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Daily News 01 / 09 / 2023
NextGenerationEU : dix États membres demandent un soutien sous forme de prêt au titre de la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience
La Commission a transmis aujourd'hui au Parlement européen et au Conseil la vue d'ensemble finale des demandes de prêts des États membres au titre de la Facilité pour la reprise et la résilience (FRR). Si ces demandes de prêts supplémentaires sont évaluées positivement par la Commission et approuvées par le Conseil, environ 292,6 milliards d'euros (à prix courants) de soutien sous forme de prêts seraient engagés au titre de la FRR, ce qui se traduit par une utilisation des prêts au titre de la FRR proche de 76 % du total.
En total, 385,8 milliards d'euros de soutien sous forme de prêts sont disponibles au titre de la FRR. En vertu des décisions d'exécution du Conseil actuellement en vigueur, sept États membres (Grèce, Italie, Chypre, Pologne, Portugal, Roumanie et Slovénie) ont déjà bénéficié d'un soutien sous forme de prêts, pour un montant d'environ 165,4 milliards d'euros.
Dans le cadre des révisions des plans pour la reprise et la résilience, et conformément à la date limite du 31 août 2023 fixée dans le règlement FRR, dix États membres ont désormais demandé des prêts, soit pour augmenter le soutien sous forme de prêts déjà accordé (Grèce, Pologne, Portugal et Slovénie), soit comme première demande de prêts à ajouter à leur soutien sous forme de subventions existantes (Belgique, Tchéquie, Espagne, Croatie, Lituanie et Hongrie), pour un montant total de 127,2 milliards d'euros.
L'aperçu des demandes de prêts supplémentaires reçues par la Commission au 31 août 2023 dans le cadre des révisions des plans pour la reprise et la résilience est disponible en ligne. Bien qu'il indique le montant de soutien sous forme de prêts demandé par les États membres, il ne préjuge pas de l'évaluation des demandes de prêt par la Commission, qui sera effectuée conformément à l'article 19 du règlement FRR, ni de l'approbation des plans révisés par le Conseil.
(Pour plus d'informations : Daniel Ferrie — Tél. : + 32 2 298 65 00; Tommaso Alberini — Tél. : + 32 2 295 70 10)
NextGenerationEU: Poland submits request to modify recovery and resilience plan and add a REPowerEU chapter
Yesterday, Poland submitted a request to the Commission to modify its recovery and resilience plan, to which it also wishes to add a REPowerEU chapter.
The REPowerEU chapter contains new investments aiming at the development of electricity distribution networks in rural areas, supporting institutions implementing the REPowerEU measures, and developing gas infrastructure to enable diversification of supply in the interest of the Union as a whole. In addition, five investments were transferred from the initial plan to the REPowerEU chapter, three of which have been scaled-up. These concern support for electricity transmission networks, renewable energy sources, energy storage, low- and zero-emission buses, and offshore wind farms. The chapter also includes new proposed reforms concerning energy communities, regulatory aspects linked to the distribution network and measures to facilitate the deployment of technologies for the energy transition and to decrease imports of natural gas from Russia.
Poland's request to modify its plan is based on the need to factor in high inflation experienced in 2022 and 2023, as well as the impossibility to deliver certain measures within the originally envisaged timeline due to objective circumstances. The request also reflects the downward revision of Poland's maximum Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) grant allocation, from €23.9 billion to €22.5 billion. The revision is part of the June 2022 update to the RRF grants allocation key and reflects Poland's comparatively better economic outcome in 2020 and 2021 than initially foreseen.
Poland has requested additional €23 billion in loans to finance its revised plan, which come on top of the €11.5 billion in loans already committed under the original plan. Together with the RRF and REPowerEU grants allocation (€22.5 billion and €2.76 billion, respectively), these funds make the submitted modified plan worth almost €60 billion.
The Commission will now assess whether the modified plan still fulfils all the assessment criteria in the RRF Regulation. If the Commission's assessment is positive, it will make a proposal for an amended Council Implementing Decision to reflect the changes to the Polish plan. Member States will then have up to four weeks to endorse the Commission's assessment.
More information on the process concerning REPowerEU chapters and the revision of recovery and resilience plans can be found in this Q&A.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Tommaso Alberini — Tel: +32 2 29 57010)
NextGenerationEU: Croatia submits request to modify recovery and resilience plan and add a REPowerEU chapter
Yesterday, Croatia submitted a request to the Commission to modify its recovery and resilience plan, to which it also wishes to add a REPowerEU chapter.
The REPowerEU chapter covers measures related to energy security, uptake of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency of buildings, transport and fossil-free hydrogen. Seven new reforms and 12 new investments to deliver on the REPowerEU objectives are included, as well as eight existing measures which have been scaled up.
Croatia's proposed modification of the plan, which will now be assessed by the Commission, also foresees the modification of 39 planned measures, and increased funding for some measures outside the REPowerEU chapter.
Croatia's request to modify its plan is based on the need to factor in the high inflation experienced in 2022, supply chain disruptions, the request to take up loans, and the downward revision of its maximum Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) grant allocation, from €6.3 billion to €5.5 billion. The revision is part of the June 2022 update to the RRF grants allocation key and reflects Croatia's comparatively better economic outcome in 2020 and 2021 than initially foreseen.
Croatia's proposed modified plan includes a request to take up €4.4 billion in additional loans. Together with Croatia's RRF and REPowerEU grants allocation (€5.5 billion and €269 million respectively) and its share of the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (€7.2 million) that Croatia requested to transfer to its recovery and resilience plan, the submitted modified plan is worth a total of €10.2 billion.
The Commission now has up to two months to assess whether the modified plan still fulfils all the assessment criteria stipulated in the RRF Regulation. If the Commission's assessment is positive, it will make a proposal for an amended Council Implementing Decision to reflect the changes to the Croatian plan. Member States will then have up to four weeks to endorse the Commission's assessment.
More information on the process concerning REPowerEU chapters and the revision of recovery and resilience plans can be found in this Q&A.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie — Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Laura Bérard — Tel: +32 2 29 55721)
NextGenerationEU: Hungary submits request to modify recovery and resilience plan and add a REPowerEU chapter
Yesterday, Hungary submitted a request to the Commission to modify its recovery and resilience plan, to which it also wishes to add a REPowerEU chapter.
The REPowerEU chapter includes a wide range of reforms and investments aimed at decreasing the country's dependency on Russian fossil fuels and at contributing to its green transition. It covers both reforms and new and scaled-up investments. The reforms include incentives to expand energy storage capacity and a commitment to substantially boost the country's energy system's ability to integrate renewables, to be mirrored by one of the chapter's investments in supporting the electricity network development. The many other investments in the chapter also include the improvement of the energy efficiency of households, companies, and the public sector.
The proposed revision of the plan is justified by Hungary's request of €3.9 billion in loans which, together with its REPowerEU grant allocation of €0.7 billion, will finance the newly added REPowerEU chapter. These funds, added to the €5.8 billion in grants already committed under the original plan, make the overall, modified plan worth €10.4 billion.
The Commission has now two months to assess whether the modified plan, including its new REPowerEU chapter, fulfils all the assessment criteria in the RRF Regulation. If the Commission's assessment is positive, it will make a proposal for an amended Council Implementing Decision to reflect the changes to the Hungarian plan. Member States will then have up to four weeks to endorse the Commission's assessment.
More information on the process concerning REPowerEU chapters and the revision of recovery and resilience plans can be found in this Q&A.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie — Tel.: + 32 2 298 65 00; Tommaso Alberini — Tel: +32 2 295 7010)
Ukraine : la reconnaissance mutuelle des jugements entre l'UE et l'Ukraine entre en vigueur aujourd'hui en vertu de la convention de La Haye
La Convention de La Haye sur les jugements entre en vigueur aujourd'hui, garantissant la reconnaissance internationale et l'exécution des jugements rendus par les tribunaux d'autres pays en matière civile et commerciale. L'UE et l'Ukraine ont adhéré à la convention, ce qui signifie que les États membres de l'UE reconnaîtront les jugements de l'Ukraine et que l'Ukraine reconnaîtra les jugements des États membres. D'autres pays devraient également y adhérer à l'avenir.
Didier Reynders, commissaire à la justice, a déclaré : « Le moment est venu de renforcer l'unité et la coopération internationales en matière de droit civil et commercial. J'espère que l'entrée en vigueur de la Convention de La Haye sur les jugements et son application dans l'UE et en Ukraine inciteront d'autres pays à y adhérer. Dans un monde de plus en plus globalisé, la mise en œuvre du droit ne peut être limitée par les frontières - plus les pays seront nombreux à adhérer à la convention, plus nos jugements seront efficaces. Les citoyens et les entreprises bénéficieront du traité, qui facilitera les échanges commerciaux et les investissements entre l'UE et l'Ukraine.
À l'heure actuelle, la diversité des lois et des pratiques dans le monde fait qu'il est souvent difficile pour les citoyens et les entreprises de l'UE de faire reconnaître et exécuter les jugements par d'autres pays. Cette incertitude juridique, ainsi que les coûts qui y sont associés, peuvent conduire de nombreuses personnes à renoncer à faire valoir leurs droits ou à décider de ne pas s'engager dans des relations internationales.
De plus amples informations sur la coopération internationale en matière de justice civile sont disponibles ici.
(Pour plus d'informations : Christian Wigand – Tél. : +32 2 296 22 53 ; Cristina Torres Castillo – Tél. : +32 2 299 06 79)
EU-Moldova “Roam like at Home” is now closer to reality
The Commission adopted today a proposal to incorporate roaming into the EU-Moldova Association Agreement. Once all necessary steps have been completed, Moldovan visitors to the EU will be able to use their mobile phones under the same price conditions as if they were in Moldova, while travellers from the EU will benefit from the same rights when visiting Moldova. Bringing Moldova into the EU “roam like at home” area is one of the key actions of the EU-Moldova Priority Action Plan, agreed in June 2023.
This plan is a roadmap for the full implementation of the EU-Moldova Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) and Moldova's further integration into the EU Single Market. The proposal will now be considered by the Council of the European Union. Following the Council's agreement, a Joint Decision will need to be taken by the EU-Moldova Association Committee in Trade Configuration to amend the Association Agreement Annex in order to incorporate the most recent EU legislation on telecoms and postal services.
Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “Today we are one step closer towards bringing Moldova into the EU free roaming area. Citizens in the EU and Moldova will be able in future to call, text and use the Internet without extra costs when travelling abroad: just like the Roam-like-at-home that Europeans are very familiar with. It will make life easier for Moldovan citizens coming to the EU, and help EU citizens travelling to Moldova. It demonstrates that Moldova's future is in the EU.”
Find more information in this press release.
(For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel.: +32 2 299 90 75; Sophie Dirven – Tel.: +32 2 296 72 28)
Commission opens Digital Europe Programme to Türkiye
The European Commission signed an association agreement for the Digital Europe Programme with Türkiye. Following the signatures, and upon the completion of the related ratification processes, the association agreement will enter into force. Businesses, public administrations and other eligible organisations in Türkiye will be able to access the calls of the Digital Europe Programme, a programme with an overall budget of €7.5 billion in the 2021-2027 period.
In particular, participants from Türkiye will be able to take part in projects that deploy digital technologies across the EU in specific areas such as artificial intelligence, and advanced digital skills. They will also be able to set up Digital Innovation Hubs in Türkiye.
With this association agreement, the European Union and Türkiye will reinforce their strong links in the field of digital technologies – with potential benefits arising from Türkiye's capabilities and assets in the areas covered by the Digital Europe Programme, including in AI.
The Commission also hopes to see Türkiye foster closer links to the EU economy and society, cooperate more on developing our technological capabilities and support digitalisation, in particular of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Digital Europe Programme's funds will complement funding available to Türkiye through other EU programmes such as Horizon Europe. The objectives and specific topic areas that are currently eligible for funding are detailed in the Work Programmes.
For more information, please consult the link on the Digital Europe Programme and how to apply for funding.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 15; Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99)
Les Journées européennes du patrimoine célèbrent le « Patrimoine vivant », les traditions et savoir-faire culturels
Aujourd'hui débutent les Journées européennes du patrimoine 2023, une initiative qui propose des dizaines de milliers d'événements dans les 48 pays participants. Le thème de cette année, consacré au « Patrimoine vivant », célébrera le dynamisme, la diversité et l'importance des traditions, des connaissances et des compétences culturelles à travers l'Europe.
À partir d'aujourd'hui et jusqu'en novembre 2023, des sites et des monuments exceptionnels ouvriront leurs portes aux visiteurs. De nombreux événements culturels, expositions, performances artistiques, ateliers interactifs, conférences et visites guidées auront lieu autour de la thématique de cette année. Le patrimoine vivant valorise les traditions culturelles et compétences qui façonnent nos sociétés.
Organisées conjointement par la Commission et le Conseil de l'Europe, les Journées européennes du patrimoine sont l'occasion pour les citoyens d'en apprendre davantage sur la culture riche et diversifiée de l'Europe et de promouvoir la protection de notre patrimoine commun pour les générations actuelles et futures. En 2022, environ 20 millions de personnes ont participé aux Journées européennes du patrimoine.
Plus d'informations sont disponibles dans un communiqué de presse. Tous les détails sur les Journées européennes du patrimoine sont disponibles sur le site dédié, qui présente le calendrier détaillé des événements, les pays participants et les moyens de s'impliquer, ainsi que sur Facebook et Instagram.
(Pour plus d‘informations : Sonya Gospodinova – Tél. : +32 2 296 69 53; Flore Boutier – Tél. : +32 2 296 60 43)
A travelling exhibition across the EU celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Single Market
Today marks the start of the Single Market Tour, a travelling exhibition celebrating the success of the Single Market on the occasion of its 30th anniversary and involving citizens in discussing its future. The tour kicks off in Trieste, Italy, and will showcase the many benefits and opportunities of the Single Market. It will feature interactive activities, challenging games, and insightful dialogues. The tour will then embark on a journey across Europe, and is scheduled to visit Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Portugal and France until the end of the year. There will be many other destinations in 2024.
Since the beginning of the year, numerous debates, conferences, and events have been organised with relevant parties across the EU to celebrate the achievements of the Single Market and encourage reflections on its future.
In March this year, the Commission published a Communication celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Single Market, which is one of the major achievements of European integration, and one of its key drivers. Established on 1 January 1993, the European Single Market allows goods, services, people and capital to move around the EU freely, making life easier for people and opening up new opportunities for businesses. Now more than ever, it is an important factor of Europe's economic resilience during crises and provides a crucial geopolitical lever that boosts the EU's standing and influence in the world.
For more information and the tour's itinerary, consult the Single Market Tour page.
(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Flore Boutier – Tel.: +32 2 296 60 43)
Mergers: Commission's package to cut red tape for merging businesses enters into force
Today, the package adopted on 20 April 2023 to further simplify procedures for reviewing concentrations under the EU Merger Regulation enters into force. The package includes: (i) a revised Implementing Regulation; (ii) a Notice on Simplified Procedure; and (iii) a Communication on the transmission of documents.
The revised rules are expected to bring significant benefits for businesses and advisers in terms of preparatory work and related costs, while allowing the European Commission to allocate time and resources more efficiently.
In particular, the main changes to the previous rules expand and clarify the categories of cases handled under the simplified procedure and streamline both simplified and normal merger review procedures, by reducing the amount of information required for notifying transactions and by optimising the transmission of documents.
More information can be found on the Commission's dedicated webpage, including under the practical information section, as well as in the Merger Policy Brief on this initiative published today.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of control of Caverion by Triton
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of control of Caverion Oyj (‘Caverion') of Finland by Triton Fund V (‘Triton') of Jersey.
Caverion operates in building technology and industrial processes installation and maintenance, such as ventilation, energy, building automation and technical security. Triton is part of the Triton group, a set of investment funds.
On 22 May 2023, the Commission partially referred the transaction to the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority to analyse its effects in Finland, while remaining competent to review the impact of the transaction in the rest of the European Economic Area (‘EEA').
The Commission found that the parties' activities overlap in the markets for the provision of electrical, ventilation, water, and sanitation engineering services in the EEA, in particular in Sweden and Norway. However, it concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns given its limited impact on the structure of the relevant markets as well as the existence of sufficient credible alternative service providers. 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.11049.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of National Instrument by Emerson Electric
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of National Instrument Corporation (‘NI') by Emerson Electric Co. (‘Emerson'), both of the US.
NI is an international manufacturer of modular hardware and flexible software systems for electronic testing and measurement applications. Emerson is primarily engaged in the development and supply of technology and engineering products.
The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the absence of overlaps and vertical links 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.11139.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Kassø by European Energy and Mitsui
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Kassø MidCo ApS (‘Kassø') by European Energy A/S, both of Denmark, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (‘Mitsui') of Japan.
Kassø produces electricity from a solar power generation plant and is expected to produce e-methanol from a “Power-to-X” facility near Kassø, Denmark. European Energy provides green energy services by developing and operating infrastructure projects comprising of wind farms, solar parks and “Power-to-X” facilities globally. Mitsui is a trading, business management and project development company, operating worldwide in sectors such as basic chemicals and energy.
The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns in view of the very limited horizontal overlaps 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.11220.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Calendar – Weekly Commissioners' activities
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases