The news

On 31 January 2018, the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the College of the Commissioners will participate in the launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage in Belgium, at the invitation of Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels.

The launch day will be marked by a three-dimensional show entitled “Thousand Reflections of Europe” attended by President Jean-Claude Juncker, Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and the other Commissioners.

This unprecedented visit by the President and the College of Commissioners reflects the excellent relations between the Commission and the City of Brussels.

The context

The purpose of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is to raise awareness of the social and economic importance of cultural heritage. Thousands of initiatives and events across Europe will provide the possibility to involve citizens from all backgrounds. The aim is to reach out to the widest possible audience, in particular children and young people, local communities and people who are rarely in touch with culture, to promote a common sense of ownership.

According to a new Eurobarometer survey released today, 8 out of 10 Europeans think cultural heritage is not only important to them personally, but also to their community, region, country and the European Union as a whole. A large majority take pride in cultural heritage, whether it is located in their own region or country, or in another European country.

The event 

15.00-15.45: Press conference: “The European Year of Cultural Heritage in Belgium” [Brussels City Hall, Gothic Hall]

• Jimmy Jamar, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium and Catherine Magnant – Coordinator of the European Year of Cultural Heritage at the European Commission;

• Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region in charge of Local Authorities, Territorial Development, City Policy, Monuments and Sites, Student Affairs, Tourism and the Civil Service;

• Sven Gatz, Flemish Minister for Culture, Media, Youth and Brussels Affairs;

• Alda Greoli, Vice-President of the Government of Wallonia in charge of Social Action, Public Health, Equal Opportunities, Vice-President and Minister of Culture, Childhood and Continuing Education Federation Wallonia-Brussels;

• René Collin, Walloon Minister of Agriculture, Nature, Forestry, Rurality, Tourism, Heritage and delegate to the Greater Region. 

16.00-18.00: Citizen Dialogue: “Our heritage: when the past meets the future” [Brussels City Hall, Gothic Hall]

• Paolo Fontani, Director of the UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels and UNESCO Representative to the European Institutions;

• Michel Magnier, European Commission, Director of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture;

• Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, General Secretary, Europa Nostra Foundation;

• Jean-Louis Delaet, Director of the Bois du Cazier site, a UNESCO World Heritage site and most recently labeled “European Heritage”;

• Guy Tilkin, Director of Landcommanderij Alden Biesen.Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport will close the dialogue. 

19:00: 3D show “A Thousand Reflections of Europe”, produced by the Tour des Sites [Grand Place de Bruxelles], in the presence of President Jean-Claude Juncker and the College of Commissioners. 

Press contact to participate in the event: Anne.COMPERE@ec.europa.eu

To attend the Citizens Dialogue: free entry, registration required via this link

For more information

Q&A on the European Year of Cultural Heritage

Website of the EYCH2018 campaign (including a list of events at EU and national levels)

Special Eurobarometer report on Cultural Heritage and country fiches

Spotlight publication

Factsheet “culture as a driver for EU unity” – The Commission’s Contribution to the Leaders’ Working Lunch Gothenburg, 17 November 2017

Decision (EU) 2017/864 on a European Year of Cultural Heritage

“28 January marks European Data Protection Day.

Data is everywhere. When using your smartphone, data could be collected on your whereabouts, your tastes, your friends, your health… In Europe, data protection is a fundamental right, we need to protect it.

2018 is going to be a landmark year for data protection in Europe.

Modernised EU data protection rules will become a reality in May 2018. These rules respond to the challenges our digital world poses to our right to data protection.

With just over 100 days left before the deadline of 25 May, the Commission adopted last week a guidance to help national data protection authorities, national administrations and businesses to be prepared for the direct application of the new EU-wide data protection rules. The Commission will also launch a communication campaign in Member States to make sure that Europeans are fully aware of their rights.

Europeans will now benefit from new rights. The right to clear and understandable information will prevent companies from hiding behind complicated legal language to get our consent. Portability, the right to transfer your data from one service to another, is another new right which allows for switching services easily. Existing rights, such as the right to be forgotten, are now clarified.

Better data protection rules also mean better security online. Half of European internet users are worried about the misuse of their personal information. If your personal data held by a company is exposed due to a cyber-attack, the company will have to inform authorities and its users within 72 hours.

Another major novelty of the new rules is to guarantee that whenever personal data crosses borders, protection travels with it. If a company collects the data in Europe it will have to respect the European standards even if it analyses it abroad. This is key in a globalised connected world.

The European Union is proud to lead the way and set a high standard for data protection worldwide. We are committed to promote our data protection values at international level. Our economies heavily depend on international data flows. We launched in 2016 the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield to facilitate exchanges with the U.S. We are now discussing with Japan to finalise the formal steps for allowing the free flow of personal data between the EU and Japan. These exchanges fully respect our data protection standards, while facilitating trade.

We are committed to making sure that security, trade and protection of personal data go hand in hand with modernisation and innovation, both at European and global level.”

Background

Every year on 28 January, the European Commission celebrates European Data Protection day.

The reform of data protection rules was agreed in April 2016 (statement). The new EU data protection rules will apply as of 25 May 2018 (please see press release).

In January 2017, the Commission proposed to align the rules for electronic communications (ePrivacy) with the new world-class standards of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation. In September 2017, the Commission proposed a new set of rules to govern the free flow of non-personal data in the EU. Together with the already existing rules for personal data, the new measures will enable the storage and processing of non-personal data across the Union to boost the competitiveness of European businesses and to modernise public services. Both proposals still need to be agreed by the European Parliament and Member States.

In preparation for the application of the General Data Protection Regulation on 25 May, the Commission published guidelines, designed to help citizens, businesses, organisations and public administrations to comply with and benefit from the new rules on data protection. In addition to the guidelines, the Commission also launched a new website, available in all EU languages, containing FAQ, practical examples and web-links for a clearer and more practical guidance towards the adoption of the new rules.

For more information, visit the europa.eu/dataprotection.

The 27^th of January is a date marked in history by sorrow and grief. On this day 73 years ago, Allied Forces liberated the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and brought the horrors perpetrated there to an end. To mark this event, we honour today the memories of the six million Jews and other victims who perished during the Holocaust. We also pay tribute to those who survived the Shoah, among them the first President of the European Parliament Simone Veil, who dedicated her life to reconciliation and who has sadly passed away this past year.

2018 marks the 80th anniversary of the ‘Reichspogromnacht’ (Night of the Broken Glass) and the 80^th anniversary of the introduction of racist laws in Fascist Italy. But 2018 also represents the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which grew out of the horrors of the Holocaust.

This day should remind us to be vigilant in the face of hatred, discrimination and dehumanisation. It is a day to confront those who spread lies about our history and who question the Holocaust or negate its fundamental meaning for today’s Europe. As Simone Veil reminded us, it is necessary to recall the names and stories of those we have lost, to spare them from disappearing for a second time.

This is a day to firmly condemn hatred, bigotry and Antisemitism in all its forms. We need to build a strong society that stands up for what is right. We need people to speak up and act when they see racist acts in public or when they hear antisemitic slogans on European streets as we have witnessed recently.

As the number of remaining Holocaust survivors decreases, we have a moral responsibility to ensure that their story remains part of Europe’s collective memory, also for the young generations. The Commission will therefore strengthen our cooperation with international organisations working on Holocaust Remembrance, as also requested by the European Parliament. Holocaust education remains central to building up resilience against all forms of hatred in our European societies, and the European Parliament has provided a useful definition of Antisemitism for better education and training.

Antisemitism is not only a threat for Jews but a fundamental menace to our open and liberal societies. Remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust, this darkest chapter of modern European history, is essential for understanding the value of having a European Union today. It is to prevent these horrors that we founded a Union based on universal human rights, democracy, the rule of law and non-discrimination, and it is in the name of those values that we need to preserve it and constantly improve it.

Jean-Claude Juncker
President of the European Commission

Juncker Plan supports renewable energy and innovation in Austria with more than €100 million in European Investment Bank finance

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed two new deals in Austria this week: €48 million to windfarm operator Simonsfeld, of which €35 million is backed by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), and €70 million to powertrain system developer AVL, also backed by the EFSI. Simonsfeld will use the financing boost to build and operate three new wind farms in Austria with a total capacity of 39 MW, which equates to the energy consumption of around 25,000 homes. Commenting on the agreement, Maroš Šefčovič, Commission Vice-President responsible for Energy Union, said: “This positive decision reflects the new reality – the EU’s resolute transition to clean energy. Austria in particular is well on track to reach its 2020 target for renewable energy. These are precisely the steps we need in order to pave the way to a swift implementation of the Paris agreement.” AVL, the powertrain system developer, will use the EFSI-backed loan to expand its research and development activities, developing new, innovative and environmentally-friendly technology to use in hybrid and fully electric powertrains as well as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) for connected and autonomous vehicles. (For more information and all the latest EFSI results see the Investment Plan website or contact Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Siobhán Millbright – Tel.: +32 229 57361)

Initiative pour les PME: 1,3 milliard d’euros pour les petites entreprises du Sud de l’Italie

La Commission salue la signature de cinq nouveaux accords entre le Groupe Banque Européenne d’Investissement et Banca di Credito Popolare, Banca Popolare di Bari, Banco di Napoli, UniCredit et Unione di Banche Italiane sous l’Initiative pour les PME en Italie. Avec une contribution du Fonds européen de développement régional (FEDER) de 100 millions d’euros, le programme “Initiative pour les PME” investit les fonds de la politique de Cohésion de manière innovante afin d’améliorer l’accès des petites et moyennes entreprises (PME) aux financements, avec des conditions plus avantageuses. Ici, c’est près de 1,3 milliard d’euros de financement qui devraient être générés par ces cinq accords, pour les PME des régions du Sud de l’Italie. La Commissaire à la politique régionale Corina Crețu a commenté: “En ciblant spécifiquement les petites entreprises du sud de l’Italie et en améliorant leur accès aux financements, les cinq accords signés aujourd’hui stimuleront l’économie de tout le pays; il y a tant de gens talentueux et d’idées brillantes dans ces régions qui n’attendent qu’un petit coup de pouce financier pour que leurs projets se concrétisent. Je félicite les autorités italiennes pour leur utilisation de cet outil innovant de la politique de cohésion qu’est l’Initiative pour les PME.” Un communiqué de presse est disponible sur le site du Fonds européen d’investissement. (Pour plus d’information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)

De meilleures connexions ferroviaires dans la région italienne de Puglia grâce à la politique de Cohésion

67,5 millions d’euros du Fonds européen de développement régional (FEDER) sont investis dans des travaux de modernisation sur la ligne de chemin de fer reliant le port de Tarante au Port de Bari, dans la région italienne de Puglia, au Sud du pays. La Commissaire à la politique régionale Corina Creţu a déclaré: “En plus de promouvoir un moyen de transport respectueux de l’environnement, ce projet financé par l’UE favorisera le tourisme et le commerce dans le Sud de l’Italie, en réduisant les temps de trajet pour les passagers et les marchandises, tout en assurant une sécurité renforcée pour le trafic.” Cette section, qui fait partie du réseau transeuropéen de transport global (RTE-T), se situe sur la ligne de chemin de fer Adriatique, qui relie le Sud de l’Italie au Nord. Les travaux devraient être achevés à la fin de 2018. (Pour plus d’informations: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)

Commission publishes report on the collective redress possibilities in Member States

The Commission has published today a report looking at the progress made by Member States on the implementation of collective redress measures following the Commission’s 2013 Recommendation. The report shows that the availability of collective redress mechanisms as well as the implementation of safeguards against the potential abuse of such mechanisms is still not consistent across the EU. Commissioner Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said: “Recent cases, such as the Volkswagen scandal, illustrate the challenges in addressing situations where millions of consumers have suffered the same harm across the EU. We have strong consumer protection rules in place in our Union, but we need to make sure they are also respected and enforced. We will address this in the New Deal for Consumers this spring.” While EU legislation protects well the rights of consumers, the Commission will propose a “New Deal for Consumers” in spring as announced in the Commission’s work programme for 2018, to further strengthen ways of enforcement and redress for consumers,. Today’s report will feed into the preparations for this initiative. The Commission also publishes today a further study on national procedural laws and their impacts on the protection of consumers under EU consumer law, including redress opportunities. (For more information: Christian Wigand – Tel.: +32 229 62253; Mélanie Voin – Tel.: +32 229 58659)

Falsification of medicines: Commission calls for strict enforcement of the rules

The report on the application of penalties for those involved in the production and circulation of falsified medicines published today shows a wide variation in penalties across the EU. Maximum prison sentences for the falsification of medicines range from one year (Sweden, Finland and Greece) to 15 years (Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia); and maximum fines range from €4300 (Lithuania) to €1 million (Spain) and ‘unlimited’ (UK). Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “While the report published today finds measures taken by Member States to be satisfactory, penalties are only effective if they are well-enforced. Falsified medicines can kill. Therefore, I urge all EU countries to make sure that criminals falsifying medicines are punished. I seize the opportunity to remind that thanks to the common EU logo which helps identify legal online pharmacies that sell authentic and safe products, citizens can be helped to steer clear of falsified medicines. I encourage all online shoppers to stay safe by looking out for the logo and ensuring that an online pharmacy is legitimate before making a purchase.” The report comes following the requirement enshrined in the Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62/EU) that all EU countries put in place proportionate, effective and dissuasive penalties for those involved in the production and circulation of falsified medicines. Furthermore, Member States and stakeholders are working on a pan-EU authentication system for medicines scheduled to enter into force in February 2019. This means that the authenticity of prescription medicines will be checked before they are dispensed to patients. More information on falsified medicine available online. Follow us on Twitter:@V_Andriukaitis   @EU_Health (For more information: Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 229 87624)

Commission will launch new EU Energy Poverty Observatory
The new EU Energy Poverty Observatory will be launched on Monday29 January, at an event in Brussels hosted by Energy Union Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič and Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete. Roughly 9% of the EU population struggle to attain adequate warmth. The Observatory aims to support informed decision making at local, regional and national level by providing a user-friendly and open-access resource that will promote public engagement on the issue of energy poverty as well as serve to disseminate information and good practice among public and private stakeholders. Awareness of energy poverty is rising in Europe and has been identified as a policy priority by European Commission’s in its ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ packageof initiatives. There the Commission proposed to establish a common definition and required Member States to monitor figures and report back to the Commission. This is part and parcel of the implementation of Principle 20 of the European Pillar of Social Rightsand one of the enabling actions are being put in place to support a just and socially fair clean energy transition. A dedicated new Observatory website will go live on Monday. Follow on twitter: #EPOV (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Nicole Bockstaller – Tel.: +32 229 52589)

Cooperation for building European supercomputers: Czech Republic joins the initiative

The Czech Republic is the 14^th country to sign the European declaration on high-performance computing (HPC). The initiative aims at building European supercomputers that would rank among the world’s top three by 2022-2023. With this signature, the Czech Republic announced that it will join EuroHPC Joint Undertaking – a new legal and funding structure that was launched earlier this month. The cooperation with a total budget of approximately EUR 1 billion will acquire, build and deploy across Europe world-class High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure and enhance the development of the technologies and machines (hardware) as well as the applications (software) that would run on these supercomputers. Supercomputers are dealing with highly demanding scientific and engineering calculations that cannot be performed using general-purpose computers. They are strategic resource for the future of EU’s scientific leadership and industrial competitiveness and are increasingly needed to process ever larger amounts of data. Supercomputing can benefit the society in many areas from health care, renewable energy to car safety and cybersecurity. Other Member States and countries associated to Horizon 2020 framework programme are encouraged to join forces and sign the declaration. Read more about European supercomputing initiative here and in our recent press release, Q&A and factsheet. (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Inga Höglund – Tel.: +32 229 50698)

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation on Slovenia’s new proposed commitments for Nova Ljubljanska Banka

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether new measures proposed by the Slovenian authorities regarding the restructuring of Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB) sufficiently compensate for delaying the bank’s sale beyond end 2017.The partial sale of Slovenia’s shares in NLB is a key commitment to ensure NLB’s long-term viability, on the basis of which the Commission was able to approve significant State aid of up to €2.32 billion to NLB in December 2013. In May 2017, Slovenia requested a gradual sale of its shares in NLB in two tranches, which the Commission approved. However, after putting the sale of NLB on hold in June 2017, Slovenia did not complete the sale of a first tranche of its shares in NLB before the end of 2017, nor did Slovenia nominate a trustee to comply with the alternative commitment of divesting its Balkan subsidiaries. Since Slovenia failed to comply with its commitments, the aid granted to NLB in 2013 has not been lawfully implemented. Furthermore, the Commission has doubts that Slovenia’s proposed alternative measures of December 2017 can be considered equivalent to Slovenia’s original commitment. For these reasons, the Commission has today opened an in-depth investigation. This gives Slovenian authorities and other interested third parties the opportunity to submit comments on the Commission’s preliminary views, without prejudging its outcome. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Slovenia has proposed changes to its commitment to sell 75% of its shares in NLB and has missed a deadline under its existing commitment. It is the responsibility of Member States to comply with their commitments. At this stage, we have doubts that Slovenia’s new proposal is equivalent to its original commitment, which is why we have opened an in-depth investigation. We have to make sure that NLB, which has received significant State aid, is viable in the long-run, also for Slovenian taxpayers. And we have to ensure equal treatment of all EU countries. We will continue to work constructively with the Slovenian authorities over the course of this investigation.” The press release is available online in EN, DE, FR, SL. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Yizhou Ren – Tel.: +32 229 94889)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over EasyPark by Vitruvian and Verdane

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over EasyPark by Verdane, both of Norway, and Vitruvian of the UK. EasyPark is operating a digital parking marketplace providing mobile parking solutions and connected services to businesses, consumers, parking operators and cities. Vitruvian and Verdane are private equity firms with interests in various industries. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns because there is no overlap between the activities of the companies. 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.8749. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2018: Statement by President Juncker

Ahead of Holocaust Remembrance Day tomorrow, President Juncker issued a statement today, saying: “The 27^th of January is a date marked in history by sorrow and grief. On this day 73 years ago, Allied Forces liberated the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau and brought the horrors perpetrated there to an end. To mark this event, we honour today the memories of the six million Jews and others victims who perished during the Holocaust. We also pay tribute to those who survived the Shoah, among them the first President of the European Parliament Simone Veil, who dedicated her life to reconciliation and who has sadly passed away this past year…This day should remind us to be vigilant in the face of hatred, discrimination and dehumanisation. It is a day to confront those who spread lies about our history and who question the Holocaust or negate its fundamental meaning for today’s Europe. As Simone Veil reminded us, it is necessary to recall the names and stories of those we have lost, to spare them from disappearing for a second time…Remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust, this darkest chapter of modern European history, is essential for understanding the value of having a European Union today. It is to prevent these horrors that we founded a Union based on universal human rights, democracy, the rule of law and non-discrimination, and it is in the name of those values that we need to preserve it and constantly improve it.” President Juncker’s full statement can be found online here in all official EU languages. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456 ; Christian Wigand – Tel.: +32 229 62253)

First Vice-President Timmermans in The Netherlands for the official launch of European Capital of Culture Leeuwarden 2018

Leeuwarden in The Netherlands and Valletta in Malta are the two European Capitals of Culture in 2018. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans will be in The Netherlands tomorrow (27 January) to take part in the official opening ceremony for Leeuwarden 2018 at De Harmonie city theatre during a weekend of celebrations across the city. Artistic installations and performances by professional and amateur artists, and museums opening their doors to visitors throughout the region are some of the highlights. Leeuwarden’s title as European Capital of Culture coincides with the European Year of Cultural Heritage, an opportunity to highlight the role of Europe’s cultural heritage in fostering a shared sense of history and identity. More information on the European Capitals of Culture can be found here. (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Joseph Waldstein – Tel.: +32 229 56184)

Commissioner Neven Mimica meets African leaders in the margins of the African Union Summit

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, will be travelling to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the occasion of the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government, on 28 and 29January. In the margins of this Summit, he will hold bilateral meetings with the Presidents of Liberia, Ghana, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Somalia and the Vice-Presidents of Botswana and Zambia. He will also meet the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki, and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Vera Songwe. Commissioner Mimica affirmed: “I am pleased to represent the EU to this AU Summit, two months after our successful Summit in Abidjan. There, we agreed on our common political priorities in order to jointly invest on jobs and growth. We want this partnership, backed by €31 billion of official development assistance for the period 2014-2020, to become even stronger and mutually beneficial for citizens of both our continents.”  The AU Summit theme is “Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation”.

Joint-Statement by First Vice-President Timmermans, Vice-President Ansip, Commissioners Jourová and Gabriel ahead of Data Protection Day

“28 January marks European Data Protection Day. Data is everywhere. When using your smartphone, data could be collected on your whereabouts, your tastes, your friends, your health… In Europe, data protection is a fundamental right, we need to protect it. 2018 is going to be a landmark year for data protection in Europe. Modernised EU data protection rules will become a reality in May 2018. These rules respond to the challenges our digital world poses to our right to data protection. With just over 100 days left before the application of the new law, the Commission adopted guidance for national data protection authorities, national administrations and businesses to be ready for the big day. The Commission will also raise awareness to make sure Europeans are fully aware of their rights.(…) We are committed to making sure that security, trade and protection of personal data go hand in hand with modernisation and innovation, both at European and global level.” The full statement is available here, as well as material on data protection. (For more information: Christian Wigand– Tel.: +32 229 62253; Mélanie Voin – Tel.: +32 229 58659)

Vice-President Šefčovič in Croatia for second Energy Union Tour

Commission Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič is due to visit Croatia on 29-30 January as part of the second Energy Union Tour. The Vice-President will meet Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, and the Minister of Environment and Energy Tomislav Ćorić, in addition to members of the Croatian parliament. Their discussions will focus on the preparation of Croatia’s National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-30, the development of its internal energy market, and its role in regional energy cooperation, including the Central and South Eastern Europe Energy Connectivity (CESEC) initiative. The Vice-President will also give a keynote speech at a conference on ‘The New Croatian Energy Strategy’ and participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue that will focus on the Energy Union and the benefits it can bring to Croatia. Prior to the visit, Vice-President Šefčovič said: “I am pleased to see that Croatia is already achieving its 2020 targets for renewable energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thanks not least to its strong hydropower sector. I encourage it to further develop its renewables industry, and also to make additional efforts to meet its energy efficiency target. The EU’s new Smart Finance for Smart Buildings initiative, announced as part of the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package, will be able to help finance the energy efficient renovation of buildings in Croatia. The EU is also financing the construction of a liquefied natural gas terminal at Krk. This will help to diversify sources of energy supply in Croatia and the wider region and make its energy markets more competitive. Croatia’s story is a testimony to the Energy Union’s impact on the ground. It has already fulfilled its 2020 targets for CO2 emissions, renewables and energy efficiency, although the latter’s potential should be tapped further. Moreover, Croatia’s energy security is being gradually strengthened, in particular thanks to the regional cooperation under CESEC as well as a prospective Krk LNG terminal. What the Energy Union means for Croatia will also be a central theme of my interactive discussion with students in Zagreb.” For more information on the visit see here.(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Nicole Bockstaller – Tel.: +32 229 52589)

Calendar

The Commissioners’ weekly activities

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