Monsieur le Président, cher Christoph LEITL,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Je voudrais vous saluer, dans la diversité de vos responsabilités, de vos entreprises, de vos pays.

C’est une chance de pouvoir vous réunir ici, dans ce cœur de la démocratie européenne qu’est le Parlement européen, et je voudrais remercier Eurochambres et chacune et chacun d’entre vous d’avoir pris le temps de venir partager vos idées sur le fonctionnement de l’Europe et la direction qu’elle doit prendre.

C’est le moment !

Notre Union européenne a besoin d’écouter et de tenir compte du point de vue des entrepreneurs et chefs d’entreprise, dans toute leur diversité.

Et les sujets discutés aujourd’hui montrent bien quelle peut être la valeur ajoutée d’une action ambitieuse au niveau européen, pour vos entreprises comme pour les citoyens européens.

Pour accroître notre compétitivité et relever le défi des compétences à travers la formation, la mobilité, l’intégration des migrants, la lutte contre le chômage des jeunes.

Pour trouver de nouveaux marchés, à travers des accords commerciaux et d’investissement – Cecilia Malmström vous en a parlé – qui doivent bénéficier aussi à nos PME et créer des emplois, tout en encourageant un développement durable.

Pour investir ensemble dans les technologies du futur et approfondir notre marché unique pour l’adapter aux nouvelles réalités numériques.

Voilà des exemples de projets positifs, qui correspondent aux engagements et aux initiatives – je pense au Plan Juncker – engagés par la Commission européenne.

C’est sur ces sujets que les 27 doivent se concentrer pour bâtir une Union plus forte, en s’appuyant sur ce qui constitue à mes yeux notre principal atout, notre principal capital, qui est notre marché unique, cet écosystème de normes, de standards, de certifications, de droits, de régulations, de supervision et de juridiction que nous avons construit ensemble, et pour lequel nous avons beaucoup travaillé ensemble lorsque j’étais Commissaire en charge du marché unique. Je pense par exemple à la simplification des marchés publics ou au brevet européen.

C’est aussi à cet agenda positif, de progrès pour l’Europe et les Européens, que doit être utile l’unité que nous avons construite entre les 27 Etats membres et le Parlement européen dans cette négociation avec le Royaume-Uni.

En fixant un cap à moyen et long terme, nous relèverons ensemble les défis auxquels l’Europe fait face, sur le plan économique, industriel, technologique, géopolitique, écologique, démographique.

Parmi les défis d’aujourd’hui, il y a évidemment le Brexit, qui fait naître une inquiétude pour beaucoup d’entrepreneurs et d’entreprises, comme pour de nombreux citoyens et collectivités.

Face à cette inquiétude, je voudrais vous dire clairement où nous en sommes, et ce qu’il reste à faire pour trouver un accord sur un retrait ordonné du Royaume-Uni.

*

Ladies and gentlemen,

On 29 March 2019, in less than 6 months, the UK will leave the European Union.

We have always respected the UK’s sovereign decision to leave the European Union, even if we profoundly regret this vote We respect its decision to leave the Single Market and the Customs Union.

And we are doing our best to reach a deal on the UK’s orderly withdrawal.

Since the beginning of this negotiation, we have made good progress.

In fact, as you can see in this copy of the draft Treaty, a lot of the Withdrawal Agreement – 80%-85% – has now been agreed with the UK.

However, some difficult issues have been left until the end.

We must agree on the governance of the Withdrawal Agreement and on geographical indications that are currently protected in the 28 EU Member States.

Above all, we need to agree on how to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland for political, human, and economic reasons.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The UK wants to and will leave the Single Market and the Customs Union.

This means that there must be checks on goods travelling between the EU and the UK – checks that do not exist today:

•        customs and VAT checks;
•        and compliance checks with our standards to protect our consumers, our economic traders and your businesses.

We have agreed with the UK that these checks cannot be performed at the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

A crucial question is, therefore, where they will take place.

The EU is committed to respecting the territorial integrity and constitutional order of the UK, just like the UK has committed to respecting the integrity of our Single Market, including Ireland, obviously.

Therefore, the EU proposes to carry out these checks in the least intrusive way possible.

For customs and VAT checks, we propose using the existing customs transit procedures to avoid doing checks at a physical border point. To be more specific:

o   Companies in the rest of the UK would fill in their customs declarations online and in advance when shipping goods to Northern Ireland.

o   The only visible systematic checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK would involve scanning the bar codes of the lorries or containers, which could be done on ferries or in transit ports.

o   These arrangements already exist within EU Member States, in particular those with islands, for example between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands.

For regulatory checks, on industrial goods for instance, these could be carried out by market surveillance authorities.

Again, this would not need to happen at a border but directly in the market or at the premises of companies in Northern Ireland.

This leaves the health and phytosanitary checks for live animals and products of animal origin. EU rules are clear: such checks must happen at the border because of food safety and animal health reasons. And obviously, in the future the island of Ireland will and must remain a single epidemiologic area.

o   Such checks already exist in the ports of Larne and Belfast.

o   However they would have to cover 100 % rather than 10 % of live animals and animal-derived products, which would involve a significant change in terms of scale.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Both the EU and the UK exclude having a physical border on the island of Ireland. Therefore what will arrive into Northern Ireland will also be arriving into the Single Market.

There will be administrative procedures that do not exist today for goods travelling to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Our challenge is to make sure those procedures are as easy as possible and not too burdensome, in particular for smaller businesses.

I understand why such procedures are politically sensitive, but let me make three remarks.

First, Brexit was not our choice. It is the choice of the UK. Our proposal tries to help the UK in managing the negative fall-out of Brexit in Northern Ireland, in a way that respects the territorial integrity of the UK.

Second, our proposal limits itself to what is absolutely necessary to avoid a hard border: customs procedures and the respect of EU standards for products.

It does not include measures on free movement of people, services, healthcare or social and environmental policy.  But the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland will continue as today.

And yet, our proposal gives Northern Ireland benefits that no part of a third country enjoys. In particular continued access to the Single Market for goods and continued benefits from the EU free trade agreements.

Our proposal also includes the continuation of the island’s Single Electricity Market, as requested by the UK.

Over the past week, we have met the leaders of all Northern Irish political parties – many of whom I have met before, and many of whom I will meet again. My door is always open. And my team met on Monday a group of Northern Irish business leaders and a group representing local government.

Naturally, there were questions, doubts and worries about our proposal – and Brexit in general.

But most conversations focused on the added value for Northern Ireland so long as we can mitigate the burden of doing checks.

Third, our proposal is just a safety net, a “backstop”.

It is needed because the details of the future relationship will only be negotiated after the UK’s withdrawal.

But the future relation in itself might mitigate the necessary checks, or even make some unnecessary:

o   For instance, a veterinary agreement would mean less frequent inspections of live animals.

o   And we are still open to the idea of having a customs union with the UK. Such a customs union would eliminate an important part of custom checks.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Apart from the issue of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the Withdrawal Agreement will include other important issues, on which we already agreed with the UK.

These issues are important for your businesses, your employees and your regions.

In particular, we already agreed that:

European citizens who arrived in the UK before the end of 2020 and British citizens who moved to other EU countries before that date can continue to live their lives as before. We remain in close contact with the organisations representing the citizens concerned, most notably to discuss the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.

All financial commitments undertaken by the 28 EU Member States will be honoured by the 28, for instance on the European Social Fund and the regional policy. All current programmes will continue, with the UKs participation.

The UK will retain all the rights and obligations of a Member State for a transition period, until the end of 2020, at its request.

This will leave time for businesses to prepare.

And this will leave time to finalise the future relationship.

To be clear, all these points will enter into force on the condition that we agree on the whole Withdrawal Agreement, which must then be ratified, I hope in the beginning of next year by the UK and by the European Parliament.

*

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Au-delà d’une séparation toujours difficile et que nous souhaitons ordonnée, le plus important, dans l’intérêt commun de nos pays, de la stabilité économique, de la croissance, ce sera notre futur partenariat avec le Royaume-Uni.

Cette future relation, nous devons en définir maintenant les contours, le cadre et les paramètres.

Pour être clair, c’est ensuite, une fois le Royaume-Uni sorti de l’Union, que la future relation fera l’objet d’une nouvelle négociation, en fait de plusieurs négociations, sans doute une dizaine de tables de négociation parallèle, pendant la période de transition, jusqu’à la fin 2020.

Nous travaillons donc avec les Britanniques, en parallèle de l’accord de retrait, à une déclaration politique conjointe qui décrira le cadre de cette future relation.

Au mois de mars dernier, les chefs d’Etat et de gouvernement des 27, avec le Président du Conseil européen Donald Tusk et le Président de la Commission Jean-Claude Juncker ont clairement exprimé la volonté d’un partenariat très ambitieux avec le Royaume-Uni pour l’avenir. Cette ambition est partagée par le Parlement européen et son Président Antonio TAJANI.

Dans nos discussions avec le Royaume-Uni, nous tenons évidemment compte des positions exprimées dans le White Paper britannique du mois de juillet. Depuis juillet, nous en avons d’ailleurs discuté tous les chapitres avec les négociateurs britanniques, au niveau technique et politique.

Ce White Paper est utile, puisqu’il nous permet de faire ce benchmarking entre nos propositions et les propositions britanniques et d’identifier des points de convergence. Nous en avons trouvé beaucoup. Par exemple :

•        dans le domaine de la sécurité intérieure, de la politique étrangère et de la coopération militaire.

•        sur les nombreuses coopérations sectorielles, par exemple en matière d’aviation et de transport.

•        sur  la participation du Royaume-Uni aux programmes de l’Union, par exemple en matière de recherche, où nous serons prêts à utiliser tous les outils dont nous disposerons pour nos relations avec des pays tiers dans le cadre financier 2021-2027.

•        sur les domaines où nous sommes prêts à examiner le recours à des décisions unilatérales d’équivalence ou d’adéquation. Je pense par exemple aux services financiers et à la protection des données.

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Sur notre futur partenariat économique, en revanche, certaines positions britanniques exprimées dans le White Paper ne correspondent pas aux guidelines du Conseil européen et à mon mandat.

Nous sommes d’accord pour fonder notre future relation sur une zone de libre-échange sans tarif ni quota. C’est un point très important.

Mais nous avons deux points de divergence avec les propositions britanniques parce que ces deux points sont clairement contradictoires avec les fondations de notre, de votre marché unique.

Premièrement, en matière douanière :

Le Royaume-Uni voudrait conserver l’autonomie de sa politique commerciale, pouvoir négocier ses propres accords, tout en restant dans notre espace douanier.

Ainsi, il pourrait pratiquer des tarifs inférieurs aux nôtres aux frontières extérieures tout en restant dans un marché unique des biens avec nous. Cela, de notre point de vue, pourrait provoquer un risque majeur de détournement des flux commerciaux, au détriment de nos entreprises.

Le Royaume-Uni veut appliquer ses propres tarifs extérieurs tout en collectant pour nous les droits de douanes européens.

Cela entraînerait pour l’Union une perte de contrôle en matière de collecte de revenus fiscaux, qu’il s’agisse des droits de douane pour le budget européen ou des revenus de TVA pour les Etats membres.

Nous savons que le Royaume-Uni souhaite retrouver le contrôle de ses frontières, de ses politiques et de son argent et nous respectons ce choix. Mais le gouvernement britannique doit accepter, de la même manière, que nous conservions le contrôle de nos frontières douanières.

Un autre point de divergence concerne le cadre réglementaire pour les biens :

•  Le Royaume-Uni a demandé à s’aligner sur une partie importante de nos standards pour les biens, mais une partie uniquement, afin de conserver la même participation qu’aujourd’hui à notre marché intérieur, pour ces biens seulement.

•  Et en même temps, le Royaume-Uni souhaite rester libre de diverger sur l’ensemble des réglementations qui s’appliquent aux facteurs de production de ces biens, que l’on pense aux services, au travail, au capital ou aux normes sociales et environnementales.

Chacun ici comprend qu’un tel système de “marché unique à la carte” reviendrait à offrir au Royaume-Uni et à ses entreprises un avantage compétitif majeur par rapport aux entreprises qui travaillent dans le marché unique.

Prenons deux exemples :

•        Dans le coût réglementaire des produits chimiques :

o   31% du prix réglementaire – je ne parle pas des matières premières – est lié au respect des normes du produit – que de toute façon tout exportateur doit respecter pour entrer dans notre marché, c’est par exemple la réglementation REACH.

o   Le reste, 69%, est induit par le respect des autres réglementations de l’Union, par exemple les normes environnementales. Et c’est sur cette partie-là que les Britanniques voudraient rester capables de diverger avec nous. Pour l’acier, les chiffres sont encore plus éloquents.

Et vous savez bien que dans certains secteurs économiques où les marges sont faibles, des divergences mineures sur la réglementation peuvent créer un avantage comparatif important pour le Royaume-Uni s’il restait dans le marché unique des biens en divergeant sur tout le reste.

Et c’est la raison pour laquelle beaucoup de chefs d’entreprises, y compris ici au sein d’Eurochambres, nous ont demandé clairement, dans tous les pays de l’Union, de ne rien faire dans cette négociation qui fragilise le marché intérieur ; ce marché intérieur qui représentera toujours après le Brexit 60%, parfois plus, de nos échanges commerciaux. Et le sondage que vous avez fait tout à l’heure montre clairement votre attachement à ce marché intérieur.

Nous avons donc proposé au Royaume-Uni, en tenant compte de nos principes et des lignes rouges britanniques, un partenariat économique fondé sur un accord de libre-échange ambitieux, sans doute accompagné d’une coopération douanière, d’une coopération réglementaire, et aussi d’un level playing field qui soit à la hauteur d’un tel accord de libre-échange.

C’est bien ce partenariat, que nous voulons esquisser dans notre déclaration politique commune avec les Britanniques et qui constituera le socle de notre future relation économique.

Rien ne nous empêchera d’enrichir cette relation économique au cours de la négociation, à condition que nos principes soient respectés.

*

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Les négociations avec le Royaume-Uni se poursuivent cette semaine de manière intensive, jour et nuit, dans l’objectif fixé par les dirigeants des 27 que l’accord soit “à portée de main” au moment du Conseil européen du 17 octobre, mercredi prochain !

C’est ainsi que nous essayons de maximiser les chances d’un retrait ordonné et de minimiser les coûts du Brexit pour vos entreprises.

En cas de “no deal”, ces coûts seraient très élevés, d’abord pour le Royaume-Uni mais aussi pour certains secteurs de notre économie. Voilà pourquoi le “no deal” n’est pas, n’a jamais été, notre scénario – même si notre responsabilité est d’être préparés à toutes les options.

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Je voudrais être sincère avec vous : même dans le cas d’un accord, il y aura des adaptations pour beaucoup de vos entreprises en raison du choix britannique. Cela ne pourra pas être business as usual.

Pour aider vos entreprises à faire face à ces adaptations, la Commission européenne a publié plus de 70 notes sur la préparation du Brexit, qui concernent de nombreux secteurs économiques, du commerce électronique au transport maritime, en passant par le marché de l’énergie et les services financiers. Je voudrais remercier Eurochambres et ses membres de votre appui pour cette préparation. La Task Force que je dirige reste aussi à votre disposition.

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Je voudrais juste conclure par un mot plus personnel à la place qui est la mienne comme responsable de cette négociation, sous le contrôle des dirigeants européens et du Parlement européen.

Je voudrais vous dire ce que je pense, comme quelqu’un qui a voté pour la première fois, dans son pays, en 1972, en faveur de l’adhésion du Royaume-Uni à l’Union européenne.

J’ai fait campagne pour le oui et je n’ai jamais regretté ce vote, parce que je pense que l’union fait la force, que déjà à cette époque, encore plus aujourd’hui, il vaut mieux être ensemble pour se faire respecter, défendre nos intérêts et nos valeurs.

Je pense que le Brexit n’a aucune valeur ajoutée. C’est une négociation négative. C’est un “lose-lose game“.

Son issue est importante pour l’avenir de l’Europe, au-delà de notre relation avec le Royaume-Uni.

De notre côté, nous nous efforçons d’aboutir à un accord le plus juste et le plus précis sur la séparation et le plus ambitieux pour l’avenir, en défendant les intérêts des citoyens, des entreprises européennes et en préservant les fondations du projet européen.

Pour y parvenir, je continuerai à mener cette négociation jusqu’au bout, au nom de l’Union, en respectant les principes définis par les dirigeants européens et le Parlement européen dès le lendemain du référendum.

Je le ferai avec le même calme, sans aucun esprit de revanche, sans aucune agressivité, avec beaucoup de respect pour un grand pays qui, en toutes hypothèses, restera notre allié et notre partenaire.

Je vous remercie beaucoup pour votre attention.

10 October 2018

In the context of an investigation of the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, led by the investigating judge of Limburg, 44 searches were conducted this morning across Belgium. 13 searches were also carried out in other States, particularly France, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Serbia and fYROM. A total of 184 police officers in Belgium and 36 police officers in the other involved States took part in the action day.

The actual searches were performed by the Federal Judicial Police of Limburg, with the support of the Federal Judicial Police of Antwerp, Louvain, Brabant Wallon, Brussels, Halle-Vilvoorde, East Flanders, West Flanders, Mons and Cork. The operation was also supported by the Traffic Police and the Integrated Police Intervention Corps.

Simultaneous operations outside Belgium were coordinated by Eurojust, the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit. Eurojust facilitated the exchange and sharing of information and assisted in the execution of European Investigation Orders and Letters of Request among the involved parties.

The Belgian federal investigation was initiated in late 2017, based on a report from the Federal Police Unit specialised in sports fraud. The judicial investigation covers activities performed in the context of a criminal organisation, such as money laundering and private corruption. It uncovered indications of suspicious financial transactions in the Belgian 1A football league. Certain players’ agents, independently of each other, allegedly concealed from the Belgian authorities and other involved parties their commissions on player transfers, player and coach salaries, and other payments. The investigation was also extended, at the request of the Federal Public Prosecutor, to possible influence on the matches of the 2017-2018 football season.

This morning’s searches were conducted at the headquarters of several football clubs that are active in the Jupiler Pro League. A number of documents and files were seized. Football club officials, players’ agents, referees, a former lawyer, an accounting office, jewelers and some potential accomplices were also searched. Searches outside Belgium were mainly carried out in the offices of foreign legal entities. Documents and assets saved in bank accounts and safes were seized.

A large number of people were detained and questioned. The investigating judge will decide at a later stage on possible releases or arrests.

 

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Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting, 11 and 12 October

Place:           European Convention Centre Luxembourg (ECCL)

Chair(s):      Josef Moser, Federal Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice
Herbert Kickl, Federal Minister for Interior

All times are approximate and subject to change

JUSTICE – THURSDAY, 11 OCTOBER

+/- 08.30 Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.15 Doorstep by Minister Moser

+/- 10.30 Beginning of Justice ministers meeting (roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda

+/- 10.35 Approval of A-items (public session)

+/- 10.45 Directive on Insolvency, restructuring and second chance (public session)

+/- 11.15 E-evidence – Regulation on European Production and Preservation Orders for e-evidence (public session)

+/- 12.15 Any other business – current legislative proposals (public session)

+/- 12.30 Approval of non-legislative A-items

+/- 12.35 Fundamental rights

+/- 13.15 Working lunch debate on EU financing Justice

+/- 15.00 EPPO Regulation: Implementation

+/- 15.20 Mutual Recognition in Criminal Matters

+/- 16.20 Securing free and fair European elections, including protection from personal
data misuse and cyber incidents

+/- 16.50 Any other business
– EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Tirana, 4-5 October 2018)

+/- 17.00 Press conference (live streaming)

HOME AFFAIRS – FRIDAY, 12 OCTOBER

+/- 08.00 Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 9.00 Doorstep by Minister Kickl

+/- 09.30 Beginning of mixed committee meeting (roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda
Regulation amending the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation

+/- 11.05 Return Directive

+/- 12.35 Any other business – Current legislative proposals

+/- 12.45 Working lunch debate on migration
Any other business: Vienna Process

+/- 15.00 Home Affairs session resumes
Commission proposals in the context of the Multiannual Financial Framework (public session)

+/- 16.00 Regulation amending the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation
(public session)

+/- 16.05 Return Directive  (public session)

+/- 16.10 Reform of the Common European Asylum System and Resettlement (public session)

+/- 16.30 Any other business- Current legislative proposals (public session)

+/- 16.35 Any other business
– Conference “Security and Migration – Promoting Partnership and Resilience” (Vienna, 13-14 September 2018)
– EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Tirana, 4-5 October 2018)
– Legal Migration

+/- 17.00 Press conference (live streaming)

*          *         

More information about the Council can be found on the Meetings pages
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2018/10/11-12/

Press conferences and public events by video streaming
http://video.consilium.europa.eu/

Download as pdf

Fisheries: Commission proposes measures to conserve stocks of deep-sea species in the North-East Atlantic

Today the Commission has proposed Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for a number of species for 2019 and 2020, in an effort to restore deep-sea fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic. “Our proposal invites Member States to apply a precautionary approach to reverse the worrying situation of declining deep-sea fish stocks”, said Commissioner Karmenu Vella, responsible for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. “It is in our shared interest to ensure that we have healthy fish stocks in deep-sea waters, for the sake of our fishermen and coastal communities, their livelihoods and for our marine ecosystems. Evidence also shows that sustainable fish stocks go hand in hand with a thriving industry.” The majority of deep-sea species are highly vulnerable and take a long time to mature. The Commission’s proposal reduces the catch limits in seven fish management areas compared to 2017-2018 levels and cancels the Total Allowable Catches (TAC) management system for three species as they are fished in small quantity which does not prevent them from reproducing. Fishing for orange roughly will remain prohibited. The proposal is based on precautionary scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and its adoption by EU Member States in the Council is currently scheduled for 19-20 November. A press release is available online. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

 

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of Com Hem by Tele2

The European Commission has approved unconditionally, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of Com Hem by Tele2. Tele2 and Com Hem both provide telecommunications services in Sweden. Com Hem’s main activities are related to fixed telecommunications and TV, while Tele2 is mainly active in mobile telecommunications. Firstly, although both companies are active in the provision of retail mobile telecommunications services, retail fixed internet access services and multiple play services, the Commission found that the impact of the transaction on these markets is very limited. Secondly, the Commission found that the merged entity would continue to face significant competitionfrom other players such as Telia and Telenor, both active on all retail telecommunications markets in Sweden, as well as Tre, active on the retail mobile telecommunications market in Sweden. Thirdly, the Commission concluded that the merged entity would not have market power to shut out or marginalise its fixed or mobile competitors by bundling fixed and mobile products. Therefore, following its phase I investigation, the Commission concluded that the transaction would raise no competition concerns in any of the affected markets and cleared the case unconditionally. The full press release is available online. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

 

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of VTG by Warwick Holding

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of VTG Aktiengesellschaft (“VTG”) by Warwick Holding GmbH, both of Germany, controlled by Morgan Stanley of the US. VTG is a provider of wagon hire and rail logistics services, as well as multimodal logistics services, focusing on rail transport and global tank container transport. Warwick Holding is an indirectly, wholly-owned subsidiary of funds advised by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure. Morgan Stanley is a leading global financial services firm providing a wide range of investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given the lack of horizontal overlaps and vertical relationships between the activities of VTG and Morgan Stanley. 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.9116. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel. +32 229 56182; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini delivers keynote speech at the opening of the Frankfurter Buchmesse

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini will deliver a keynote speech at the opening of Frankfurt Book Fair, the Frankfurter Buchmesse, on cultural diplomacy today at 17:30. Culture is an important pillar of the EU’s external relations. In June 2016, the High Representative and the Commission put forward a Strategy for International Cultural Relations for deeper and more effective cultural relations and cooperation between EU Member States and cultural actors in- and outside the EU. In line with the strategy, the EU has launched a number of programmes to foster cooperation among stakeholders in the cultural sector, aiming at supporting culture as an engine for sustainable social and economic development, promoting culture and intercultural dialogue for peaceful intercommunity relations, and reinforcing cooperation on cultural heritage. Georgia is this year’s guest of honour of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Together with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini will attend the inauguration of the Guest of Honour Pavilion. Georgia has been awarded fifteen grants under the Creative Europe programme, with two projects specifically involving the book sector. Federica Mogherini‘s speech will be available on Ebs. For more information on EU cultural relations see here the factsheet. (For more information: Maja Kocijančič – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Esther Osorio – Tel.: +32 229 62076)

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini in Finland

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini will be in Finland on Wednesday, 10 October. On Wednesday morning at the University of Tampere, where she will be awarded a doctoris honoris causa in a promotion ceremony and deliver a lecture discussing “A superpower for peace: Europe’s choice in a challenging world”. The speech can be followed live on EbS at around 11:00 local time/ 10:00 CET. In the afternoon she will have bilateral meetings in Helsinki with Prime Minister Juha Sipilä and the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative on Mediation, Jutta Urpilainen. The High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini will address the press together with Prime Minister Sipilä at 17:15 local time/10:15 CET. In the evening, she will deliver a speech on “the European Union as a peace project, in the Balkans and beyond” at the celebration, organised by the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), of the 10th anniversary of Martti Ahtisaari’s Nobel Peace Prize. In that context, she will also meet with the former President Ahtisaari, founder of the CMI, as well as the current CMI Chairman, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb. Audio-visual coverage of her visit will be available on EbS. (For more information:Maja Kocijančič – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Esther Osorio – Tel.: +32 229 62076)

 

Event in Brussels “Energy Union in motion – Cohesion Policy supporting coal regions in transition” with Vice-President Šefčovič and Commissioner Creţu

Today Vice-President in charge of the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu are hosting a high-level event on “Energy Union in motion – Cohesion Policy supporting coal regions in transition” in Brussels. The event will take place in the Square (Brussels 1000) from 15h45-17h15 and is open to accredited press and to participants of the European Week of Regions and Cities. Vice-President Šefčovič and Commissioner Creţu will hold a joint press point at the event’s venue at 15h45. Dietmar Woidke, Minister-President of the German State of Brandenburg, Tomasz Dąbrowski, Polish Deputy Energy Minister, Małgorzata Ochęduszko-Ludwik, Regional Board Member of the Silesian Voivodship, Octav Dan Paxino, Romanian Secretary of State of the Ministry of European Funds, Vojtech Ferencz, Slovak State Secretary of the Ministry of Economy David Koppitz, Czech Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Ministry for Regional Development, will speak at this event, which will take stock of the Platform for the Coal regions in transition launched in December 2017 and of the tailored support provided by the Commission to such regions. Vice-President Šefčovič said: “Climate action starts in our regions. That is why we have launched a structural support for coal and carbon intensive regions – to support the modernisation of their economies, and address the social impacts of the low-carbon transition. It is about people’s health, their jobs as well as about opportunities for the future. Therefore, we are already working with regions in seven Member States and mobilising our EU programmes for this great cause. Moreover, we are set to discuss this initiative with our international partners at COP24 in Katowice to expand it globally.” Commissioner Arias Cañete said: ”We launched the Platform for Coal Regions in Transition, to help affected regions manage the social and economic transformation that comes with the decline of coal. We are pleased that many stakeholders and many governmental representatives from coal intensive regions will be joining the next Platform meeting at the beginning of November, to the benefit of European regions managing this transition”.Commissioner Creţu added: “The EU is committed to ensuring that nobody and no region is left behind in the shift towards a low-carbon economy. The EU Cohesion Policy significantly invests to foster growth and jobs in coal regions, by helping them identify, develop and invest in new areas of competitive strength – what we call smart specialisation.” The seven Member States concerned are the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain. More information on the Commission support to coal regions in transition is available here. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615, Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169; Lynn Rietdorf – Tel.: +32 229 74959)

La commissaire Bulc participe à un dialogue avec les citoyens sur la numérisation et la décarbonisation dans le secteur des transports à Milan, en Italie

Aujourd’hui, la commissaire chargée des transports, Violeta Bulc, participe à un dialogue avec les citoyens à l’Université catholique du Sacré-Cœur de Milan. Mme Bulc écoutera plus de 150 étudiants dans le cadre de discussions sur la numérisation et la décarbonisation du secteur des transports en Europe, comme indiqué dans les propositions de la Commission européenne “L’Europe en mouvement“, pour une mobilité propre, sûre et connectée. La commissaire soulèvera en particulier l’importance du sujet en déclarant: “La décarbonisation et la numérisation sont les deux pierres angulaires de notre ambitieuse Vision Zéro pour l’Europe qui veut atteindre: zéro décès sur les routes européennes, zéro émission des transports et zéro papier d’ici 2050. L’avenir des transports en Europe est numérique et vert. En mettant l’accent sur la décarbonisation et la numérisation, nous accélérons la transition de l’Europe vers un transport plus durable, efficace et intégré.” L’événement sera diffusé en direct via facebook ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Enrico Brivio – Tél .: +32 229 56172; Stephan Meder – Tél .: +32 229 13917)

 

European Commission’s participation in G20, World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in Indonesia

Vice-President Dombrovskis, Commissioner Hahn and Commissioner Moscovici will represent the European Commission at the 2018 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group in Bali, Indonesia, this week. Vice-President Dombrovskis will take part in the introductory plenary session of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the IMF; Commissioner Hahn will host a high level enhanced cooperation meeting with European and International Financial Institutions and Commissioner Moscovici will participate in the meetings of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. The Vice-President and the Commissioners will also have several high-level bilateral meetings and speaking engagements. Vice-President Dombrovskis will meet Mr Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve of the United States; Ms Oksana Markarova, Acting Minister for Finance of Ukraine; Mr Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States; and Mr Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). He will also speak at the event ‘Investing for positive impact: what is needed to scale up’ and take part in the panel discussion ‘Europe’s way forward: for more resilience and sustainable growth’, organised by DZ Bank. Commissioner Hahn will also have a number of bilateral meetings with representatives of leading European and International Financial Institutions as well as Islamic and Asian development banks. Commissioner Moscovici will meet Mr Zied Laâdhari, Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation of Tunisia; Mr John C. Williams, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New-York; Mr Taro Aso, Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister of Japan; and Mr Ueli Maurer, Head of the Federal Department of Finance of Switzerland. He will also speak at the event ‘How global trade can promote growth for all’ organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Annikky Lamp– Tel.: +32 229 56151; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229 64887)

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