What is the European Innovation Scoreboard?

The annual European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS) provides a comparative assessment of research and innovation performance and the relative strengths and weaknesses of national research and innovation systems. It covers the EU Member States as well as Iceland, Israel, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. On a more limited number of globally available indicators, the EIS also rates Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, South Korea, and the United States.

The EIS allows policy-makers to assess relative strengths and weaknesses, track progress, and identify priority areas to boost innovation performance.

What are the indicators used for the Scoreboard?

The measurement framework of the EIS 2017 is composed of 27 indicators, distinguishing between ten innovation dimensions in four main categories (for full overview of indicators, see Table 1 in the Annex):

• Framework conditions capture the main drivers of innovation performance and cover three innovation dimensions: human resources, attractive research systems, and innovation-friendly environment.
• Investmentsinclude public and private investment in research and innovation, distinguishing between external finance and support, and own-resource investments.
• Innovation activities capture the innovation efforts at the company level, covering three dimensions: innovators, linkages, and intellectual assets.
• Impacts illustrate how innovation translates into benefits for the economy as a whole: employment impacts and sales effects.
  

For the 2017 edition, the analytical framework of the EIS has been refined. Results are therefore not directly comparable with previous editions. However, to allow performance to be tracked over time, the new methodology has also been applied to data from previous years.

The decision to refine the methodology was based on the need to better reflect the latest developments in policy priorities, economic theory and data availability as well as improve the quality and timeliness of the indicators, and better capture digitisation and entrepreneurship.

In addition to performance indicators, tables with contextual data on the economic structure, business indicators and socio-demographic indicators are included in all country profiles in order to illuminate possible impacts of structural differences on countries’ performance.

Furthermore, a forward-looking section explores recent developments and expected changes in innovation performance. It discusses EU developments on 19 indicators, and compares overall trends in EU innovation performance with main competitors.

Methodological details are available in the EIS 2017 Methodology Report.

What are the key drivers of innovation?

The EIS 2017 confirms that the most innovative countries perform best on all measures. To achieve a high level of innovation performance, countries need a balanced innovation system performing well across all dimensions. They need an appropriate level of public and private investment in education, research and skills development, effective innovation partnerships among companies and with academia, as well as an innovation-friendly business environment, including strong digital infrastructure.

The EU as a whole is making good progress in academic education and research as well as in broadband infrastructure and ICT training. By contrast, venture capital investments and the number of SMEs introducing innovations have been declining in recent years. Adult lifelong learning – a key to empowering citizens in a rapidly changing world – is stagnating. In essence, Europe still lacks the market-creating innovation which is needed to turn the best ideas into new businesses and high-quality jobs.

The Commission is taking decisive action to improve conditions for innovation through initiatives such as the Investment Plan for Europe, the New Skills Agenda, and the Start-up and Scale-up Initiative (for further details, refer to the final section of the FAQs).

Four different performance groups of EU countries:

Based on their scores, EU countries fall into four performance groups:

• Innovation Leaders – Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom perform 20% or more above the EU average;
• Strong Innovators – The innovation performance of Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Slovenia is above or close to the EU average;
• Moderate Innovators – Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Spain show an innovation performance below the EU average;
• Modest Innovators – The innovation performance of Bulgaria and Romania is well below 50% of the EU average.

Figure 1: Performance of EU Member States’ innovation systems

Coloured columns show Member States’ performance in 2016, using the most recent data for 27 indicators, relative to that of the EU in 2010. The horizontal hyphens show performance in 2015, using the next most recent data for 27 indicators, relative to that of the EU in 2010. Grey columns show Member States’ performance in 2010 relative to that of the EU in 2010. For all years the same measurement methodology has been used. The dashed lines show the threshold values between the performance groups in 2016, comparing Member States’ performance in 2016 relative to that of the EU in 2016.

 

EU performance leaders in specific areas of innovation:

The countries that have good overall innovation performance, also perform well in most specific areas of innovation. However, some Strong and Moderate Innovators perform well on individual dimensions:

• Attractive research systems – Luxembourg is the best performing country, followed by Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. These countries are open for cooperation with partners from abroad, researchers are well networked at international level, and the quality of research output is very high. Luxembourg also leads in the registration of intellectual assets, followed by Malta, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, and Finland.   
• Innovation in small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) – Ireland is the leader, followed by Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, and Finland. These countries are characterised by high shares of SMEs with innovative products and business processes. Ireland also leads in the employment impacts of innovation, followed by Malta, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
• Innovation linkages and collaboration – Belgium is the top performer, followed by the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Finland. Companies in these countries have more versatile innovation capabilities, as they engage in innovation partnerships with other companies or public-sector organisations. The research systems in these countries are also geared towards meeting the demand from companies, as highlighted by private co-funding of public research.

One of the Moderate Innovators – Lithuania – performs above the EU average in four dimensions – human resources, innovation-friendly environment, finance and support, and linkages. The country is also the fastest growing innovator in the EU. Lithuania’s innovation performance has increased by 21% since 2010.

Have Member States improved their innovation performances?

For the EU as a whole, innovation performance improved by 2% between 2010 and 2016. Overall, innovation performance during this time increased in 15 and decreased in 13 Member States. The Member States advancing the fastest and having improved their innovation performance by more than 8% since 2010 include Lithuania, Malta, the United Kingdom (which has joined the Innovation Leaders group for the first time), the Netherlands, Austria, Latvia, and Slovakia.

Figure 2: Change in Member States’ innovation performance (2010-2016)

The vertical axis shows Member States’ performance in 2016 relative to that of the EU in 2010. The horizontal axis shows the change in performance between 2010 and 2016 relative to that of the EU in 2010. The dashed lines show the respective scores for the EU.

 
 

In which dimensions has Europe improved and worsened?

Since 2010, EU performance has improved most in the dimensions of human resources, innovation-friendly environment, own-resource investments, and attractive research systems.

In the human resources dimension, performance growth has been driven by university graduates and doctorates, while lifelong learning has stagnated. The improvement in the innovation-friendly environment dimension is due to a strong increase in broadband penetration, whereas opportunity-driven entrepreneurship has declined.

EU performance has decreased in the dimensions finance and support (notably due to a strong decline in venture capital investments), innovation in SMEs (innovators) and linkages.

 

Figure 3: EU performance change by dimension and indicator (2010-2016)

Normalised scores in 2016 relative to those in 2010 (=100)

How does the EU’s performance compare to other countries?

Outside the EU, Switzerland has confirmed its position as overall innovation leader in Europe. At global level, South Korea and Japan have an increasing performance lead over the EU, while the EU is catching up with Canada and the United States. China shows the fastest progress in international comparison, while Russia, Brazil, India, and South Africa are catching up with the EU.

Figure 4: Global performance

Bars show countries’ performance in 2016 relative to that of the EU in 2010.

Figure 5: Change in global performance

Change in performance is measured as the difference between the performance in 2016 relative to the EU in 2010 and the performance in 2010 relative to the EU in 2010.

Compared to earlier editions, the availability of data for the global benchmarking has significantly increased. While only 12 out of 25 indicators (48%) could be globally benchmarked in the EIS 2016, this year’s global benchmarking draws on 16 out of 27 indicators (59%). As a consequence, the comparative assessment is more comprehensive, thereby revealing somewhat different performance trends than those identified in the past.

Over the next two years, the EU could catch up with the US, while the performance leads of South Korea and Japan over the EU are likely to increase. Also China is expected to continue improving fast.

In order to stay among the globally leading innovators, the EU needs to boost private investment, further strengthen education and skills, and improve the framework conditions for innovation. The top performing EU countries are already on a par with the US and Japan, and also with the global Innovation Leaders South Korea and Canada, but most Member States need to address some weaknesses to compete against fast-growing innovators in Asia.

 

REGIONAL INNOVATION SCOREBOARD

 

What is the Regional Innovation Scoreboard?

The Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) is a regional extension of the European Innovation Scoreboard. It provides a comparative assessment of regional innovation systems, replicating the EIS methodology and its revision for the 2017 edition to the extent possible.

The RIS 2017 covers 220 regions across 22 EU countries with Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Malta included at the country level. In addition, the Regional Innovation Scoreboard also covers regions from Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland.

The report uses data for 18 of the 27 indicators applied in the EIS 2017, including the new indicator on lifelong learning. As for the EIS, results are not comparable with previous editions, but to allow performance to be tracked over time, the new methodology has also been applied to data from previous years.

Profiles for all regions are available online. Similar to the EIS country profiles, these also include tables with contextual data on the economic structure, business indicators and socio-demographic to illustrate possible impacts of structural differences on performance scores.

What are the most innovative regions?

Similar to the EIS, Europe’s regions have been divided into regional innovation leaders (53 regions), regional strong innovators (60 regions), regional moderate innovators (85 regions), and regional modest innovators (22 regions). Moreover, each RIS performance group is divided into 3 categories: a top one-third (assigned with a ‘+’), middle one-third, and bottom one-third (assigned with a ‘-‘) regions.

The most innovative region in the EU is Stockholm in Sweden, followed by Hovedstaden in Denmark, and the South East in the United Kingdom. The overall most innovative region in Europe is Zϋrich in Switzerland.

Most regional innovation leaders are located in countries identified as innovation leaders in the EIS, and almost all of the regional moderate and modest innovators are located in countries identified as moderate and modest innovators.

However, regional ‘pockets of excellence’ can be identified in some moderate innovator countries, for instance, Prague in the Czech Republic, Bratislava in Slovakia, and the Basque Country in Spain.

Figure 6: Regional innovation performance groups

For Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Malta, performance group membership is identical to that in the European Innovation Scoreboard 2017 report. For these countries, the corresponding colour codes for middle one-third regions have been used.

What is the Commission doing to foster innovation in the EU?

Innovation is of great importance to the Commission. It is crucial for productivity, competitiveness and growth. Innovation also helps tackle societal challenges and at the same time provides new opportunities to companies and encourages job creation.

The Commission is working to foster innovation across sectors and policy areas, e.g. by encouraging the development of energy-efficient technologies, supporting the balanced development of the collaborative economy, encouraging the uptake of mobile health services and connected cars. It is doing so by speeding up the development of common standards in priority areas, such as 5G or the Internet of Things, setting up a European Open Science Cloud reducing the cost of IP protection through a Unitary Patent – to name but a few.  

With a €77 billion budget for the 2014-2020 period, Horizon 2020 is the world’s largest research and innovation funding programme. It takes an all-encompassing approach to Research and Innovation, supporting the entire innovation chain from frontier research to close-to-market activities.

The Commission is constantly improving synergies between the European Structural and Investment Funds and other EU-led financial instruments and venture capital funds, to assist companies, and therefore the economy, to grow and prosper. These funds target key investment areas to enhance growth in EU countries and regions. In 2014-2020, the Funds contribute €121 billion to smart growth, including research & innovation. The ESI envelope for this period, with national co-financing, represent an investment effort of €638 billion, including €181 billion dedicated to “smart growth”, with investments in Research & Innovation, digital technologies and direct support to over two million small businesses.

The Horizon 2020 Policy Support Facility and the Smart Specialisation Platform help EU countries and regions in reforming their research and innovation systems. Smart specialisation helps Member States and regions identify and capitalise on their competitive assets, attract private sector investments and strategically prioritise EU and public investments in R&I. Such reforms are crucial to improving the performance of countries as well as their framework conditions for innovation. Horizon 2020 also contributes to the revitalisation of the EU’s industrial base by supporting innovation activities or procurement of innovative solutions.

Thematic Smart Specialisation Platforms help countries and regions team up around shared innovation priorities. The platforms offer hands-on support to regions, to foster interregional cooperation based on matching smart specialisation priorities in the fields of energy, industrial modernisation or agri-food. They aim to create an investment pipeline of mature projects in new growth areas across the EU, by providing tailored advice and helping regions establish links with the business and research communities.

Access to finance, both on the debt and equity side, remains a critical issue for SMEs, start-ups and young entrepreneurs who want to succeed and grow in the EU. Many entrepreneurs leave Europe because they can’t raise the capital they need and SMEs cannot access a broader range of financing solutions. That’s why in addition to providing Horizon 2020 and other EU funding instruments, the Commission is improving companies’ access to private finance through Juncker Plan‘s European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the Capital Markets Union, the Single Market Strategy and the Start-up and Scale-up Initiative.

The Commission is launching a Pan-European Venture Capital Fund of Funds and is gearing up support to breakthrough innovators in the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme under the working title European Innovation Council.

ANNEX 1

Table 1 – European Innovation Scoreboard: dimensions and indicators

FRAMEWORK CONDITIONS

Human resources

1.1.1 New doctorate graduates

1.1.2 Population aged 25-34 with tertiary education **

1.1.3 Lifelong learning *

Attractive research systems

1.2.1 International scientific co-publications

1.2.2 Top 10% most cited publications

1.2.3 Foreign doctorate students **

Innovation-friendly environment

1.3.1 Broadband penetration *

1.3.2 Opportunity-driven entrepreneurship *

INVESTMENTS

Finance and support

2.1.1 R&D expenditure in the public sector

2.1.2 Venture capital expenditures

Firm investments

2.2.1 R&D expenditure in the business sector

2.2.2 Non-R&D innovation expenditures

2.2.3 Enterprises providing training to develop or upgrade ICT skills of their personnel *

INNOVATION ACTIVITIES

Innovators

3.1.1 SMEs with product or process innovations

3.1.2 SMEs with marketing or organisational innovations

3.1.3 SMEs innovating in-house

Linkages

3.2.1 Innovative SMEs collaborating with others

3.2.2 Public-private co-publications

3.2.3 Private co-funding of public R&D expenditures *

Intellectual assets

3.3.1 PCT patent applications

3.2.2 Trademark applications **

3.2.3 Design applications

IMPACTS

Employment impacts

4.1.1 Employment in knowledge-intensive activities

4.1.2 Employment fast-growing enterprises of innovative sectors **

Sales impacts

4.2.1 Medium and high tech product exports

4.2.2 Knowledge-intensive services exports **

4.2.3 Sales of new-to-market and new-to-firm product innovations

*          Indicator newly introduced in the EIS 2017 measurement framework
**         Indicator revised for the EIS 2017 measurement framework

See also IP/2017/1673

This is one of the main findings of the latest Innovation Scoreboard published today by the European Commission. Overall, innovation performance has improved in 15 countries, though large differences exist between these Member States. Sweden remains the innovation leader while Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria and UK are the fastest growing innovators. In a global perspective, the EU is catching up with Canada and the US, but South Korea and Japan are pulling ahead. China shows the fastest progress among international competitors.

Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “EU industry continues to innovate, but we are still lagging behind global innovation leaders. In times of globalisation and rapid technology changes, innovation remains essential for the prosperity of our citizens and the wider European economy. The Commission’s Start-up and Scale-up Initiative and New Skills Agenda aim to further improve an ecosystem for innovation to thrive.”

 Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “The Scoreboard shows that still more can be done to improve research and innovation performance. That’s why we’re gearing up support to breakthrough innovators through the pilot European Innovation Council under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme.”

European Innovation Scoreboard 2017 country ranking
Axis Y: innovation performance in 2016 (coloured columns), 2015 (horizontal hyphens) and 2010 (grey columns) relative to EU average in 2010 – aggregate of 27 indicators
Axis X: EU countries

The 2017 EU Innovation Scoreboard, which is accompanied also by the Regional Innovation Scoreboard shows that:

• Sweden is once more the EU innovation leader, followed by Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom –for the first time an innovation leader- and Germany.
• In selected areas of innovation, the EU leaders are: Denmark – human resources and innovation-friendly environment; Luxembourg – attractive research systems and intellectual assets; Finland – finance and support; Germany – firm investments; Ireland – innovation in SMEs and employment impacts; Belgium – innovation linkages and collaboration; United Kingdom – sales effects.
• Regional innovative hubs exist also in moderate innovator countries, as shown by the Regional Innovation Scoreboard: Prague in the Czech Republic, Bratislava in Slovakia, and the Basque Country in Spain.
• Innovation performance has improved most in the area of international co-publications, broadband penetration, the number of university graduates and doctorates, and ICT training.
• Venture capital investments and the share of SMEs introducing innovations have been in strong decline.
• Over the next two years, innovation performance is expected to increase by 2%.

The 2017 edition of the Scoreboard uses a refined methodology, which better captures investments in skills, digital readiness, entrepreneurship, and public-private innovation partnerships. To allow performance to be tracked over time, the new methodology has also been applied to data from previous years (see comparison in graph above). The Scoreboard also includes guidance to improve the analyses and comparisons of structural differences between countries and regions.

Background

The annual European Innovation Scoreboard provides a comparative assessment of the research and innovation performance of the EU countries and selected third countries. An interactive online tool allows for custom comparisons of performance scores.

The Regional Innovation Scoreboard assesses the innovation performance of European regions. It replicates the methodology of the European Innovation Scoreboard to the extent possible in terms of data availability.

More information

The EU has played a leading role in the process that led to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. It is now determined to take the lead in its implementation. 

The  conclusions adopted by the Council today reiterate the strong commitment of the EU and its member states to  implement in full the 2030 Agenda and accomplish the 17 SDGs. The conclusions set out the EU’s response to the 2030 Agenda and its approach to how it is implemented at EU level. They cover next steps, the means and resources required, how multilateral stakeholders can be involved, and measures on future monitoring and review. 

The conclusions underline the importance of achieving sustainable development across  the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental), in a balanced and integrated way. It is vital that  sustainable development is mainstreamed into all policy areas, and that the EU is ambitious in the policies it uses to address global challenges. 

The Council calls on the Commission to set out by mid-2018 an implementation strategy with timelines, objectives and concrete measures to implement the 2030 Agenda in all EU policies. The Commission should also identify by mid-2018 gaps where the EU needs to do more by 2030 in the areas of policy, legislation,  governance structures for horizontal coherence and implementation. 

The EU calls on other UN member states and all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, to contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. 

More needs to be done to promote  the 2030 Agenda. In its conclusions the Council emphasises the lack of public engagement and calls for action to raise awareness among EU citizens. 

Background 

The conclusions are based on the recent Commission communication on the ‘next steps for a sustainable European future’ presented in November 2016, which links the sustainable development of the 2030 Agenda to the EU policy framework and the Commission’s priorities. It provides an insight into where the EU stands on addressing the sustainable development goals and identifies the most relevant sustainability gaps and concerns. 

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ‘Transforming our World’ was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit (New York, 25-27 September 2015). It includes a set of global sustainable development goals that replaced the millennium development goals as from 1 January 2016. 

The 2030 Agenda responds to global challenges by addressing poverty eradication and the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in a comprehensive way. The 17 new sustainable development goals and the 169 associated targets cover key areas such as poverty, human rights, food security, health, sustainable consumption and production, growth, employment, infrastructure, sustainable management of natural resources, oceans, climate change and gender equality. 

On 20 June 2017, the Council adopted a regulation amending regulation (EC) No1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas. 

This regulation establishes a new common design for the visa sticker to update its security features in order to prevent forgery. The current visa sticker, which has been in circulation for 20 years, has been compromised by serious incidents of counterfeiting and fraud. 

The regulation is likely to be signed in early July by the Council and the European Parliament before its publication in the EU Official Journal. 

Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of the new measures, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. However, upon a request from these member states, the Commission shall enter into arrangements with them to exchange technical information in relation to the format for their national visas.

Integration: New Skills Profile tool to help non-EU nationals enter the labour market

On the occasion of the World Refugee Day, the European Commission is today releasing the ‘EU Skills Profile Tool for Third-Country Nationals’. It is an off – and online web editor that will make it possible for non-EU nationals to present their skills, qualifications, and experiences in a way that is well understood by employers, education and training providers and organisations working with migrants across the whole European Union. Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, said: “In today’s world of work we need everyone to be able to fully use their skills in our labour markets. The talents of non-EU nationals cannot be wasted. Our ‘Skills Profile Tool’ will facilitate their pathway towards work. It will also allow national administrations to have a clear understanding of their skills and qualifications. This is a win-win for all.” Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, said: “Migrants come with their own experience, talents and skills that can be real assets for our economies and societies. Successful integration is key if we want to turn migration into an opportunity for everyone involved. Our ‘Skills Profile’ will shorten the journey for newly arrived non-EU nationals to employment by making their individual skills sets visible.“ The Skills Profile Tool will be a first instrument for reception centres, integration services, public employment services and other organisations offering services to non-EU nationals to make sure their skills and education are recognised, and to further guide them to training, education or employment. In addition to giving an overview of a non-EU national’s skills profile – comparable with a CV – the tool helps migration organisations to identify individuals’ specific needs for integration into the labour market. Ultimately this will simplify the process of matching jobseekers to vacancies. The Skills Profile Tool is part of one of the ten actions defined under the New Skills Agenda for Europe. Commissioners Thyssen and Avramopoulos will give a press statement to present the tool around 12:30 today, which can be followed live on EbS. More information can be found in the press release and memo online. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Christian Wigand– Tel.: +32 229 62253; Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 229 80423; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: + 32 229 67094)

Juncker Plan: More than EUR 200 billion in investments set to be triggered; changes enhance accessibility of European Investment Project Portal  

Following last week’s meeting of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) Board of Directors, the Juncker Plan is now expected to trigger EUR 209 billion in investments across all 28 Member States. This represents two-thirds of the original EUR 315 billion target of total investments to be mobilised by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). The operations approved under the EFSI now represent a total financing volume of just under EUR 39 billion. Vice-President Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said: “These latest numbers clearly demonstrate that the European Fund for Strategic Investments continues to deliver an important boost to investment, jobs and growth across Europe. With EUR 209 billion in investments now set to mobilised, we have reached an important milestone of two-thirds of our original EUR 315 billion target. I look forward to continuing to work with the European Parliament and Member States to ensure swift adoption of the EFSI 2.0 proposal in order to ensure that we can guarantee the EFSI’s continued success. Given its continued success, President Juncker has made it clear that the proposal to extend and reinforce the EFSI(the so-called “EFSI 2.0”) is among the Commission’s top legislative priorities. The Juncker Plan also aims to enhance the visibility of investment projects. To this end, the European Investment Project Portal(EIPP) acts as a match-making platform to connect project promoters with investors.  In order to make it even easier for project promoters to highlight investment opportunities, the EIPP has now reduced the threshold for eligible projects from EUR 5 million to EUR 1 million and withdrawn the registration fee required to upload projects. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

The EU Cohesion Policy invests in the industrial modernisation of the Portuguese region of Alentejo

€23.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is invested in the upgrade of the production facilities of aviation manufacturer Embraer Portugal, established in the city of Évora, in the region of Alentejo. Vice-President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, is currently in Portugal. Commenting on this project, he said: “This project is an excellent demonstration of how EU-supported investments can promote economic and social cohesion across Europe. I am delighted to be present in Portugal to see first-hand the positive impact of investments which support jobs and growth where they are most needed.”This investment will boost the company’s innovation capacity, allowing it to produce metallic components for the next generation of Embraer jets, more resource efficient. 100% of the site’s production will be exported. “Each EU region has competitive assets, including low-income and low-growth regions. The EU helps them unlock their innovation potential and enter global value chains with Cohesion Policy investments and tailored support – this is smart specialisation in action,” said Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu. The project will indeed contribute to the development of an emerging aerospace cluster in the region and create 200 direct jobs in the first years of its implementation. More information on the European Structural and Investment Fund in Portugal can be found here and on the Cohesion Open Data Platform. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)

EU Syria Trust Fund: new assistance package to support Syrian refugees and host communities crosses €1 billion mark

The EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis adopted new projects worth €275 million that will support refugees and their overstretched host communities in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, the Western Balkans, and Armenia. Projects will focus on education, health care, support of local community, social inclusion, gender equality. The newly adopted assistance package brings the current overall volume of the EU Trust Fund up to over €1 billion which was the goal set by President Juncker on 23 September 2015 at the Informal meeting of the European Council on migration and in the Communication on Managing the Refugee Crisis. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini said: “We are giving a lifeline to millions of Syrians inside the country and across the region, helping create a future for Syrian refugees and host communities. By enabling girls and boys to access quality education, we are helping to prevent a lost generation of children whose lives have been devastated by the Syrian conflict […]”. EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn commented: “Thanks to the EU Trust Fund, children in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey are able to go to school and have access to safe spaces for non-formal education, protection and psycho-social care. […] The EU will continue to respond to the needs arising from the Syria conflict, as testified by the fact that more than €1 billion is being channelled to improve lives via this Trust Fund”. The full press release is available online as well as the dedicated factsheet. (For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229 64887).

Innovation: Europe is on right track but significant differences still exist among Member States

The EU is catching up with Canada and the US in terms of innovation performance, while the situation within Europe presents a more mixed picture, with innovation improving in 15 out of 28 Member States last year. These are some of the findings of the 2017 annual Innovation Scoreboard, which pit Sweden, followed by Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, the UK and Germany as the leaders in innovation in Europe. The fastest growing innovators last year were Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK. Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, said: “EU industry continues to innovate, but we are still lagging behind global innovation leaders. In times of globalisation and rapid technology changes, innovation remains essential for the prosperity of our citizens and the wider European economy. The Commission’s Start-up and Scale-up Initiative and New Skills Agenda aim to further improve an ecosystem for innovation to thrive.” Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, added: “The Scoreboard shows that still more can be done to improve research and innovation performance. That’s why we’re gearing up support to breakthrough innovators through the pilot European Innovation Council under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation framework programme.”The 2017 Scoreboard also confirms that countries that perform well overall also tend to do well in specific areas of innovation, showing that a balanced innovation system – with sufficient investments, developed human resources and a supportive research and innovation environment – is the key to perform well across all dimensions. The Scoreboard also includes a regional innovation analysis, which shows that new regional innovative hubs are also on the rise in places like Prague, Bratislava or the Basque Country.

A press release and MEMO are available online. (For more information: Lucia Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Mirna Talko – Tel.: +32 229 87278)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over RatePAY by Advent and Bain Capital

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control over RatePAY GmbH of Germany by Advent International Corporation and Bain Capital Investors L.L.C., both of the US. RatePAY provides online payment services to merchants, primarily in Germany. Advent and Bain Capital are private equity investors. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because the companies’ combined market shares remain very limited on the markets concerned. 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.8479. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Mergers: Commission clears joint venture by NIPIgaspererabotka, TechnipFMC and Linde

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture by NIPIgaspererabotka JSC of the Russian Federation, TechnipFMC plc of the UK and Linde AG of Germany. The joint venture will be active in the provision of front-end engineering and design, project documentation and capital expenditures estimates, as well as engineering and services for procurement, construction, installation and commissioning of liquid natural gas plants on concrete gravity-based structures. NIPIgaspererabotka, controlled by SIBUR group, provides services for the oil and gas chain, petrochemicals and other industries on the Russian market. TechnipFMC offers services related to the oil and gas industry. Linde is active globally in industrial and medical gases, equipment, engineering and services sectors. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns as the joint venture will only operate in Russia. 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.8497. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Concentrations: la Commission Européenne autorise l’acquisition de Kerneos par Imerys

La Commission Européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l’acquisition de Kerneos SA par Imerys SA, toutes deux des entreprises françaises. Kerneos est un producteur et fournisseur au niveau mondial de ciments spéciaux. Imerys est une entreprise multinationale active dans l’industrie minière et la transformation de minerais. La transaction créera un lien vertical entre les activités de Kerneos dans le domaine des ciments d’aluminate de calcium et celles d’Imerys dans le domaine des réfractaires monolithiques acides. La Commission a conclu que l’opération envisagée n’entraînerait pas de problèmes de concurrence, car (i) elle ne donnera pas à Imerys la capacité ou des incitations suffisantes à s’engager dans des stratégies de verrouillage dans les marchés de ciment d’aluminate de calcium ou de réfractaires monolithiques acides; et (ii) elle ne créera pas d’effets congloméraux dans les minerais industriels pour les produits réfractaires ou les applications de chimie du bâtiment. L’opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure normale d’examen des concentrations. Des 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.8360. (Pour plus d’informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Eurostat: Structure de la dette publique en 2016 – Dette principalement détenue par les non-résidents dans la moitié des États membres de l’UE

Des différences importantes peuvent être observées dans l’Union européenne (UE) s’agissant du secteur détenteur de la dette publique. Parmi les États membres pour lesquels des données sont disponibles, la proportion la plus élevée de la dette publique détenue par les non-résidents en 2016 a été enregistrées à Chypre (79%),suivie par la Lettonie (72%), l’Autriche (71%), la Finlande (70%) et la Lituanie (69%). À l’inverse, la plus grande part de la dette détenue par le secteur (résident) des sociétés financières a été enregistrée au Danemark (67%), devant la Suède (64%), le Luxembourg (63%), la Croatie, l’Italie et Malte (62% chacun). Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 59914; Enda Mc Namara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

 

 

STATEMENTS

Joint Statement on World Refugee Day

On the occasion of World Refugee Day, First Vice President Timmermans, High Representative/ Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioners Hahn, Mimica, Avramopoulos and Stylianides, made the following statement: “As we mark 60 years of European unity, let us not forget that only a few generations ago many of us in Europe were refugees too. […] Today around the world more than 65 million people are forced to leave their homes due to conflicts and violence, natural disasters or the very real consequences of climate change. […] As the leading global aid donor, the EU is providing humanitarian assistance and long-term support to refugees and internally displaced people. […] The European Union has mobilised almost €10 billion to support people who have fled the war in Syria. […] Along the migratory routes, we are working with urgency to save people’s lives, fighting the smuggling networks, and conducting search and rescue operations at sea. […] Many have fled conflict and terror; others were born in displacement and know only the life of being a refugee. The most vulnerable of all are children – and the European Union provides millions of them with education, healthcare and protection. In 2016, EU Member States have granted protection to more than 700,000 asylum seekers. […] While improving the living conditions of refugees in Europe, we are working together with our Member States on establishing more legal and safe pathways in order to replace dangerous and irregular smuggling routes. More than 16,400 people in need of international protection have already been resettled to the European Union since July 2015. […] Global action by the international community is needed. Only by sharing this responsibility can we uphold the safety, dignity and human rights of refugees, and give not only a shelter but a chance for a future to those who need it most. It is a moral duty, and the best investment we can make in our own security and stability.” Please see the entire statement here. (For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 2298 6570; Esther Osorio – Tel.: +32 2296 2076)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

European Sustainable Energy Week 2017 for more clean energy for all Europeans

The European Sustainable Energy Week 2017 is coming back to Brusselsfor its 12^th edition, with a Policy Conference taking place from 20-22 June. The event is organised annually by the European Commission and the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises to discuss clean, secure and efficient energy. Commissioner Arias Cañete opened the event this morning and discussed the latest developments regarding the Clean Energy for All Europeans package, as well as how Europe will shape a sustainable, energy-secure and climate-resilient growth. In the evening of Tuesday 20 June (18:00-19:30 CET), a ceremony will take place to reward the best European success stories in clean, secure and efficient energy in the categories of businesses, the public sector, consumers, and the new category of energy islands. A prize voted on by European citizens will also be awarded. On Thursday (9:00-10:30 CET) Vice-President in charge of Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič will discuss financing energy efficiency investments. The EU Sustainable Energy Awards competition recognises projects helping to achieve EU energy goals, while hundreds of Energy Days events are also taking place across Europe throughout May and June to engage citizens and energy stakeholders. These public events involve exhibitions, workshops, educational events and more. The High Level Policy Conference opening session with Commissioner Arias Cañete takes place in the Charlemagne Building and is open to media. Please see the full agenda of the European Sustainable Energy Week on the EUSEW website. Follow on twitter via #EUSEW17. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Nicole Bockstaller – Tel.: +32 229 52589)

 

European Fiscal Board publishes first report on euro area fiscal stance

Today, the European Fiscal Board (EFB) publishes its assessment of the prospective fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area in 2018. This report was prepared in line with the Commission decision (EU) 2015/1937 establishing an independent advisory European Fiscal Board which requires the Board to advise the Commission on the euro area fiscal stance, among other tasks. Following the Five Presidents’ Report on completing the Economic and Monetary Union, the Commission decided in October 2015 to set up the European Fiscal Board as an independent advisory body for fiscal matters. The board’s role is to evaluate the implementation of EU fiscal rules, to advise the Commission on the fiscal stance appropriate for the euro area and to cooperate with Member States’ national fiscal councils. Upon request, the board may provide ad-hoc advice on fiscal policy matters to the Commission. The European Fiscal Board consists of a Chair and four Members, and is supported by a secretariat. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 59914)

Commissioner Andriukaitis visits the United States on 20-23 June

On June 20-23 EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis will be in Washington DC for meetings which will cover the cooperation between the European Union and the United States in trade and Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary related issues, antimicrobial resistance, food waste, food safety and global health challenges, among others. On the first day, Commissioner Andriukaitis will visit the World Resource Institute to present and discuss the EU actions in the field of Food Waste and the progress towards the Sustainable Development goal 12.3. He will meet with representatives of several U.S. animal welfare organizations, with U.S. consumer groups, U.S. food industry representatives and U.S. importers. On June 21, Commissioner Andriukaitis will meet the Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, as well as other U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials. On June 22, he will present the EU actions in combatting antimicrobial resistance at the event organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). On the same day Commissioner Andriukaitis will meet with Thomas E. Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to discuss global health challenges and the future cooperation between the EU and the U.S. A meeting with the World Bank Group will also take place. Ahead of the visit Commissioner Andriukaitis said: “Today we are facing many challenges that cannot be tackled by countries or parts of the world alone. Antimicrobial resistance , health threats, pandemics are examples of these challenges and I am looking forward to discussing with my US counterparts how we can deal with them together as partners.” (For more information: Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 229 87624)

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