Daily News 20 / 09 / 2023

EU releases €140 million to support the Afghan people, in particular women and girls

The European Union has agreed to release €140 million of assistance for basic needs and livelihoods in the fields of education, health, agriculture and women's economic empowerment in Afghanistan. The decision to release funds, frozen since December 2022 in response to the Taliban's decision to ban women from working in NGOs, comes after six months of monitoring and assessment of the “for women by women” principle. This principle ensures that Afghan girls and women are involved in all aspects of the aid delivery chain.

Speaking in New York, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said: “We know how difficult it has been to navigate the increasingly severe situation in Afghanistan. Yet, over the last six months the international community has found a way to deliver desperately needed support to women, girls, and other vulnerable groups. This support offers livelihood solutions for millions, while not recognising the Taliban de facto authorities.”

The EU funds will continue to be directed through UN agencies, the World Bank and International Non-Governmental Organisations working on the ground. The financial support aims to provide basic needs assistance to the Afghan people in the wake of the worrying challenges they face in the country.

A press release with more information is available online.

(For more information: Ana Pisonero - Tel.: +32 2 295 43 20 ; Jennifer Sánchez da Silva - Tel. : +32 2 295 83 16)

La Commission salue l'accord sur de nouvelles règles visant à donner aux consommateurs les moyens d'agir en faveur de la transition écologique

La Commission européenne se félicite de l'accord politique conclu entre le Parlement européen et le Conseil sur les nouvelles règles visant à donner aux consommateurs les moyens d'agir en faveur de la transition écologique. Comme l'a proposé la Commission en mars 2022, les nouvelles règles modifient la directive sur les pratiques commerciales déloyales et la directive relative aux droits des consommateurs afin de garantir que les consommateurs reçoivent des informations adéquates sur la durabilité et la réparabilité d'un produit avant de l'acheter.

En outre, elle protège les consommateurs contre les allégations environnementales peu fiables ou fausses et les pratiques d'obsolescence prématurée.

Didier Reynders, commissaire à la justice, a déclaré : « Les nouvelles règles aideront les consommateurs à jouer un rôle actif dans la transition écologique en leur fournissant les outils dont ils ont besoin pour faire des choix de consommation durable. L'accès à des informations fiables et la protection contre les pratiques commerciales trompeuses sont essentiels pour atteindre cet objectif. Les consommateurs doivent pouvoir trouver des réponses à des questions telles que : un produit est-il conçu pour durer ? Est-il réparable ? Est-il couvert par une garantie de durabilité plus longue en cas de rupture ? Les informations relatives à l'empreinte carbone du produit sont-elles exactes et fiables ? Avec d'autres initiatives telles que le droit à la réparation, elle apportera une contribution importante à la transition écologique, en associant chaque citoyen à cet effort ».

À l'étape suivante, le Parlement européen et le Conseil devront maintenant adopter officiellement l'accord politique intervenu hier. De plus amples informations sur la directive sont disponibles en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations : Christian Wigand — Tél. : + 32 2 296 22 53; Jördis Ferroli – Tél. : + 32 2 299 27 29)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of BAM by Reliance, Brookfield and Digital Realty

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of BAM DLR Data Centre Services Private Limited, BAM DLR Mumbai Private Limited, BAM DLR Chennai Private Limited, BAM DLR Network Services Private Limited, and BAM DLR Kolkata Private Limited (together 'BAM') by Reliance Industries Limited (‘Reliance'), all of India, Brookfield Corporation (‘Brookfield'), of Canada, and Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (‘Digital Realty') of the US. Currently, BAM is jointly controlled by Brookfield and Digital Realty.

The transaction relates primarily to the sector of data centre facilities in India.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that BAM has no actual or foreseen 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.11250. 

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Marta Pérez-Cejuela – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

UNGA78: Accelerating climate action and biodiversity protection

Yesterday, President Ursula von der Leyen participated in the Bloomberg Transition Finance Action Forum. High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell convened leaders from the Western Balkans for a working lunch. Vice-President Dubravka Šuica co-hosted a side event on ‘Children as Agents of Change' and participated in several side events in the margins of the SDG Summit on youth, Ukraine and children's rights. Commissioner Janez Lenarčič delivered a speech at Harvard University's Centre for European Studies in Cambridge on the climate breakdown, conflicts, and international action. Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius represented the EU at the High-Level Event for Nature and People entitled ‘From Ambition to Action'.

Today, President von der Leyen and Commissioner Sinkevičius will represent the EU at the signature ceremony of the Treaty for the High Seas. The President, accompanied by the Commisioner, will attend the signing ceremony of the Treaty together with the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. President von der Leyen will deliver a speech during the opening session of the Climate Ambition Summit at ca. 10:00 EST live on EbS. In the afternoon, Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will speak at the Summit's thematic session on 'Accelerating decarbonisation through collaboration and implementation' at ca. 16:00 EST live here. In the evening, President von der Leyen will participate in the Atlantic Council Awards.

Executive Vice-President Šefčovič will participate in the Global Carbon Pricing Event, organised by Canada.

High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will co-chair the 13^th Ministerial meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, together with Egypt. You can watch his opening remarks on EbS at ca. 10:00 EST. High Representative/Vice-President Borrell will participate in the Ministerial meeting of the Ad-hoc Liaison Committee on Palestine, hosted with Norway. In the evening, he will speak at a public event at New York University entitled ‘The Building of a New Global Order' at ca. 17:30 EST. He will then attend the dinner of the Transatlantic Foreign Ministers, hosted by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

Vice-President Šuica will co-chair a high-level advocacy event on children in armed conflict, entitled ‘Working Towards Sustainable Peace and Development: Putting Children at the Centre‘, together with the EU, Belgium, Malta and the UN. She will also co-host the high-level event ‘Celebrating Global HIV Progress to End AIDS and Advance the SDGs', together with Botswana, UN-AIDS, and the US. 

Commissioner Ylva Johansson will participate in the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the UN Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism.

Commissioner Lenarčič will co-chair a Ministerial meeting on the humanitarian situation in Sudan and the region, entitled ‘The cost of inaction in Sudan'.

Commissioner Sinkevičius will participate in the side event of the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, entitled ‘Building Political Momentum to Fast-Track Ratification of the High Seas Treaty'. He will also participate in the meeting ‘Moving Closer to Global Plastics Treaty' and speak at the panel discussion ‘Defend the defenders: Towards a global response for protection of defenders on the frontline of the climate crisis'. In the evening, he will attend a High-level Reception on Forests, Nature and Climate.

(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Nabila Massrali – Tel.: +32 229 88093; Xavier Cifre-Quatresols – Tel.: +32 229 73582)

Commissioner Johansson hosts the first meeting of the EU network against corruption

Today, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, hosts the first meeting of the EU network against corruption in Brussels. The network was launched as part of the Commission's anti-corruption proposals adopted in May 2023. It brings together national authorities, practitioners, civil society, international organisations, EU agencies and the Commission. It aims to foster collaboration, identify trends and develop good practices to build more effective anti-corruption policies across the EU.

The participants of the EU network against corruption will discuss its objective, the set-up of the network and future topics of discussion. Experts will exchange on good practices identified by the 2023 Rule of Law report, such as the use of technology to prevent and fight corruption.

The Commission has stepped up its action to supporting Member States' anti-corruption policies and legislation through new anti-corruption proposals presented on 3 May 2023. These new measures place a strong focus on prevention, strengthening enforcement tools, and creating a culture of integrity in which corruption is not tolerated.

(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Andrea Masini – Tel.: +32 2 291 31 73)

Commissioner Reynders visits Germany and Denmark to discuss the rule of law and consumer protection

On Thursday, 21 September, Commissioner for Justice and Consumer Rights, Didier Reynders will visit Bremen, Germany. In the morning, the Commissioner will speak at the opening ceremony of the ‘Learning Europe' Teacher's Day event. Together with students from local schools, he will take part in a simulation of the discussion at the General Affairs Council on the Rule of Law Report. The simulation game, commissioned by the State of Bremen, serves to integrate education on the rule of law into the high school curriculum in an accessible and engaging format.

In the afternoon, Commissioner Reynders will attend a reception for newly appointed judges and correctional officers. He will also hold a series of bilateral meetings, including with the Minister-President of Bremen, Andreas Bovenschulte, and the Senator for Justice and Constitution in Bremen, Claudia Schilling, to discuss the matters of rule of law and of the digitalisation of justice systems.

On Friday, Commissioner Reynders will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark. In the morning, the Commissioner will address a conference on the rule of law at Europe House. He will then meet with the Danish Minister of Justice, Peter Hummelgaard to discuss the 2023 Rule of Law Report and efforts to ensure accountability for the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine as well as the enforcement of EU sanctions.

In the afternoon, the Commissioner will attend the Danish Consumer Dialogue, the latest in the series of Consumer Dialogues taking place in each Member State during this mandate. Commissioner Reynders will exchange with Danish officials and civil society on empowering consumers in the digital transition, both from the national perspective and through actions taken under the New Consumer Agenda at European level. Following the Dialogue, the Commissioner will meet with Danish Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, Morten Bødskov to further discuss consumer protection issues.

(For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 2 296 22 53; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 291 31 73)

Liste des points prévus à l'ordre du jour des prochaines réunions de la Commission

Veuillez noter que ces informations sont données sous réserve de modifications.

Prochains événements de la Commission européenne

Eurostat: communiqués de presse