Daily News 13 / 09 / 2023

Libya floods: EU mobilises emergency assistance via its Civil Protection Mechanism

Following yesterday's request for international assistance by the Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the United Nations office in Geneva, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to support Libya in the aftermath of the major flood that has left thousands of casualties.

Immediately, EU Member States – so far Germany, Romania, Finland - have offered substantial assistance in the form of shelter items such as tents, field beds and blankets, 80 generators, food items, as well as hospital tents and water tanks via the Mechanism. The EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre stands ready to coordinate further offers of assistance.

Furthermore, the EU has released an initial €500,000 in humanitarian funding to tackle the most urgent needs of people in Libya affected by the impact of Storm Daniel. Funding will be channelled through partners operating on the ground to deliver lifesaving health and water and sanitation supplies for the flood response in eastern Libya.

Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management: “The rapid onset of floods in Libya already claimed thousands of lives. In this challenging time, prompt and organised response is crucial. To help support emergency operations on the ground, the EU is coordinating incoming offers of aid to be channelled through its Civil Protection Mechanism. I thank EU Member States who already offered shelter items, generators, food items and other vital support. The EU has also released €500,000 in humanitarian aid. The EU remains ready to scale up the response for the most affected people in Libya going through this difficult time.”

The press release is available online.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40)

InvestEU: new agreement worth €15 million to support sustainable food and organic farmers in Europe

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a venture debt loan of €15 million, backed by the InvestEU programme, with CrowdFarming, an online platform for European farmers that sell directly to end-consumers. The company is based in Spain, with a strong presence in France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.

Overall, CrowdFarming's marketplace currently has more than 300 farmers from 13 European countries selling to end-consumers without intermediaries. The EIB financing will help to boost the research, development and innovation activities of the company by enhancing their digital marketplace and developing tools that promote sustainable agricultural practices across Europe, and a more sustainable and fair food supply chain.  

Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “The InvestEU programme plays a vital role in helping businesses across Europe to access the financing they need. Thanks to this agreement, we are fostering economic growth and job creation, while ensuring that an increasing number of Spanish companies will be at the forefront of establishing a more sustainable, innovative, and efficient food system. This initiative is a good example of how we can further our efforts to achieve our environmental objectives and reinforce the EU's competitiveness.”

The InvestEU programme provides the EU with long-term funding by leveraging private and public funds in support of EU policy priorities. As part of the programme, the InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee and thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment. 

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Veerle Nuyts - Tel.: +32 2 299 63 02; Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 2 298 39 51)

La Commission européenne émet avec succès 5 milliards d'euros dans le cadre de sa 9e opération syndiquée pour 2023*

La Commission européenne, qui émet des obligations de l'UE au nom de l'UE, a levé hier 5 milliards d'euros supplémentaires d'obligations dans le cadre de sa 9e opération syndiquée pour 2023. L'opération en une seule tranche a consisté en l'émission d'une nouvelle obligation à sept ans arrivant à échéance le 4 décembre 2030.

Les conditions de marché à l'origine de l'opération ont été plus contenues, les investisseurs attendant des éclaircissements sur de nouvelles modifications des taux d'intérêt européens. Toutefois, l'opération a suscité un vif intérêt de la part des investisseurs, qui ont placé des offres supérieures à 46 milliards d'euros, ce qui représente un taux de sursouscription supérieur à neuf fois et montre que la Commission européenne continue de bénéficier d'un accès solide au marché.

Le produit de cette opération sera utilisé pour soutenir à la fois le programme de relance NextGenerationEU et le programme d'assistance macrofinancière+ en faveur de l'Ukraine, conformément à l'approche de la Commission consistant à émettre des "EU-Bonds" sous une marque unique plutôt que des obligations distinctes pour les différents programmes.

Avec cette opération, la Commission a réalisé environ 28 % de son objectif de financement de 40 milliards d'euros pour le second semestre de 2023. Un aperçu complet de toutes les transactions de l'UE exécutées à ce jour est disponible en ligne. Un aperçu détaillé des transactions prévues par l'UE pour le second semestre 2023 est également disponible dans le plan de financement de l'UE.

Le commissaire en charge du budget et de l'administration, Johannes Hahn, a déclaré : « Le programme de financement de l'UE pour le second semestre 2023 progresse de manière fluide avec une nouvelle syndication réussie. Après avoir obtenu une sursouscription record pour notre opération à long terme en juillet, nous avons obtenu un autre résultat important sur l'accord d'aujourd'hui à plus court terme. L'opération a suscité un intérêt particulièrement vif de la part des investisseurs internationaux, ce qui souligne l'attrait des obligations de l'UE et, plus généralement, des marchés des capitaux d'emprunt en euros. »

Plus de détails figurent dans le communiqué de presse

(Pour plus d'informations : Balazs Ujvari - Tél.: +32 2 295 45 78; Veronica Favalli – Tél.: +32 2 298 72 69)

Agriculture: the Commission approves a new geographical indication from Hungary - ‘Sárréti kökénypálinka'

The Commission approved the addition of ‘Sárréti kökénypálinka'as Geographical Indication (GI) from Hungary. ‘Sárréti kökénypálinka' is a fruit spirits with a minimum alcoholic strength of 38,5% V/V and a volatile substance content of at least 250 g/hl of 100% vol. alcohol. It is a pálinka with a rich volatile substance content and an aroma reminiscent of sloe flower. ‘Sárréti kökénypálinka' is full-bodied, with notes of almond and marzipan, and is slightly sweet, which gives this spirit drink a lighter, smoother character but at the same time evokes the somewhat tart taste of sloe.

This new denomination will be added to the list of over 260 spirit drinks already protected. The list of all protected geographical indications can be found in the eAmbrosia database.

More information is available online at Quality Schemes and on our GIView portal.

(For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel.: +32 2 299 90 75; Sophie Dirven – Tel.: +32 2 296 72 28)

Concentrations : la Commission autorise l'acquisition de Webhelp par Concentrix

La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition de Webhelp S.A.S., basée en France, par Concentrix Corporation, basée aux États-Unis.

La transaction porte principalement sur des services informatiques dans lesquels les deux sociétés sont actives, l'accent étant mis sur les services d'externalisation des processus métier (business process outsourcing, « BPO »), en particulier des services BPO relatifs à la gestion de l'expérience client (« CXM BPO »).

La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence, compte tenu de son impact limité sur le marché et en raison du nombre de concurrents actifs sur les marchés où les entreprises sont actives. La transaction a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure normale de contrôle des concentrations.

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.11132.

(Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 2 298 70 24; Marta Pérez-Cejuela – Tél.: +32 229 63770)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Sinkevičius on official visit to Bulgaria to discuss European Green Deal topics

Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius will be in Sofia tomorrow where he will meet Nikolai Denkov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria; Julian Popov, Minister for Environment and Water; and Kiril Vatev, Minister of Agriculture and Food, as well as representatives of green NGOs and civil society. The discussions will cover a range of topics including nature conservation, air quality, waste management, wastewater treatment, fisheries, as well as maritime security and environmental impacts of Russia's war on Ukraine.

The recent devastating floods in the country will also be on the agenda. The Commissioner will then visit an electricity station renovated with the support of EU funds to support e-transport and contribute to improving air quality in Sofia. 

In the afternoon, the Commissioner will have a joint meeting with members of the parliamentary committees of European Union Affairs, Schengen Area, and Euro Area, as well as with members of the Committees on Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and Environment and Water.

Commissioner Sinkevičius will hold a press point with Prime Minister Denkov around 14:45 CEST.

(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 2 295 36 64)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases

*Mis à jour le 13 september, à 15h15 CEST