(Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine)

Déplacements et visites

 

Lundi 30 avril 2018

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Los Angeles, the United States: participates in a panel discussion “Europe: Past Tense, Future Perfect?” at the Milken Institute Global Conference 2018.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Lithuania (until 01/05): in Klaipėda: meets Mr Arvydas Vaitkus, Director-General of Port of Klaipėda; Mr Vytautas Grubliauskas, Mayor of Klaipėda; Ms Aušra Žemaitienė, Director-General of Mars Lietuva and visits the Mars factory; meets representatives of the Klaipėda University; holds Citizens’ dialogue at Klaipėda University; and meets the mayors of the Western region of Lithuania.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Munich, Germany: meets Mr Joachim Herrmann, Ministry of Interior of the Land of Bavaria; meets Members of Parliament of the Bavarian Landtag.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Sofia, Bulgaria: meets Mr Emil Karanikolov, Minister for the Economy of Bulgaria; delivers a keynote speech at the conference “Consumer law and policy today. Can we do better?”; participates in a Citizen’s dialogue; meets Ms Tsetska Tsacheva, Minister for Justice of Bulgaria; and together with Ms Mariya Gabriel, deliver keynote speeches at the High-level Forum “Time to Table the EU Double Standards on Foodstuffs”.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Denmark (until 02/05): inNordhavn delivers a speech at a seminar for business leaders, “Top Floor Talk”.

 

Mardi 01 mai 2018

Labour Day

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Vilnius, Lithuania: participates in the European Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

 

Mercredi 02 mai 2018

College meeting

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Hassan Ali Khaire, Prime Minister of Somalia.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Leuven, Belgium: delivers a keynote speech and participates in the Summit and Festival “Shaping Future City Life” .

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Riga, Latvia: attends a meeting at the Economists Association 2010 with members of the Association and representatives of the private sector.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Francisco Reynes, Chairman and CEO of GasNatural Fenosa.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis receives representatives of the European Risk Forum.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Marrakesh, Morocco: participates in the Fifth Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development (Rabat Process).

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris, France: prononce un discours sur la politique économique européenne après 2019 lors d’une conférence organisée par l’Institut Open Diplomacy.

Mr Phil Hogan delivers a speech at the AgriResearch Conference on “Innovating for the future of farming and rural communities”, in Brussels.

Mr Tibor Navracsics receives Ms Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Copenhagen, Denmark: participates in on-stage conversation with Ms Lizette Risgaard, President of the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions.

Mr Carlos Moedas delivers a closing keynote speech at the EU Agricultural Research Conference, in Brussels.

Mr Julian King receives participants from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Young Visitors Programme.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Luxembourg: participates in a Citizens’ dialogue together with Mr Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

 

Jeudi 03 mai 2018

EU-Moldova Association Council

President Jean-Claude Juncker participates in a debate on the future of Europe with Mr Charles Michel, Prime Minister of Belgium, in the Plenary of the European Parliament, in Brussels.

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets Mr Markus Söder, Minister-President of Bavaria, in Brussels.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Syed Kamall, Co-Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament, for a working lunch.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Wolfgang Schüssel, former Chancellor of Austria.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Ulrich Wilhelm, Director of the Bayerischer Rundfunk.

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of Moldova.

Ms Federica Mogherini chairs the EU-Moldova Association Council.  

Mr Andrus Ansip à Lille, France: prononce un discours au “Lille Transatlantic Dialogues” conférence de haut niveau sur les défis auxquels font face l’industrie télévisuelle; rencontre Mme Françoise Nyssen, Ministre de la Culture; et M. Reed Hastings, CEO de Netflix.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Frankfurt, Germany: delivers a keynote speech at the “Fostering banking union and capital markets union – a top-down or bottom-up approach?” joint conference of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission.

Mr Johannes Hahn participates in the EU- Moldova Association Council.

Mr Johannes Hahn receives Mr Pavel Filip, Prime Minister of Moldova.

Mr Neven Mimica in Santa Cruz, Bolivia (until 05/05): meets Mr Carlos Romero Bonifaz, Minister for the Interior of Bolivia; Ms Mariana Prado, Minister for Planning; and participates in the launch event of the Joint Programing with Bolivia.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Hervé Maurey, President of the Commission of Sustainable Development of the French Senate.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives members of the Spanish national parliament.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives Ms Isabel García Tejerina, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment of Spain.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives representatives of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Mr Karmenu Vella receives Mr Nicolas Vanier, French writer and film director.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis holds a meeting with the stakeholders on Health Technology Assessment (HTA), in Brussels.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Hungary (until 04/05): in Budapest: visits the European Research Network (ERN) centres of Semmelweis University.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit  M. Edward Scicluna, Ministre des finances de la République de Malte, à Bruxelles.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit Mme Eva Lindström, Membre de la Cour des comptes européenne, à Bruxelles.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit Mme Catherine Guillouard, Président de la Régie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP).

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Pavel Filip, Premier ministre de la Moldavie.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Berlin, Germany: meets Mr Horst Seehofer, Federal Minister of Interior of Germany and Mr Uwe Corsepius, Director for EU affairs in the Federal Chancellor’s Office.

Mr Phil Hogan receives Ms Isabel García Tejerina, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and the Environment of Spain.

Ms Violeta Bulc reçoit Mme Catherine Guillouard, Président de la Régie autonome des transports parisiens (RATP);

Ms Violeta Bulc reçoit les prestataires de service de navigation aérienne membres de l’alliance “A6”.

Mr Tibor Navracsics gives opening speech at the DiscoverEU stakeholders’ meeting, in Brussels.

Mr Tibor Navracsics receives Ms Zsófia Villegas-Vitézy, Cultural counsellor at Balassi Institute – Cultural Service of the Embassy of Hungary in Brussels.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Mechelen, Belgium: visits the city of Mechelen and the youth house ROJM.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Bulgaria (until 04/05): in Sofia: delivers a keynote speech at the conference Smart Specialisation and Technology Transfer as Innovation Drivers for Regional Growth.

Vendredi 04 mai 2018

04-05/05 Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers on defence in Sofia, Bulgaria

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Trier, Germany: delivers a speech at an event commemorating the 200th anniversary of birth of Karl Marx.

Mr Frans Timmermans in Ereveld Loenen, the Netherlands:delivers a keynote speech at Dodenherdenking (National Remembrance Day).

Ms Federica Mogherini and Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Sofia, Bulgaria (until 05/05):  participate in the Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers on defence.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives members of Tartu University management.

Mr Johannes Hahn participates in the “Situation of media and freedom of expression in Turkey” conference on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, at the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Mr Neven Mimica in Santa Cruz, Bolivia: meets Mr Evo Morales, President of Bolivia; visits EU-funded development projects together with Mr Evo Morales, President of Bolivia and members of the government.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Szeged, Hungary: visits the Department of Dermatology and Allergology of the Szeged University; meets experts of the Skin European Research Network (ERN); and holds a Citizens’ dialogue at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens: delivers the keynote speech at the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation platform event “The EGTCs’ contribution to the debate on the future of Europe”.

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris, France: rencontre M. Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-président de la Banque européenne d’investissement (EIB).

Mr Phil Hogan in Birmingham, the United Kingdom: meets representatives of the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales (NFU).

Ms Margrethe Vestager delivers a speech at the event on the 25^th Anniversary of the Belgian Competition Act at the Belgian Competition Authority, in Brussels. 

Mr Julian King in Copenhagen, Denmark: meets Ms Inger Støjberg, Minister for Immigration and Integration of Denmark; members of the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament; Mr Henrik Bjelke Hansen, Director of the Preventative Security Department of the Danish Intelligence and Security Service; and Mr Søren Pape Poulsen, Minister for Justice; and participates in a Citizens’ dialogue on security issues and the role of the EU in fighting terrorism.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Haskovo, Bulgaria: participates as patron and hands out awards at ‘Creativity without borders’ digital art contest.

 

Samedi 05 mai 2018

Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers on defence in Sofia, Bulgaria

Ms Federica Mogherini and Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Sofia, Bulgaria:  participate in the Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers on defence.

Mr Jyrki Katainen gives the opening speech at the European Commission’s Open Doors Day, in Brussels.

Mr Neven Mimica in Santa Cruz, Bolivia: meets Mr Rubén Costas, Governor of Santa Cruz; and visits an EU-funded project.

 

Dimanche 06 mai 2018

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Barcelona, Spain: delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the 34th World Veterinary Association Congress.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Cascais, Portugal: delivers an opening keynote speech at the Horasis Global Meeting: Inspiring our Future.

 

Prévisons du mois de mai:

14/05 EU-Algeria Association Council

14/05 General Affairs Council

15/05 EU-Cuba joint ministerial meeting

17/05 EU-Western Balkans summit in Sofia, Bulgaria

22/05 Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)

22/05 Foreign Affairs Council (Development)

22-23/05 Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council

24/05 Eurogroup

25/05 European Economic Area Council

28/05 Foreign Affairs Council

28-29/05 Competitiveness Council

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 28 et 29 avril 2018:

Nathalie VANDYSTADT: +32 460 76 70 83

Permanence RAPID – GSM: +32 (0) 498 982 748

Service Audiovisuel, planning studio – tél. : +32 (0)2/295 21 23

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “I am happy that we found a solution, in close cooperation with Italy, which will enable crucial investments on Italian motorways, while limiting the impact on users and avoiding overcompensation of companies operating the motorways. Italy has also agreed to re-tender a number of major motorway concessions in the near future to ensure effective competition in the market.“

Today’s Commission decision follows an agreement in principle reached on 5 July 2017 between Commissioner Vestager and the Italian Minister of Infrastructures and Transports Delrio. It will enable around €8.5 billion of investments to go ahead on Italian motorways. The plan involves, in particular, the prolongation of two major motorway concessions held by Autostrade per l’Italia (ASPI) and by Società Iniziative Autostradali e Servizi (SIAS). ASPI’s concession covers its network of motorways in Italy, and SIAS’ concession concerns the SATAP A4 Torino-Milano motorway. Furthermore, SIAS will use revenues from its prolonged concession to complete the Asti-Cuneo A33 motorway, which is also operated by SIAS.

The Commission and the Italian authorities have cooperated closely to reach this solution that boosts investment in the Italian motorway sector in line with EU State aid and public procurement rules. EU rules in this context have made sure that the State support avoids excessive toll increases for motorway users and overcompensation of the concessionaires, whilst ensuring effective competition in the market.

Details of the Italian motorways plan

For ASPI the measure foresees the prolongation of its concession by 4 years (until 2042). Similarly, in the case of SIAS the measure also foresees a prolongation of its concession by 4 years (until 2030).

Both concessions include a cap on potential toll increases at a sustainable level for motorway users, i.e. in principle they must not exceed the rate of inflation plus 0.5%.

They are also accompanied by a series of safeguards to avoid that ASPI and SIAS are overcompensated and to limit competition distortions, including:

• a cap on the amount that ASPI and SIAS, respectively, could receive at the end of the concession from a sale of the assets;
• a mechanism to avoid overcompensation. In particular, this mechanism determines the remuneration and the amount of investments ASPI and SIAS, respectively, need to carry out, imposing financial penalties in case of delay or failure in to realise investments; and
• a series of detailed requirements to tender out the vast majority of infrastructure works downstream in order to limit distortions of competition.

At the same time, the prolongation of the two concessions should provide ASPI and SIAS with sufficient revenues to finance significant investments in the Italian motorways sector.

In the case of ASPI, the income from the prolongation of its concession should allow for the timely completion of the so-called “Gronda di Genova“, a bypass of Genova to connect the existing motorway links of ASPI, as well as a series of further improvements on the ASPI network, with works starting at the latest by January 2020.

In the case of SIAS, the prolongation of its concession should allow SIAS to finance the investments needed to complete the Asti-Cuneo A33 motorway, which is also operated by SIAS. Italy will also shorten the duration of SIAS’ concession of the Asti-Cuneo A33 motorway by 13 years and cap possible toll increases. It has committed to launch a joint tender of both SIAS concessions concerned, i.e. for the SATAP A4 Torino-Milano motorway and the Asti-Cuneo A33motorway, by 2030.

To ensure sufficient competition in the Italian motorway sector, Italy has also committed to launch a joint tender by 2019 of a series of related, separate concessions held by SIAS (for the SATAP A21 and ATIVA motorways), which are already expired or about to expire. Finally, Italy has decided not to pursue initial plans to prolong concessions of other motorways held by SIAS, such as for the CISA motorway.

The Commission found that the measures will promote growth and unlock investment, while limiting the impact on motorway users in line with EU State aid and public procurement rules. The limited prolongation of concessions and the safeguard measures will minimise distortions of competition in line with State aid and public procurement rules.

On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian motorways plan under EU rules.

Background

When companies obtain prolongations of concessions (without re-tendering) to construct and operate motorways in exchange for tolls imposed by users, such prolongations are subject to EU State aid and public procurement rules.

EU State aid rules allow Member States to grant support for such infrastructure investments to stimulate economic growth, subject to certain conditions – this includes in particular the need to avoid overcompensation and to ensure that there remains effective competition in the market. In particular, the Commission’s assessment is based on the framework of EU rules on services of general economic interest (SGEI), which includes an assessment of the measures under public procurement rules, notably under the EU Directive on the award of concession contracts (Directive 2014/23/EU).

The non-confidential version of this decision will be made available under the case number SA.49335 (SATAP / Asti-Cuneo) and SA.49336 (ASPI) in the State Aid Register on the Commission’s competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. New publications of state aid decisions on the internet and in the Official Journal are listed in the State Aid Weekly e-News.

The two institutions share the common objectives of safeguarding the stability of the euro area and ensuring the efficient governance of financial assistance programmes in Member States. The document – which will be officially signed by Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on behalf of the Commission and ESM Managing Director Klaus Regling this afternoon – reflects the close cooperation of the two institutions and the important role that the ESM has played over the years in providing financial assistance to Member States to overcome acute crises and regain financial stability.

The Memorandum spells out the working methods between the Commission and the European Stability Mechanism in the light of experience and in line with their respective roles and mandates. It does not change the rules and the legal framework under which they operate. The existing competences and responsibilities of both institutions, as enshrined in the European Union law and the ESM Treaty, remain intact. The Memorandum is also without prejudice to any further reform of the ESM that may be agreed. 

Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, said: “Today’s Memorandum reflects the shared objectives of the European Commission and the European Stability Mechanism, which are to safeguard the stability of the euro area and to ensure efficient governance of financial assistance programmes in Member States. It is based on the current principles of cooperation between the two institutions, in line with their respective roles and mandates. Going forward with the deepening of Europe’s Economic and Monetary Union, we should work to further strengthen our crisis management tools.”

Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: “The close collaboration between the Commission and the ESM in recent years has demonstrated that we can act successfully and with determination in the interest of the euro area in times of crisis. This Memorandum of Understanding recalls the key principles of our cooperation today and in the future. By strengthening the foundations of our crisis management, we are sending a signal of confidence and stability.”

Klaus Regling, Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism, added: “I am very glad that we sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and the ESM today. The MoU formalises our successful cooperation in ESM financial assistance programmes. The MoU builds on the complementary responsibilities and competences the Commission and the ESM have. The further intensification of our working relationship leads to a win-win situation for the euro area as a whole and all its Member States.”

 

Continued close cooperation

The Memorandum of Understanding sets out the principles of cooperation, working arrangements under ESM financial assistance programmes and post-programme surveillance, operational arrangements on exchanges of information and confidentiality, and matters regarding training programmes and staff exchange.

The agreement will provide useful guidance for continued collaboration in future programmes. The ESM Managing Director will meet at least twice a year with the Members of the Commission responsible for Financial Stability and Economic and Financial Affairs to discuss the working arrangements set out in the Memorandum.

For more information

Memorandum of Understanding

EU financial assistance