Daily News 11 / 06 / 2024

President von der Leyen participates along with several members of the College in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 to showcase steadfast support for Ukraine

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is participating today in the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024, hosted jointly by Chancellor Scholz and President Zelensky in Berlin on 11 and 12 June. She delivered an opening address to all participants during the opening session of the conference, in which she announced the signature of €1.4 billion in new guarantee and grant agreements to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction, including its energy infrastructure as part of the Ukraine Facility's Investment Framework. The President heads a delegation of several members of the College of Commissioners participating in the Conference, showcasing the EU's steadfast support to Ukraine, including on its path to the EU, as it continues to face Russia's war of aggression.

President von der Leyen is accompanied by Executive Vice-Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Maroš Šefčovič; Vice-President Věra Jourová; and Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, who will also participate in different thematic panel discussions.

The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 in Berlin brings together Heads of State or Government, Ministers, and State representatives, international organisations, and financial institutions, as well as businesses and civil society organisations, to discuss Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction under a ‘whole-of-society approach'. The Conference focuses on four thematic dimensions, including the mobilisation of the private sector for reconstruction and economic growth, the social aspects and human capital for the future of Ukraine, the recovery of municipalities and regions, as well as the EU accession and related reforms. The Ukraine Recovery Conference is an annual event that was launched in 2017 as the ‘Ukraine Reform Conference' and, since 2022, has been rebranded as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion.

In the margins of the conference, Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis will chair in the first ministerial meeting of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform, which works to coordinate the international support for Ukraine's immediate needs, its recovery and reconstruction. It brings together representatives from Ukraine, the EU, G7 countries, as well as international financial institutions. In February 2024, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden joined it as new members; while Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Finland, Switzerland did so as observers in April 2024.

Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis will deliver an opening speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference for the panel discussion on ‘The future of Ukraine as an EU economic power house' and participate in the ceremony of signature agreements, while Maroš Šefčovič will do so for the panel discussion on ‘Ukraine's preparation for accession to the EU and preparing the EU for Ukraine's accession. Vice-President Jourová will deliver an opening speech on her side on the panel discussion entitled ‘Rule of law, judiciary reform and the establishment of an international compensation mechanism' and for his part, Commissioner Sinkevičius will do so in the panel focused on ‘Green recovery and European Green deal for Ukraine'.

President von der Leyen's address at the Conference is available online. 

A press release, with further details on the Conference and the EU's latest support to Ukraine, will be available online this afternoon.

(For more information: Ana Pisonero – Tel.: +32 2 295 43 20; Pedro Fonseca Moniz – Tel.: +32 229-13876)

 

Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine until March 2026

Today, the Commission has proposed to extend the temporary protection for people fleeing Russia's aggression against Ukraine for another year, from 5 March 2025 to 4 March 2026. Given continued Russian attacks on the civil and critical infrastructure across Ukraine, safe and durable conditions for the return of people to Ukraine are not currently in place.

The Commission therefore considers that the reasons for temporary protection persist, and that it should be prolonged for another year as a necessary and appropriate response to the current situation. The ultimate goal is to ensure that all those fleeing Russia's war of aggression can find protection in the EU, and that those almost 4.2 million people that are already benefiting from temporary protection in the EU Member States are provided with as much stability as possible under the current circumstances.

The Commission will present the proposal to the Ministers at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 13 June. It is then for the Council to formally adopt the proposal.

A press release is available here.

(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 229 85691; Yuliya Matsyk – Tel.: +32 2 291 31 73)

 

La Commission garantit aux États membres l'accès à 665 000 doses de vaccin zoonotique contre la grippe aviaire

Aujourd'hui, l'Autorité de préparation et de réaction en cas d'urgence sanitaire (HERA) de la Commission, dans le cadre de son mandat en matière de préparation, a signé, au nom des États membres participants, un contrat-cadre de passation conjointe de marché pour la fourniture d'un maximum de 665 000 doses de vaccin prépandémique du virus de la grippe zoonotique actualisé, ainsi qu'une option pour 40 millions de doses supplémentaires sur la durée du contrat.

Ce vaccin est destiné aux personnes les plus exposées à la transmission potentielle de la grippe aviaire par les oiseaux ou les animaux, tels que les travailleurs des élevages de volailles et les vétérinaires. Il vise à prévenir la propagation ou l'apparition de foyers potentiels de grippe aviaire en Europe, en protégeant les citoyens et les moyens de subsistance. Il s'agit du seul vaccin préventif contre la grippe aviaire zoonotique actuellement autorisé dans l'UE.

Quinze États membres de l'UE et de l'EEE participent à cet achat volontaire avec la société Seqirus UK Ltd. Le contrat permet à chaque pays participant de tenir compte de son contexte de santé publique et de commander des vaccins en fonction des besoins nationaux. Le contrat aura une durée maximale de 4 ans.

Le mécanisme de passation de marchés conjoints de l'UE est défini dans l'accord de passation de marchés conjoints de l'UE pour les contre-mesures médicales, qui a été signé par 36 pays, dont tous les États membres de l'UE et de l'EEE. Le mécanisme permet aux pays participants d'acquérir conjointement des contre-mesures médicales sur une base volontaire et flexible. L'accord garantit un accès plus équitable à des contre-mesures médicales spécifiques et améliore la sécurité de l'approvisionnement.

Un communiqué de presse est disponible, ainsi qu'un questions-réponses sur les contre-mesures plus larges en matière de la grippe aviaire.

(Pour plus d'informations : Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tél. : +32 2 298 46 80 ; Anna Gray – Tél. : +32 2 298 08 73)

 

EU Justice Scoreboard 2024 shows that perception of judicial independence has improved

Today, the European Commission has published the twelfth edition of the EU Justice Scoreboard, an annual overview providing comparative data on the efficiency, quality, and independence of justice systems among the EU Member States. Compared to last year, the public's perception of judicial independence has improved, also in countries that had experienced systemic challenges.

Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency, said: “The latest EU Justice Scoreboard shows that our efforts to strengthen judicial independence across the EU are bearing fruit. By highlighting key areas for improvement and celebrating progress, we aim to foster trust in our legal institutions and ensure that justice is independent and accessible to all. Over the last twelve years, the Scoreboard has proven to be a reliable tool to keep stock of our progress and to identify areas of potential improvement across Member States, contributing to our efforts to further safeguard the rule of law and support the rights of citizens and businesses alike.”

The information contained in the EU Justice Scoreboard contributes to the monitoring carried out within the framework of the European Semester and the Annual Rule of Law Cycle - the findings will feed into the Commission's 2024 Rule of Law Report. The 2024 EU Justice Scoreboard has been further developed to address the need for additional comparative information (such as a new figure on the salaries of judicial and prosecutorial expert staff and on the procedure to dismiss Prosecutors General) identified during the preparation of the 2023 Rule of Law Report. The Scoreboard's data are also used for the monitoring of the National Recovery and Resilience Plans.

More information is available in the press release.

(For more information: Christian Wigand — Tel.: + 32 2 296 22 53; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79) 

 

Le rapport européen sur les drogues 2024 donne un aperçu et une évaluation de la situation en matière de drogue en Europe, ainsi que des recommandations clés 

Aujourd'hui, l'Observatoire européen des drogues et des toxicomanies (OEDT) a publié le rapport annuel 2024 sur les drogues, qui donne un aperçu et une évaluation de la situation en matière de drogue en Europe jusqu'à la fin de 2023. Le rapport indique que les drogues ont une incidence significative sur la santé et la sécurité européennes, car elles sont plus disponibles, plus diversifiées et plus puissantes.  

La criminalité organisée liée à la drogue infiltre de plus en plus les chaînes d'approvisionnement de l'Union europénne (UE), souvent par l'intimidation et la corruption, et près de 70 % des saisies de drogue par les autorités douanières de l'UE ont lieu dans les ports de l'UE. Le rapport souligne également les risques d'un marché des drogues en évolution qui pourrait soudainement être affecté par la consommation d'opioïdes, malgré les efforts déployés récemment pour empêcher cette augmentation en Europe. La cocaïne est la deuxième drogue la plus répandue dans l'UE. Des quantités record de cocaïne ont été saisies par les États membres de l'UE en 2023. Dans le même temps, le marché des drogues illicites devient plus résilient, plus flexible et plus lucratif.  

Le rapport formule également des recommandations, notamment : l'amélioration de la surveillance des drogues; la préparation à d'éventuels changements de marché; la prévention et le traitement adéquat de la toxicomanie. Une coordination renforcée, y compris au niveau international, et une connaissance de la situation ainsi qu'un soutien aux États membres sont également nécessaires pour démanteler l'activité criminelle transfrontière à l'origine du trafic de drogue. Cet objectif est notamment mis en œuvre par l'Alliance portuaire européenne que la Commission a lancée en janvier 2024. 

Depuis le début de ce mandat, la Commission a intensifié ses efforts pour lutter contre le trafic de drogue et la criminalité organisée au moyen d'actions législatives et opérationnelles ainsi que d'un soutien financier aux États membres. Le rôle des agences a également été renforcé. Le mois prochain, le 2 juillet 2024, l'OEDT deviendra la nouvelle Agence de l'Union européenne pour les questions liées aux drogues, dotée d'un mandat renforcé. Dans le cadre du nouveau mandat, l'Agence renforcera également son suivi des aspects sécuritaires de la situation en matière de drogue.  

(Pour plus d'informations : Anitta Hipper — Tél. : + 32 229 85691; Elettra Di Massa — Tél. : + 32 2 299 37 34) 

 

Commission services sign administrative arrangement with Australian eSafety Commissioner to support the enforcement of social media regulations

Today, the Commission services responsible for the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA) have signed an administrative arrangement with the eSafety Commissioner – the independent regulator for online safety in Australia.

As like-minded partners, the EU and Australia have increased contacts on areas of common interest such as platforms, data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and secure connectivity. On 12 June, both partners are meeting virtually for a digital dialogue.

The arrangement signed today will support the Commission's and the eSafety Commissioner's supervisory work towards online platforms, respectively the EU's DSA and Australia's Online Safety Act 2021. The cooperation covers areas such as transparency and accountability of online platforms, risk assessment and mitigation particularly as regards illegal content, algorithms and artificial intelligence, as well as measures like age-appropriate design and age verification to protect minors online. It will be carried out through information exchanges, including expert dialogues, joint training of technical staff and sharing of best practices.

Effective and active cooperation with international partners is crucial to shape a secure and trusted online environment. On 16 May 2024 the Commission services signed a similar administrative agreement with OfCom, the media regulator of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Roberta Verbanac – Tel.: +32 2 298 24 98) 

 

Commission opens in-depth foreign subsidies investigation into e&'s acquisition of parts of PPF Telecom

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess, under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (‘FSR'), the acquisition by the Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC (‘e&') of sole control of PPF Telecom Group B.V. (‘PPF'), excluding its Czech business. The Commission has preliminary concerns that e& may have been granted foreign subsidies that could distort the EU internal market. e& is a State-controlled telecommunication operator based in the United Arab Emirates (‘UAE'). PPF is a European telecommunication operator and a subsidiary of the PPF Group.

The preliminary investigation indicates that there are sufficient indications that e& has received foreign subsidies distorting the EU internal market.

The alleged subsidies notably take the form of an unlimited guarantee from the UAE and a loan from UAE-controlled banks directly facilitating the transaction. Such subsidies are among the most likely to distort the internal market as set out in the Foreign Subsidies Regulation. The Commission has concerns that such subsidies may have improved e&'s capacity to perform the acquisition as well as the competitive position of the merged entity in the EU going forward, notably by improving its capacity to finance its EU activities at preferential terms.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager in charge of competition policy said: “Today we open our first in-depth investigation into a concentration under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation - Emirates Telecommunications' acquisition of parts of PPF Telecom. The FSR allows us to tackle distortive support from third countries for the acquisition of businesses in the EU. Our investigation will also assess whether e& may have received foreign subsidies that could distort fair competition in the telecom sector.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98)

 

Commission calls on Czechia to improve competition for organising waste collection and recovery in the packaging sector

The European Commission has informed Czechia that measures appointing EKO-KOM as the only company authorised for the collection and recovery of packaging waste for over two decades may be in breach of the EU competition rules.

The Commission's preliminary view is that certain provisions of the Czech Packaging Act as well as Czechia's enforcement of such rules may have created significant entry barriers for rival companies. Such barriers include authorisation requirements that are very difficult to meet, such as strict contractual and financial conditions, as well as the possibility for EKO-KOM to influence the authorisation proceedings of other applicants.

The Commission preliminarily considers that such State measures led to unequal opportunities for EKO-KOM's rivals and placed EKO-KOM in a position of conflict of interest, due to its dual role as both a market participant competing with any new entrant and a third party enjoying certain procedural rights in the authorisation process of new applicants. The measures effectively prevented other companies from being authorised by the Czech authorities and allowed EKO-KOM to operate as a de facto monopolist for more than two decades, thereby hindering the development of effective competition in the Czech market for waste collection and recovery.

The Commission has voiced its competition concerns in the form of a Letter of Formal Notice. If the Commission's preliminary view is confirmed, this conduct would infringe Article 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU') in conjunction with Article 102 TFEU.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The Czech market for packaging waste collection and recovery has been dominated by the incumbent operator for more than two decades. We are concerned that Czech measures have prevented entry of rival companies, with a consequent negative impact on prices, quality, innovation and choice. Therefore, we have sent a letter of Formal Notice to Czechia. Ensuring effective competition is essential for achieving a sustainable and circular economy, one of the main building blocks of the European Green Deal.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

 

Commission finds Hungarian support for new auto parts plant in Észak Magyarország to be incompatible State aid

The European Commission has concluded that Hungary's plan to support the construction of a new automotive components plant in Észak Magyarország is not in line with EU State aid rules.

In October 2022, the Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether Hungary's plans to grant €43.76 million (around HUF 15.9 billion) to GKN Automotive Hungary Kft (previously Rubin NewCo Kft) for the construction of a new automotive components plant in the northern Hungary region of Észak Magyarország was in line with EU State aid rules.

Based on its in-depth investigation, the Commission concluded that Hungary failed to prove that the aid was decisive for the beneficiary to locate its investment in Hungary. The available evidence showed that the beneficiary had decided to invest in Hungary without considering the public support and there was no sufficient evidence that the investment would take place in another location. Since the public support did therefore not have a real "incentive effect" and it did not effectively encourage GKN Automotive Hungary to invest in the specific region of Észak Magyarország, the aid is incompatible with EU State Aid rules. Therefore, the aid cannot be granted by Hungary.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "Regional aid must incentivise a company to carry out an additional activity in a disadvantaged area. Our in-depth investigation has revealed that Hungary's plan to support GKN Automotive Hungary is not in line with EU State aid rules, because it would subsidise the costs of an activity that the company would have carried out in Hungary in any event.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

 

La vice-présidente Jourová en Allemagne pour sa « tournée de la démocratie » et pour participer à la conférence sur le redressement de l'Ukraine  

La vice-présidente aux valeurs et à la transparence Věra Jourová poursuit sa « tournée de la démocratie » à Berlin afin d'échanger des points de vue sur la meilleure façon de protéger les élections et de renforcer la résilience des démocraties, notamment contre la désinformation, la manipulation de l'information et l'ingérence étrangère. La vice-présidente rencontrera des législateurs allemands de la commission des affaires juridiques du Bundestag afin d'échanger sur la meilleure façon de lutter contre les campagnes de désinformation et de protéger nos démocraties. Elle poursuivra ensuite cette discussion lors d'une table ronde sur les élections et la désinformation avec des chercheurs et des vérificateurs de faits travaillant pour différents médias et agences de presse. 

À Berlin, la vice-présidente Jourová prononcera également un discours et participera à une table ronde lors de la conférence sur le redressement de l'Ukraine.   

La prochaine étape de la « tournée des démocraties » de la vice-présidente Jourová sera une visite virtuelle en Suède la semaine prochaine. 

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

 

Le commissaire Lenarčič se rend en Jordanie pour participer à une conférence appelant à une action urgente dans le cadre de l'action humanitaire en faveur de Gaza

Aujourd'hui, Janez Lenarčič, commissaire chargé de la gestion des crises, assiste en Jordanie à la conférence de haut niveau intitulée "Appel à l'action: réponse humanitaire urgente pour Gaza", coprésidée par Sa Majesté le roi de Jordanie, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, avec le président égyptien, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, et le secrétaire général des Nations unies, António Guterres. A cette occasion, le commissaire a publié une déclaration appelant à un cessez-le-feu urgent et à un accès humanitaire à Gaza.

Cet événement réunit des acteurs clés impliqués dans la réponse à la crise à Gaza, notamment des représentants et des dirigeants de la région, des Nations unies et d'autres agences humanitaires, afin de discuter de questions urgentes concernant la détérioration rapide de la situation humanitaire à Gaza.

Les sessions de la conférence se concentreront, entre autres, sur la résolution des problèmes liés à l'acheminement de l'aide et à l'accès humanitaire à Gaza, à la protection des civils ainsi qu'aux priorités en matière de redressement rapide.

L'UE continue de travailler sur tous les fronts pour fournir une aide humanitaire. Cela inclut les 193 millions d'euros de financement humanitaire pour 2024 pour les Palestiniens dans le besoin, déjà annoncés. L'UE a également organisé 51 ponts humanitaires transportant plus de 2 233 tonnes de marchandises humanitaires fournies par des partenaires humanitaires, des stocks appartenant à l'UE et des dons des États membres pour les Palestiniens. En outre, l'UE continue de soutenir le corridor maritime entre Chypre et Gaza. 

(Pour plus d'informations : Balazs Ujvari - Tél : +32 2 295 45 78 ; Daniel Puglisi - Tél : +32 2 296 91 40)

 

 

 

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

 

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases