Daily News 20 / 08 / 2024

Commission launches call for nominations of scientists to advise the College of Commissioners

Today, the Commission has launched a call for nominations of scientists to be shortlisted for future membership of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA). The group provides high-quality, timely and independent scientific advice to the College of Commissioners at its request on any subject, including on policy issues that the European Parliament and the Council consider to be of major importance. Public European research and science organisations are invited to nominate top-level scientists who meet the criteria stated in the call for nominations.  

Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said: “High-quality scientific advice, provided at the right time, is crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of EU policy making and legislation. The Group of Chief Scientific Advisors ensures that our decisions are informed by the latest scientific insights and that we remain responsive to emerging challenges and opportunities in an increasingly complex world.” 

The seven members of the GCSA are selected for their outstanding level of scientific expertise and broad vision on science for policy, which collectively reflects an understanding of important scientific developments, including interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research. They are appointed by the Commissioner responsible for research and innovation from a short-list established by an independent, high-level Identification Committee.  

Nominations for this prestigious group are intended to replenish the short-list from which members are appointed. Full details and the link to the call for nomination can be found on the Call for Nominations webpage. Candidates already on the list do not need to be renominated. 

The deadline for submitting nominations is 30 September 2024 (18:00 CEST). 

You can find more information here.  

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

Commission approves €5 billion German State aid measure to support ESMC in setting up a new semiconductor manufacturing facility

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €5 billion German measure to support European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (‘ESMC') in the construction and operation of a microchip manufacturing plant in Dresden. ESMC is a joint venture between Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (‘TSMC'), Bosch, Infineon, and NXP. The measure will strengthen Europe's security of supply, resilience and digital sovereignty in semiconductor technologies, in line with the objectives set out in the European Chips Act Communication. The measure will also contribute to achieving the digital and green transitions.

Germany notified the Commission of its plan to support ESMC's project to build and operate a new semiconductor production facility in Dresden, Germany. The project aims at serving the demand for automotive and industrial applications.

The new large-scale manufacturing facility supported under the measure will deliver high-performance chips, based on 300mm silicon wafers with node sizes covering 28/22nm and 16/12nm, using field-effect transistor (‘FinFET') technology and allowing the integration of several additional features in one chip. The produced chips will offer better performance while at the same time reducing total power consumption. The plant, which is planned to be operating at full capacity by 2029, is expected to produce 480,000 silicon wafers per year. The facility will operate as an open foundry, meaning that any customer – including but not limited to the three other shareholders besides TSMC – can place orders for the production of specific chips.

Today, President von der Leyen delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony for the ESMC semiconductor plant.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €5 billion German measure will strengthen semiconductor production capacity in Europe, helping us deliver our green and digital transition and creating opportunities for high-skilled employment. The measure's open foundry model will ensure widespread access to power efficient chips, including by smaller companies and start-ups, while limiting any potential distortion of competition.”

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)

La Commission autorise deux aides d'État françaises d'un montant de 6,3 et 3 millions d'euros pour soutenir la création de deux terminaux multimodaux de marchandises à Calais et Sète

La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles de l'UE en matière d'aides d'État, deux aides d'État françaises d'un montant de 6,3 et 3 millions d'euros visant à favoriser le report modal.

Les mesures visent à soutenir la construction d'un terminal d'autoroute ferroviaire à proximité du port de Calais et l'aménagement d'une plateforme multimodale dans le port de Sète. Ces deux projets impliquent entre autres une technologie de transbordement dite horizontale, capable de transborder notamment des semi-remorques non-préhensibles, que les terminaux traditionnels ne peuvent pas traiter.

Les deux mesures s'inscrivent dans le cadre d'une stratégie nationale pour le développement du fret ferroviaire visant entre autres la réalisation de plusieurs terminaux d'autoroute ferroviaire, capable de transborder des semi-remorques et accueillir des fréquences plus élevées de trains. Les bénéficiaires sont CargoBeamer Terminal Calais, une entreprise spécialisée dans les systèmes d'autoroute ferroviaire, et Sète Terminal Société Investissement, une entreprise du groupe SNCF spécialisé dans le transport ferroviaire de voyageurs et de marchandises. Les deux aides prendront la forme de subvention directes couvrant une partie des déficits de financement des deux projets.

La Commission a apprécié les deux mesures au regard des règles de l'Union Européenne en matière d'aides d'État, en particulier de l'article 93 du traité sur le fonctionnement de l'Union européenne, qui permet aux États membres de mettre en place des mesures d'aide visant les besoins de la coordination des transports. La Commission a estimé que les deux mesures sont nécessaires pour favoriser le développent du fret ferroviaire et le report modal, et qu'elles ont un effet incitatif étant donné qu'en l'absence d'aide publique, les bénéficiaires ne réaliseraient pas lesdits investissements. En outre, la Commission a constaté que les mesures sont proportionnées, car elles sont limitées au minimum nécessaire, et auront un impact limité sur la concurrence et les échanges entre États membres. Sur cette base, la Commission a autorisé les deux aides françaises en vertu des règles de l'Union Européenne en matière d'aides d'État.

La version non confidentielle des deux décisions sera publiée sous les numéros SA.63990 et SA.104936 dans le registre des aides d'État figurant sur le site web de la Commission consacré à la concurrence, dès que les éventuels problèmes de confidentialité auront été résolus.

(Pour plus d'informations: Lea Zuber – Tél.: +32 2 295 62 98; Nina Ferreira - Tél.: +32 2 299 81 63)

Commission clears acquisition of Aareon by TPG

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Aareon AG (‘Aareon') by TPG Inc. (‘TPG'), both of the US.

The transaction relates primarily to the information technology sector, and in particular to enterprise resource planning systems in the real estate sector.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited combined market positions 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.11638.

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

Commission discloses to interested parties draft definitive findings of anti-subsidy investigation into imports of battery electric vehicles from China

Today, as part of its ongoing anti-subsidy investigation, the European Commission has disclosed to interested parties the draft decision to impose definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from China. This draft decision reflects the comments received from interested parties on the provisional countervailing duties published on 4 July 2024, as well as the conclusion of a number of investigative steps that had not been finalised at provisional stage.

The disclosure of draft definitive findings is an intermediate procedural step in a trade defence investigation. The aim is to give interested parties the opportunity to comment, as was also done at provisional stage. Once the Commission has analysed all comments by interested parties, and Member States have given their opinion, the final decision will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Interested parties now have the possibility to request hearings with the Commission services as soon as possible, and to provide comments within 10 days. After that, having taken into account the comments by interested parties, the Commission will present the final determination to Member States, which will vote pursuant to the examination procedure under comitology rules (Commission proposal adopted unless there is qualified majority against it). This vote will have binding effect.

More information can be found in the press release and questions and answers online.

(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Ana Apse-Paese – Tel.: +32 2 298 73 48)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases