Daily News 04 / 10 / 2019
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European Commission - Daily News Daily News 04 / 10 / 2019 Brussels, 4 October 2019 Cohesion Policy: EU invests €880 million to improve Poland's railway system The Commission adopted two major Cohesion Policy projects, improving the Polish rail network and increasing its capacity, speed and safety. Both projects should be operational as of January 2023. Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, Enlargement Negotiations and Regional Policy, said: "Seamless railway connections for passengers and freight will boost territorial cohesion in Poland while ensuring better quality of air in the country in the long run. This is another Cohesion Policy success story.” Almost €838 million of EU funding will help to modernise a 214.5-km section of the railway corridor between the towns of Chorzów Batory and Zduńska Wola Karsznice, between the regions of Śląskie and Łódzkie, on the Trans-European Transport Network. An additional €43 million will help to buy more than 930 platform wagons for transporting containers, with an aim to shift goods transport from road to rail in order to cut carbon emissions and increase road safety by reducing the number of trucks on the roads. Poland is the biggest beneficiary of Cohesion Policy funds. Since the country joined the EU in 2004, Cohesion Policy has financed 12,200 km of new or upgraded road, access to broadband for 9.1 million people and the creation of 151,000 jobs. Further details are available in the press release. (For more information: Christian Spahr – Tel.: +32 2 295 00 55, Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr - Tel.: +32 229 56169) Romania: 5,000 businesses to receive financial support thanks to Cohesion Policy programme The Commission welcomes Romania's decision to allocate an additional €150 million from their Cohesion Policy budget to the SME Initiative, which uses EU funds to leverage private financing for small and medium businesses. Withthis increase, the SME Initiative is expected to generate up to €1.38 billion of financial support for Romanian businesses. Under the initiative, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group signed new deals with CEC Bank, Banca Comerciala Romana, BRD - Groupe Société Générale, Libra Internet Bank, ProCredit Bank, Raiffeisen Bank and Unicredit Bank. Together with existing transactions with Banca Transilvania and ING Bank Romania, these deals are expected to benefit around 5,000 SMEs and start-ups in need of finance. Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy, Enlargement Negotiations and Regional Policy, Johannes Hahnsaid: “The SME Initiative is a perfect example of how Cohesion Policy funding used in an innovative way can multiply its effects on the ground. Romania was among the first Member States to join the SME Initiative and this has paid off. Thanks to the additional resources from the European Regional Development Fund, more and more SMEs and start-ups will be able to seize this opportunity and continue creating jobs, growth and prosperity for the country and its people.” A press release is available on the EIB Group's website. (For more information: Christian Spahr – Tel.: +32 2 295 00 55, Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr - Tel.: +32 229 56169) Emploi: La Commission propose une aide de 1,6 million d'euros au titre du Fonds européen d'ajustement à la mondialisation pour 400 travailleurs licenciés de Carrefour Belgique La Commission européenne a proposé d'accorder à la Belgique une enveloppe de 1,6 million d'euros au titre du Fonds européen d'ajustement à la mondialisation (FEM) pour aider 400 travailleurs licenciés de Carrefour Belgique à trouver un nouvel emploi. Marianne Thyssen, commissaire européenne pour l'emploi, les affaires sociales, les compétences et la mobilité des travailleurs, a déclaré à ce propos: « La solidarité de l'UE est essentielle pour soutenir les travailleurs vulnérables. Le secteur du commerce de détail peine à s'adapter aux changements du commerce mondial. Je suis convaincue que le soutien proposé au titre du Fonds européen d'ajustement à la mondialisation aiderait les travailleurs touchés dans leur transition pour acquérir de nouvelles compétences, trouver un nouvel emploi ou créer leur propre entreprise. » La Belgique a demandé le soutien du FEM à la suite du licenciement de 1 019 personnes de la société Carrefour Belgique, causé par des modifications majeures de la structure du commerce mondial découlant de la mondialisation, et notamment du renforcement de la concurrence dans le domaine des achats en ligne effectués auprès de vendeurs établis hors UE. En raison de la situation particulièrement difficile en matière d'emploi en Wallonie, l'aide financière sera destinée à 400 travailleurs licenciés dans cette région. Outre les travailleurs, jusqu'à 330 jeunes de moins de 25 ans ne travaillant pas et ne suivant pas d'études ni de formation (NEET), se verront également offrir un soutien. Tant les travailleurs que les NEET bénéficieront de services actifs d'orientation professionnelle, d'une aide à la recherche d'emploi, de formation professionnelle, d'une promotion de l'esprit d'entreprise et de contributions pour créer leur propre entreprise. Plus d'informations sont disponibles dans ce communiqué de presse en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Christian Wigand– Tel.: +32 229 62253; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: +32 229 67094) Juncker Plan supports food waste management in Romania and cultural entrepreneurs in Sweden The Juncker Plan continues to support businesses across a diverse range of sectors and locations. The European Investment Bank has signed a €7.5 million loan with food waste management company Winnow Solutions. The company has used Artificial Intelligence technology to develop software and hardware solutions to help staff in professional kitchens track the amounts and types of food they waste. Winnow will use the financing to boost its research and development activities, and support 69 jobs. In Sweden, the European Investment Fund has agreed to guarantee loans from Marginalen Bank of up to SEK 1 million (around €92,300) each to entrepreneurs from the cultural and creative sectors, an area that is often excluded from traditional bank financing. Both of these deals are backed by the Juncker Plan's European Fund for Strategic Investments. Commenting on the Romanian deal, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella said: “Winnow's objective to help professional kitchens reduce their amounts of food waste is both good for our natural resources, and it makes economic sense. By helping businesses monitor and analyse what they are throwing away each day, using innovative technology, Winnow is empowering them to change their actions. I am proud that this project is being supported by the EU bank and the Juncker Plan.” Press releases are available here. As of September 2019, the Juncker Plan has mobilised €433.2 billion of additional investment, including €3 billion in Romania and €13.4 billion in Sweden. The Plan is currently supporting 972,000 small and medium businesses across Europe. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Siobhan Millbright – Tel.: +32 229 57361) L'Union européenne renforce son partenariat avec le Sénégal avec 27,5 millions d'euros À l'occasion d'une visite au Sénégal, le commissaire à la coopération internationale et au développement Neven Mimicaa signé des programmes de coopération pour un montant total de 27,5 millions d'euros. Ces programmes renforceront l'accès à l'électricité et aux énergies renouvelables, le soutien à la société civile, et à la mise en œuvre technique de la coopération au développement avec le Sénégal. Le commissaire Mimica a déclaré: "Ces programmes d'un montant total de 27,5 millions d'euros soutiendront le développement inclusif et durable au Sénégal, dans l'esprit de notre Alliance Afrique-Europe pour des investissements et des emplois durables. L'Union européenne demeure aux côtés du Sénégal pour renforcer le dialogue politique entre les autorités et la société civile, et améliorer les conditions de vie de la population sénégalaise." Lors de sa visite, le commissaire Mimica a également rencontré le Président Macky Sall, afin d'échanger à propos des priorités communes, notamment la création d'emplois et la lutte contre le changement climatique. Le communiqué de presse complet est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tél.: +32 229 65322; Christina Wunder – Tél.: +32 229 92256) State aid: Commission approves €47 million public support for Greek port of Igoumenitsa The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Greece's plans to grant €47.3 million of public support for the construction of a new quay in the port of Igoumenitsa, on the north- west coast of Greece. The aim of the project is to decrease congestion, harmful emissions and the risk of accidents, by relocating the port's international activities to a new quay situated out of the city of Igoumenitsa. The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules. It found that the public support was proportionate and necessary for the implementation of the investment. Furthermore, the Commission considered that Igoumenitsa, while being a relatively small port with limited transport volumes at EU level, is part of the core trans-European transport network (TEN-T). The Commission concluded that the public support is in line with EU State aid rules, as it will further the construction of EU priority transport infrastructure and reduce safety risks for passengers without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number SA.48220. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Giulia Astuti - Tel.: +32 229 55344) Education: new report shows more efforts are needed to increase teachers' pay Today, the European Commission's Eurydice network published its annual report on teachers' salaries to mark World Teachers' Day (5 October).