Daily News 04 / 05 / 2023

InvestEU: European Investment Fund and Denmark's Export and Investment Fund support digitalisation of SMEs with €42.7 million in new loans

The European Investment Fund (EIF) and Denmark's Export and Investment Fund have signed a guarantee agreement to support over DKK 318 million (€42.7 million) in new loans to Danish businesses investing in digitalisation and innovation, such as research and development activities, as well as the adoption of new technologies. The agreement is backed by the InvestEU programme under the ‘Innovation and Digitalisation' window, supporting new debt financing for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy, said: “InvestEU is enabling small and medium-sized companies to contribute to digitalisation and innovation across Europe. We are delighted that, with this agreement, we will provide key support to Danish companies investing in innovation and digitalisation, thereby creating opportunities for businesses to grow and create jobs.”

The InvestEU programme provides the EU with long-term funding by leveraging private and public funds in support of EU policy priorities. As part of the programme, the InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee and thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Veerle Nuyts - Tel.: +32 2 299 63 02; Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 2 298 39 51)

Propriété intellectuelle : la Commission se félicite de l'accord politique visant à renforcer la protection des produits artisanaux et industriels européens dans l'UE et au-delà

La Commission se félicite de l'accord politique provisoire conclu par le Parlement européen et le Conseil sur un nouveau règlement visant à protéger la propriété intellectuelle des produits artisanaux et industriels qui s'appuient sur l'originalité et l'authenticité des compétences traditionnelles de leurs régions.

Le commissaire chargé du marché intérieur, Thierry Breton, a déclaré : « Je me félicite de l'accord provisoire rapide entre le Parlement et le Conseil sur les indications géographiques pour les produits artisanaux et industriels après seulement deux trilogues. Dans toute l'UE, de nombreuses petites entreprises familiales fabriquent des produits artisanaux traditionnels, ancrés dans leur région. Ce règlement contribuera à protéger et à renforcer la visibilité de leur artisanat dans l'ensemble du marché unique de l'UE. »

Le nouveau règlement permettra aux producteurs de l'UE de protéger les produits artisanaux et industriels, et leur savoir-faire traditionnel en Europe et au-delà, y compris en ligne. Le règlement permettra aux consommateurs de reconnaître plus facilement la qualité de ces produits et de faire des choix plus éclairés. Il aidera à promouvoir, à attirer et à préserver des compétences et des emplois dans les régions européennes, contribuant ainsi à leur développement économique. Le règlement garantira également que les produits artisanaux et industriels traditionnels seront enfin mis sur un pied d'égalité avec les indications géographiques protégées qui existent déjà dans le domaine agricole.

Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations : Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tél.: +32 2 295 83 00)

Report from Global Network on Food Crises shows highest number of people facing acute food insecurity since 2017

The latest edition of the Global Report on Food Crises shows that in 2022, around 258 million people across 58 countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity requiring urgent assistance. 22.7% of the analysed population was affected, which are the highest figures since the report was first published in 2017. The number of people battling acute hunger and suffering from malnutrition is alarming and at its highest in the last seven years.

The global economic shocks set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine, together with weather extremes and armed conflicts in some other countries, are driving millions of people into acute food insecurity and malnutrition.

The Report is produced by the Global Network against Food Crises, a network launched by the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme in 2016. The EU is a founding member and the main funder of this Global Network, and participates in the Senior Steering Group that provides strategic guidance. The European Commission's Joint Research Centre is also part of the technical team that analyses the data of the report each year as well as of the Senior Committee.

The EU invests in finding a sustainable medium and long-term solution to food security challenges, while also delivering emergency assistance to people facing humanitarian crises. We promote sustainable and resilient food systems and support our partner countries' strategic autonomy. Together with the Member States, the EU has mobilised almost €18 billion to help partner countries address the global food crisis until 2024. Almost €7 billion was already disbursed just in 2022. The EU has launched targeted initiatives to boost local food production and decrease dependence on unsustainable imports. Furthermore, we actively support the African Free Continental Trade Area to enhance intra-regional agri-food trade.

Find out more here.

(For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 15; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 00)

State aid: Commission approves €34 million Dutch measure to compensate sports event organisers for the damage suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic

The European Commission has found a €34 million Dutch measure to support organisers of top-level sports events and competitions to be in line with EU State aid rules. The measure aims at compensating organisers of such events for the damage suffered between 13 November 2021 and 17 January 2022 due to the restrictions imposed by the Netherlands to limit the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, event organisers experienced a steep decline in ticket sales revenues over this period.

The Commission assessed the measure under Article 107(2)(b) TFEU, which enables the Commission to approve State aid measures granted by Member States to compensate specific companies or sectors for the damage directly caused by exceptional occurrences, such as the coronavirus outbreak. The Commission found that the Dutch support will compensate damage that is directly linked to the coronavirus pandemic. It also found that the measure is proportionate, as the compensation does not exceed what is necessary to make good the damage. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure is in line with EU State aid rules.

More information on the actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.102405 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

Mergers: Commission clears Hydro's acquisition of Alumetal

The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Alumetal by Norsk Hydro. The Commission concluded that the merger would not raise competition concerns in the European Economic Area (‘EEA'), notably for green aluminium foundry alloys.

Today's decision follows an in-depth investigation of the proposed acquisition of Alumetal by Norsk Hydro. During its in-depth investigation, the Commission found that: (i) the parties' combined market shares in the EEA market for solid advanced aluminium foundry alloys are moderate and there are a number of sizeable alternative suppliers, including green players; and (ii) the vertical relationships between Alumetal as a producer of aluminium master alloys and Hydro as a potential customer would not raise concerns because of the presence of sufficient alternative suppliers and customers of this product on the market.

The Commission therefore concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in the EEA or any substantial part of it and cleared the case unconditionally.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Green aluminium is a key lever to decarbonise industrial processes, including in the automotive industry. It paves the way to the green transition. Our in-depth investigation has shown that the proposed acquisition of Alumetal by Hydro will not have a negative impact on the competitive landscape for certain aluminium products. Especially green ones, which will remain widely available to customers at competitive prices.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of AEP Renewables, AEP Wind Holdings, Trent Wind Farm and Desert Sky Wind Farm by Blackstone, Invenergy and CDPQ

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of AEP Renewables, AEP Wind Holdings, Trent Wind Farm and Desert Sky Wind Farm (the 'acquired companies') by Blackstone, Invenergy, all of the US, and CDPQ of Canada.

The acquired companies own renewable energy generation facilities and related assets in the US. Blackstone is a global asset manager. Invenergy operates Invenergy Group's renewable energy business. It develops, owns and operates large-scale renewable and other clean energy generation and storage facilities in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. CDPQ is a long-term institutional investor that manages the funds of its depositors, primarily public pension and insurance plans from Québec.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that the acquired companies have no activities within 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.11092.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of ServiceCo by Ebert HERA

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of ServiceCo of the Netherlands, by Ebert HERA Esser Holding GmbH (‘Ebert HERA') of Germany.

ServiceCo will provide Engineering, Procurement, Contracting and Maintenance (EPCM) services to existing chemical plants in the Chemelot Campus park in Geleen, the Netherlands. These services are currently supplied by Sitech Manufacturing Services C.V., Sitech Services B.V. and its affiliated companies (together ‘Sitech'). ServiceCo will be the result of Sitech's restructuring. Ebert HERA provides blue-collar brownfield industrial and mechanical contracting services for the heavy industry such as chemical, pharmaceutical and petrochemical plants and refineries in the Benelux and Germany.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given its negligible impact on the market. 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.11075.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 22987024; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Breton visits Germany to pursue EU defence industry tour

Today, on 4 May, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, is travelling to Germany to meet with government officials and defence industry manufacturers as part of his tour of EU defence industries.

Commissioner Breton will meet with Defence State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer to exchange views on the urgent need to increase ammunition production for Ukraine and the EU's security.

In Lower Saxony, the Commissioner will visit one of the major defence equipment factories together with the State Secretary. He will meet with representatives of manufacturers in order to assess the needs of the defence industry so the EU can provide tailored support, including through EU funds, and address relevant bottlenecks.

Next week, the Commissioner will complete his defence industry tour. These field visits have been key to elaborate the Act in Support of Ammunition Production, presented on 3 May, which aims at supporting the EU's industry in ramping up its production capacities in ammunition and missiles.

(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 00)

Commissioner Lenarčič in Sweden to discuss civil protection support for Ukraine and the EU's disaster resilience

Today, 4 May, Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, is in Stockholm to give a keynote speech at the ‘Forum Ukraine: Building Resilience for the Future'.

The European Commission has been running its largest ever civil protection operation in support of Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's aggression against the country, by delivering almost 89,000 tonnes of life-saving equipment such as food, medicines, shelter or ambulances to Ukraine. Furthermore, on 20 April, Ukraine signed an agreement to join the EU Civil Protection Mechanism as a Participating State – the foundation of the EU's disaster management system. Having recently returned from Ukraine, Commissioner Lenarčič will shed light on Ukraine's civil defence efforts during Russia's war of aggression, while helping to steer the EU's and Member States' ongoing support to Ukraine's civil protection capacities in coping with the challenges.

During his visit to Sweden, Commissioner Lenarčič will hold meetings to further strengthen the EU's disaster resilience, including with Carl-Oskar Bohlin, Swedish Minister of Civil Defence; Cecilia Malmström, Former Commissioner of Trade and Home Affairs; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director-General at the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency; and Diana Janse, State Secretary to Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva – Tel.: +32 2 295 83 16)

La commissaire Johansson en Espagne pour discuter des priorités de la future présidence espagnole

La commissaire aux Affaires intérieures, Ylva Johansson, est en Espagne aujourd'hui et demain pour une visite officielle aux autorités espagnoles. La commissaire discutera des questions de migration et de sécurité de l'UE, y compris le soutien à l'Ukraine, dans la perspective de la prochaine présidence espagnole du Conseil de l'UE.

Aujourd'hui, la commissaire Johansson rencontrera Fernando Grande-Marlaska, ministre espagnol de l'Intérieur ; José Manuel Albares, ministre des Affaires étrangères, de l'Union européenne et de la Coopération; et Aurora Mejía Errasquín, directrice du bureau de coordination de la présidence espagnole.

Demain, la commissaire rencontrera José Luis Escrivá Belmonte, ministre de l'Inclusion, de la Sécurité sociale et des Migrations.

La Commission continue de travailler en étroite collaboration avec le Parlement européen et le Conseil pour finaliser les négociations sur le nouveau pacte sur la migration et l'asile avant la fin de ce mandat, comme indiqué dans la feuille de route commune.

(Pour plus d'informations: Anitta Hipper — Tél.: +32 2 298 56 91; Fiorella Belciu — Tél.: +32 2 299 37 34)

Journée européenne du tourisme : la Commission promeut un secteur du tourisme plus vert, numérique et résilient

Pour la première fois depuis 5 ans, la Journée européenne du tourisme aura lieu demain, le 5 mai, à Bruxelles et en ligne. Elle réunira sur place plus de 450 acteurs du secteur du tourisme. Thierry Breton, commissaire au Marché intérieur, sera rejoint par la députée Karima Delli, présidente de la commission des transports et du tourisme du Parlement européen, pour ouvrir la manifestation. Suivra un débat d'orientation sur la création d'un écosystème touristique résilient et de premier plan au niveau mondial, avec des PME innovantes et des communautés locales florissantes. La manifestation comprendra également trois tables rondes dédiées à la transition écologique, la transition numérique et le renforcement des compétences des travailleurs du secteur du tourisme. Une exposition sur le métatourisme — la création de mondes virtuels pour promouvoir les destinations touristiques — aura lieu en parallèle. La manifestation fera le point sur la mise en œuvre du parcours de transition pour le tourisme et de l'agenda européen pour le tourisme 2030, tous deux publiés l'année dernière.

Au cours de cette manifestation, la Commission abordera d'autres initiatives visant à stimuler l'écosystème touristique, notamment la mise en place d'une plateforme des parties prenantes du tourisme et la mise en place d'un espace européen commun des données pour le tourisme afin de soutenir la transformation numérique du secteur.

La Commission annoncera le lancement de l'édition 2024 de la « EU Capital of Smart Tourism », qui récompense les villes européennes pour leurs pratiques innovantes, numériques et durables en matière de tourisme, ainsi que le « EU Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism » (ancien prix EDEN), qui promeut les pratiques touristiques durables dans les destinations touristiques plus petites. Le programme de la Journée européenne du tourisme est disponible ici.

(Pour plus d'informations : Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 2 296 69 53; Federica Miccoli – Tél.: +32 2 295 83 00)

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