Daily News 17 / 08 / 2017
Incendies de forêt au Portugal: l’UE soutient les efforts de reconstruction avec les fonds européens et poursuit l’aide d’urgence
Le Portugal continue d’être soutenu par le mécanisme de protection civile de l’UE pour les incendies de forêt qui ont lieu dans le pays. Depuis le 12 août, après que le Portugal a demandé l’aide de l’UE pour la deuxième fois cette année, plus de 160 pompiers, 27 véhicules et 4 avions anti-incendie ont été envoyés dans le pays et opèrent toujours dans les zones touchées grâce au soutien de l’Espagne, à travers le Centre de coordination des interventions d’urgence de la Commission. Pour soutenir le pays suite aux incendies mortels de juin qui ont affecté la région du Centre, aujourd’hui la Commission a approuvé la modification du programme régional de politique de cohésion. Jusqu’à 45 millions d’euros au sein du programme peuvent désormais être utilisés pour faire face aux conséquences de la catastrophe naturelle et contribuer à revitaliser l’activité économique régionale. La commissaire à la politique régionale Corina Creţu a déclaré: “Ces fonds réorientés aideront la vie dans la région du Centre à reprendre son cours normal et permettront aux Portugais de tourner la page de ce douloureux chapitre. Cela montre que l’UE est prête à intensifier son soutien lorsque ses citoyens en ont le plus besoin. Je tenais à manifester notre sincère solidarité aux Portugais, car les feux de forêts continuent de dévaster le pays. Je souhaite également exprimer notre profonde gratitude à ceux qui, au Portugal et ailleurs en Europe, se battent sans relâche contre les flammes.” Sur ces 45 millions d’euros, jusqu’à 25 millions d’euros peuvent maintenant être utilisés pour rétablir la capacité de production des petites entreprises locales, dont les équipements et les machines ont été détruits lors des incendies. 20 millions d’euros peuvent désormais être investis dans les services publics et la restauration des infrastructures essentielles: travaux de réparation sur les routes municipales, restauration à l’état de fonctionnement des systèmes de distribution d’eau ou remplacement des véhicules de transport municipaux. Suivant les incendies, les autorités portugaises avaient demandé la modification de ce programme de politique de cohésion et la Commission s’était engagée à traiter cette requête le plus rapidement possible. La décision prise aujourd’hui ne modifie pas le budget global du programme. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)
European Solidarity Corps: First volunteers in Italy to help rebuild earthquake-hit regions
Today the first group of European Solidarity Corps volunteers is arriving in Norcia, Italy, to help with the ongoing efforts to repair damage and rebuild social services for the local community affected by the severe earthquakes that hit the region a year ago. The 16 young European Solidarity Corps volunteers – participating in the project ‘European Youth for Norcia’ led by Italian organisation ‘Kora’ – will help reconstruct historic buildings heavily damaged by the earthquakes, including the Basilica of San Benedetto and the Monastery of the Benedictines. They will also work with the young and the elderly of Norcia, organising workshops, outdoor activities and cultural events. Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, will visit Norcia on 4 and 5 September. Commenting on the arrival of the first volunteers, he said: “Less than a year after President Juncker announced his idea to create a European Solidarity Corps, it is up and running, delivering relief to people who need it. Norcia and its citizens have suffered greatly, and I am proud of the young Europeans who are showing solidarity by helping this community recover. With their efforts, especially to rebuild the historic Basilica of San Benedetto, these young people are also building a bridge from Europe’s past to its future, an important contribution to the upcoming European Year of Cultural Heritage.” The volunteers heading to Norcia come from Austria, France, Greece, Hungary, Portugal, and Spain. The project they are participating in is one of three projects under the European Solidarity Corps currently selected for activities in the Italian regions affected by earthquakes. In total, 230 European Solidarity Corps members will support Italian communities hit by the earthquakes until 2020, and €790,000 has been granted for these projects. More information can be found in the press release online. More information about the EU’s support in Italy can be found in this factsheet. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: +32 229 67094)
EU sends emergency relief for Sierra Leone
The EU has released an initial amount of emergency humanitarian assistance of €300, 000 for the most vulnerable families affected by the deadly mudslide and floods that have caused hundreds of casualties in Sierra Leone and displaced thousands. Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides said: “The EU stands in full solidarity with Sierra Leone during these difficult times. My heart goes out to the people of Sierra Leone, a country I visited when it was on the frontline of the Ebola outbreak. Our new emergency funding will help provide essential supplies such as water, sanitation hygiene, food assistance, basic shelter and protection. The EU is doing all it can to help.” The EU has also activated its emergency Copernicus mapping system to provide damage assessment maps to help with the relief efforts and a Commission humanitarian expert is on his way to assess the needs on the ground. Overall EU assistance to Sierra Leone amounts to €376 million in long-term development support from 2014-2020. The EU, together with Member States, was also at the forefront of efforts to support the country during the Ebola outbreak. Total assistance of €2 billion over 2014-2016, was provided to the three countries affected by the crisis, which included Sierra Leone, with €70 million in humanitarian assistance from the European Commission. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)
Eurostat: Le taux d’inflation annuel stable à 1,3% dans la zone euro
Le taux d’inflation annuel de la zone euro s’est établi à 1,3% en juillet 2017, stable par rapport à juin 2017. Un an auparavant, il était de 0,2%. Le taux d’inflation annuel de l’Union européenne s’est établi à 1,5% en juillet 2017, également stable par rapport à juin 2017. Un an auparavant, il était de 0,2%. Ces chiffres sont publiés par Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: + 32 229 56153; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)
Eurostat: Excédent de 26,6 milliards d’euros du commerce international de biens de la zone euro
D’après les premières estimations pour le mois de juin 2017, les exportations de biens de la zone euro (ZE19) vers le reste du monde se sont établies à 187,2 milliards d’euros, en hausse de 3,9% par rapport à juin 2016 (180,2 mrds). Les importations depuis le reste du monde ont quant à elles été de 160,7 mrds d’euros, en hausse de 6,2% par rapport à juin 2016 (151,3 mrds). En conséquence, la zone euro a enregistré en juin 2017 un excédent de 26,6 mrds d’euros de son commerce international de biens avec le reste du monde, contre +28,9 mrds en juin 2016. Le commerce intra-zone euro s’est établi à 157,5 mrds d’euros en juin 2017, soit +3,5% par rapport à juin 2016. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations:Enrico Brivio – Tel.: +32 229 56172; Kinga Malinowska – Tel.: +32 229 51383)
Mergers: Commission clears joint acquisition of Eurocash by Norgesgruppen and Axfood
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the joint acquisition of Eurocash Food A.B. of Sweden by Norgesgruppen ASA of Norway and Axfood A.B. of Sweden. Eurocash operates eight supermarkets located in Sweden at a short distance from the Norwegian border which are primarily aimed at Norwegian consumers crossing the border to buy cheaper daily consumer goods. Norgesgruppen is the leading food retailer in Norway. Axfood is a major food retailer in Sweden. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, because the activities of Norgesgruppen, Axfood and Eurocash overlap only to a limited extent as regards procurement of daily consumer goods from suppliers and retail sale of daily consumer goods to Norwegian consumers. Moreover, several other stores targeting Norwegian consumers remain present in the Swedish border area. 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.8468. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of a newly created joint venture by Danske Bank and A.P. Moller Mærsk
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of joint control over the newly created joint venture Gatetu by A.P. Moller – Mærsk A/S (APMM) and Danske Bank A/S (DB), all three based in Denmark. Gatetu is a financial technology start-up that will offer software for online business to business (B2B) platforms to facilitate payments and other financial services at a global level. DB is active globally in retail and wholesale banking, pension schemes, insurance, mortgage finance, asset management, brokerage, real estate and leasing services. APMM is an international group active in container shipping and terminal services, operation of tankers, harbour towage, logistics and energy. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns as the joint venture will generate limited revenues in the European Economic Area. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8512. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Albany Molecular Research by Carlyle and GTCR
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI) by Carlyle Partners VI L.P. (Carlyle) and GTCR LLC. AMRI is a global contract research and manufacturing organisation providing customers integrated drug discovery, development and manufacturing services. Carlyle is a global alternative asset manager, which manages funds that invest globally. GTCR is a private equity firm focused on investing in companies in the financial services, healthcare, technology and media & telecommunications industries. The transaction creates horizontal and vertical relationships between the activities of AMRI and the activities of the portfolio companies controlled by Carlyle and GTCR. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the companies’ low market shares in the areas where their activities overlap. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8556. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
Mergers: Commission clears the creation of a joint venture by Singapore Airlines Engineering and Moog Singapore
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Singapore Airlines Engineering and Moog Singapore. Singapore Airlines Engineering, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is active in passenger and cargo transport, as well as in engineering services related to air transport. Moog Singapore is active in the provision of maintenance, repair and overhaul services. The newly created joint venture will offer maintenance, repair and overhaul services for a range of Moog proprietary parts installed on certain aircrafts. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because the joint venture will have no or only limited activities in the EEA. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8566. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)