European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 12 / 02 / 2020

Brussels, 12 February 2020

Discours de la présidente von der Leyen en plénière du Parlement européen sur la réunion spéciale du Conseil européen du 20 février sur le cadre financier pluriannuel Ce matin au Parlement, la présidente von der Leyen a tenu un discours sur les ambitions de la Commission en amont de la réunion du Conseil européen sur l'adoption du prochain budget européen 2021-2027. La présidente a ainsi dit : « Nous avons des objectifs politiques communs très clairs : nous devons être le premier continent neutre sur le plan climatique en 2050, nous voulons embrasser la transition numérique et nous voulons accompagner nos citoyens et nos régions pour qu'ils puissent tirer tous les bénéfices de ces transformations majeures, en investissant dans l'éducation et la formation aux métiers de demain. Mais le temps presse. Et je le répète: si notre prochain budget n'est pas décidé rapidement, l'année prochaine nous ne pourrons pas commencer à investir dans ces priorités. Nous savons tous que ces négociations ne seront pas faciles. Mais nous savons également que les citoyens ne comprendront pas si les décideurs ne parviennent pas à mettre à disposition le financement nécessaire à ces priorités. Il est de notre responsabilité commune, avec le Conseil et le Parlement européen, de faire avancer les choses pour l'Europe. » Vous retrouverez l'intégralité du discours en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 2 299 4073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 2 299 0150)

Trade/Human Rights: Commission decides to partially withdraw Cambodia's preferential access to the EU market The European Commission has decided to withdraw part of the tariff preferences granted to Cambodia under the European Union's Everything But Arms' (EBA) trade scheme due to the serious and systematic violations of the human rights principles enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The withdrawal of tariff preferences – and their replacement with the EU's standard tariffs (most favoured nation, MFN) – will affect selected garment and footwear products, all travel goods and sugar. The Commission's decision addresses the human rights violations that triggered the procedure, while at the same time preserving the development objective of the EU trade scheme.The withdrawal amounts to around one-fifth or €1 billion of Cambodia's yearly exports to the EU. High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell,said: “The duration, scale and impact of Cambodia's violations of the rights to political participation and to the freedoms of expression and association left the European Union with no other choice than to partially withdraw trade preferences. The European Union will not stand and watch as democracy is eroded, human rights curtailed, and free debate silenced. Today's decision reflects our strong commitment to the Cambodian people, their rights, and the country's sustainable development. For the trade preferences to be reinstated, the Cambodian authorities need to take the necessary measures.” Commissioner for Trade, Phil Hogan,said: “The European Union is committed to supporting Cambodia's economic and social development through trade preferences. However, the respect for human rights is non-negotiable for us. We recognise the progress Cambodia has made, but serious concerns remain. Our aim is that the Cambodian authorities end human rights violations, and we will continue working with them in order to achieve that.” Unless the European Parliament and the Council object, this will take effect on 12 August 2020. A press release is available online. (For more information: Daniel Rosario - Tel.: + 32 229 56185; Kinga Malinowska - Tel.: +32 229 51383)

Procédures d'infraction du mois de février : la Commission prend des mesures en vue d'une mise en œuvre complète, correcte et en temps utile du droit de l'Union dans l'intérêt des citoyens et des entreprises Pour aider les citoyens et les entreprises à pleinement profiter du marché intérieur, la Commission européenne est en dialogue permanent avec les États membres qui ne respectent pas le droit européen et, au besoin, ouvre des procédures d'infraction à leur égard. Les décisions prises aujourd'hui, dans le cadre des décisions régulières d'infraction, comprennent 20 lettres de mise en demeure (19 mise en demeure and 1 mise en demeure complémentaire), 11 avis motivés et deux renvois à la Cour de justice de l'UE. Elle clôt également 76 dossiers en cours lorsque l'État membre concerné, en coopération avec la Commission, a résolu le problème et assuré le respect du droit de l'Union et que, dès lors, une saisine de la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne n'est pas nécessaire. Un résumé des principales décisions et les références des communiqués de presse correspondants figurent ici. Les aspects essentiels des procédures d'infraction de l'UE sont décrits ici.(Pour plus d'informations : Eric Mamer – Tél.: + 32 229 94073; Dana Spinant – Tél.: +32 2 299 01 50 ; Ewelina Juszczak – Tél.: +32 229 91745)

Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition of OLT by SNAM and FSI The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over OLT Offshore LNG Toscana S.p.A. (“OLT”) of Italy by SNAM S.p.A. of Italy and First State Investments International Ltd (“FSI”) of the UK. OLT is active in the management of a floating storage and regasification unit for liquified natural gas in Italy. SNAM is the holding company of the Snam group, which is active in the development and integrated management of gas infrastructures and, in particular, in the transmission, regasification and storage of natural gas in Italy and other EU countries. FSI is a company within the asset management division of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, one of Japan's largest asset managers. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, because the companies are not close competitors in the markets where their activities overlap and, in addition, sector-specific regulation is in place to prevent anticompetitive effects arising from the transaction. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.9641. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +3 229 90526)

ANNOUCEMENTS

COVID-19: Commissioners Kyriakides and Lenarčič attend extraordinary Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council Tomorrow, 13 February, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides,and Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarčič, will attend an extraordinary Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) meeting on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. The Commission continues to work on all fronts to support efforts to tackle the virus, and key to this has been ongoing coordination and collaboration with Member States on information sharing, needs assessment, and ensuring a coherent EU-wide response and preparedness. In this endeavour, the Council will gather EU Health Ministers to exchange views on the COVID-19 outbreak and discuss solutions to existing challenges to prevent the spread of the outbreak within the EU. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions in relation to the EU response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The meeting will start at 10.00. A press conference with Commissioner Kyriakides will take place following the Council discussions and will be live streamed here. More information on the EU's response to the outbreak is available on DG SANTE's website. (For more information: Stefan de Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 229 84680; Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 229 54578; Darragh Cassidy – Tel.: +32 229 83978; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Commissioner Gabriel in to discuss key issues in research, innovation, education and culture Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, will visit Austria on 12 and 13 February. She will meet government representatives and Austrian stakeholders in research and innovation.Ahead of the visit, Commissioner Gabriel, said “I count on the Austrian government to strengthen the role of education, science, research, and innovation as drivers of European growth and prosperity and to support the core values of the Union”. Commissioner Gabriel will meet with the , , the Minister for European Affairs, , and the Minister for Employment, Family and Youth, Christine Aschbacher, as well as the State Secretary for Art and Culture, Ulrike Lunacek. On Thursday, together with the Minister of Education, Research and Science, Heinz Fassman, she will visit the renowned Austrian Institute of Science and Technology in Klosterneuburg. She will also discuss strategic aspects of the European Research Area with key Austrian stakeholders, such as the Institute of Science and Technology. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: + 32 2 295 86 15; Susanne Conze — Tel.: + 32 2 29 80236; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 2 298 35 83)

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News) Eurostat press releases MEX/20/240