Daily News 02 / 07 / 2024
Le deuxième rapport sur l'état d'avancement de la décennie numérique appelle à une action collective renforcée pour accélérer la transformation numérique de l'UE
La Commission a publié aujourd'hui le deuxième rapport sur l'état d'avancement de la décennie numérique, qui donne un aperçu complet des progrès accomplis dans la recherche des objectifs numériques fixés pour 2030 par le programme d'action pour la décennie numérique. Cette année, pour la première fois, le rapport est accompagné d'une analyse des feuilles de route stratégiques des États membres, détaillant les mesures, actions et financements nationaux prévus pour contribuer à la transformation numérique de l'UE.
L'analyse de la Commission montre que, dans le scénario actuel, les efforts collectifs des États membres ne répondront pas au niveau d'ambition de l'UE. Parmi les lacunes recensées figurent la nécessité d'investissements supplémentaires, tant au niveau de l'UE qu'au niveau national, en particulier dans les domaines des compétences numériques, de la connectivité de qualité, de l'adoption de l'intelligence artificielle (IA) et de l'analyse des données par les entreprises, des écosystèmes de production de semi-conducteurs et de jeunes entreprises.
La Commission a également mis à jour les recommandations adressées à chaque État membre de l'UE afin de remédier aux lacunes recensées.
Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne.
(Pour plus d'informations : Thomas Regnier — Tél. : +32 2 299 10 99 ; Patricia Poropat — Tél. : +32 2 298 04 85)
Commission authorises genetically modified maize for use as food and animal feed
Today, the Commission authorised two genetically modified maize crops and renewed the authorisation for another genetically modified maize crop for food and animal feed.
The Commission's authorisation decisions only allow these genetically modified maize to be imported for use in food and animal feed, but not to be cultivated in the EU. These maize have gone through a comprehensive and stringent assessment procedure, which ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health, and of the environment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a favourable scientific assessment concluding that these genetically modified maize are as safe as their conventional counterparts.
The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any product produced from these genetically modified crops will be subject to the EU's strict labelling and traceability rules. The Commission had a legal obligation to decide on these authorisations after Member States did not reach a qualified majority either in favour or against the authorisation at the Standing Committee and at the subsequent Appeal Committee.
For more information on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU see here.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
Commission endorses assessment of Slovakia's fourth payment request for €799 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
The Commission has endorsed yesterday a positive preliminary assessment of Slovakia's fourth payment request for €799 million (net of pre-financing) under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU.
The Commission has preliminarily concluded that Slovakia has satisfactorily completed the 15 milestones set out in the Council Implementing Decision for the fourth instalment. The payment request covers important steps in the delivery of 15 reforms that will drive positive change for citizens and businesses in Slovakia in the areas of sustainable transport, inclusive and modern education, healthcare, and the pension system.
The Commission has now sent its preliminary assessment of Slovakia's fulfilment of the milestones and targets required for this payment to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which has four weeks to deliver its opinion.
The Slovak recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures (more information on the Slovak plan, including a map of projects financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility in Slovakia are available here). The plan will be financed by €6.4 billion in grants. The payment request preliminarily endorsed today follows Slovakia's third payment request, that was endorsed by the Commission on 24 November 2023 and paid out to Slovakia on 21 December 2023.
This payment request will bring the funds paid out to Slovakia under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to €3.5 billion (including the €823 million in pre-financing it received in October 2021 and the €80.5 million pre-payment under REPowerEU it received on 13 December 2023).
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Veerle Nuyts – Tel.: +32 229 96302; Quentin Cortès — Tel.: + 32 229 32 83)
La Commission approuve la demande de révision ciblée du plan de relance de la Pologne
Hier, la Commission a approuvé la demande de révision ciblée du plan pour la reprise et la résilience de la Pologne, que celle-ci avait soumise à la Commission le 30 avril 2024. Les modifications proposées sont de nature technique et font suite à la révision complète du plan polonais, adoptée par le Conseil le 8 décembre 2023.
Le Conseil dispose, en règle générale, de quatre semaines pour adopter la proposition de la Commission approuvant la révision ciblée du plan.
Une fois approuvé par les États membres, le plan de relance polonais s'élèverait à 59,8 milliards d'euros, soit 34,5 milliards d'euros sous forme de prêts et 25,3 milliards d'euros sous forme de subventions. Le plan comprendrait alors 322 jalons et cibles, couvrant 55 réformes et 56 investissements.
Plus d'informations sur le plan de relance polonais et de résilience polonais sont disponibles ici et sur le tableau de bord de la relance pour la reprise et de la résilience. Une carte interactive donnant des exemples de réformes et d'investissements soutenus par la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience est disponible en ligne. De plus amples informations sur le processus de révision des plans de relance et de résilience sont disponibles ici.
(Pour plus d'informations : Veerle Nuyts - Tél : +32 229 96302 ; Quentin Cortès - Tél : + 32 229 32 83)
La Commission approuve la demande de révision ciblée du plan de relance de Chypre
La Commission a approuvé hier la demande de révision ciblée du plan pour la reprise et la résilience de Chypre, qui a été soumise à la Commission le 25 juin 2024. Les modifications proposées ont une portée restreinte et sont de nature technique. Elles concernent deux jalons faisant partie de la deuxième demande de paiement, et de la troisième demande de paiement à venir.
Le Conseil dispose, en règle générale, de quatre semaines pour adopter la proposition de la Commission approuvant la révision ciblée du plan.
Le plan chypriote pour la reprise et la résilience s'élève à 1,2 milliard d'euros, dont 1,02 milliard d'euros sous forme de subventions et 200 millions d'euros sous forme de prêts. Il comprend 282 jalons et cibles, couvrant 61 réformes et 75 investissements.
De plus amples informations sur le plan de relance chypriote sont disponibles ici et sur le tableau de bord pour la reprise et la résilience. Une carte interactive donnant des exemples de réformes et d'investissements soutenus par la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience est également disponible en ligne. De plus amples informations sur le processus de révision des plans de relance sont quant à elles disponibles ici.
(Pour plus d'informations : Veerle Nuyts - Tél : +32 229 96302 ; Quentin Cortès - Tél : + 32 229 32 83)
Commission approves €3 billion Swedish State aid scheme to support the roll-out of biogenic carbon dioxide capture and storage
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €3 billion (SEK 36 billion) Swedish scheme to support carbon capture and storage projects (‘CCS') aimed at reducing carbon dioxide (‘CO2') released during the combustion or processing of biomass (‘biogenic CO2'). The measure will contribute to the achievement of Sweden's climate targets and the EU's strategic objectives under the European Green Deal, in particular the 2050 climate neutrality goal.
Under the scheme, the aid will be awarded through a competitive bidding process, with the first auction expected in 2024. Auctions will be open to companies that (i) carry out an activity in Sweden, emitting biogenic CO2, and (ii) implement projects with a capacity to capture and store at least 50,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 per year. Under 15-year long contracts, beneficiaries will receive a grant per tonne of biogenic CO2 that is permanently stored.
The scheme will run until 31 December 2028. By enabling capture and storage of significant amounts of biogenic CO2, the scheme will contribute to Sweden's efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2045 compared to the 1990 level. It will also help Sweden and the EU to meet the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €3 billion scheme will enable Sweden to capture and to permanently store a significant amount of carbon dioxide generated by biomass combustion or processing. It will help Sweden and the EU to achieve their ambitious target of climate neutrality by 2050, while ensuring that competition distortions are kept to the minimum.”
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)
Commission approves €158 million Dutch State aid scheme to support investments in equipment necessary to foster the transition to a net-zero economy
The European Commission has approved a €158 million Dutch scheme to support the investments for the production of equipment necessary to foster the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan. 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 the form of direct grants. The measure will be open to companies producing relevant equipment, namely batteries, solar panels and electrolysers, as well as the production of key components of such equipment and the production or recovery of related critical raw materials.
The Commission found that the Dutch scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed the ceilings provided under the TCTF; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2025. The Commission concluded that the Dutch 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) TFEU and the conditions set out in the TCTF.
More information on the TCTF can be found here. The non-confidential version of today's decision will be made available under the case number SA.109761 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 approves €45 million Portuguese State aid scheme to encourage freight traffic to shift from road to rail
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €45 million Portuguese scheme to encourage freight traffic to shift from road to rail. The purpose of the scheme is to promote the modal shift of freight transport to rail, which is a greener mode of transport, and is in line with the objectives of the Commission's Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and of the European Green Deal.
Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants. The scheme is open to railway undertakings which are authorised by the Portuguese Mobility and Transport Agency to provide rail freight services on the existing public rail infrastructure in Portugal. The level of support reflects the external costs (i.e. environmental costs such as CO2 emissions and air pollution; as well as social-economic costs such as congestion, accidents, noise pollution) which rail transport makes it possible to avoid compared with road freight transport. The maximum annual budget amounts to €9 million, with an overall budget of €45 million over the five-year duration of the scheme. The scheme will run until 2029.
The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular under Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the Guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to promote the use of rail transport, which is less polluting than road transport. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid will have an 'incentive effect' as the beneficiaries must commit to reflecting the aid in offering lower prices in order to attract customers who will make the choice between rail and road transport. The Commission therefore concluded that the measure will contribute to facilitating the shift of freight transport from road to rail. Furthermore, the Commission found that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States.
On this basis, the Commission approved the Portuguese scheme under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under case number SA.107166 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 approves €25.51 million restructuring State aid for Bulgarian Posts
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Bulgaria's plans to grant postal operator Bulgarian Posts restructuring aid for up to €25.51 million (BGN 50 million). The measure will enable the company to restore its long-term viability while minimising competition distortions.
Bulgarian posts has received a rescue loan from Bulgaria of approximately €26.5 million (BGN 50 million), after approval by the Commission under EU State aid rules in May 2023.
On 21 December 2023, Bulgaria notified to the Commission restructuring aid in the form of conversion into equity of the rescue loan, supporting a plan for the restructuring of Bulgarian Posts. The restructuring plan sets out a package of measures for streamlining Bulgarian Post's operations, optimising its network and reducing costs. In parallel, Bulgarian Posts will develop or provide services such as telemedicine or administration through its ubiquitous network on behalf of other public entities, bringing such services closer to citizens in remote areas not well served.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said:” The restructuring aid to Bulgarian Posts approved today will ensure that Bulgarian citizens have access to affordable universal postal services. Following our assessment, we concluded that Bulgarian Posts' restructuring plan will ensure that the company will be viable in the long term. To limit any possible distortions triggered by the public support, Bulgarian Posts will provide access to its network to other operators which are active in the universal and non-universal postal services.”
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)
Commission approves amendments to German State aid scheme to compensate energy-intensive companies for indirect emission costs
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, amendments to a German scheme to partially compensate certain energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices resulting from the impact of carbon prices on electricity costs (so-called ‘indirect emission costs') under the EU Emission Trading Scheme (‘ETS').
The scheme was originally approved by the Commission on 19 August 2022 (SA.100559). Under the scheme, the compensation is granted to eligible companies through a partial refund of the indirect emission costs incurred between 2021 and 2030. The compensation is granted for indirect emission costs incurred in the previous year, with the final payment to be made in 2031.
Germany notified the following modifications to the existing scheme: (i) the removal of two conditions requiring beneficiaries to bear an additional share of their indirect emission costs compared to the applicable State aid rules and which limited the maximum aid amount, with that modification becoming applicable for compensation of costs incurred between 2023 and 2030; and (ii) a budget increase of around €5 billion reflecting these modifications and accounting for updated estimates, bringing the overall estimated budget of the scheme to around €32 billion.
The Commission assessed the amended scheme under EU State aid rules, and in particular the Guidelines on certain State aid measures in the context of the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme post-2021 (‘ETS State aid Guidelines'). The Commission found that the amended scheme continues to comply with the requirements set out in the ETS State aid Guidelines. In particular, it found that the amended scheme remains necessary and appropriate to support energy-intensive companies to cope with the higher electricity prices and to avoid that companies relocate to countries outside the EU with less ambitious climate policies, resulting in an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the Commission concluded that the aid granted continues to be limited to the minimum necessary and will not have undue negative effects on competition and trade in the EU.
On this basis, the Commission approved the amended scheme under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.113265 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 creation of joint venture by NREP, Novo Holdings, Industriens Pensionsforsikring and DSB Ejendomsudvikling
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture (Jernbanebyen Holding K/S of Denmark) by NREP AB of Sweden, Novo Holdings A/S, Industriens Pensionsforsikring A/S and DSB Ejendomsudvikling A/S, all of Denmark.
The transaction relates primarily to the real estate rental sector.
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.11286.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
College receives Professor Thygesen for the presentation of the European Fiscal Board's Assessment of the fiscal stance for the euro area in 2025
Tomorrow, Professor Niels Thygesen will present the annual report of the European Fiscal Board (EFB) on the fiscal stance for the euro area in 2025 during the meeting of the College of Commissioners. The assessment is embedded in the broader framework of euro area economic governance and ultimately aims to ensure a smooth functioning of Economic and Monetary Union.
The EFB is an independent advisory body of the European Commission. The Board was set up following the Five Presidents' Report on 'Completing Europe's Economic and Monetary Union', with the aim to strengthen the EU's economic governance framework.
The main tasks of the EFB are to evaluate the implementation of EU fiscal rules, advise the Commission on the fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area as a whole, cooperate with Member States' national fiscal councils, and provide ad-hoc advice on fiscal matters to the Commission.
Following the College meeting, Professor Niels Thygesen will hold a press briefing in hybrid format in WebEx and in the Berlaymont building, in the Aquarium 5 room. The briefing will start at 13:45 CEST, with a presentation by Professor Thygesen and followed by a Q&A. Interested participants should confirm their intention to follow the press briefing in person or online by emailing Cristina.MARIA-DEL-PINO@ec.europa.eu at their earliest convenience (maximum 18 journalists on a first-come, first-served basis). The report will be published on the EFB's website.
(For more information: Veerle Nuyts – Tel.: +32 229 96302; Quentin Cortès — Tel.: + 32 229 32 83)
Executive Vice-President Vestager in Singapore to discuss cooperation on digital, research, economic security and competitiveness
Tomorrow, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager will arrive in Singapore for a series of high-level meetings with government representatives. She will notably meet with Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore, Heng Swee Keat, Deputy Prime Minister, Grace Fu, Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore, and Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information and Second Minister for Home Affairs.
Building on a strong bilateral partnership, the participants will discuss cooperation on digital, research, economic security and competitiveness. The aim is to intensify the progress made under the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership, such as on platform governance and regulation, strengthening digital identity as an enabler of the digital transformation for the benefit of citizens and businesses, and strengthening the supply chain resilience of semiconductors. The Digital Partnership is also pushing forward cooperation on digital trade, where the EU and Singapore are currently negotiating a Digital Trade Agreement. The participants will discuss the benefits closer collaboration on research can unlock for the Digital Partnership and beyond, in view also of the ongoing exploratory talks on Singapore's possible association to Horizon Europe.
The participants will seek common ground on strengthening international and bilateral cooperation on trustworthy and human-centric artificial intelligence (AI). Executive Vice-President Vestager will also visit the Singapore AI Safety Institute at the Nanyang University of Singapore and participate in a conversation with women in AI and technology.
(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. : + 32 2 299 10 99 ; Roberta Verbanac — Tel. : + 32 2 298 24 98)
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
| Zařazeno | út 02.07.2024 12:07:00 |
|---|---|
| Zdroj | Evropská komise en |
| Originál | ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=MEX/24/3603&language=en |
| lang | en |
| guid | /MEX/24/3603/ |
