Daily News 14 / 08 / 2024

La Commission européenne coordonne l'achat et le don de 215 000 doses de vaccin afin d'aider la CDC africaine à lutter contre l'épidémie de variole en Afrique

L'Autorité de préparation et de réaction en cas d'urgence sanitaire de la Commission européenne (HERA), fournira et fera don de 175 420 doses du vaccin MVA-BN ®, le seul vaccin contre la variole du singe approuvé par la FDA et l'AEM, en réponse immédiate à l'épidémie de variole du singe en Afrique. En outre, l'entreprise pharmaceutique Bavarian Nordic donnera 40 000 doses à HERA. La CDC africaine distribuera les vaccins en fonction des besoins régionaux.

Par l'intermédiaire de la CDC africaine, ces vaccins seront distribués aux pays touchés. En outre, HERA collabore avec la CDC africaine dans le but d'élargir l'accès aux diagnostics et au séquençage de la variole dans la région, avec une subvention de 3,5 millions d'euros prévue pour le début de l'automne.

Le 13 août, la CDC africaine a déclaré une urgence de santé publique pour la sécurité continentale, afin de répondre à l'escalade des préoccupations en matière de santé publique dans toute la région. La CDC africaine a invité la communauté internationale à soutenir ses efforts pour mobiliser 2 millions de vaccins, appel auquel HERA a répondu immédiatement.

Stella Kyriakides, commissaire chargée à la santé et la sécurité alimentaire, a dit : « Des partenariats mondiaux solides sont au cœur même de notre Union européenne de la santé. Les menaces pour la sécurité sanitaire ne connaissent pas de frontières et aujourd'hui, grâce à la collaboration entre la Commission européenne, le Centre africain de contrôle des maladies et Bavarian Nordic, nous mettons 215 000 vaccins à disposition pour protéger les plus vulnérables dans les pays touchés par l'épidémie de variole en Afrique. La préparation et la réponse aux menaces sanitaires est un effort mondial que nous sommes déterminés à poursuivre collectivement et solidairement au-delà des frontières. »

De plus amples informations sont disponibles dans le communiqué de presse conjoint en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations : Tim McPhie – Tél. : +32 2 295 86 02 ; Ana Apse-Paese – Tél. : +32 2 298 73 48)

Commission approves €99.5 million Romanian State aid measure to support Nokian Tyres' new zero CO₂ emission tyre factory

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €99.5 million (RON 495.2 million) Romanian measure in favour of Nokian Tyres. The aid will support the establishment of a new zero carbon dioxide emission factory for passenger car tyres in Oradea. The measure will contribute to the EU's strategic objectives relating to job creation, regional development, and to the green transition of the regional economy.

Under the measure, the aid will take the form of a direct grant. The aid amount will be around €99.5 million (RON 495.2 million). The investment is estimated to total approximately €650 million. The plant is expected to have a capacity of approximately 6 million units per year. The project will create approximately 500 direct jobs, as well as further indirect jobs. The project is also expected to bring sustainability benefits by aiming to be the world's first zero carbon dioxide emission tyre factory.

The factory will be located in Oradea, an area eligible for regional aid under Article 107(3)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU').

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €99.5 million measure will enable Romania to support the establishment of a new zero CO₂ emission tyre factory in Oradea. The project is expected to be a world first and will contribute to the competitiveness and green transition of this area.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Francesca Dalboni – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 70; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Commission approves €700 million Dutch State aid scheme to promote a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production in the livestock sector

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €700 million Dutch scheme to compensate farmers for voluntarily closing livestock farming sites in certain areas of the Netherlands to improve the quality of the environment and promote a more sustainable and environmentally friendly production in the livestock sector.

The scheme will apply to priority areas designated by the Dutch provinces, which include peatlands, sandy soils, stream valleys, as well as areas in and next to Natura 2000-areas.

The scheme will run until 1 October 2029. It will be open to small and medium-sized livestock farmers in the Netherlands that voluntarily close their livestock farming sites in an eligible area. To be eligible under the scheme, the annual nitrogen emissions of the site must reach certain thresholds to ensure that their closure has a sufficient positive environmental impact. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants and subsidised advisory services. It will cover up to 100% of the eligible costs, including the compensation for the loss of production rights and capacity, the costs of dismantling and disposing of the production capacity, and other costs directly linked to the site closure.

The scheme complements two existing Dutch schemes (LBV and LBV-plus) approved by the Commission in May 2023 to reduce nitrogen deposition on nature conservation areas. Livestock farmers can only participate in one of the three schemes.

The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, and the 2022 Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objective pursued, namely the sustainable and environmentally friendly development of livestock farming, while supporting the objectives of the European Green Deal. Furthermore, the Commission concluded that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade in the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Dutch scheme under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.114339 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

(For more information: Francesca Dalboni – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 70; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Commission clears acquisition of Innomotics by KPS

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Innomotics GmbH of Germany and Innomotics LLC of the US (together ‘Innomotics') by KPS Capital Partners, LP (‘KPS') of the US.

The transaction relates primarily to the development, production and global sale of low and high voltage electric motors and medium voltage drives, as well as accompanying solutions and services.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market position resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified 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.11616.

(For more information: Francesca Dalboni – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 70; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Johansson to visit eu-LISA in Tallinn and exchange on the digitalisation of EU's external border

On Friday, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson will visit the EU Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) in Tallinn. She will meet with eu-LISA management and exchange with eu-LISA's staff on ongoing cooperation and key priorities for the rest of the year.

The discussions will focus on close cooperation between the Commission and eu-LISA, as well as on the ongoing priorities for the digitalisation of European external border, in particular the upcoming Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The Commission is working closely with Member States and eu-LISA to build the most advanced border management system in the world, so national and European systems can talk to each other. The Entry/Exit System will enable automation of border controls which should ease the experience of travellers at the border crossing points. The EES will digitally register short-stay visa holders and visa-free travellers, each time they cross the external borders of 29 European countries for a short stay (up to 90 days in 180 days). This will also improve the EU's security.

The ETIAS will bring a new travel requirement for visa-free visitors travelling for a short stay to 30 European countries using the system. Travellers will need to apply for a travel authorisation, by filling out an online form and paying a €7 fee. The purpose of ETIAS is to pre-assess applicants and identify any potential security, immigration or health risk before travellers begin their journey. 

A speech by Commissioner Johansson will take place at 11:00 CEST and can be followed live on EbS. More information on EES and ETIAS is available on the official website.

(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Elettra Di Massa -Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases