Daily News 19 / 07 / 2023

Wildfires: EU mobilises air and ground firefighting assistance to Greece

As tens of wildfires continue to spread across Greece, the EU is deploying four Canadair firefighting planes from France and Italy together with three firefighting teams from Poland, Romania and Slovakia. This means a total of 220 firefighters and 65 vehicles. In addition, three pre-deployed ground firefighting teams from Romania, Bulgaria and Malta are already operating in Greece as a part of the EU's Civil Protection wildfire season preparedness plan.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, said:“We are experiencing a heatwave across Southern Europe already causing devastating consequences in Greece, with thousands of hectares burned in a short period of time. The EU's fast response is essential in this situation and I thank these five countries for their solidarity to Greece. However, it is important to continue to invest in prevention and to enhance the wildfire risk awareness of the population.”

Greece activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on Tuesday morning, immediately triggering the deployment of two Canadairs from Italy and two from France from the EU's fleet, which will all start operations today. Subsequently, Poland, Romania and Slovakia offered each one module of ground forest fire fighting modules, including vehicles, which are now also being deployed. In addition, the EU's Copernicus satellite mapping is also providing damage assessment on several areas in the Attica region. The Commission continues to be in close contact with the Greek authorities via its Emergency Response Coordination Centre and stands ready to mobilise additional assistance if needed.

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

Horizon Europe: EU Missions on track to meet their 2030 ambition towards a greener and healthier continent

During their first two years, the EU Missions in Horizon Europe have supported the Commission's work on the European Green Deal, making Europe fit for the Digital Age, and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. Since their inception, EU Missions have demonstrated their potential to accelerate change. Supported primarily by Horizon Europe funding, they have also connected and supported EU policies and programmes with local action and citizen engagement. They are on track to achieve their ambitious goals by 2030 in critical areas such as adaptation to climate change, improving the life of cancer patients, cleaning up the marine and freshwater ecosystems, making cities climate-neutral, and making soils healthy.

These are the conclusions of the Communication on EU Missions under Horizon Europe adopted today. The Communication provides a thorough assessment of progress so far, as required by the co-legislators after their first two years of operation. It highlights the main achievements of the current five individual Missions, while also identifying challenges they have encountered and proposing a set of actions to address these. In light of this balanced assessment, today's Communication also proposes to spend 11% of the Horizon Europe Pillar 2 budget on EU Missions in the last part of the programme (up from 10% currently). This corresponds to a total amount of over €3 billion for the period 2024-2027. It also launches preparations for a new EU Mission on the New European Bauhaus.

More information is available in this press release and Questions and Answers.

(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53;Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 2 298 35 83)

State aid: Commission approves amendment to a Polish scheme, including a €266 million budget increase, to support agricultural producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine

The European Commission has approved an amendment to an existing Polish scheme, including an overall €266 million (PLN 1.1 billion) budget increase, to support agricultural producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine. The amendments were approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.

The Commission approved the original scheme on 5 June 2023 (SA.107273). Under the scheme, the aid consists in limited amounts of aid in the form of subsidised interest rates on loans. Poland notified, among others, the following modifications to the existing scheme: (i) an overall budget increase by €266 million (PLN 1.1 billion); (ii) the extension of the period covered by the subsidy of interest rate on bank loans granted to an agricultural producer before 31 December 2023, from 36 months to 60 months; and (iii) the inclusion of the possibility of applying a grace period for the repayment of capital, at the request of the agricultural producer and with the consent of the bank.

The Commission concluded that the amended scheme remains necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the amendments under EU State aid rules.

More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia's war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.108358 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)

Concentrations : la Commission autorise l'acquisition de Amadys par Netceed

La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l'acquisition de Amadys Group BV (« Amadys »), basée en Belgique, par Parisian Bidco SAS (« Netceed »), basée en France.

Amadys fournit des équipements passifs, tels que des câbles, des connecteurs et d'autres outils, à des opérateurs et installateurs de réseaux de télécommunications, ainsi qu'au secteur de l'énergie. Netceed, anciennement ETC Group, est une société fournissant des produits et des services de télécommunication à des opérateurs et installateurs de réseaux de télécommunications. Elle est contrôlée par Cinven Capital Management (VII) General Partner Limited (« Cinven »), basée à Guernsey.

La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence, compte tenu de son impact très limité sur la structure du marché. La transaction a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure normale de contrôle des concentrations.

De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M.11125.

(Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 2 298 70 24; Marta Pérez-Cejuela – Tél.: +32 229 63770)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of KevlinX by Macquarie and PMV

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of KevlinX Holding B.V. (‘KevlinX') of the Netherlands, by Macquarie Asset Holdings Limited (‘Macquarie') of the UK and Participatiemaatschappij Vlaanderen NV (‘PMV') of Belgium.

KevlinX is a joint venture that will be active in the design, engineering, construction and operation of a data centre in Belgium. Macquarie is a provider of asset management and finance, banking, advisory, risk and capital solutions services, active worldwide. PMV, an investment company fully owned by the Flemish Region, is active in financing companies from early start-up through growth and internationalisation.

The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that KevlinX has negligible actual and foreseen activities in 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.11118.

(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Marta Pérez-Cejuela – Tel.: +32 229 63770)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioners Gentiloni and Urpilainen in New York to reaffirm EU strong commitment to deliver on the SDGs

Today, 19 July, Commissioner for Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, and Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, will be in New York to present the first EU Voluntary Review on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the UN High-Level Policy Forum on sustainable development. The review provides an overview of how EU internal and external actions are contributing to delivering the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both within the EU and in partner countries around the world.

Both Commissioners will then join the UN Daily Press Briefing and will participate in the EU-organised side-event ‘Revitalising partnerships for SDGs'. They will underline the importance of partnership and a ‘whole-of-government' approach to SDG implementation within the EU, and how Global Gateway, the EU's global strategy for sustainable investments in infrastructure, is intended to support SDG implementation more broadly.

In addition, Commissioner Urpilainen will speak in two youth events, where she will highlight the EU's leading role in empowering youth through international partnerships. The Commissionerwill also hold a series of meetings with civil society.

Commissioner Gentiloni will deliver the EU statement at the High-Level Policy Forum General Debate today and will tomorrow participate in the discussion ‘Positioning Europe in a world of geopolitical tensions and rivalry' with the EU-American Chamber of Commerce.

More details on the individual agendas of the Commissioners are available here. Pictures of the visit will be available on EbS.

(For more information: Veerle Nuyts — Tel.: + 32 2 299 63 02; Ana Pisonero Hernandez – Tel.: +32 2 295 43 20)

Les commissaires Reynders et Johansson lors de la réunion informelle des ministres de la justice et des affaires intérieures les 20 et 21 juillet

Les 20 et 21 juillet, Didier Reynders, commissaire chargé de la justice, et Ylva Johansson, commissaire aux affaires intérieures, assisteront à la réunion informelle des ministres de la justice et des affaires intérieures à Logroño, en Espagne.

Jeudi, la commissaire chargée des affaires intérieures, Ylva Johansson, rencontrera les ministres de l'intérieur de l'UE pour discuter de la lutte contre la criminalité organisée à l'ère numérique, ainsi que d'autres défis en matière de sécurité, compte tenu également de l'agression de la Russie contre l'Ukraine. Les ministres discuteront également des défis migratoires et des progrès réalisés en ce qui concerne le pacte sur la migration et l'asile. Une conférence de presse avec la commissaire Johansson et le ministre espagnol de l'intérieur, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, suivra vers 17h00 CEST et sera transmise en ligne sur EbS.

Vendredi, le commissaire chargé de la justice, Didier Reynders, participera à une réunion informelle des ministres de la justice. Dans le cadre de la réunion, les ministres discuteront des efforts visant à améliorer l'accès à la justice dans l'UE, en particulier pour les citoyens vulnérables, et du rôle de la transformation numérique dans les systèmes judiciaires nationaux. Les ministres auront également l'occasion de discuter sur la protection et le soutien aux victimes de la criminalité, ainsi que sur la lutte contre la criminalité organisée dans l'UE. Une conférence de presse avec le commissaire Reynders et la ministre espagnol de la justice, Pilar Llop Cuenca, suivra vers 15h00 CEST et sera retransmise en direct sur EbS.

(Pour plus d'informations: Christian Wigand — Tél.: + 32 2 296 22 53; Yuliya Matsyk — Tél.: + 32 2 291 31 73)

Commissioner Simson in India to attend G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial, Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation meetings

Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson is in India this from 20 until 23 July to participate in the G20 Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting, as well as to meetings and events of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and Mission Innovation (MI), two high-level global fora dedicated to the green transition.

On Thursday, Commissioner Simson will attend events on the decarbonisation of the power sector and the global potential for hydrogen in the maritime sector. On Friday, she will participate in the joint plenary meeting of the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation, as well as a roundtable on green hydrogen.

Saturday will be dedicated to the meeting of the G20 Energy Ministers under the Indian Presidency. Discussions will focus on how to pursue the clean energy transition globally and on preparations for COP28. The EU is working closely with the COP28 Presidency towards the establishment of global targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

During her stay in India, Commissioner Simson will hold a series of bilateral meetings, including with the Indian Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy, Raj Kumar Singh; the US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm; the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Nishimura Yasutoshi; the Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira; and the CEO of the Global Renewables Alliance, Bruce Douglas. More details will be available here.

(For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 02; Giulia Bedini – Tel: +32 2 295 86 61; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25)

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