austrian measure to support the energy supplier Wien Energie GmbH in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
Under this measure, the aid will take the form of a credit line with subsidised interest rates that will be granted on 1 May 2023. The credit line will be financed by the City of Vienna, which is the sole indirect owner of the company.
The purpose of the new measure is to ensure that Wien Energie has sufficient liquidity for the provision of financial collaterals for its trading activities on energy markets.
The Commission concluded that the Austrian 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 and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "With this €2 billion measure, Austria will ensure that Wien Energie, its largest energy provider, can meet its liquidity needs for financial collaterals for trading activities on energy markets, and thus can continue its activities in the context of the current geopolitical crisis."
A press release si available online.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)
State aid: Commission approves €120 million Austrian scheme to support the agricultural and aquaculture sectors in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
The European Commission has approved an approximately €120 million Austrian scheme to support producers of the agricultural and aquaculture sectors in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already 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 cushion, at least partially, the burden of the increased costs of electricity caused by the current crisis, which has a negative impact on the liquidity of the eligible beneficiaries and on the competitiveness of their operations.
The Commission found that the Austrian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €250,000 per agricultural producer or €300,000 per beneficiary active in the aquaculture sector; 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 and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules.
More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia's war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.106782 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)
State aid: Commission approves €70 million Dutch scheme to support the greenhouse horticulture sector in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine
The European Commission has approved a €70 million Dutch scheme to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) active in the greenhouse horticulture sector in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.
The scheme will be open to SMEs established in the Netherlands and active in the greenhouse horticulture sector, which are affected by the current geopolitical crisis. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of guarantees on loans. The guarantees will cover 70% of the loan and have a duration of 4 years, with the possibility to extend up to 6 years in specific situations.
The Commission found that the Dutch scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. In particular, (i) the guarantees will not exceed 6 years; (ii) the guarantee premiums respect the minimum levels set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (modulated in order to reflect the guarantee coverage and the duration of the guaranteed loans); (iii) the guarantees will be granted no later than 31 December 2023. In addition, the public support will come subject to conditions to limit undue distortions of competition, including safeguards aimed at ensuring that the advantages of the measure are passed on to the largest extent possible to the final beneficiaries via the financial intermediaries.
The Commission found that the Dutch 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 and Transition Framework. More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia's war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.106250 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)
State aid: Commission approves Italian support to compensate Sardinian airport ground-handling service providers for damage suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic
The European Commission has found an approximately €475,000 Italian support measure in favour of Sardinian airport ground-handling service providers to be in line with EU State aid rules.
Ground-handling service providers play a crucial role in the aviation sector, which in turn is key for regional connectivity in the Autonomous Region of Sardinia. This measure aims at compensating them for the damage suffered during the period between 1 March and 30 June 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the travel restrictions imposed by Italy and other countries to limit the spread of the virus. As a result, airports experienced a steep decline in aircraft and passenger traffic, which resulted in major revenue losses. The public support will take the form of direct grants.
The Commission assessed the measure under Article 107(2)(b) TFEU, which enables the Commission to approve State aid measures granted by Member States to compensate specific companies or sectors for the damage directly caused by exceptional occurrences, such as the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission found that the Italian measure will compensate damage that is directly linked to the coronavirus pandemic. It also found that the measure is proportionate, as the compensation does not exceed what is necessary to make good the damage. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Italian measure 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.104639 in the State aid registeron the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 2 299 05 26)
Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition de Savory Solutions Group par PAI Partners
La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition de l'unité commerciale globale de solutions salées (« Savory Solutions Group ») du groupe International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (« IFF »), basée aux États-Unis, par PAI Partners, basée en France.
Savory Solutions Group produit et fournit des ingrédients alimentaires pour des denrées salées dans le monde entier,notamment des arômes, ingrédients fonctionnels, colorant alimentaires, boyaux et microorganismes. PAI Partners est une société de capital-investissement qui gère et conseille des fonds d'investissements, et contrôle Ecotone, active dans le secteur de l'alimentation saine et durable, et Labeyrie Fine Foods, active dans les aliments gourmets.
La Commission a conclu que la concentration envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence, étant donné que les entreprises continueraient à faire face à un nombre suffisant de concurrents sur les marchés concernés et en l'absence de capacité et d'incitation à engager des stratégies de verrouillage en amont et en aval. L'opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure normale de contrôle des concentrations.
De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site Internet de la Commission sur la concurrence, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M.11050.
(Pour plus d'informations: Daniel Ferrie – Tél.: +32 2 298 65 00; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 2 299 05 26)
Concentrations: la Commission autorise l'acquisition de certains actifs de Scopelec par ICG
La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition de certains actifs de Scopelec SCOP (« Scopelec»), basée en France, par Intermediate Capital Group plc (« ICG »), basée au Royaume-Uni.
Scopelec fournit des services d'installation et de maintenance de réseaux de télécommunications fixes et mobiles ainsi que d'installation de bornes de recharge de véhicules électriques en France. ICG, à travers Circet SAS, fournit de services de conception, d'ingénierie, de déploiement, de construction, d'installation et de maintenance de réseaux de télécommunications fixes et mobiles en France et à l'international.
La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence, compte tenu des chevauchements restreints entre les activités des entreprises donnant lieu à un impact limité sur la structure du marché.
De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M.10996.
(Pour plus d'informations: Daniel Ferrie – Tél.: +32 2 298 65 00; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 2 299 05 26)
STATEMENTS
International Roma Day: Statement by Vice-President Jourová, Commissioner Dalli and Commissioner Várhelyi
Ahead of the International Roma Day on 8 April, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vĕra Jourová, Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, Olivér Várhelyi, issued the following statement:
“On International Roma Day, we celebrate our largest European minority. We celebrate their diversity, language, arts and culture and their contribution to European history. We see encouraging developments in several Member States and enlargement countries which actively address antigypsyism and fight against Roma discrimination. Yet progress is too slow and too little. Too many Roma still do not have equal access to education, employment, healthcare or housing. We have to work together on local, national and regional level, and always together with Roma, to achieve real equality in their everyday lives.
This year, we are joining our forces with the Council of Europe on the EQUIROM project to combat stereotypes about Roma people in the media. We want to build positive narratives, focusing in particular on Roma women and youth, and to raise awareness about the culture of Roma and history, including about the Roma Holocaust. We call on EU and enlargement countries to implement all measures under the European Roma Strategic Framework and to step up efforts to combat antigypsyism and anti-Roma stereotypes. Together, we must build a culture of support and inclusion and honour Roma people's contribution to our European cultural heritage.”
For more details, you can find the full statement available online.
(For more information : Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 2 296 22 53 ; Katarzyna Novak - Tel.: +32 2 296 34 44)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
President von der Leyen travels to China to discuss EU-China relations*
Tomorrow, President von der Leyen will be in Beijing in an official visit to discuss EU-China relations.
In the morning, President von der Leyen will meet with the President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Jörg Wuttke, and with representatives of different European industries based in China.
Later in the morning, the President will meet Li Qiang, Premier of China's State Council and she will participate a working lunch hosted by the Premier.
In the afternoon, President von der Leyen, together with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, will meet the President of China, Xi Jinping.
This will be followed by a bilateral meeting between President von der Leyen and President Xi.
The President will hold a press conference at the end of her visit, at +/- 14:15 CEST.
Details of President von der Leyen's visit, as well as her press conference, can be followed on EbS.
(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 2 299 40 73)
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 11-04-23, at 10:05