State aid: Commission approves Greek auction scheme for renewable electricity

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Greece will bring down costs for renewable energy with competitive auctions to support renewable electricity generation. This is very good and the scheme will facilitate Greece’s efforts to reach its 2020 climate goals.”

Under the scheme Greece will organise regular, competitive auctions to grant support to renewable energy sources:

  • In 2018, Greece will organise separate auctions for wind and solar installations in order to determine their market potential.
  • As of 2019, joint auctions for both wind and solar installations will be held to increase competition and reduce the cost for consumers of renewable energy in Greece.

State support for other renewable energy technologies will be subject to auctions as soon as they become more mature in the Greek electricity market, i.e. when they reach a predefined level of market penetration. Moreover, Greece will evaluate the bidding processes in 2020, before designing bidding processes for the period 2021-2025.

The Commission has assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular the 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy. The Guidelines require competitive auctions for renewables support since 2017, so as to ensure that the use of public funds is limited to the minimum and there is no overcompensation. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Greek auctioning scheme will boost the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, in line with EU environmental objectives, while any distortion of competition caused by the state support is minimised.

 

Background

Today’s decision follows the Commission’s decision of November 2016 which approved a support scheme for the production of electricity from renewable energy sources and high efficiency cogeneration in Greece (SA.44666).

The Renewable Energy Directive established targets for all Member States’ shares of energy renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption by 2020. For Greece, that target is 18% of domestic energy supplies produced from renewable sources by 2020.

More information on today’s decision will be available, once potential confidentiality issues have been resolved, in the State aid register on the Commission’s competition website under the case number SA.48143. The State Aid Weekly e-News lists new publications of State aid decisions on the internet and in the EU Official Journal.



Daily News 04 /01/ 2018

State aid: Commission approves Greek auction scheme for renewable electricity

The European Commission has found a Greek auction scheme for the production of electricity from renewable sources and high efficiency cogeneration to be in line with EU State aid rules. The scheme will further EU energy and climate goals whilst preserving competition. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Greece will bring down costs for renewable energy with competitive auctions to support renewable electricity generation. This is very good and the scheme will facilitate Greece’s efforts to reach its 2020 climate goals.” Under the scheme Greece will organise regular, competitive auctions to grant support to renewable energy sources. The Commission has assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, which require competitive auctions for renewables support since 2017, so as to ensure that the use of public funds is limited to the minimum and there is no overcompensation. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Greek auctioning scheme will boost the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, in line with EU environmental objectives, while any distortion of competition caused by the state support is minimised. The full press release is available online in EN, FR, DE and EL. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Yizhou Ren – Tel.: +32 229 94889)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l’acquisition du contrôle conjoint de neufs parcs éoliens espagnols par Mirova-Eurofideme 3 et General Electric

La Commission Européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations, l’acquisition du contrôle en commun d’Idesamgar SL et Idesamgar SL 1, qui détiendront neuf projets de parcs éoliens en Espagne, par Mirova-Eurofideme 3, société basée en France, et General Electric, basée aux États-Unis. Mirova-Eurofideme 3, détenue par Banque Populaire Caisse d’Epargne, est un fonds capital-risque qui investit pour des acteurs institutionnels notamment dans les énergies renouvelables, les actions durables et les obligations “vertes”. General Electric est une entreprise mondiale active sur le marché de l’investissement dans le secteur de l’énergie, et dans la production et l’entretien de générateurs d’énergie hydroélectrique, éolienne et solaire. La Commission a conclu que la concentration envisagée ne soulevait pas de problème de concurrence en raison de son impact limité sur le marché. L’opération a été examinée en vertu de la procédure simplifiée de contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d’affaire M.8716. (Pour plus d’informations: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)



Alicante News December 2017

News – EUTM


Go to home page

Protect your intellectual property in the European Union

‘;
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(html);
jQuery(“#modal-confirm”).modal(‘show’);
}else{
var recipientsString = ”;
var i = 0;
var mailSubject = jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’subject’).val();
var mailHead = ‘The email’;
var mailTrail = ‘has been sent to’;
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).children().each(function(index) {
recipientsString += jQuery(this).last().text().split(‘ ‘)[1]+’,’;
i++;
});
jQuery(“#modal-share”).modal(‘hide’);
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).empty();
var html = ‘

‘+mailHead+’ “‘+ mailSubject+'” ‘+mailTrail+'(‘+i+’):

‘+recipientsString.substring(0,(recipientsString.length-1))+’

‘;
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(html);
// jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(‘

‘+
// +'”‘+mailSubject+'” has been sent to (‘+i+’):’+
// ‘

‘+recipientsString+’

‘+
// ‘

‘);
jQuery(“#modal-confirm”).modal(‘show’);

}
}
});
}
}

function _csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_validateEmail(email) {
//var re = /[a-z0-9!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-z0-9!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-z0-9](?:[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?.)+[a-z0-9](?:[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?/;
var re = /[-0-9A-Za-z!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~.]+@[-0-9A-Za-z!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~.]+/;
return re.test(email);
//return true;
}

function _csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_addToEmailList(){
jQuery(‘#recipients-errors’).remove();
var email = jQuery(“#”+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+”email”).val();
if(!_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_validateEmail(email)){
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).after(‘Please enter a valid email‘);
}else{
var added = false;
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).children().each(function(index) {
if(jQuery(this).last().text().split(‘ ‘)[1] == email){
added = true;
}
});
if(!added){
jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).append(‘

  • ‘+email+’

    • ‘);
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’email’).val(”);
    }else{
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).after(‘This email has already been used‘);
    }
    }
    }

    ‘
    }).on(‘click’, function(e) {
    jQuery(e.target).popover(‘toggle’);
    return e.preventDefault();
    });
    jQuery(‘body’).on(‘mouseleave’, ‘.social-popover’, function(){
    jQuery(‘.share-button’).popover(‘toggle’);
    });
    }
    (function() {
    triggerSocialOptions();
    jQuery(‘.search-form .input-append’).on(‘keydown’, ‘input[type=text]’, function(e) {
    var input = jQuery(e.currentTarget);
    if (event.which == 13) {
    event.preventDefault();
    jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘.btn’).click();
    return false;
    }
    });
    jQuery(‘.btn-combo’).on(‘click’, ‘.dropdown-menu a’, function(e) {
    var link = jQuery(e.currentTarget),
    text = link.attr(‘rel’) || link.text();
    jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘.btn-value’).text(text);
    });
    jQuery(‘[data-link=”true”]’).on(‘click’, function (e) {
    document.location = jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘a’).eq(0).attr(‘href’);
    });
    })();

    January 03, 2018 General

    Alicante News December 2017

    The latest edition is out now.

    The aim of Alicante News is to provide up-to-date information on EUIPO-related matters, as well as on other general IP issues, to the users of the EU trade mark and design registration systems.

     

    In this issue:

    • Common Communication on the representation of new types of trade marks
    • Japan joins Designview
    • From 1 January 2018, EUTM applications and renewals by fax not accepted
    • EUIPO User Satisfaction Survey launches in January
    • IP Case Law Conference – save the date!

     

    Any unsaved changes will be lost

    Your session has been extended for another 30 minutes



    Alicante News December 2017

    News – EUTM


    Go to home page

    Protect your intellectual property in the European Union

    ‘;
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(html);
    jQuery(“#modal-confirm”).modal(‘show’);
    }else{
    var recipientsString = ”;
    var i = 0;
    var mailSubject = jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’subject’).val();
    var mailHead = ‘The email’;
    var mailTrail = ‘has been sent to’;
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).children().each(function(index) {
    recipientsString += jQuery(this).last().text().split(‘ ‘)[1]+’,’;
    i++;
    });
    jQuery(“#modal-share”).modal(‘hide’);
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).empty();
    var html = ‘

    ‘+mailHead+’ “‘+ mailSubject+'” ‘+mailTrail+'(‘+i+’):

    ‘+recipientsString.substring(0,(recipientsString.length-1))+’

    ‘;
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(html);
    // jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’operationResult’).append(‘

    ‘+
    // +'”‘+mailSubject+'” has been sent to (‘+i+’):’+
    // ‘

    ‘+recipientsString+’

    ‘+
    // ‘

    ‘);
    jQuery(“#modal-confirm”).modal(‘show’);

    }
    }
    });
    }
    }

    function _csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_validateEmail(email) {
    //var re = /[a-z0-9!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+(?:.[a-z0-9!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~-]+)*@(?:[a-z0-9](?:[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?.)+[a-z0-9](?:[a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?/;
    var re = /[-0-9A-Za-z!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~.]+@[-0-9A-Za-z!#$%&’*+/=?^_`{|}~.]+/;
    return re.test(email);
    //return true;
    }

    function _csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_addToEmailList(){
    jQuery(‘#recipients-errors’).remove();
    var email = jQuery(“#”+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+”email”).val();
    if(!_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_validateEmail(email)){
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).after(‘Please enter a valid email‘);
    }else{
    var added = false;
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).children().each(function(index) {
    if(jQuery(this).last().text().split(‘ ‘)[1] == email){
    added = true;
    }
    });
    if(!added){
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).append(‘

  • ‘+email+’

    • ‘);
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’email’).val(”);
    }else{
    jQuery(‘#’+’_csnews_WAR_csnewsportlet_’+’added-emails’).after(‘This email has already been used‘);
    }
    }
    }

    ‘
    }).on(‘click’, function(e) {
    jQuery(e.target).popover(‘toggle’);
    return e.preventDefault();
    });
    jQuery(‘body’).on(‘mouseleave’, ‘.social-popover’, function(){
    jQuery(‘.share-button’).popover(‘toggle’);
    });
    }
    (function() {
    triggerSocialOptions();
    jQuery(‘.search-form .input-append’).on(‘keydown’, ‘input[type=text]’, function(e) {
    var input = jQuery(e.currentTarget);
    if (event.which == 13) {
    event.preventDefault();
    jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘.btn’).click();
    return false;
    }
    });
    jQuery(‘.btn-combo’).on(‘click’, ‘.dropdown-menu a’, function(e) {
    var link = jQuery(e.currentTarget),
    text = link.attr(‘rel’) || link.text();
    jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘.btn-value’).text(text);
    });
    jQuery(‘[data-link=”true”]’).on(‘click’, function (e) {
    document.location = jQuery(e.delegateTarget).find(‘a’).eq(0).attr(‘href’);
    });
    })();

    January 03, 2018 General

    Alicante News December 2017

    The latest edition is out now.

    The aim of Alicante News is to provide up-to-date information on EUIPO-related matters, as well as on other general IP issues, to the users of the EU trade mark and design registration systems.

     

    In this issue:

    • Common Communication on the representation of new types of trade marks
    • Japan joins Designview
    • From 1 January 2018, EUTM applications and renewals by fax not accepted
    • EUIPO User Satisfaction Survey launches in January
    • IP Case Law Conference – save the date!

     

    Any unsaved changes will be lost

    Your session has been extended for another 30 minutes



    Management of ESMA catering contracts – Deadline: 29/01/2018

    Download PDF