Juncker Plan supports Nordlink interconnector with €100 million EIB investment

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €100 million financing agreement with TenneT, a leading European electricity transmission system operator, to support the construction of an electricity interconnector between Norway and Germany. The transaction is backed by the Juncker Plan’s European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). The interconnector will span 624 kilometres, linking Norway and Germany across the North Sea. It will have a capacity of 1,400 megawatts, significantly improving the diversification and security of supply whilst enhancing electricity market integration in both countries. Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, responsible for the Energy Union, said: “We need forward-looking investments into modern energy infrastructure with adequate interconnections, in particular to integrate renewables into the grid. It is a vital element of our energy security as well as our climate action. This smart combination of renewable power generation – solar and wind in Germany and hydroelectric in Norway – underlines our firm commitment to bring clean power to millions of people.” A press release can be found here.  (For more information: Christian Spahr – Tel.: +32 229 50055; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

Rule of Law: European Commission takes next step in infringement procedure to protect the independence of the Polish Supreme Court

Today, the European Commission decided to send a Reasoned Opinion to Poland regarding the Polish law on the Supreme Court. The new law lowers the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 70 to 65, which puts 27 out of 72 sitting Supreme Court judges at risk of being forced to retire, including the First President of the Court. The Commission maintains that the Polish law is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges, and thereby Poland fails to fulfil its obligations under Article 19(1) of the Treaty on European Union read in connection with Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Commission has carried out a thorough analysis of the response of the Polish authorities to the Letter of Formal Notice sent by the Commission on 2 July 2018. The response of the Polish authorities does not alleviate the Commission’s legal concerns. The Commission has therefore moved to the next stage of the infringement procedure. The Polish authorities now have one month to take the necessary measures to comply with this Reasoned Opinion. If the Polish authorities do not take appropriate measures, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU. More information is available in a press release in all official languages, here. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: +32 229 56172; Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 229 58602)

EU scales up humanitarian assistance to victims of Lombok earthquakes  

The European Commission has announced a further €500,000 to step up its emergency response to meet the most pressing needs of those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck the Indonesian island of Lombok in late July and early August. The latest allocation comes in addition to the initial €150,000 delivered earlier this month, thus bringing the EU’s total contribution to €650,000. The EU humanitarian funding complements the response of the Indonesian government and will focus on the most vulnerable groups and the most difficult to reach communities in the affected area. The EU aid will support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in implementing emergency relief programmes and will directly benefit 80,000 vulnerable people. “We stand by the Indonesian people affected by the recent earthquakes in Lombok. This additional contribution will provide crucial support to those in need and ensure that the most vulnerable among the affected people have enough means to cope through this difficult time”, said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. At least 390 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured when a series of major earthquakes and numerous aftershocks hit the popular Indonesian resort island over the course of the last two weeks. The tremors ravaged more than 67,000 homes, leaving over 300,000 people displaced. The EU funding is being made available through the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT), which aims to respond to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable in the hours and days after a sudden-onset, large-scale emergency or a new humanitarian crisis. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322 ; Esther Osorio –  Tel.: +32 229 62076)

Eurostat: Le PIB en hausse de 0,4% tant dans la zone euro que dans l’UE28

Au cours du deuxième trimestre 2018, le PIB corrigé des variations saisonnières a augmenté de 0,4% dans la zone euro (ZE19) ainsi que dans l’UE28 par rapport au trimestre précédent, selon l’estimation rapide publiée par Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. Au cours du premier trimestre 2018, le PIB avait crû également de 0,4% tant dans la zone euro que dans l’UE28. En comparaison avec le même trimestre de l’année précédente, le PIB corrigé des variations saisonnières a enregistré une hausse de 2,2% tant dans la zone euro que dans l’UE28 au deuxième trimestre 2018, après respectivement +2,5% et +2,4% au premier trimestre 2018. Au cours du deuxième trimestre 2018, le PIB des États-Unis a augmenté de 1,0% par rapport au trimestre précédent (après +0,5% au premier trimestre 2018). Par rapport au même trimestre de l’année précédente, le PIB a progressé de 2,8% (après +2,6% au premier trimestre 2018). Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d’informations:Christian Spahr – Tél.: +32 229 50055; Enda McNamara – Tél.: +32 229 64976)

Eurostat: La production industrielle en baisse de 0,7% dans la zone euro

En juin 2018 par rapport à mai 2018, la production industrielle corrigée des variations saisonnières a diminué de 0,7% dans la zone euro (ZE19) et de 0,4% dans l’UE28, selon les estimations d’Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. En mai 2018, la production industrielle avait augmenté de 1,4% dans la zone euro et de 1,3% dans l’UE28. En juin 2018 par rapport à juin 2017, la production industrielle a augmenté de 2,5% dans la zone euro et de 2,6% dans l’UE28. Vous pouvez trouver plus d’informations dans un communiqué de presse en ligne. (Pour plus d’informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tél.: +32 229 80100; Maud Noyon – Tél.: +32 229 80379; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tél.: +32 229 55040)

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

The new Polish law on the Supreme Court lowers the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 70 to 65, which puts 27 out of 72 sitting Supreme Court judges at risk of being forced to retire. This measure also applies to the First President of the Supreme Court, whose 6-year mandate, set out in the Polish Constitution, would be prematurely terminated.

According to the law, current judges affected by the lowered retirement age are given the possibility to request a prolongation of their mandate by the President of the Republic, which can be granted for a period of three years, and renewed once. There are no criteria established for the President’s decision and no judicial review is available if the request is rejected. The Commission believes that the introduction of a consultation of the National Council for the Judiciary (NCJ) does not constitute an effective safeguard, as claimed by the Polish authorities. The NCJ’s opinion is not binding and is based on vague criteria. Moreover, following the reform of 8 December 2017, the NCJ is now composed of judges-members appointed by the Polish Parliament, in violation of European standards on judicial independence.

The Commission has carried out a thorough analysis of the response of the Polish authorities to the Letter of Formal Notice sent by the Commission on 2 July 2018 concerning the Law on the Supreme Court. The response of the Polish authorities does not alleviate the Commission’s legal concerns.

The European Commission maintains its position that the Polish law on the Supreme Court is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges, and thereby Poland fails to fulfil its obligations under Article 19(1) of the Treaty on European Union read in connection with Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

The Commission has therefore moved to the next stage of the infringement procedure. The Polish authorities now have one month to take the necessary measures to comply with this Reasoned Opinion. If the Polish authorities do not take appropriate measures, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU.

Background

The rule of law is one of the common values upon which the European Union is founded. It is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. The European Commission, together with the European Parliament and the Council, is responsible under the Treaties for guaranteeing the respect of the rule of law as a fundamental value of our Union and making sure that EU law, values and principles are respected.

Events in Poland led the European Commission to open a dialogue with the Polish Government in January 2016 under the Rule of Law Framework. The process is based on a continuous dialogue between the Commission and the Member State concerned. The Commission keeps the European Parliament and Council regularly informed.

On 29 July 2017 the Commission launched an infringement procedure on the Polish Law on Ordinary Courts, also on the grounds of its retirement provisions and their impact on the independence of the judiciary. The Commission referred this case to the Court of Justice on 20 December 2017. The case is pending before the Court.

On 20 December 2017, due to a lack of progress through the Rule of Law Framework, the Commission invoked the Article 7(1) procedure for the first time, and submitted a Reasoned Proposal for a Decision of the Council on the determination of a clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law by Poland. Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union provides for the Council, acting by a majority of four fifths of its members, to determine that there is a clear risk of a serious breach by a Member State of the common values referred to in Article 2 of the Treaty.

At the General Affairs Council hearing on the rule of law in Poland on 26 June 2018, in the context of the Article 7(1) procedure, no indication was given by the Polish authorities of forthcoming measures to address the Commission’s outstanding concerns. Given this fact, and the lack of progress on this issue in the Rule of Law dialogue with Poland, the College of Commissioners decided on 27 June 2018 to empower First Vice-President Frans Timmermans in agreement with President Juncker to launch this infringement procedure. The Commission decided on 2 July 2018 to issue a Letter of Formal Notice, clearly setting out the Commission’s legal concerns. The Polish authorities replied to the Letter of Formal Notice on 2 August 2018.

This infringement does not stop the ongoing rule of law dialogue with Poland, which is still the Commission’s preferred channel for resolving the systemic threat to the rule of law in Poland.

For more information

On the general infringements procedure, see MEMO/12/12

Press release on Letter of Formal Notice concerning the law on the Supreme Court

Press release on the Reasoned Proposal, the Fourth Rule of Law Recommendation, and the infringement procedure concerning the law on the Ordinary Courts Organisation

Seasonally adjusted GDP rose by 0.4% in both the euro area (EA19) and the EU28 during the second quarter of 2018, compared with the previous quarter, according to a flash estimate published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In the first quarter of 2018, GDP had also grown by 0.4% both in the euro area and in the EU28.

Full text available on EUROSTAT website

In June 2018 compared with May 2018, seasonally adjusted industrial production fell by 0.7% in the euro area (EA19) and by 0.4% in the EU28, according to estimates from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. In May 2018, industrial production rose by 1.4% in the euro area and by 1.3% in the EU28.

Full text available on EUROSTAT website

• DKK 600 million loan to help CPH Airport cater for future growth in air traffic and enhance passenger service standards and operational efficiency.
• Project will guarantee compliance with most recent security and passport control regulations.
• As phase II of project initially financed by EIB in 2016, expansion will enable CPH Airport to handle up to 40 million passengers per year.

The European Investment Bank has signed a DKK 600 million (EUR 81m) loan agreement with Copenhagen Airport (CHP), continuing the longstanding relationship between the two parties. The financing will be used to provide additional passenger processing capacity in the terminals. Copenhagen Airport will also upgrade its baggage security standards by introducing a state-of-the-art passenger and hand baggage security screening concept. In addition, the airport’s capacity will be increased by the addition of further wide-body aircraft stands and a range of other associated airside infrastructure.

“The EIB is pleased to continue its relationship with one of the core network airports of the European Union’s TEN-T framework,” said EIB Vice-President Alexander Stubb. He added: “As a frequent user myself, I’m happy that the Bank is supporting CPH with its expansion plan to accommodate up to 40 million passengers – a real milestone!”

“The expansion of Copenhagen airport will provide more capacity, better connectivity for business and pleasure travel and, not least, many new jobs,” said Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S. He added: “We are happy that the European Union and the EIB are investing in airport capacity, supporting our major expansion projects that will enable Copenhagen Airport to serve 40 million passengers annually”.