Investment Plan backs radiology services in Germany [updated on 13/11/17 at 12:39]
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €30 million financing agreement with German medical diagnostics provider medneo to expand its radiology services. The company will use the financing to open new radiology centres and improve the efficiency of its current services, thereby reducing patient waiting time.The transaction with medneo was made possible by the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the central pillar of the Juncker Plan. European Commission Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said: “The Investment Plan is supporting an increasing number of projects in the medical sector. These projects – such as the one being signed today with medneo – are innovative and use cutting-edge technology to improve citizens’ access to the best available healthcare. The importance of imaging diagnostics is growing in the health care sector, so I wish medneo every success in their project.” (For more information see the Investment Plan website or contact Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Siobhán Millbright – Tel.: +32 229 57361)
Cohesion Policy invests in faster, smoother connectivity in Bulgaria
The Commission has approved an investment package worth almost €330 million from the Cohesion Fund, to finance the construction of parts of the Struma motorway; lot 3.1., between the towns of Blagoevgrad and Krupnik and lot 3.3., between the towns of Kresna and Sandanski. The motorway connects the South-West part of the country to the Greek border, on the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The EU supported the construction of lots 1, 2 and 4 of the Struma Motorway under the 2007-2013 EU budget framework, with €291 million from Cohesion Policy funds.“Improving connectivity drives growth,” said Commissioner for Regional policy Corina Creţu, “it provides a major boost to trade and tourism. It also tangibly improves the quality of everyday life for citizens. Last week President Juncker and the college of Commissioners met the Bulgarian government in preparation of the Bulgarian presidency of the Council, and connectivity infrastructure projects were a key point in our exchanges. This project shows that we are delivering for faster, smoother connectivity in Bulgaria and with its neighbours.” Still in the field of transport infrastructure, the Commission has approved the modification of the 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy programme for transport infrastructure for Bulgaria, upon request from the national authorities. The programme, worth €1.6 billion from EU funds, was modified to allow better preparation of railway projects, by ensuring efficient complementarities with the Connecting Europe Facility on the line from Plovdiv to Burgas and by redirecting some funding for investments in smart systems for traffic management and safety. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)
Next steps against fake news: Commission sets up High-Level Expert Group and launches public consultation
The Commission launched today a public consultation on fake news and online disinformation and set up a High-Level Expert Group representing academics, online platforms, news media and civil society organisations. The work of the High-Level Expert Group as well as the results of the public consultation will contribute to the development of an EU-level strategy on how to tackle the spreading of fake news, to be presented in spring 2018.Citizens, social media platforms, news organisations (broadcasters, print media, news agencies, online media and fact-checkers), researchers and public authorities are all invited to share their views in the public consultation until mid-February. It will gather opinions on what actions could be taken at EU level to give citizens effective tools to identify reliable and verified information and adapt to the challenges of the digital age.The Commission is inviting experts to apply for the High-Level Group on fake news to advise the Commission on scoping the phenomenon, defining the roles and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders, grasping the international dimension, taking stock of the positions at stake, and formulating recommendations. As far as possible, the group should include several representatives of each field of expertise, be it academia or civil society delegate. The Commission aims at a balanced selection of the experts. The call for application is open until mid-December. The High-Level Expert Group is expected to start in January 2018 and will work over several months. Commissioner Gabriel will deliver the welcoming speech at the multi-stakeholder conference on “Fake news” today at 13:00 in the Centre Albert Borschette, Brussels, which will be available here. The event will be web-streamed here (today) and here (tomorrow). The full press release is available here. (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Julia-Henriette Bräuer – Tel.: +32 229 80707)
Sustainable Finance: Commission seeks views on how best to encourage sustainable investments
The Commission is today launching a public consultation on how asset managers and institutional investors could include environmental, social and governance factors when taking decisions. This would help them allocate capital more efficiently by taking into account sustainability risks, rather than merely seeking to maximise short-term financial returns. Today’s consultation follows up on one of the eight early recommendations delivered by the High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (HLEG) in its interim report of July 2017. It forms part of the Commission’s efforts to mobilise private capital towards green and sustainable investments to enable the transition to a low-carbon economy and shows the EU’s strong commitment to mitigate risks posed by climate change and environmental challenges. The EU has taken the lead in building a financial system that supports sustainable growth and sustainable finance continues to be one of the Juncker’s Commission’s main priorities. The consultation further underlines the EU’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As announced in its 2018 Work Programme, the Commission will adopt an Action Plan on sustainable finance in the first quarter of 2018. The public consultation is open until 28 January 2018 and is available here. (For more information: Vanessa Mock – Tel.: 32 229-56194; Letizia Lupini – Tel.: +32 229 51958)
Mergers: Commission clears creation of joint-venture between JSR and UMG
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control by JSR Corporation and UMG ABS, Ltd. over Techno Polymer Co., Ltd. (TPC), all three of Japan. JSR is a chemical manufacturing company, whose core businesses are petrochemical and fine chemical products. TPC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSR, active in the supply of resins and alloys. UMG ABS is also active in the supply of resins and alloys. As a result of the operation TPC will be transformed into a joint venture between JSR and UMG ABS, and will comprise the business of both TPC and UMG. The Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns because the joint venture has negligible actual or foreseen activities in the European Economic Area. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8586. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
Eurostat: Les fonds envoyés à l’étranger par les résidents de l’UE en baisse à 30,3 milliards d’euros en 2016
En 2016, les sommes d’argent envoyées par les résidents de l’Union européenne (UE) dans les pays hors-UE, appelées transferts personnels, se sont élevées à 30,3 milliards d’euros, contre 31,3 mrds en 2015. Comme les flux entrants dans l’UE se sont établis dans le même temps à 9,9 milliards d’euros, il en a résulté un solde négatif (-20,4 mrds d’euros) pour l’UE avec le reste du monde. La majorité des transferts personnels se compose de flux d’argent envoyés par les migrants dans leur pays d’origine. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Letizia Lupini – Tel.: +32 229 51958)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
La Commissaire Thyssen participe aux premiers trilogues sur la révision des règles concernant le détachement des travailleurs
Demain la Commissaire pour l’Emploi, les Affaires sociales, les Compétences et la Mobilité des travailleurs, Marianne Thyssen, participe aux premières discussions entre le Parlement européen, le Conseil des Ministres de l’UE et la Commission européenne concernant la révision des règles européenne sur le détachement des travailleurs. Ces discussions seront la dernière ligne droite vers un accord final sur la révision, suite aux accords obtenus aux Parlement (16 octobre 2017) et au Conseil des ministres au sein du Conseil Emploi, Politiques sociales, Santé et Consommateurs (23 octobre 2017). A la veille des discussions, la Commissaire Thyssen a dit: “La position de la Commission a toujours été claire et se trouve dans sa proposition du 8 mars 2016: nous voulons établir le principe fondamental d’une même rémunération pour un même travail au même endroit. Je me réjouis donc que cette avancée essentielle se retrouve dans les textes approuvés par le Parlement et le Conseil. C’est là l’enjeu essentiel de cette révision. Sur tous les autres aspects, nous espérons obtenir un accord équilibré qui améliore la situation sur le terrain et qui rende les règles plus claires et plus équitables. Un accord qui favorise la mobilité des services et les droits des travailleurs, tout en permettant aux autorités à tous les niveaux de combattre les abus. Je suis heureuse que nous puissions désormais initier les trilogues et je souhaite que nous arrivions à un accord final le plus tôt possible.” (Pour plus d’informations: Christian Wigand– Tel.: +32 229 62253; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: + 32 229 67094)
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