Investissement numérique: 500 millions d’euros de financement de l’UE pour le développement de la 5G chez Nokia
La Banque européenne d’investissement (BEI) a signé un prêt de 500 millions d’euros avec l’entreprise de télécommunications finlandaise Nokia dans le cadre du Plan d’Investissement pour l’Europe. L’entreprise utilisera ce prêt pour accélérer ses travaux de recherche et développement sur la technologie 5G, la norme de télécommunication mobile de nouvelle génération. Le prêt est garanti par le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques (EFSI), le cœur du Plan d’Investissement. La technologie 5G devrait permettre d’atteindre des vitesses plus élevées, une connectivité massive, une autonomie de dix ans pour les capteurs et d’obtenir des réseaux très réactifs et fiables pour les clients. Le vice-président Jyrki Katainen, responsable de l’emploi, de la croissance, de l’investissement et de la compétitivité, a déclaré: “Pour que l’Europe puisse pleinement adopter et bénéficier des nouvelles technologies, il faut un effort soutenu d’investissement. C’est là que le Plan d’Investissement peut jouer un rôle crucial. Je suis ravi qu’avec l’accord d’aujourd’hui, le Plan contribue aux activités de recherche et développement de Nokia dans plusieurs pays européens pour faire progresser le développement de la technologie 5G.” (Le communiqué de presse complet est disponible ici. Pour plus d’informations: Lucia Caudet – Tél .: +32 229 56182; Siobhán Millbright – Tél .: +32 229 57361)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of FFT by Fosun International
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of FFT GmbH & Co. KGaA, of Germany and FFT Gesellschaft mbH of Austria (together, “FFT”) by Fosun International Limited of China. FFT supplies automated and flexible production systems for the automotive industry as well as for non-automotive sectors. Fosun International is an investment group focused on several sectors such as pharmaceutical, medical services, leisure, fashion, insurance and finance. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that there are no horizontal overlaps or vertical links 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.9027. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100)
Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over Fitness DK by Elixia and TryghedsGruppen
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Fitness DK Holding A/S of Denmark by Elixia Holding S.à.r.l of Luxembourg and TryghedsGruppen smba of Denmark. Fitness DK Holding is the holding company of the Danish fitness centre operator Fitness DK A/S which owns and operates 41 fitness centres across Denmark. Elixia, controlled by the Altor funds of Sweden, jointly controls the fitness chain Health & Fitness Nordic (‘HFN’). TryghedsGruppen, a member based organisation whose members are policyholders of Danish insurance company Tryg, is the other jointly controlling shareholder of HFN. HFN operates fitness centres in Sweden, Norway and Finland, but not in Denmark. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns given the lack of horizontal overlaps and vertical links between the activities of the companies. The transaction was examined under the simplified procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.9008. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100)
Commission clears acquisition of joint control over Abatec by PIAG and MTIB
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control over Abatec group AG by Pierer Industrie AG (PIAG) and Michael Tojner Industriebeteiligungs und -beratungs GmbH (MTIB), all of Austria. Abatec is active in the production of surface-mounted technology, local position measurement systems and high performance carbonators. PIAG is a vehicle group with a focus on the global motorcycle segment and the automotive high-tech component sector, while MTIB is active in the fields of energy storage, aerospace components and industrial components. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns because the activities and turnover of Abatec are limited in the European Economic Area. 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.8990. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100)
Agriculture: the Commission approves new geographical indications from Poland
A traditional sausage from the Cracow region in South-East Poland, known as Kielbasa Krakowska Sucha Staropolska, is registered as Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)and a local variety of garlic from Małopolskie Province, referred to as Czosnek Galicyjski, has also been added today to the list of 30 Polish quality food products considered under the EU rules as Protected Geographical Indications (PGI). Kielbasa Krakowska Sucha Staropolska sausage is a smoked, cooked and dried sausage produced from high quality lean pork. Czosnek galicyjski garlic is purple-pink or has a purple skin, with large bulbs and a small number of cloves. For more information about EU quality policy and protected traditional products see dedicated pages. (For more information: Daniel Rosario – Tel: +32 229 56 185; Clémence Robin – Tel: +32 229)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Commissioner Hahn at Western Balkans Prime Ministers’ meeting in Durres, Albania
Today, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, is in Durres, Albania, to take part in an informal meeting of the Western Balkan Prime Ministers. The discussions at the meeting focus in particular on the regional economic integration, including the Regional Economic Area (REA). “The Regional Economic Area is the key to the goal of regional economic integration. Intra-regional trade is up for the first time in years: an increase of more than 13% in intra-CEFTA trade in 2017 compared to 2016. Given this backdrop, our own prediction of REA potentially creating around 80,000 new jobs by 2025 seems almost too cautious,” stressed Commissioner Hahn, “putting the work on rule of law as well as growth and jobs at the heart of Commission’s engagement with the region on its European path”. See the full speech here. (For more information: Maja Kocijančič – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Adam Kaznowski – Tel.: +32 229 89359)
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)
Follow this news feed: EU