Daily News 21 / 08 / 2024

Daily News 21 / 08 / 2024

Commission approves €20 million Danish State aid scheme to support higher animal welfare standards for pigs

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Danish scheme, with a budget of approximately €20 million (DKK 151 million), to support higher animal welfare standards for pigs.

The scheme is aimed at supporting pig farmers in the implementation of preventive measures that reduce the risk of tail-biting among pigs, which results from stress and sub-optimal living conditions of pigs, and that help avoid the need of tail-docking (the shortening of tails) of piglets. The preventive measures supported by the scheme include extra supervision, extra feeding and drinking places, and improved housing conditions.

The scheme will run until 31 December 2029 and will be open to pig farmers in Denmark. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of direct grants and subsidised services (such as training and development activities) and will cover up to 100% of eligible costs.

The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State Aid rules, in particular under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions, and the 2023 Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas. The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to achieve the objective pursued, namely the promotion of animal welfare in the pork livestock sector, while supporting the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Farm to Fork Strategy. Furthermore, the Commission concluded that the scheme is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary, and will have a limited impact on competition and trade in the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Danish scheme under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.114488 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 Mainova WebHouse by Mainova and BlackRock

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Mainova WebHouse GmbH (“Mainova WebHouse”) by Mainova AG (”Mainova”), both of Germany, and by BlackRock Inc. of the US. Mainova WebHouse is currently solely controlled by Mainova.

The transaction relates primarily to the planning, construction and operation of data centres in the Frankfurt region in Germany.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited 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.11624.

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

Commission clears acquisition of AffiniPay by Genstar and TA Associates

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of AffiniPay LLC (“AffiniPay”), by Genstar Capital Partners LLC (“Genstar”) and TA Associates Management LP (“TA Associates”), all of the US.

AffiniPay is a provider of payments solutions software and legal practice management software.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that AffiniPay has only negligible activities in the European Economic Area. 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.11640.

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

STATEMENTS

Déclaration conjointe de l'UE et des Fidji sur la mise en œuvre de l'accord de partenariat économique provisoire EU-Pacifique

Valdis Dombrovskis, vice-président exécutif de la Commission européenne et commissaire chargé du commerce, et Manoa Kamikamica, vice-premier ministre et ministre du commerce, des coopératives, des micro-, petites et moyennes entreprises et des communications des Fidji, ont annoncé aujourd'hui le renforcement des relations commerciales bilatérales par la mise en œuvre intégrale de l'accord de partenariat économique intérimaire (APE) entre l'Union européenne et les États du Pacifique.

L'APE provisoire est un accord de commerce et de développement qui libéralise le commerce bilatéral, afin de promouvoir le développement durable et l'intégration des Fidji dans l'économie mondiale. Alors que l'Union européenne avait déjà supprimé les droits de douane et les contingents sur toutes les importations en provenance des Fidji, le gouvernement des Fidji a pris la décision de supprimer progressivement les droits sur les lignes tarifaires engagées sur les importations en provenance des États membres de l'Union européenne. Il s'agit d'un panier de lignes tarifaires engagées.

Les droits de douane sur certaines importations en provenance de l'Union européenne resteront ou continueront de s'appliquer, principalement pour protéger la sécurité alimentaire fidjienne et le développement des chaînes de valeur nationales. C'est ce que l'on appelle le « panier d'exclusion des lignes tarifaires ».

La mise en œuvre effective de l'APE provisoire et de ses engagements en matière de libéralisation tarifaire devrait améliorer encore les possibilités commerciales pour les entreprises et les investisseurs. La suppression progressive actuelle des droits de douane permettra également de disposer d'intrants moins chers pour les produits fabriqués aux Fidji, ce qui renforcera la compétitivité des produits fabriqués localement et soutiendra à la fois le développement industriel local et l'intégration dans les chaînes de valeur mondiales.

De plus amples informations sont disponibles dans la déclaration conjointe complète disponible en ligne.

(Pour plus d'informations: Olof Gill – Tél. : +32 2 296 59 66 ; Ana Apse-Paese – Tél. : +32 2 298 73 48)

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