President Juncker delivers address at the State of the Union conference in Florence
The 7th edition of the State of the Union conference, organised by the European University Institute, focuses this year on the theme of European Citizenship. President Juncker delivered an opening address in which he commended Italy for its work in managing the refugee crisis and saving lives at sea, saying “Italy has saved the honour of Europe.” Looking to the future, President Juncker called for more efforts to develop the social dimension of European integration and for deeper cooperation on defence. Watch the full speech here. Several Commissioners also took part in the conference. Commissioner Navracsics took part in a panel debate on “The European Union at Sixty”, highlighting the main achievements of the Union, such as the Erasmus+ programme. At 14:45, Commissioner Jourová and Michel Barnier will participate in a panel on “EU Citizens’ Rights: a Priority for the Negotiations with the UK”. At 16:15, High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, will address the opportunities and challenges facing the EU’s foreign and security policy, as presented in the EU Global Strategy, during an interactive session on “Cooperation and Partnerships, the European Way”. All panels are streamed live. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456 )
Plus de 1 300 étudiants de Master bénéficient de bourses Erasmus Mundus en 2017
1 345 étudiants du monde entier viennent tout juste de recevoir la bonne nouvelle selon laquelle ils ont reçu une bourse financée par l’UE pour commencer à étudier dans le cadre d’un master commun Erasmus Munduscet automne. Ces bourses couvriront tous les frais de leur programme d’études qui les emmènera dans au moins deux établissements d’enseignement supérieur en quête d’un diplôme de master commun ou double. La plupart des programmes ont une durée de deux ans. Tibor Navracsics, commissaire européen chargé de l’éducation, de la culture, de la jeunesse et du sport, a déclaré: «Les masters communs Erasmus Mundus sont de très bons exemples d’universités qui collaborent par-delà les frontières pour offrir des programmes universitaires intégrés, innovants et de qualité. Alors que nous célébrons le 30e anniversaire d’Erasmus, c’est une source d’inspiration de voir les perspectives internationales que ce programme de financement de l’Union a aidé à promouvoir auprès des universités, des étudiants et des membres du personnel. C’est pourquoi nous sommes très heureux de pouvoir financer plus de 1 300 bourses en faveur d’étudiants du monde entier en 2017. Dans un délai de deux ans, ils obtiendront leur diplôme en disposant d’une panoplie adaptée de connaissances et de compétences professionnelles pour lancer ou stimuler leur carrière.».Les bourses de cette année ont été attribuées à des étudiants venant de six continents, et principalement de cinq pays : Brésil (79), Inde (63), Iran (59), Bangladesh (58) et Mexique (49). Au moins 75% des bourses sont destinées aux étudiants de pays partenaires, avec des bourses supplémentaires accordées à certaines régions du monde où l’enseignement supérieur est un domaine prioritaire de la politique de coopération de l’UE. Les 25% restants sont destinés aux étudiants de l’UE et d’autres pays de programme. De plus amples détails sont disponibles dans le communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d’informations: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tél: +32 2 296 70 83; Inga Höglund – Tél.: +32 229 50698)
Commission opens infringement procedure against Slovenia in relation to the seizure of ECB information
The European Commission has sent a Letter of Formal Notice (Art 258 of TFEU) to the Slovenian Government in relation to the seizure of European Central Bank (ECB) information that took place at the Central Bank of Slovenia in July 2016. The Commission encourages the Slovenian authorities to engage in constructive talks with the European Central Bank to find a cooperative solution to carry out investigations in compliance with EU law. Slovenian authorities will now have two months to respond to reply to this first step in any formal infringement procedure. A press release is available here. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)
Commission awards €15.33 million in emergency assistance to enhance relocation in Italy
The European Commission has awarded €15.33 million in emergency assistance to Italy under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund to improve the functioning of the relocation scheme (the transfer of persons who are in need of international protection from Italy to other EU Member States). In particular, the funding will support the Ministry of Interior regarding the provision of accommodation, food, health care and linguistic and cultural mediation. The assistance will also help reinforce the provision of information regarding relocation to those nationalities eligible to participate in the programme. This brings the total emergency assistance awarded by the Commission under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) since 2015 to support the Italian authorities as well as international organisations operating in Italy to €74.09 million. This funding comes on top of the €592.6 million already allocated to Italy under the national programmes for the period 2014-2020 (€347.7 million from AMIF and €244.9 million from ISF). Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “This extra financial support for Italy shows once again that the EU continues to stand by Italy. In the last months of the relocation scheme, it is now vital to make sure everyone who is eligible for relocation is effectively and swiftly relocated.” (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 2 298 67 64; Kasia Kolanko – Tel.: +32 296 34 44)
Aides d’État: la Commission autorise trois initiatives françaises visant à produire plus de 17 gigawatts d’énergie à partir de sources renouvelables
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu des règles de l’UE en matière d’aides d’État, trois régimes d’aides à la production d’électricité à partir des petites installations d’éoliennes terrestres, des petites installations solaires et des installations utilisant les gaz de stations d’épuration d’eaux usées en France. Ces régimes vont permettre à la France de produire plus de 17 gigawatts supplémentaires d’énergie à partir de sources renouvelables. Le régime en faveur de l’éolien terrestre est doté d’un budget prévisionnel d’un milliard d’euros par an, le régime en faveur de l’énergie solaire d’un budget prévisionnel de 190 millions d’euros par an et le régime en faveur du développement d’installations utilisant les gaz de stations d’épuration d’eaux usées d’un budget prévisionnel de 58 millions d’euros par an. Ces régimes aideront la France à atteindre son objectif pour 2020, qui est de couvrir 23 % de ses besoins énergétiques à partir de sources renouvelables. Ils s’inscrivent dans le droit fil des priorités de la Commission Juncker visant à soutenir les investissements dans les sources d’énergie renouvelables et à faire en sorte que la transition énergétique permette à l’industrie de l’UE d’atteindre une position de premier plan dans les technologies à faible intensité de carbone, encourageant ainsi la croissance verte et l’emploi. Pour plus de détails voir le communiqué de presse en FR, EN et DE. (Pour plus d’informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tél.: +32 229 80100; Yizhou Ren – Tél.: +32 229 94889)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over LogPay Transport Services by LogPay Financial and Volkswagen Financial Services
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control over LogPay Transport Services by LogPay Financial and Volkswagen Financial Services, all of Germany. LogPay Transport Services issues fuel and road toll credit cards for commercial customers under the brand LogPay. LogPay Financial is a factoring company with focus on companies in the logistics sector and Volkswagen Financial Services is the financial services arm of the Volkswagen Group. Its subsidiary, Carmobility GmbH is active in the issuing of fuel and service credit and debit cards for commercial customers under the brands MAN Card and NEOPLAN Card. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because of the limited overlap between the companies’ activities. The operation was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8404. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Open Days European Institutions
In the framework of the European Institutions’ Open Days, the European Commission’s Berlaymont building will open its doors to visitors tomorrow from 10:00 to 18:00. Around 30 stands will show the main policies of the European Commission, highlighting, amongst others, the White Paper on the future of Europe, the European Solidarity Corps initiative and the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme. The Jean Monnet room, where the College of Commissioners meets for their weekly meetings, will be open for guided tours. Commissioners Oettinger and Moedas will participate in short Citizens’ Dialogues during the day. (For more information: Margaritis Schinas – Tel.: +32 229 60524; Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456)
Vice-President Dombrovskis in Riga to discuss the Future of Europe and celebrate Europe Day
Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis, responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, will visit Riga, Latvia, on Monday and Tuesday to discuss economic and financial issues and to discuss scenarios for the Future of Europe following the Commission’s White Paperpublished in March. Vice-President Dombrovskis will give a keynote speech at a financial sector conference “Finding Future Financial Solutions Today”. He will meet Mr Raimonds Vējonis, President of Latvia, as well as Ms Daiga Auzina-Melnalksne, CEO of Nasdaq Riga, and Members of the Association of Latvian Commercial Banks. He will also attend a discussion “The Scenarios of Europe’s Future: Latvia’s perspective” at the Celebrating Europe Day 2017 event, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 59914)
Trade Commissioner Malmström travels to Mexico to discuss ongoing trade negotiations
Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström will be travelling to Mexico on 8 and 9 May to assess the state of play and discuss the way forward in the ongoing negotiations for a new EU-Mexico trade agreement. Commissioner Malmström will meet with Mexican secretary of foreign affairs Luis Videgaray Caso and Mexican minister of economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, as well as representatives of Mexican and European business organisations, civil society organisations and trade unions. The Commissioner will meet with students at a conference organised by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and speak at a business event focusing on EU-Mexico trade. She will also visit a large brewery of Heineken, one of many European investors in Mexico. In February, the EU and Mexico agreed to significantly accelerate the pace of the negotiating process. The latest negotiating round took place in April, with the next one planned for the end of June. The full report from the April round is available onlineas of today along with 16 new EU proposals presented by the EU in the negotiations. The publication of these proposals stems from the Commission’s commitment to transparency in trade negotiations, as expressed in the “Trade for All” strategy paper. The existing 20-year-old EU-Mexico trade agreement has contributed to triple increase in trade flows between the two partners and benefitted European companies and consumers.The negotiations on a new, modern trade agreement started in the spring of last year. The new agreement will replace the existing trade deal by cutting unnecessary red tape, bringing the relationship up to modern standards, adapted to new global economic realities. A detailed program of the Commissioner’s visit is available here. EbS photos and video will be available for download as of 8 May. (For more information: Daniel Rosario – Tel.: + 32 229 56185; Kinga Malinowska – Tel.: +32 229 51383)
La Commissaire Creţu en Roumanie
Lundi 8 et mardi 9 mai, la Commissaire à la politique régionale Corina Creţu est en Roumanie. Lundi, la Commissaire participera à une conférence sur “Egalité des genres: un test pour la démocratie”, ainsi qu’au lancement d’une série d’évènements sur la politique de Cohésion organisés par la Représentation de la Commission européenne en Roumanie. La Commissaire rencontrera également Mme Sevil Shhaideh, Vice-Première Ministre, Ministre du Développement régional, de l’Administration publique et des Fonds européens et visitera un projet culturel à Bucarest soutenu par l’UE. Mardi, dans le cadre de la Journée de l’Europe, Corina Creţu participera à deux évènements sur le futur de l’Europe, ainsi qu’à un forum sur les fonds structurels, aux côtés de Mme Rovana Plumb, Ministre déléguée en charge des fonds européens. (Pour plus d’informations: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tél.: +32 229 56169)
Calendar
The Commissioners’ weekly activities
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)
