“Each year on this day, we pay tribute to the victims of all totalitarian regimes and recall with sorrow the terrible consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, signed on 23 August 1939 by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The Pact plunged Europe even deeper into one of its darkest periods. Millions of people were murdered and generations of fellow Europeans scarred.

It is our duty to preserve the names of the millions persecuted, and keep their memories alive. Especially because today, 79 years later, our common values of human dignity, fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy are challenged again by extremist, nationalist and divisive rhetoric.

By guarding and passing on the memory of past atrocities to the next generation of Europeans, we help to inoculate ourselves against repeating them, and we recall the importance of defending the human rights of every European.

We must continue to tell the story of what happened in Europe’s past, so that we do not make the same mistakes in the future.”

Background

The signature of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on 23 August 1939 led to the deportation, torture and murder of tens of millions of people under totalitarian regimes.

While the end of World War II marked the defeat of the Nazi regime, many Europeans continued for decades to suffer under totalitarian regimes.

For More Information

Video: First Vice-President Frans Timmermans on our common values

Migration: Commission awards €9 million to Italy to support health care for asylum seekers and refugees

Yesterday, the Commission awarded €9 million in emergency assistance to Italy to help improve access to healthcare in reception facilities for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. The financial assistance will reach over 42,000 people in the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Toscana, and Sicily. Particular attention will be given to the needs of vulnerable persons, including women and children. Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship said: “Italy has been under particular pressure over the past years and the Commission will not relent in supporting the Italian efforts when it comes to managing migration and giving shelter to those in need of protection. The funding will help to address basic healthcare needs by helping to ensure adequate access to medical services when needed. The Commission will continue supporting all Member States under pressure whilst continuing to work towards long-term durable European solutions”. With this award, the Commission has mobilised over €200 million in emergency assistance to support migration management in Italy. The emergency funding comes on top of €653.7 million allocated to Italy under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) national programme 2014-2020. (For more information: Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 229 86764; Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 229 80423)

Concentrations : la Commission approuve la création d’une entreprise commune par ENGIE et GreenYellow

La Commission Européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement sur les concentrations, la création d’une entreprise commune par les sociétés ENGIE et GreenYellow, les deux basées en France. L’entreprise commune sera principalement active sur le marché du développement, de la construction, de l’exploitation et de la maintenance de centrales photovoltaïques. ENGIE est active dans les métiers du gaz, de l’électricité et des services liés à l’énergie. GreenYellow est active dans le secteur des solutions photovoltaïques et d’efficacité énergétique. La Commission a conclu que la concentration envisagée ne soulevait pas de problème de concurrence compte tenu des chevauchements horizontaux et des relations verticales très limités entre les activités des entreprises. La transaction a été examinée en vertu de la procédure simplifiée de contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d’affaire M.9020. (Pour plus d’informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over Aqualia by IFM and FCC

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control over FCC Aqualia S.A. (“Aqualia”) of Spain by IFM Investors Pty Ltd of Australia and Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas S.A. (“FCC”) of Spain. Aqualia is mainly active in water management and treatment, predominantly in Spain. IFM is an investor-owned global investment manager. FCC has a diversified business portfolio, which includes, among others, environmental services and water management, construction of large infrastructures, cement production and renewable energy production. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would not raise competition concerns since there are no overlaps 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.9030. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100)

Mergers: Commission clears creation of joint venture between Sumitomo and Tierra

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control by Sumitomo Corporation of Japan and Tierra S.p.A. of Italy over of a newly created joint venture.  The joint venture will provide IT consultancy services and management of other computer facilities in India and south-east Asia. Sumitomo is active in various sectors, including trading of metal products, transportation and construction of systems, environment and infrastructure, chemicals and electronics, media, networks and lifestyle related goods, mineral resources and energy and life sciences. Tierra is a joint venture between Topcon of Japan and Elda Ingegneria of Italy that develops and provides telematics information management systems and software solutions. It serves original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers in the agriculture, construction, surveying, and general industry sectors worldwide. The Commission concluded that the joint venture between Sumitomo and Tierra would not raise competition concerns, because it does not have any planned activities in the EEA. 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.9053. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100) 

STATEMENTS

Joint statement by First Vice-President Timmermans and Commissioner Jourová ahead of the Europe-Wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes

“Each year on this day, we pay tribute to the victims of all totalitarian regimes and recall with sorrow the terrible consequences of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, signed on 23 August 1939 by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. The Pact plunged Europe even deeper into one of its darkest periods. Millions of people were murdered and generations of fellow Europeans scarred. It is our duty to preserve the names of the millions persecuted, and keep their memories alive. Especially because today, 79 years later, our common values of human dignity, fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy are challenged again by extremist, nationalist and divisive rhetoric. By guarding and passing on the memory of past atrocities to the next generation of Europeans, we help to inoculate ourselves against repeating them, and we recall the importance of defending the human rights of every European. We must continue to tell the story of what happened in Europe’s past, so that we do not make the same mistakes in the future.” The full statement can be found here. (For more information: Christian Wigand– Tel.: +32 229 62253; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: + 32 229 67094)

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