Daily News 03 / 08 / 2018 - Government World Magazine

Hongrie: une autoroute financée par les fonds de cohésion européen

Près de 200 millions d’euros provenant du Fonds de cohésion vont être investis dans la construction d’une autoroute entre Berettyóújfalu et Debrecen, dans l’est de la Hongrie. Corina Creţu, commissaire en charge de la politique régionale, a déclaré: “Ce projet financé par l’Union européenne permettra aux habitants de la région de voyager plus rapidement et de façon plus sûre et de transporter plus rapidement des marchandises, créant ainsi de nouvelles opportunités économiques et des perspectives de croissance.” Cette autoroute fait partie du réseau central du réseau transeuropéen de transport (RTE-T) et comprend l’infrastructure associée nécessaire: ponts, passages souterrains et services publics pour faciliter l’accès à la nouvelle autoroute. Elle permettra d’ailleurs d’offrir un accès depuis la ville de Debrecen à l’autoroute M4 reliant Budapest à la Roumanie, qui a elle-même reçu un financement de l’UE en mai de cette année. (Pour plus d’informations: Johannes Bahrke – Tél.: +32 229 58615, Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 229 90526)

Commission authorises five Genetically Modified products for food and feed use

Today, the Commission has adopted authorisation decisions of five Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for food and feed use. The authorisation decisions do not cover the use of these GMOs for cultivation. Today’s decisions concern 2 new authorisations (maize MON 87427 x MON 89034 x NK603, maize 1507 x 59122 x MON 810 x NK603) and the renewal of 3 existing authorisations (maize DAS-59122-7, maize GA21, sugar beet H7-1). All of these Genetically Modified Organisms have gone through a comprehensive authorisation procedure, including a favourable scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). All Member States had a right to express a view in the Standing Committee and subsequently the Appeals Committee, and the outcome is that the European Commission has the legal backing of the Member States to proceed. The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any products produced from these Genetically Modified Organisms will be subject to the EU’s strict labelling and traceability rules. For more information on GMOs in the EU see here. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel. +32 229 87624)

Migration: Commission increases emergency assistance for Spain to €30 million [Updated on 3/8/2018 at 13:01]

Yesterday, the Commission awarded an additional €3 million in emergency assistance under the Internal Security Fund (ISF) to support Spain in responding to the recent migratory pressure. The assistance will mainly support the costs linked to the deployment of extra staff from the Guardia Civil to the southern borders of Spain. This support brings to €30 million the emergency funding awarded to Spain since July to help the country address migratory challenges. This financial assistance comes on top of €691.7 million allocated to Spain under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) national programme 2014-2020. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tel.: +32 299 63444)

EUROSTAT: Le volume des ventes du commerce de détail en hausse de 0,3% dans la zone euro

En juin 2018 par rapport à mai 2018, le volume des ventes du commerce de détail corrigé des variations saisonnières a augmenté de 0,3% dans la zone euro (ZE19) et est resté stable dans l’UE28, selon les estimations d’Eurostat, l’office statistique de l’Union européenne. En mai 2018, le commerce de détail avait augmenté de 0,3% dans la zone euro et de 0,6% dans l’UE28. En juin 2018 par rapport à juin 2017, l’indice corrigé des effets de calendrier des ventes de détail a augmenté de 1,2% dans la zone euro et de 1,9% dans l’UE28. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d’informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tél.: +32 229 80100; Maud Noyon – Tél.: +32 229 80379)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Uralkali by Uralchem

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of Public Joint Stock Company Uralkali (“Uralkali”) by Joint Stock Company United Chemical Company Uralchem (“Uralchem”), both of the Russian Federation. Uralkali mainly produces and sells potash and related/derivative potassium salts. Uralchem produces and distributes products to the agricultural industry, particularly mineral fertilizers. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns, due to the lack of horizontal overlaps and the limited vertical links between the companies’ activities. 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.8666. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel: +32 229 55344).

ANNOUNCEMENT

Commissioner Avramopoulos in Madrid to discuss migration along the Western Mediterranean sea route

Following President Juncker‘s contact with Prime Minister Sánchez this week, where President Juncker underlined the Commission’s support for Spainin dealing with increased migratory pressure, today Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos is in Madrid. He will hold a series of high-level meetings in the context of the increased arrivals along the Western Mediterranean sea route. These include meetings with Ms Carmen Calvo, Vice-President of the Spanish Government, Josep Borrell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr Fernando Grande-Marlaska, Minister of Home Affairs, and Ms Magdalena Valerio, Minister for Labour, Migration and Social Security. The joint statement will be available online after the meeting here. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tel.: +32 299 63444)

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