Daily News 01 / 08 / 2023

NextGenerationEU : La Commission reçoit de la France une deuxième demande de paiement de plus de 10 milliards d'euros au titre de la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience

La deuxième demande de paiement de la France pour plus de 10 milliards d'euros de subventions porte sur 16 jalons et 39 cibles. Ils couvrent des investissements dans les domaines de la rénovation énergétique des bâtiments publics et privés, du soutien aux chemins de fer et de la connectivité numérique. La demande de paiement comprend également une série de réformes visant, par exemple, à améliorer la performance énergétique des nouveaux bâtiments et à améliorer les services offerts par l'agence pour l'emploi afin d'accélérer le retour sur le marché du travail, notamment par le diagnostic individuel de la situation des demandeurs d'emploi, l'amélioration des offres de formation et des services aux entreprises.

Le plan global pour la reprise et la résilience de la France sera financé par 40 milliards d'euros de subventions.

Les paiements au titre de la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience sont fondés sur la performance et dépendent de la mise en œuvre par la France des investissements et des réformes décrits dans son plan pour la reprise et la résilience.

La Commission va maintenant examiner la demande. Elle transmettra ensuite son évaluation préliminaire de la réalisation, par la France, des jalons et cibles requis pour ce paiement au comité économique et financier du Conseil.

De plus amples informations sur le processus des demandes de paiement au titre de la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience sont disponibles dans ce document questions-réponses. De plus amples informations sur le plan français pour la reprise et la résilience sont disponibles ici. 
(Pour plus d'informations : Arianna Podesta – Tel. : +32 2 298 70 24 ; Laura Bérard — Tel. : + 32 229 55721).

State aid: Commission approves €54 million Italian scheme to support companies in the region of Abruzzo in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

The European Commission has approved a €54 million Italian scheme to support small and medium-sized companies (‘SMEs') active in the region of Abruzzo 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 up to a maximum of €600,000 per SMEs active in the region of Abruzzo and affected by the crisis due to certain circumstances, such as increases in energy costs, decreases in turnover and trade and interruption of existing contracts or projects. The purpose of the scheme is to support investments in eligible projects, relating to industrial equipment, the modernisation of existing plants or processes, or the purchase of technological tools for the implementation of innovative business models. The measure will be open to all sectors except for the financial, agriculture, fishery and aquaculture sectors, as well as sectors excluded from the scope of the de minimis Regulation.

The Commission found that the Italian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €2 million per company; (ii) will only be granted to companies affected by the crisis; and (iii) will be granted before 31 December 2023. The Commission concluded that the Italian 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 case number SA.108490 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 2 299 81 63)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Telge Energi by Fortum Markets

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Telge Energi AB by Fortum Markets AB, both of Sweden.

Telge Energi is part of the Swedish Telge group, currently owned by the Swedish municipality of Södertälje. It is active in the retail sale of electricity generated from renewable sources to households and to small industrial and commercial customers. Fortum Markets is part of the Finnish-based energy group Fortum, solely controlled by the Finnish State. It is active in power generation, in the retail sale of energy to consumers and companies, and in the circular solutions business. The activities of Telge Energi and Fortum Markets overlap in the retail sale of electricity to households and to small industrial and commercial customers.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given its limited impact on the markets concerned. 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.11202.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira – Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

STATEMENTS

European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day: Statement by President von der Leyen, Vice-President Jourová, and Commissioner Dalli

Ahead of the Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, on 2 August, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency; and Helena Dalli, Commissioner for Equality, released the following statement:

“On European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, we pay tribute to the memory of the hundreds of thousands Roma victims of the Holocaust and reaffirm our efforts and commitment to building a union of equality.

We recall that the freedom we enjoy today carries a responsibility and requires action. Europe has a duty to protect its minorities from racism and discrimination.

As the number of survivors and witnesses of these horrors dwindles, it is our duty, now more than ever, to continue their remembrance and pass on their testimonies. That is why Holocaust education remains a cornerstone in building resilience and advancing lasting efforts to fight antigypsyism, antisemitism, bias and hatred.”

The full statement is available online.

(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Marajke Slomka - Tel.: +32 2 298 26 13)  

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases