This will allow the completion of part of the Trans-European road network, without causing undue distortions of competition.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The construction of the southern section of the Central Greece motorwaywill improve the transport links for Greek citizens in the region, in line with EU transport policy objectives and the completion of the Trans European road network. Our decision today will allow the Greek government to support the building of this important new stretch of motorway.”

In January 2018, Greece notified the Commission its plan to grant €306 million of public support to Kentriki Odos SA for the construction of the southern section of the Central Greece Motorway (E65), which will mainly serve the Greek region of Sterea Ellada, from the city of Lamia to Xyniada. Kentriki Odos SA, concessionaire of the Central Greece Motorway project, has constructed and currently operates the central middle section of the E65 motorway.

The Commission assessed the measure under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which allows State aid to facilitate the development of certain economic activities or areas and found that:

•        the support measure will contribute to objectives of common EU interest and in particular to EU transport policy, as it will support the completion of the Trans-European road networkand improve transport links for Greek citizens living in the Sterea Ellada region.
•        the support measure is necessary and proportionate for the implementation of the project. In particular, Greece demonstrated that (i) the public financing corresponds to the inflation adjusted construction costs as estimated in the 2007 tender for the construction of the southern section of the E65 motorway; and (ii) that Kentriki Odos SA will cover itself the operation and maintenance of the project, and any excessive revenues will be returned to the State via a claw-back mechanism.

The Commission therefore concluded that the public funding granted for the construction of the southern section of the E65 motorway is in line with EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of this decision will be made available under the case number SA.50233 in the State Aid Register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. New publications of State aid decisions on the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the State Aid Weekly e-News.

 

(Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine)

Déplacements et visites

 

Lundi 22 octobre 2018

 

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Frank Engel, Member of the European Parliament.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Christophe Hansen, Member of the European Parliament.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Joseph Daul, President of the European People’s Party (EPP), and Mr Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

Mr Frans Timmermans delivers a keynote speech at the 40^th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, in Brussels. 

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Bratislava, Slovakia: participates in the 2018 Annual meeting of the OECD GREEN Action Task Force; and participates in the ‘ceremony of the signature of energy contracts’ with representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan (until 23/10): meets Mr Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of the Environment; delivers a keynote speech at the opening of the 2018 World Circular Economy Forum; co-chairs the first EU-Japan High-Level Economic, trade and industrial Dialogue (HED), participates in the signature ceremony of MoUs on investment cooperation between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) as well as NEXI (Nippon Export and Investment Insurance).

Mr Johannes Hahn in Amman, Jordan: on official visit.

Ms Cecilia Malmström receives Ms Monique Goyens, Director General of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC).

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris, France: rencontre M. Bernard Cazeneuve, ancien Premier ministre.

Mr Phil Hogan delivers a speech at the high-level conference on Bioeconomy, in Brussels.

Ms Violeta Bulc receives Mr Pierre Guislain, African Development Bank Group Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization.

Ms Violeta Bulc receives Mr Christoph Wolff, Head of Mobility Industries and System Initiative, Member of the Executive Committee at the World Economic Forum.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Mr Christian Verschueren, Director-General of EuroCommerce and Mr Matthew Shay, President and CEO of the National Retail Federation.

Mr Carlos Moedas delivers a keynote speech at the high-level Conference “Sustainable & circular bioeconomy, the European way”,in Brussels.

Mr Julian King in Bucharest, Romania: meets with Ms Carmen Daniela Dan, Minister of Interior, Secretaries of State Mr Sebastian Costea and Mr Nicolae Popa, and Mr Ion Oprișor, Presidential Adviser from the Department of National Security.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Sofia: meets with Ms Nina Tsaneva, Advisor to the Cabinet of the Minister of Economy of Bulgaria on small and medium enterprises (SMEs); and meets with Mr Dobromir Ivanov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Start-up Association.

 

Mardi 23 octobre 2018

College Meeting

President Jean-Claude Juncker participates in a debate on the future of Europe in the Plenary of the European Parliament with Mr Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania.

Ms Federica Mogherini in Strasbourg, France: delivers a statement on the situation in the Sea of Azov and delivers a number of plenary speeches at the European Parliament.

Mr Andrus Ansip in Strasbourg, France: participates in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) working group on Digital Single Market about “E-commerce: state of play at the end of the mandate and vision for coming years”.

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Tokyo, Japan: delivers a keynote speech at the opening of the Hydrogen Energy Ministerial Meeting; meets the Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary; meets the Chairmen of the Diet Foreign Committee (the Japanese Parliament) as well as Keidanren (Japanese business association).

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Kraków, Poland: participates in the preparatory meeting ahead of COP24 (24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Strasbourg, France: addresses the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee of the European Parliament (IMCO) on Digital Single Market.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Strasbourg, France: participates in the Citizens’ Dialogue.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Strasbourg, France: meets with a delegation from the European Magazine Media Association (EMMA) and European Newspaper Publishers Association (ENPA); meets with a delegation from the Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) and the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA); and participates in the 3rd Trilogue negotiation on the Cybersecurity act.

 

Mercredi 24 octobre 2018

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Iván Duque, President of Colombia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker holds a joint press point with Mr Iván Duque, President of Colombia.

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia, in Brussels.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič delivers a keynote speech at the 3rd Energy Storage Global Conference, in Brussels.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Kraków, Poland: participates in the preparatory meeting ahead of COP24 (24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

Ms Marianne Thyssen delivers a speech at the FEAD Colloquium, in Brussels.

M. Pierre Moscovici en Nouvelle Aquitaine, France: visite l’entreprise Immersion, spécialisée dans la réalité virtuelle, la réalité augmentée et les solutions collaboratives pour l’industrie et la recherche; participe à un dialogue citoyen sur l’avenir de l’Europe avec M. Alain Rousset, Président du conseil régional de Nouvelle-Aquitaine; rencontre des élus locaux et des chefs d’entreprise; visite l’Institut ALPhANOV, Centre Technologique Optique et Lasers; et visite le centre de formation et d’apprentissage en Bâtiment et Travaux Publics (BTP CFA Aquitaine) de Blanquefort.

Mr Tibor Navracsics inTrieste, Italy: meets Mr Massimiliano Fedriga, President of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia; meets institutional, diplomatic, sport and civic authorities of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to discuss “Youth, Culture and Sport in the Europe of 2019”.

Ms Corina Creţu in Bratislava, Slovakia: delivers a speech at the Meeting of V4 (Visegrad Group)+4 Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy; and meets Mr Richard Raši, Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia.

Ms Margrethe Vestager receives members of European Roundtable of Industrialists.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Copenhagen, Denmark: attends the gala dinner for the Danish MPs and the government members hosted by Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark.

Mr Julian King in London, the United Kingdom: delivers a speech on the ‘Security Challenges Facing Europe’ at the Chatham House.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Tel Aviv, Israel (until 25/10): on official visit, meets with Mr Eli Cohen, Minister for Economy and Industry of Israel.

 

Jeudi 25 octobre 2018

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Mr Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker holds a joint press conference with Mr Beji Caid Essebsi, President of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Mr Mohammed Ennaceur, President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker addresses the Assembly of the Representatives of the People of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Tim Cook, CEO of Apple.

Mr Frans Timmermans delivers a keynote speech and participates in a debate at the Annual Conference of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), in Brussels. 

Ms Federica Mogherini participates in the inauguration ceremony of the Enlightened Universe art installation in celebration of the United Nations Day, in Brussels.

Ms Federica Mogherini delivers a speech at the plenary session of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), in Brussels.

Mr Andrus Ansip in New Delhi, India (until 26/10): participates in the India Mobile Congressdelivers a keynote speech in plenary session on “The evolving regulatory landscape in the new digital ecosystems; meets with Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India and Mr Manoj Sinha, Minister of communication and minister of state for railwaysTelecom and with industrial leaders and visits the exhibition.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Frankfurt: attends the Governing Council meeting of the European Central Bank; and meets Mr Gabriel Bernardino, Chairman of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA).

Mr Johannes Hahn in Tunis, Tunisia: on official visit together with President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Mr Karmenu Vella in Jakarta, Indonesia (until 26/10): meets Ms Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Minister for Environment and Forestry of Indonesia; meets Mr Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Industry of Indonesia; and delivers a keynote speech at the opening of the EU-Indonesia Business Dialogue (EIBD 2018).

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Astana,Kazakhstan: participates in the WHO and Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan and Unicef Global Conference on Primary Health Care.

Ms Marianne Thyssen receives Mr Joris Relaes, Administrator General of the Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO).

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Seetanah Lutchmeenaraidoo, Ministre des affaires étrangères, de l’intégration régionale et du commerce international de Maurice.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Niels Thygesen, Président du Comité budgétaire européen.

Mr Christos Stylianidesin Copenhagen, Denmark: meets Ms Ulla Tørnæs, Minister for Development Cooperation of Denmark; meets Mr Vitaly Vanshelboim, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS); meets Danish NGOs and private sector parties to discuss how to promote and increase the involvement of the private sector in humanitarian assistance; visits the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warehouse; and participates in a Citizens’ dialogue on “Global crises and the role of European humanitarian aid”.

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Madrid, Spain, attends the European Space Agency Council working group for the preparation of the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting 2018.

Ms Vĕra Jourová delivers a speech at the 40th edition of the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, in Brussels.

Ms Věra Jourová receives Ms Katherine Adams, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Apple.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Mr Felipe Harboe Bascuñán, Senator of the Congress of Chile.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Warsaw, Poland: he will launch the SELFIE tool developed by the Commission to help schools better use digital technologies in teaching and learning; has working lunch with Mr Witold Bańka, Minister of Sport and Tourism of Poland; participates in and speaks at the conference: “eTwinning and Our Heritage: Where the Past Meets the Future”. In Natolin, Poland, he will then deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2018/2019 Academic Year at the College of Europe in Natolin.

Mr Carlos Moedas receives Mr. Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, President of Atomium- European Institute for science, Media and Democracy.

Mr Julian King in Metz, France: delivers the opening speech at the European Democratic Party conference on ‘The fight against terrorism: a European battle’.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Tel Aviv, Israel (on official visit until 25/10): meets with Ms Gila Gamliel, Minister for Social Equality and leader of the Digital Israel Project, and with representatives from national authorities responsible for the Cyber Security and Telecommunications.

Vendredi 26 octobre 2018

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Mr Yousef Chahed, Head of Government of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker holds a joint press conference with Mr Yousef Chahed, Head of Government of Tunisia, in Tunis, Tunisia.

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets representatives of the Tunisian civil society, in Tunis, Tunisia.

Mr Frans Timmermans in Amsterdam, the Netherlands: participates in the Global Chemical Convention.

Mr Andrus Ansip in New Delhi, India: meets with European ICT company representatives in the margin of the India Mobile Congress.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis receives Mr Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers an opening speech at the European Fund For Strategic Investments (EFSI) project fair, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Etienne Davignon, President of the European Business Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR Europe) and Board members of CSR Europe.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote speech at the 4^th European Microfinance Day, in Brussels.

Ms Cecilia Malmström participates in the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP)-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Committee, in Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella in Jakarta, Indonesia: meets Mr Jusuf Kalla, Vice-President of Indonesia; meets Mr Mochamad Basoeki Hadimoeljono, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing of Indonesia; meets Mr Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); delivers closing remarks on the EU-Indonesia Business Dialogue (EIBD 2018) business-to-business meetings.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Astana,Kazakhstan: participates in the WHO and Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan and Unicef Global Conference on Primary Health Care.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Kocaeli, Turkey: attends the Kartepe Summit on Migration, Refugees and Humanity and delivers the keynote speech on the “International Problems of Immigration and Refugee Policies.”

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris: rencontre M. Frédéric Mion, Directeur de l’Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris et rencontre M. Gilles Gressani, Président du Groupe d’Etudes Géopolitiques.

Mr Phil Hogan in Castlecomer, Ireland: participates in a Citizens’ Dialogue.

Ms Violeta Bulc in Ljubljana, Slovenia: meets Ms Alenka Bratušek, Minister of Infrastructure of Slovenia; meets with Post of Slovenia and GEN-I board members; attends the launch of the pilot project for electric car sharing and exhibition on achievements of green mobility;participates in the Hidria and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS) event; participates in a round table on urban mobility.

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Paris, France: delivers an opening speech at the “Public Procurement Forum for SMEs: Small, Medium, Scalable” organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.  

Mr Carlos Moedas in Berlin, Germany: participates in the 2nd Arctic Science Ministerial meeting.

Mr Julian King in Paris, France: delivers the keynote speech at the Fédération Française de l’Assurance conference “Pushing back the Limits of Insurability in a Changing Landscape”.

MrJulian King in Paris, France: meets with Mr Mounir Mahjoubi, Secretary of State for the Digital Sector.

Mr Julian King receives Mr Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Sofia, Bulgaria: meets with Prof. Ursula Männle, Chair of the Hanns Seidel Foundation; will deliver the opening address at the DigitAll Bulgaria 2018 Conference on Digitisation, followed by a keynote speech at the conference onCyber security in electric mobility and digital transformation in energy infrastructure(in the context of the European Cyber ​​Security Month 2018); will deliver the keynote address at CEE Block Sofia 2018, part of the World Blockchain Forum, followed by a lecture to students from Sofia University on the ‘Digital Opportunity’ program and other digital opportunities for young people.  

 

Samedi 27 octobre 2018

Mr Phil Hogan in Thurles, Ireland: addresses the Macra na Feirme annual National Conference.

Prévisons du mois de octobre:

29-30/10 Informal meeting of transport and environment ministers

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 27 au 28 octobre 2018:

Natasha BERTAUD: +32 (0) 460 76 74 56

Service Audiovisuel, planning studio – tél. : +32 (0)2/295 21 23

It is an honour and great pleasure for me to welcome you at the Brussels Art and History Museum. Thank you all for being here, and allow me, Your Majesty, to express my gratitude to you, and to the Belgian authorities, for the excellent support and cooperation in the organisation of this summit. Thank you very much.

The location of our gala dinner is not only impressive, it is also symbolic. This Museum offers us a journey through art and history, from pre-historic times to the 20th century, and the art nouveau era, from Europe to Asia, to America and Oceania.

Through this journey, it tells a story of connections, diversity, change, dialogue between our two continents – which are so far away, and yet so close. 

And this story, if we were to carry it further, into our times, would be even more interesting. A modern-day Marco Polo could well repeat the words of the great explorer: “I did not write half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed.”

I deeply hope that our shared heritage and historical connections will help us to find common ground, and strengthen cooperation between our continents, so that we can create a better future for generations to come.

Our youth is present here tonight, with some short musical intermezzos. The talented Korean pianist Dong Hyek Lim, and a quartet from the European Union Youth Orchestra will perform Chopin and Mozart for us.

I will not hide the fact that I had a particular interest in hearing Chopin’s music tonight. Not only because he was a Polish composer. (And I know that President Macron will remind us that Chopin mainly worked in France.) But also because Chopin is so loved in Asia.

Let this evening have his words as a motto: “Simplicity is the highest goal, achievable when you have overcome all difficulties. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.”

Indeed, also in politics everything is simple – or at least it should be. And one doesn’t have to be a political virtuoso to tell the difference between good and evil, between the truth and lies. Only sometimes, some like to pretend that it doesn’t matter. But it does matter.

Your Majesties, Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, please allow me to raise a toast – not only to what we have accomplished so far, but to what lies ahead of us: to our common future!

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Dear colleagues, dear friends, it is my great pleasure to welcome you all for the 12^th Asia-Europe Meeting in Brussels, the informal capital of Europe.

ASEM is a unique forum that brings Europe and Asia closer, to increase the prosperity and security of our countries, regions, our citizens, and of our planet as a whole.

Together we represent 60% of the global population, 65% of the global economy and 75% of global tourism. And we should all make use of this impressive weight to tackle global challenges, such as trade tensions that put millions of jobs at risk, the growing distrust in multilateral institutions, undermining the stability of our societies, and the growing threat of climate change.

Naturally, we have our differences. But we also realise that these global challenges can only be overcome if we work together. And I hope that Asia and Europe can be united in this fight, as it is in our common interest. This is why the main theme of our Summit is “Global Partners for Global Challenges”.

During our summit we will discuss issues of key importance for Europe-Asia cooperation, ranging from climate change, to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, from connectivity between our continents, to global sustainable development.

Let me take climate change. In recent times especially, we can see that it is no longer a theoretical, but a real danger, costing the nature, displacing populations and claiming lives. I hope that together we will reaffirm our joint commitment to implementing the rules of the Paris Agreement swiftly and effectively. We should send a strong signal to push for an ambitious outcome at COP 24 this December in Katowice, Poland.

I also hope that we will re-commit to the global non-proliferation regime, and I look forward to our discussions tomorrow on supporting peace and de-nuclearisation on the Korean peninsula, as well as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran.

We also need to be determined in promoting and protecting key principles and values such as respect for democracy, human rights, the rule of law, sovereignty, and a strong and independent civil society.

But whatever the subject of our discussion, let me stress how important it is to base our common actions on rules. Because only rules-based solutions can stand the test of time and protect our people in the long term. To those who prefer quick fixes, without clear rules, I say it is not worth it. A world of no rules is, by definition, a world of chaos. Therefore, let us discuss our differences, but not compromise on the rules-based world order.

I strongly believe that we will find a common understanding on all these issues, which will help to shape our common future. I look forward to our discussions and your contributions.

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