Daily News 17 / 09 / 2024

EU mobilises eight firefighting planes to support Portugal amid wildfires

Following Portugal's activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in response to severe wildfires in the northern part of the country, the European Commission has mobilised eight firefighting planes. These include two each from Spain, Italy, France, and Greece, to support the Portuguese first responders on the ground. This is the second time this summer that Portugal has activated the Mechanism due to wildfires. The planes, part of the rescEU fleet and the European Civil Protection Pool, are financially supported by the Commission.

Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič stated: "The EU stands in full solidarity with Portugal. Our swift response, with eight firefighting planes from four Member States, underscores the strength of European cooperation in times of crisis. We are working around the clock to ensure that the necessary support reaches those fighting the fires on the ground."

The European Union's 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) has also deployed a Liaison Officer to support the Portuguese authorities. The ERCC is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating the delivery of assistance.

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

Commission receives Lithuania's third payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

The Commission received yesterday the third payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) from Lithuania, for €463 million net of prefinancing, of which €174.7 million in grants and €288.3 in loans. This comes on top of €1.3 billion already disbursed to Lithuania under the first and second payment requests.

The request covers 28 milestones and targets. It covers an investment in new electricity storage facilities and reforms and action plans in areas such as quality and access to medical services, education programmes, investment environment for renewable energy developers, and tax collection.

Some of the milestones and targets were revised following Lithuania's request on 25 July 2024. The Commission positively assessed the amendments and proposed them to the Council for endorsement on 17 September 2024.

The Commission will now assess the request and will then send its preliminary assessment of Lithuania's fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Council's Economic and Financial Committee.

Lithuania's overall recovery and resilience plan will be financed by €3.85 billion, of which €2.3 billion in grants and €1.55 billion in loans.

You can find more information on Lithuania's Recovery and Resilience plan on this page, which features an interactive map of projects financed by the RRF, as well as on the Recovery and Resilience Scoreboard. More information on the process of payment requests under the RRF can be found in this document of questions and answers.

(For more information: Veerle Nuyts — Tel.: + 32 2 299 63 02; Quentin Cortes — Tel. : +32 2 291 32 83)

Commission approves €1.2 billion Polish State aid scheme to support investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition to a net-zero economy

The European Commission has approved an around €1.2 billion (PLN 5 billion) Polish scheme to support investments in strategic sectors to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF') adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and on 2 May 2024.

Under the scheme, the aid will take form of direct grants. The measure will be open to companies producing relevant equipment, namely batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat-pumps, electrolysers, equipment for carbon capture usage and storage, as well as key components designed and primarily used as direct input for the production of such equipment or related critical raw materials necessary for their production.

The Commission found that the Polish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, the scheme (i) will incentivise the production of relevant equipment for the transition towards a net-zero economy; (ii) will respect the maximum aid ceilings; and (iii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2025. The Commission concluded that the Polish scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in line with Article 107(3)(c) Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the conditions set out in the TCTF.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Today, we have approved a € 1.2 billion Polish measure to support investments in strategic equipment, namely batteries, solar panels, heat-pumps, wind turbines, electrolysers and carbon-capture usage and storage. This will help accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the objectives of the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the EU's climate neutrality target. At the same time, competition distortions remain limited.”

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)

Commissions approves amendments to the Belgian capacity mechanism State aid scheme

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, amendments to the Belgian capacity mechanism. The Commission approved the Belgian capacity mechanism in August 2021 and its first modification in September 2023. The measure aims to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to produce, store or flexibly consume electricity and that electricity production meets the expected demand.  

Belgium notified to the Commission its intention to amend the scheme in order to improve its functioning and contribution to environmental protection. These modifications include: (i) supporting the development of storage and demand-response by improving the beneficiaries' contractual conditions; (ii) introducing a new Y-2 auction organised two years before the delivery year (which is the period over which the beneficiaries commit to be available for security of electricity supply) to facilitate the participation of electric storage operators to the measure; and (iii) facilitating competition between various technologies by promoting investments in the prolongation of the existing capacity, and investments in new non-fossil flexibilities such as demand-response and storage. The modified scheme will run until 2031.

The Commission assessed the amendments under EU State aid rules, in particular under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy. The Commission found that the amendments are necessary and appropriate to achieve the objective pursued, namely to make the Belgian capacity mechanism more environmentally friendly. In addition, the Commission found that the amended scheme continues to be proportionate, as it improves the competition between technologies participating to the capacity mechanism while also taking into account the Belgian climate goals. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendments under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.114003 in the in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

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

Commission clears acquisition of 2i Aeroporti by F2i and Asterion

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of 2i Aeroporti S.p.A by F2i-Fondi Italiani per le Infrastrutture Società di Gestione del Risparmio S.p.A (‘F2i'), both of Italy, and Asterion Industrial Partners SGEIC. S.A. (‘Asterion') of Spain.

The transaction relates primarily to the airport management sector in Italy.  

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. 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.11694.

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

STATEMENT

Déclaration à la presse de la Présidente von der Leyen à propos du prochain Collège des Commissaires

Aujourd'hui à Strasbourg, la Présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a présenté à la presse la nouvelle structure prévue pour le Collège des Commissaires. Elle a dit :

« Aujourd'hui j'ai rencontré la Conférence des Présidents des groupes politiques du Parlement européen. Pendant cette réunion, j'ai présenté au Parlement la nouvelle structure prévue pour le Collège. Elle est basée sur les orientations politiques - sur lesquelles nous avons travaillé ensemble. Des semaines intensives de négociations avec les États membres.

Je sais que vous êtes très intéressés par la structure, mais permettez-moi de parler d'abord du contenu qui définit la structure. Ensemble, nous avons défini des priorités fondamentales. Elles sont construites autour de la prospérité, la sécurité, la démocratie. La toile de fond est la compétitivité dans la double transition. Et ces priorités sont très liées, transversales. »

La déclaration complète, avec l'attribution des portefeuilles, est disponible en ligne en anglais, français et allemand.

(Pour plus d'informations : Eric Mamer – Tél. : +32 2 299 40 73 ; Arianna Podesta – Tél. : +32 2 298 70 24)

ANNOUNCEMENT

Le vice-président Schinas aux îles Canaries pour exprimer le soutien de l'UE à la gestion des migrations  

Demain et jeudi, Margaritis Schinas, vice-président chargé de la Promotion de notre mode de vie européen, se rendra dans les îles Canaries, où il rencontrera le président des îles Canaries, Fernando Clavijo Battle, au vu des défis migratoires auxquels les îles sont confrontées. Le vice-président se rendra demain à Tenerife, où il visitera, avec le président Clavijo Batlle, un centre d'accueil pour mineurs non accompagnés. Jeudi, il visitera un centre d'accueil à El Hierro.  

La visite du vice-président Schinas vise à faire preuve de solidarité à l'égard de la population espagnole et des îles Canaries et à assurer un soutien continu de l'UE dans leur gestion des migrations. Cette visite est l'occasion de discuter de la manière dont l'Union européenne peut continuer à soutenir les îles Canaries et l'Espagne dans la gestion de l'augmentation des arrivées irrégulières, tant sur le plan financier que sur le plan opérationnel, ainsi qu'en favorisant un dialogue plus fort avec les principaux pays partenaires.  

La Commission soutient l'Espagne et les îles Canaries tant sur le plan opérationnel que financier, notamment en ce qui concerne la poursuite du développement des structures d'accueil, ainsi que par le soutien de l'Agence de l'UE pour l'asile et de Frontex. En outre, la Commission apporte un soutien global aux îles Canaries et à l'Espagne dans le cadre du plan d'action sur la route de la Méditerranée occidentale et de l'Atlantique, et en intensifiant le dialogue et la coopération en matière de migration avec les pays partenaires situés le long de cette route.  

(Pour plus d'informations : Anitta Hipper — Tél. : + 32 2 298 56 91 ; Elettra Di Massa — Tél. : + 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