Daily News 29 / 10 / 2024

Daily News 29 / 10 / 2024

Commission welcomes increased electricity export capacity to Ukraine and Moldova

The Commission welcomes today's confirmation by the Transmission System Operators (TSOs) of Continental Europe that the electricity export capacity to Ukraine and Moldova from neighbouring EU countries can be increased for the winter. Based on a joint assessment of the power system conditions, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for electricity (ENTSO-E) announced today that the export limit can be increased from 1700 megawatts (MW) to 2100 MW from 1 December, while still ensuring power system stability and operational security. From March 2025, TSOs will reassess the commercial capacity limit between the EU and Ukraine and Moldova on a monthly basis.

Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, said: “Today's announcement is a further sign of the strong support that the EU is offering Ukraine and Moldova, and the solidarity of the European TSO community. This move to increase our connections with Ukraine and Moldova was one of the three priorities outlined by President von der Leyen in September to help Ukraine's winter preparedness in the energy sector.”

On 19 September, President von der Leyen announced new EU support for Ukraine's energy security for the winter, at a joint press conference with Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol. She stressed the necessity to address the immediate needs in the country while making its energy system more resilient in the long term. Today's ENTSO-E announcement is an important step to deliver on the actions the President presented to ensure electricity export needs.

More information is available here.

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

La Commission lance une consultation publique sur les règles régissant l'accès des chercheurs aux données des plateformes en ligne dans le cadre de la législation sur les services numériques

La Commission a lancé aujourd'hui une consultation publique sur le projet d'acte délégué relatif à l'accès des chercheurs agréés aux données des plateformes en ligne au titre de la législation sur les services numériques.

Avec la législation sur les services numériques, les chercheurs auront pour la première fois accès aux données pour étudier les risques systémiques et évaluer les mesures d'atténuation des risques des plateformes en ligne dans l'UE. Elle permettra à la communauté scientifique de jouer un rôle essentiel dans le contrôle et la sauvegarde de l'environnement en ligne.

Le projet d'acte délégué clarifie les procédures relatives à la manière dont les chercheurs peuvent accéder aux données des très grandes plateformes d'exploitation et des moteurs de recherche. Il établit également des règles relatives aux formats de données et aux exigences en matière de documentation des données. Enfin, elle met en place le portail d'accès aux données de la législation sur les services numériques, un guichet unique permettant aux chercheurs, aux fournisseurs de données et aux centres de traitement des données d'échanger des informations sur les demandes d'accès aux données. La consultation fait suite à un premier appel à contributions.

La consultation sera ouverte jusqu'au 26 novembre 2024. Après avoir recueilli les avis du public, la Commission prévoit d'adopter les règles au cours du premier trimestre de 2025.

(Pour plus d'informations : Thomas Regnier — Tél. : + 32 2 299 10 99 ; Patricia Poropat — Tél. : + 32 2 298 04 85).

Le Conseil européen de l'innovation investira 1,4 milliards d'euros dans les ‘deep tech' et l'expansion des technologies stratégiques en 2025

Le Conseil européen de l'innovation (CEI), qui fait partie du programme de recherche et d'innovation de l'UE Horizon Europe, soutiendra la recherche européenne en matière de 'deep tech' et les jeunes pousses à fort potentiel à hauteur de 1,4 milliards d'euros l'année prochaine.

Le programme de travail 2025 du CEI, adopté aujourd'hui par la Commission, représente une augmentation de près de 200 millions d'euros par rapport à 2024.

Iiana Ivanova, commissaire chargée de l'Innovation, de la recherche, de la culture, de l'éducation et de la jeunesse, a déclaré à ce propos : « Le Conseil européen de l'innovation est apparu comme un joueur du soutien de l'UE à l'innovation radicale. En 2025, le CEI stimulera les ‘deep tech' de l'UE grâce à des ressources encore plus importantes, pour un montant de 1,4 milliards d'euros provenant d'Horizon Europe, notre programme de recherche et d'innovation. Le soutien ciblé, en particulier dans le cadre de l'appel à initiatives ‘STEP', contribuera à combler les déficits de financement critiques et à mettre en place un écosystème d'innovation plus solide et plus résilient en Europe. »

Ainsi qu'un budget plus important, le programme de travail 2025 apporte plusieurs améliorations, y compris un meilleur accès au financement par fonds propres en expansion avec le dispositif d'expansion de la plateforme « Technologies stratégiques pour l'Europe » du CEI (STEP), introduit à la suite du règlement STEP. D'autres améliorations, fondées sur les recommandations du comité CEI, sont également incluses. Vous trouverez de plus amples informations dans notre communiqué de presse.

(Pour plus d'informations : Thomas Regnier — Tél. : + 32 2 299 10 99 ; Roberta Verbanac — Tél. : + 32 2 298 24 98)

More than €93 million from the Cohesion Fund to turn Faliron Bay in Athens into a green and vibrant space

The Commission has approved an initial €93 million from the Cohesion Fund (CF) to support the regeneration of a 540-hectare waterfront park along Faliron Bay, Athens. The investment will transform the city's waterfront into a green, inclusive, and vibrant space, in line with the New European Bauhaus principles, and has the potential to increase tourism, boost revenue for local businesses, and stimulate regional economic growth. The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2028.

The Park will be open to the public free of charge, with funds being used to make the waterfront more visually attractive and appealing and to transform the area into a hub for activities. Swimming pools, themed playgrounds, event spaces, and a sports centre will be built, with installations used for the 2004 Olympics repurposed and displayed along the Bay. The space will be used for several educational and cultural activities.

The Park and its activities will be fully accessible to people with disabilities, and through the modernisation of roads, tram networks, and footpaths, will be connected to neighbouring areas. Thanks to the implementation of drainage networks and rainwater collectors, Funds will also support the waterfront's flood protection capacity. More than 2,900 trees will be planted, while renewable energy sources will be integrated into the Park's energy mix.

EU support will overall improve quality of life for residents in Athens, who can now enjoy the Park's educational and cultural activities and many facilities.

Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said: “The Faliron Bay Park will be a new highlight and tourist attraction for the city of Athens. The green space will connect people of all ages, and residents will have access to sporting, educational, and creative activities. The project inspired by the New European Bauhaus initiative will set a perfect example of how urban investments can be designed in a sustainable, aesthetic, and inclusive way.”

(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Laetitia Close – Tel.: +32 2 296 70 73)

EU and UK conclude technical negotiations for a future competition cooperation agreement

Today, the European Commission and the UK finalised the technical discussions on a competition cooperation agreement between the EU and the UK. The competition cooperation agreement will be a ‘supplementing agreement' to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (‘TCA'), which foresees the possibility to enter into a separate agreement on competition cooperation.

The future competition cooperation agreement will allow the Commission, the national competition authorities of the EU Member States (‘NCAs') enforcing EU competition law, and the UK Competition and Markets Authority to cooperate directly in competition investigations. It is the first EU competition cooperation agreement enabling also NCAs to cooperate directly with a third country competition authority, as is foreseen by the TCA for the UK.

The cooperation agreement will set out that important antitrust and merger investigations are brought to each other's attention. It will also allow the coordination of investigations between the jurisdictions involved when necessary and set out clear principles of cooperation aimed at avoiding any conflicts between jurisdictions.

The agreement will enter into force after both the EU and the UK have finalised their ratification procedures. As a next step, the Commission will prepare proposals for Council's decisions to sign and conclude the agreement. The consent of the European Parliament will also be required.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “With this agreement, the EU and the UK will work together on competition matters in a predictable and transparent framework, exploiting the full potential of the TCA. This agreement strengthens our relationship and will help to ensure that enforcement is coordinated between our jurisdictions, to the ultimate benefit of European business and consumers.”

A press release is available online.

(For more information : Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98)

Commission clears acquisition of Idealista by Cinven

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Idealista Global, S.A. of Spain by Cinven Limited of the United Kingdom.

The transaction relates primarily to the real estate online classified ads sector.

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.11654.

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

Commission clears creation of joint venture by KKR and Baupost

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by KKR & Co. Inc (‘KKR') and The Baupost Group, L.L.C. (‘Baupost'), both of the United States.

The transaction relates primarily to the hotel sector. KKR and Baupost will acquire, through the creation of a joint venture, a 33-asset hotel portfolio based in the United Kingdom operating under the ‘Marriott' and ‘Delta by Marriott' brands.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on 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.11763.

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

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases