Press release – Moody’s Nordics CRA registration
Daily News 13 / 08 / 2018
Pologne: une meilleure sécurité énergétique grâce à la politique de Cohésion
145,5 millions d’euros du Fonds européen de développement régional (FEDER) sont investis dans la construction du gazoduc “Pogórska Wola- Tworzeń”, une canalisation de 168 km pour le transport de gaz naturel, traversant les régions polonaises de Małopolskie, Świętokrzyskie et Śląskie (Petite-Pologne, Sainte-Croix et Silésie), au Sud du pays. Ce gazoduc fait partie du corridor Nord-Sud, projet dit “d’intérêt commun” inscrit dans le plan décennal de développement 2017 établi par le réseau européen des gestionnaires de réseaux de transport de gaz (REGRT pour le gaz). La commissaire à la politique régionale Corina Crețu a commenté: “Ce gazoduc soutenu par les fonds européens est une nouvelle pierre apportée à l’édifice du marché européen de l’énergie ainsi qu’à la diversification des sources d’énergie dans l’Union Européenne. Il contribuera à fournir aux polonais une énergie plus abordable, sûre et durable.” Le corridor Nord-Sud est composé de 10 projets différents, dont 6 sont pour l’instant cofinancés par l’UE. La contribution totale de l’UE à ces 6 projets pendant la période budgétaire 2014-2020 s’élève à 275 millions d’euros. Le gazoduc “Pogórska Wola- Tworzeń” devrait être achevé à la fin de 2020. (Pour plus d’informations: Vanessa Mock – Tel.: +32 229 56194, Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)
L’UE en première ligne dans la lutte contre le virus Ebola en RDC
“L’UE continue de suivre de près la nouvelle épidémie d’Ebola en République Démocratique du Congo. Nous apportons tout notre soutien pour aider à contenir le virus. Nos experts humanitaires sont sur place dans les zones affectées, et travaillent dur et de concert avec les autres acteurs d’intervention d’urgence. Nous ne pouvons pas et nous ne serons pas complaisants avec Ebola, nous ne baissons pas la garde. Nous poursuivrons notre soutien aussi longtemps que nécessaire,” a déclaré le commissaire chargé de l’aide humanitaire et de la gestion de crises Christos Stylianides. Durant le week-end, le Commissaire s’est entretenu avec Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Directeur général de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Ils ont évalué la situation sur place et le commissaire Stylianides a réitéré le soutien indéfectible de l’UE à la lutte conjointe contre Ebola. Tous deux ont convenu de rester en contact constant. Lorsque l’épidémie d’Ebola a été déclarée dans la province du Nord Kivu par le Ministère de la santé congolais le 1 août 2018, la Commission européenne a immédiatement mobilisé une aide d’urgence. En plus de l’envoi d’experts humanitaires de la Commission dans le pays, les services humanitaires aériens ECHO Flight ont mené jusqu’alors huit vols transportant du personnel, du matériel médical et des équipements vers la ville de Beni, dans la zone touchée par Ebola. (Pour plus d’informations: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322 ; Esther Osorio – Tel.: +32 229 62076)
Agreement signed for new digital data highway between Europe and Latin America
A group of 11 European and Latin American research and education networks forming the BELLA (Building Europe Link to Latin America) consortium, which is partially funded by the European Commission, have signed a contract to build Ellalink, an underwater fibre optic cable in the Atlantic Ocean connecting Europe and Latin America. The cable will be operational in 2020 and will provide reliable high capacityconnectivity to boost scientific and cultural exchanges as well as business. It is additionally a step forward in the creation of an EU–Latin America common research area. Construction of the cable will start as soon as the contract enters into force in the coming months. The Commission is investing around €26.5 million in the project, with funding from Horizon 2020, the Copernicus programme and the regional Development Cooperation Instrument. More details are available here. (For more information: Vanessa Mock – tel.: +32 229 56194; Inga Höglund – Tel.: +32 229 50698)
State aid: Commission clears inclusion of new combined heat and power plant in Polish scheme to support high-efficiency co-generation
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, Poland’s plans to include a 600 megawatt gas-fired combined heat and power plant located in Płock in its existing scheme to support high-efficiency co-generation of heat and electricity. Cogeneration increases energy efficiency by recycling the heat from power generation for other uses, to the overall benefit of the environment. The Polish scheme was approved by the Commission in September 2016. Under the scheme, combined heat and power plants are granted certificates for each megawatt-hour of electricity they generate in combined heat and power mode. These certificates have a value because all suppliers in the Polish market are required to purchase a certain quantity of certificates or pay a penalty. The Commission found that the addition of the Płock plant to the scheme will contribute to the EU’s energy and environmental objectives without unduly distorting competition in the Internal Market, in line with the Commission’s 2014 Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy. Poland had to notify to the Commission the addition of the plant to the national scheme because the plant exceeds the 300 megawatt individual notification threshold set out in the Guidelines. More information will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the State Aid Register under the case number SA.50305. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100).
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)
Commission welcomes WTO ruling confirming lawfulness of core principles of the EU third energy package
The WTO panel did not find basis to the claim concerning the alleged EU discrimination in its “Third Energy Package” against Russian pipeline transport services, service suppliers, or against Russian natural gas. The panel ruled in favour of the EU concerning the rules on “unbundling”, i.e. the requirement to separate energy supply and generation from the operation of transmission networks, as well as on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and on upstream pipeline networks. This is an important positive outcome for the EU, as it secures the core elements of the Third Energy Package.
The Commission will now analyse the ruling in detail, in particular as regards a limited number of issues on which the WTO-compatibility of EU energy policy has still not been recognised.
Background
The Third Energy Package consists of EU legislation for integrating the internal energy market. It includes rules on, in particular, the separation of energy supply and generation from the operation of transmission networks (unbundling), non-discriminatory access to energy infrastructure and independence of national energy regulators. An integrated and competitive EU energy market is the most cost-effective way to ensure secure and affordable supplies to EU citizens and business with a choice of energy supplier.
For more information
EU third energy package: MEMO and EU Market Legislation
Commission welcomes WTO ruling confirming lawfulness of core principles of the EU third energy package
The WTO panel did not find basis to the claim concerning the alleged EU discrimination in its “Third Energy Package” against Russian pipeline transport services, service suppliers, or against Russian natural gas. The panel ruled in favour of the EU concerning the rules on “unbundling”, i.e. the requirement to separate energy supply and generation from the operation of transmission networks, as well as on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and on upstream pipeline networks. This is an important positive outcome for the EU, as it secures the core elements of the Third Energy Package.
The Commission will now analyse the ruling in detail, in particular as regards a limited number of issues on which the WTO-compatibility of EU energy policy has still not been recognised.
Background
The Third Energy Package consists of EU legislation for integrating the internal energy market. It includes rules on, in particular, the separation of energy supply and generation from the operation of transmission networks (unbundling), non-discriminatory access to energy infrastructure and independence of national energy regulators. An integrated and competitive EU energy market is the most cost-effective way to ensure secure and affordable supplies to EU citizens and business with a choice of energy supplier.
For more information
EU third energy package: MEMO and EU Market Legislation