€100 million of Juncker Plan financing for research and development at Antolin Group in Spain

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €100 million loan with Spanish car interior supplier Antolin Group to support the company’s research and development activities. The loan is guaranteed under the Juncker Plan’s European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). Antolin will use the financing to develop new lightweight vehicle interior components for energy-efficient, connected and autonomous vehicles. The activities will be carried out in Spain, Germany and France. Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Investing in research and innovation is investing in Europe’s future. With this €100 million EIB loan under the Juncker Plan signed today, the Antolin Group will develop innovative products to enhance its competitiveness in Europe. I’m pleased that the EU is supporting a highly innovative project in a traditional sector such as the automotive sector. It’s vital that our companies receive the financial help they need to carry out research and innovation.” (Full press release is found here. For all the latest EFSI results see the Investment Plan website or contact Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Siobhán Millbright – Tel.: +32 229 57361)

 

Politique de Cohésion: plus de flexibilité, moins de formalités et des synergies plus faciles avec le Plan Juncker

La Commission salue le vote hier du Parlement européen sur sa proposition de révision des règles sur les fonds européens 2014-2020, qui a pour but de réduire de moitié le corpus de règles actuel en les rendant également plus claires et plus simples à appliquer à tous les niveaux. La Commissaire à la politique régionale, Corina Crețu, a déclaré: “La simplification est l’un des grands chantiers du budget européen 2021-2027, mais la Commission Juncker s’y est déjà attelée pour la période actuelle, avec comme objectif de rendre la vie plus simple pour les autorités locales et les bénéficiaires des fonds, notamment les PME.” Voici ce qui changera lorsque les règles révisées entreront en vigueur à la fin du mois de juillet: 1. davantage de possibilités de combinaisons entre le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques (EFSI), le cœur du Plan Juncker, et les fonds de la politique de Cohésion: plus besoin de cofinancement national quand ces derniers seront investis dans un projet EFSI et possibilité d’y couvrir la première tranche de risque; 2. moins de formalité pour les bénéficiaires des fonds: ils pourront plus facilement faire rembourser leurs frais par l’UE. Les bénéficiaires et les autorités de gestion pourront se concentrer sur les résultats plutôt que sur la collecte et le contrôle de documents financiers. Le principe de ‘l’audit unique’ est étendu et la Commission pourra davantage s’appuyer sur des évaluations réalisées par ses partenaires internationaux et les États membres. Enfin, les règles révisées permettent aux Etats membres de financer plus facilement des projets visant à intégrer les migrants avec leurs budgets cohésion de la période 2014-2020. (Pour plus d’informations: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615 – Tel.: +32 229 50595; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)

Trade: EU to implement provisional safeguard measures on steel following US tariffs

The Commission yesterday presented its intention to Member States to introduce provisional safeguard measures on steel under the form of a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ). The Commission’s plan received overwhelming support by Member States gathered in the Safeguards Committee and the new measures will enter into force once formally adopted by the Commission in July. Additional duties will be levied only after a tariff rate quota, based on the level of traditional imports, is reached. The adoption of safeguard measures was part of the three-pronged EU’s response to the unilateral US decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium. This is intended to prevent the negative effects of trade diversion, but at the same time maintain traditional supply and effective competition on the EU market. An investigation towards possible imposition of safeguard measures on steel was launched on 26 March.  On the basis of the investigation to date, the Commission considers that provisional measures are warranted. The most recent import statistics show trade diversion of steel products into the EU as a result of the additional 25% tariff on steel imposed by the US. The investigation continues at least until the end of 2018. The Commission has also put in place a surveillance system for imports of aluminium to be prepared in case action will be required in that sector. The EU has also decided to adopt rebalancing measures by imposing duties on a list of US products and legal proceedings were launched against the US in the WTO on 1 June. (For more information: Daniel Rosario – Tel.: + 32 229 56185; Clémence Robin – Tel.: +32 229 52509)

 

State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into tax exemptions for companies in the Madeira Free Zone

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation to examine whether Portugal has applied the Madeira Free Zone regional aid scheme in conformity with the 2007 and 2013 Commission decisions approving it. The Madeira Free Zone (Zona Franca da Madeira, “ZFM”) was created by Portugal in 1987 to support economic development in its outermost region Madeira. Its objective is to attract investment to and create jobs in Madeira. In this context, Portugal put in place a regional aid scheme providing support to companies establishing themselves in the ZFM through certain corporate income tax reductions on profits resulting from activities performed in Madeira; and other tax reductions, such as an exemption from municipal and local taxes. The Commission approved successive versions of the ZFM regional aid scheme under EU State aid rules on several occasions between 1987 and 2014. As part of its standard monitoring of the implementation of State aid decisions, the Commission has carried out a preliminary assessment of how Portugal applied the ZFM aid scheme until its expiry at the end of 2014.  At this stage, the Commission has concerns that the Portuguese authorities may have failed to respect some of the basic conditions under the 2007 and 2013 decisions and in particular that tax exemptions granted by Portugal to companies established in the ZFM are not in line with the Commission decisions and EU State aid rules. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Our regional aid rules are particularly flexible when it comes to supporting the EU’s outermost regions, including Madeira. Under these rules, fiscal aid can only be granted if it contributes to the creation of real economic activity and jobs in the assisted region. We will now investigate whether the Zona Franca Madeira fiscal aid scheme approved by the Commission in the past has been applied correctly by Portugal.“The full press release is available online in EN, FR, DE, PT. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

 

State aid: Commission approves reductions of nuclear levy for electrointensive users in Slovakia

The European Commission has found Slovakia’s plan to grant reductions on a nuclear levy to certain electro-intensive users to be in line with EU State aid rules. In 2006, Slovakia set up the National Nuclear Fund to finance the costs of decommissioning obsolete nuclear power plants, financed via a levy, which is paid by final electricityconsumers. As of 2019, Slovakia intends to grant reductions on the nuclear levy to certain electro-intensive industrial users exposed to international trade, such as companies active in the production of refined petroleum products, basic iron, steel, ferro-alloys and aluminium. The reductions will vary depending on the companies’ electro-intensity and will confer an advantage to these companies, as they will lower their financial burden compared to other companies that will not benefitfrom them. Slovakia notified this measure to the Commission for review under EU State aid rules. The Commission assessed the measure under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and found that the reductions are limited to companies that are active in electro-intensive sectors exposed to international trade and are proportionate. On this basis, the Commission concluded that the measure is in line with State aid rules, because it will contribute to the competitiveness of these companies without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market. The full press release is available online in EN, FR, DE, SK. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

 

State aid: Commission approves compensation to energy-intensive companies in Luxembourg for indirect emission costs

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a support scheme to compensate energy-intensive companies in Luxembourg for higher electricity prices resulting from indirect emission costs under the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). The scheme will cover the period 2017-2020, with an overall budget of up to €60 million. The measure benefits companies active in sectors facing significant electricity costs and which are particularly exposed to international competition. The compensation will be granted through a partial refund of electricity costs to eligible companies. The objective of the measure is to avoid an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions due to companies relocating to countries outside the EU with less stringent environmental regulation. More information will be available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number SA.51097. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

 

Competition: Commission seeks feedback forconference on competition policy and digitisation

On 17 January 2019, Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, will host a one-day conference in Brussels on ‘Shaping competition policy in the era of digitisation’. In this context, the Commission is seeking feedback from stakeholders who are involved in or affected by the digitisation of the economy. These contributions will serve to inform and feed into the discussions at the conference, which will also feature a keynote speech by Nobel prize winner Professor Jean Tirole. The conference will include three panel discussions, each chaired by one of the Commissioner’s special advisers, Professors Heike Schweitzer and Jacques Crémer, and Assistant Professor Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye. As announced in March 2018 the special advisers are working on a report on the future challenges of digitisation for competition policy. The conference and the report are designed to provide input to the Commission’s ongoing reflection on how competition policy can best serve European consumers in a fast-changing world and to identify the key upcoming digital challenges and their implications for competition policy. More information will be available on the Commission’s competition website. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

Mergers: Commission clears offshore windfarm joint venture between Otary, Eneco and Electrabel

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the restructuring of ownership over two offshore windfarms in Belgian waters, known as Seastar and Mermaid. The proposed transaction entails the creation of a joint venture between Otary RS NV of Belgium, the Eneco group of the Netherlands, through Eneco Wind Belgium N.V., and the Engie group of France, through Electrabel NV. Otary is active in the development, construction and operation of offshore wind projects. Eneco is engaged in the production of electricity from sustainable sources and in the supply of electricity and gas. Electrabel is active at all stages of the electricity and natural gas value chain in the Benelux region, as part of the worldwide energy group Engie. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns in particular because of the pre-existing ownership rights of the companies over the windfarm concessions in question and the existence of other similar projects either under development or for which new concessions have been announced. The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.8855. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition of Zentiva group by Advent International Corporation

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control over Zentiva group, based in the Czech Republic and currently owned by Sanofi of France, by Advent International Corporation of the US. Zentiva is a pharmaceutical group focused on the development, manufacturing and marketing of generic pharmaceutical products primarily within Europe. Advent is a global private equity investor, focused on investments in several sectors, namely business and financial services; healthcare; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology, media and telecom. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns given the lack of horizontal overlaps and the minor vertical relationships 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.8937. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344)

STATEMENTS

Security Union: Commission welcomes the European Parliament’s adoption of the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and a stronger eu-LISA Agency

Yesterday, the European Parliament gave its final agreement to establish the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and to strengthen the mandate of eu-LISA, the EU Agency for the operational management of large scale IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. The legislative proposals for ETIAS and eu-LISA, put forward by the Commission in November 2016 and June 2017 respectively, were identified as political priorities under the Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2018-2019. Welcoming the adoption, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “At the beginning of this Commission we committed to deliver a Europe that protects – and now we take one more, important step towards this goal. A stronger eu-LISA will be the nerve centre of our information systems for borders, migration and security, and the new ETIAS will ensure that we no longer have an information gap on visa-free travellers. Anyone who poses a migratory or security risk will be identified before they even travel to EU borders, while the travel of bona fide travellers will be facilitated.I want to thank both rapporteurs for their leadership and commitment to building a safer Union for our citizens”. Commissioner King added: “Our police officers and border guards need to have the right tools to do their jobs – keeping our citizens safe and our borders secure. ETIAS will pre-screen visa-free visitors for potential security problems, while the reinforced eu-LISA will allow us to continue to modernise EU-wide information systems for law enforcement and border management.” The full statement and the memo are available online. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 2 296 74 56; Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 229 86764; Katarzyna Kolanko –Tel.: +32 229 63444)

 

EU and Japan to discuss education, culture and sport at first policy dialogue

This afternoon, in Budapest, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, will lead an EU delegation at the first official EU-Japan policy dialogue on education, culture and sport. The Japanese delegation will be led by Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Yoshimasa Hayashi. The meeting takes place ahead of the EU-Japan Summit to be held in Brussels on 11 July. Discussions will focus on major policy priorities in the fields of education, culture and sport including opportunities to enhance cooperation. Among others, joint initiatives to support consortia of excellent universities and staff exchanges are expected to be agreed on. A joint statement will be published here after the meeting (17.00 CET). (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Joseph Waldstein – Tel.: +32 229 56184)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini and Commissioners Hahn and King at the Western Balkans Summit – building stronger links within the region and with the EU

High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, and Commissioner for the Security Union Julian Kingwill be in London on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 July for the 2018 Western Balkans Summit organised in the framework of the Berlin process. Leaders and Ministers from ten Member States and from the six Western Balkan partners will attend the Summit. The Summit will focus on increasing economic stability in the region, strengthening security and addressing political and legal issues to foster reconciliation. It will be an opportunity for further advancing the EU perspective of the region. Leading the EU delegation, High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini will, together with Commissioner Hahn,attend the meeting with the Heads of State or Government on Tuesday afternoon. Commissioner Hahn and Commissioner King will attend the meetings with Foreign Ministers and Interior Ministers on Monday. Commissioner Hahn will participate at a Question Time event with the Foreign Ministers, youth and representatives of civil society organisations on Monday and he will deliver a key-note speech at Chatham House on Tuesday which will be available on EbS. Commissioner King will speak at the session on “Cross-cutting security issues”, focusing in particular on the EU’s cooperation with Western Balkan partners in the area of counter-terrorism, cybercrime and radicalisation.Videos and photos of the visit will be available on EbS. (For more information: Maja Kocijančič – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 229 86764; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.:+32 229 64887; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tel.: +32 229-63444)

Commission kick-starts debate on the EU’s long-term vision for a modern, clean and competitive economy

On 10-11 July, the Commission will organise a high-level stakeholder consultation event on the EU’s long-term strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building a prosperous, modern, clean and competitive economy. In March this year, EU leaders asked the Commission to present, “by the first quarter of 2019, a proposal for a strategy for long-term EU greenhouse gas emissions reduction in accordance with the Paris Agreement, taking into account the national plans”. In preparation for this proposal, the Commission will organise a consultation event for up to 1000 participants, bringing together a broad range of stakeholders from business, research and civil society. Hosted by Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete, speakers will include Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President for the Energy Union Maroš Šefčovič and Commissioner for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska, as well as ministers and high-level representatives from countries, organisations and stakeholders in and outside Europe. Ahead of the event, Commissioner Arias Cañete said: “The EU has put in place the legislation to meet its Paris commitment for 2030. It is now time to look at the longer term perspective and to set out a strategy for where EU climate policy is heading by 2050. This is central to meet the Paris Agreement goals of keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The EU is committed to doing its part. The clean energy transition will be key, and achieving our climate objectives will require contributions from every part of the economy and society. This conference will be a vital forum for discussions and opinions that will feed into the proposal for a new EU long-term strategy on reducing emissions the European Commission will present by the end of this year.” The event will offer an opportunity for discussions that will then feed in to the Commission’s input for the strategy and will be followed by a public consultation seeking further input from citizens and stakeholders. Live web stream and full program on the event’s website. (For more information: Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Nicole Bockstaller – Tel.: +32 229 52589)

Calendar

The Commissioners’ weekly activities

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

In 2006, Slovakia set up the National Nuclear Fund to finance the costs of decommissioning obsolete nuclear power plants. The National Nuclear Fund is financed via a levy, which is paid by final electricity consumers.

As of 2019, Slovakia intends to grant reductions on the nuclear levy to certain electro-intensive industrial users exposed to international trade, such as companies active in the production of refined petroleum products, basic iron, steel, ferro-alloys and aluminium. The amount of the reduction will vary depending on the companies’ electro-intensity. The reductions will confer an advantage to these companies, as they will lower their financial burden compared to other companies that will not benefit from them.

Slovakia notified this measure to the Commission for review under EU State aid rules. The Commission assessed the measure under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which allows Member States to support the development of certain economic activities.

In its assessment, the Commission found that the reductions:

• are limited to companies that are active in electro-intensive sectors exposed to international trade, and
• are proportionate. In particular, they provide a sustainable financing basis for the safe and timely decommissioning of obsolete nuclear power plants in Slovakia without putting at risk the competitiveness of companies exposed to international trade.

On this basis, the Commission concluded that the Slovakian measure to grant reductions to the nuclear levy to electro-intensive users is in line with State aid rules, because they will contribute to the competitiveness of these companies without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.

Background

Slovakia set up the National Nuclear Fund in 2006 to finance the costs related to the decommissioning and treatment of nuclear waste and spent fuel of two obsolete nuclear power plants: Bohunice A1 and V1.

Since 2011, final electricity consumers are required to pay a nuclear levy, based on their electricity consumption, to finance the National Nuclear Fund. This financial set-up was approved by the Commission under EU State aid rules in 2013 (SA.31860). In its decision, the Commission acknowledged that the nuclear levy contributes to an objective of common interest, as it ensures the safety of nuclear facilities and the correct, timely and safe decommissioning of obsolete nuclear facilities, and provides long-term solutions for spent fuel and radioactive waste management.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be published in the State aid register on the competition website under the case number SA.50877. The State Aid Weekly e-News lists new publications of state aid decisions on the internet and in the EU Official Journal.

(Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine)

Déplacements et visites

 

Lundi 09 juillet 2018

EU-Ukraine Summit               

President Jean-Claude Juncker participates in the EU-Ukraine Summitwith Mr Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Mr Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, and accompanied by Ms Federica Mogherini, Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Mr Valdis Dombrovskis and Ms Cecilia Malmström, in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans in Vienna, Austria: attends the Conference of Parliamentary Committees for Union Affairs of Parliaments of the EU (COSAC) Chairpersons meeting, and participates in the session on “Future and Perspectives of the EU”; participates in a roundtable meeting with Mr Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA); and meets FRA staff.

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq.

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Ahmet Üzümcü, Director General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Ms Katherina Reiche, President of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services and Services of general interest (CEEP).

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Mr Pavlo Klimkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives representatives of Magna Energy Storage (Czech Republic).

Mr Jyrki Katainen participates in a lunch with Mr Karel De Gucht, President of the Institute for European Studies at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) and former European Commissioner on Trade.

Mr Johannes Hahn in London, the United Kingdom (until 10/07): meets EU and Western Balkans’ Foreign and Interior Ministers ahead of the Western Balkans Summit.

Ms Cecilia Malmström receives Mr Pavlo Klimkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete in Madrid, Spain: delivers a speech at XII Graduation Ceremony at Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis participates in the stakeholders’ conference on Health Technology Assessment(HTA), in Brussels.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Ankara, Turkey: represents the European Commission at the inauguration ceremony of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Mr Phil Hogan in Dublin, Ireland: delivers a speech,at the Commission Representation, on the funding under Horizon 2020 of an Agritech Centre in Kilkenny; and a speech at the Annual General Assembly of the Irish Association of Former Parliamentarians; and meets Mr Garrett Blaney, Chair of the Board of Regulators of the Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), and President of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER).

Ms Violeta Bulc andMr Julian King in London, the United Kingdom: participate in the Western Balkans Summit.

Mr Tibor Navracsics attends a working dinner organised by the European Football Leagues, in Brussels.

Mr Carlos Moedas in France (until 11/07): in Toulouse: meets the members of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (SAM) and the members of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE); delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and attends the opening concert of the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF).

 

Mardi 10 juillet 2018

President Jean-Claude Juncker and Mr Frans Timmermans meet Ms Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister of Romania.

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Ms Marlene Bonnici, Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU.

Mr Frans Timmermans chairs the final meeting of the Taskforce on Subsidiarity, Proportionality and ‘Doing Less, More Efficiently’, in Brussels.

Ms Federica Mogherini and Mr Johannes Hahn in London, the United Kingdom: participates in the Western Balkans Summit.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Mr Neil Rimer, co-founder of Index Ventures.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič meets Mr Ihor Nasalyk, Minister of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine and Mr Oleksandr Dombrovskiy, Head of the Fuel and Energy Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine (Verkhovna Rada), in Brussels.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Mr Stefan Kapferer, Chairman of the General Executive Management Board of Bundesverband der Energie- und Wasserwirtschaft e.V.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Ms Karin Kneissl, Minister for Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič, Mr Jyrki Katainen and Mr Miguel Arias Cañete deliver keynote speeches at the stakeholder event EU Strategy for Long-Term Emissions Reduction “The EU’s vision for a modern, clean economy”, in Brussels

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis receives Mr Mark Hemsley, President Europe, at CBOE Holdings.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis receives Mr Helmut Schleweis, President of Deutscher Sparkassen und Giroverband (DSGV).

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives a group from Aalto University, Finland and Tsinghua University, China.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Helmut Schleweis, President of Deutscher Sparkassen und Giroverband (DSGV).

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Ron Mobed, CEO of Elsevier.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Luc Frieden, former Minister for Justice and Finance of Luxembourg.

Mr Jyrki Katainen attends a working lunch with Mr Taneli Lahti, Director of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), in Brussels.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger and Mr Phil Hogan participate in a conference on the reform on the Common Agricultural Policy with German Federal and Regional Agriculture Ministers, in Brussels.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger receives Ms Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister of Romania.

Mr Neven Mimica in Cascais, Portugal: delivers a speech at the 2018 EurAfrican Forum “Crafting coalitions for change”.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr José Ignacio Sánchez Galán, CEO of Iberdrola.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Johannes Teyssen, CEO of E-ON.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete delivers closing remarks at the “Europe’s Deep Decarbonisation: Solar+Hydrogen” event organised by Hydrogen Europe and Solar Power Europe, in Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives the heads of European marine research institutes.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos addresses the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the United States on transatlantic cooperation in the area of migration and security, in Brussels.

Ms Marianne Thyssen attends the Hearing of the Social Affairs Committee at the Federal Parliament of Belgium on the Social Fairness Package, in Brussels.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Charles Grant, Directeur du Centre for European Reform.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Split, Croatia: holds a speech at a conference on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism; meets Mr Davor Božinović, Minister for the Interior of Croatia, and Mr Damir Krstičević, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence of Croatia; and visits the Divulje base.

Mr Phil Hoganreceives Ms Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister for Romania.

Mr Phil Hogan in Namur, Belgium: meets Mr Willy Borsus, Minister-President of the Walloon Government; and Mr René Collin, Minister for Agriculture, Nature, Forests, Rural Affairs and Tourism, of the Walloon Government.

Ms Violeta Bulc in Madrid, Spain: meets Mr José Luis Ábalos, Minister for Development of Spain.

Ms Vĕra Jourová delivers a speech at the Plenary meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) on New Deal for Consumers, in Brussels.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Mr Reinhold Hilbers, Minister for Finance of the State of Lower Saxony (Germany).

Ms Corina Creţu receives Mr Javier Lambán, President of the Government of Aragon (Spain).

Ms Corina Creţu receives Ms Viorica Dăncilă, Prime Minister of Romania.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Mr Alexis Charitsis, Alternate Minister for Economy and Development of Greece.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Toulouse, France: delivers a keynote speech and attends a panel discussion on Horizon Europe at the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF), meets Mr Peter Gluckman, Chief Science Adviser to the Prime Minister of New Zealand; and visits to Airbus Defence and Space facilities.

Mr Julian King meets Mr Charles Grant, Director of the Centre for European Reform, in Brussels.

Mr Julian King participates in the Munich Security Conference roundtable on European Defence, in Brussels.

Ms Mariya Gabriel delivers a speech at “One year of roam like at home – the present and future of the roaming regulation in the EU” event organised by Ms Miapetra Kumpula-Natri and Mr Paul Rübig, Members of the European Parliament.

 

Mercredi 11 juillet 2018

College meeting

11-12/07 NATO Summit

EU-Japan Summit

President Jean-Claude Juncker participates in the EU-Japan Summit with Mr Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Mr Shinzō Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, and accompanied by Ms Federica Mogherini and Ms Cecilia Malmström, in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Atzo Nicolaï, President of DSM Nederland and Mr Ward Mosmuller, Director of EU Affairs at DSM Nederland.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives members of the European Commission’s Multi-stakeholder Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Mr Frans Timmermans and Mr Jyrki Katainen meet representatives of 5 Sustainable Development Goal multi-stakeholders Platform on the Reflection paper “Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030”, in Brussels.

Ms Federica Mogherini participates in the EU-NATO, in Brussels.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič meets Mr Luca Jahier, President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), in Brussels.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis receives Mr Christian Sewing, CEO of Deutsche Bank.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Ms Helen Mets, President of DSM Resins and Functional Materials.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Ms Margarete Schramböck, Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs of Austria.

Mr Johannes Hahn receives Mr Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

Mr Johannes Hahn receives Ms Rosemary DiCarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

Ms Cecilia Malmström receives Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete and Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska deliver keynote speeches at the stakeholder event EU Strategy for Long-Term Emissions Reduction “The EU’s vision for a modern, clean economy”, in Brussels

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Miles Celic, Directeur Général du TheCityUK.

M. Pierre Moscovici  et M. Dimitris Avramopoulos rencontrent M. Patrick Weil, Président de l’association Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, à Bruxelles.

Mr Phil Hogan receives representatives of the French National Federation of Agricultural Workers’ Unions (FNSEA).

Mr Phil Hogan delivers a speech at the Annual Assembly of Confagricoltura, in Brussels.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Ms Barbara Scarafia, Vice-President and Associate General Counsel at Amazon Europe.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Ms Juliane Bogner-Strauß, Federal Minister for Women, Families and Youth of Austria.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Paris, France: delivers a keynote speech and attends the FabCity Summit organised Ms Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris.

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Ms Therese Niss, Member of the Austrian Parliament.

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Mr Jean-Marc Ogier, President of the University of La Rochelle (France).

 

Jeudi 12 juillet 2018

12-13/07 Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs ministers, in Innsbruck, Austria

Eurogroup

EU-NATO Summit

President Jean-Claude Juncker participates in the EU-NATO Summit together with Mr Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and accompanied by Ms Federica Mogherini, in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Vincenzo Boccia, President of the General Confederation of Italian Industry Confindustria.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Martin Šolc, President of the International Bar Association (IBA).

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State of the United States of America.

Ms Federica Mogherini chairs, Mr Maroš Šefčovič and Mr Miguel Arias Cañete participate in the EU-US Energy Council, in Brussels.

Ms Federica Mogherini participates in the meeting of the Global Coalition against Daesh, in Brussels.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Mr Mario Ohoven, President of the European Confederation of Association of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (CEA-PME) and Ms Valérie Guimard, Vice-President of CEA-PME.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Mr Peter Mandelson, member of the House of Lords of the UK and former European Commissioner for Trade.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Mr Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy of the United States.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Peter Hunt, President of Lighting Europe; and Ms Ourania Georgoutsakou, Secretary-General of Lighting Europe.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Karlheinz Kopf, Second President of the National Council of Austria and Secretary-General of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Mr Jyrki Katainen attends a working lunch with Mr Petteri Orpo, Minister for Finance of Finland.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Ms Lisa Ferrarini, Vice-President for Europe of the General Confederation of Italian Industry Confindustria; and Giovanni Brugnoli, Vice-President for Human capital of Confindustria.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote speech at the event “Europe in the global economy” of the Global Counsel, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote speech at the BusinessEurope Presidential Reception, in Brussels.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger receives Mr Karlheinz Kopf, Second President of the National Council of Austria and Secretary-General of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Mr Johannes Hahn in Tunis, Tunisia: visits local authorities and representatives of the civil society, together with representatives of the European Financial Institutions.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Peter Hunt, President of Lighting Europe; and Ms Ourania Georgoutsakou, Secretary-General of Lighting Europe.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Rick Perry, Secretary of Energy of the United States.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives Mr Maurizio Reale, President of the section for Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of the European Economic and Social Committee.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives representatives of the Eurogroup for Animals.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos and Mr Julian King in Innsbruck, Austria (until 13/07): attend the Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs ministers.

Ms Marianne Thyssen receives representatives of the Belgian Disability Forum.

Ms Marianne Thyssen receives Mr Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit Mme Nadia Calviño, Ministre de l’Economie et des Entreprises de l’Espagne.

Mr Phil Hogan receives Mr Eric Lainé, President of the International Confederation of European Beet Growers (CIBE).

Ms Violeta Bulc reçoit Mr Gérard Larcher, Président du Sénat français et une délégation de sénateurs.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Budapest, Hungary: delivers a lecture at the Summer Camp for young people at Budapest University of Technology and Economics; and meets Ms Ágnes Szuda, Youth Delegate of Hungary to the United Nations.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Mr Louis Grech, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Malta.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Mr Pieter Bult, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative to Romania.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Zagreb, Croatia: meets Mr Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia; Mr Darko Horvat, Minister for Economy, Enterprise and Crafts; Ms Gabrijela Žalac, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds; and members of the European Affairs Committee and Committee on the Economy of the Croatian Parliament.

Vendredi 13 juillet 2018

Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs ministers, in Innsbruck, Austria

Economic and Financial Affairs Council

EU – former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council

EU – Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council

Ms Federica Mogherini receives Mr Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait.

Ms Federica Mogherini chairs and Mr Johannes Hahn participates in the EU – former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council, in Brussels.

Ms Federica Mogherini chairs and Mr Johannes Hahn participates in the EU – Bosnia and Herzegovina Stabilisation and Association Council, in Brussels.

Mr Neven Mimica in Rome, Italy: meets Mr José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO); and signs an EU-FAO partnership programme against food crises.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives representatives of the European Landowners’ Organization.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos, Ms Vĕra Jourová and Mr Julian King in Innsbruck, Austria (until 13/07): attend the Informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs ministers, in Innsbruck, Austria.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Tbilisi, Georgia (until 14/07): meets Mr Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia; Mr David Zalkaliani, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Mr Giorgi Mgebrishvili, Head of the Emergency Management Service of Georgia; members of the Parliament of Georgia; and participates in a signature ceremony of an Administrative Agreement for Civil Protection with the Emergency Management Service of Georgia.

Ms Violeta Bulc in Rome, Italy: meets Mr Danilo Toninelli, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport of Italy.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Innsbruck, Austria: meets Mr Tudorel Toader, Minister for Justice of Romania; meets Mr David Gauke, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom.

Mr Carlos Moedas receives Mr Marc Schiltz, President of Science Europe.

 

Samedi 14 juillet 2018

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Mr László Palkovics, Minister for Innovation and Technology of Hungary.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Tbilisi, Georgia: meets Mr Giorgi Gakharia, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Internal Affairs of Georgia; and participates in a simulation exercise at a school related to a Disaster Risk Reduction EU-funded project.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Kápolnásnyék, Hungary: delivers a speech at the inauguration of the Zoltán Magyary Memorial.

 

Prévisons du mois de juillet:

16/07 Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Internal market and industry), in Vienna, Austria

16/07 Agriculture and Fisheries Council

16/07 Foreign Affairs Council

16-17/07 EU – CELAC Ministerial meeting

17/07 Informal meeting of competitiveness ministers (Research), in Vienna, Austria

17/07 General Affairs Council (Art. 50)       

19-20/07 Informal meeting of employment and social policy ministers, in Vienna, Austria

24/07 Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 07 juillet au 08 juillet 2018:

Mina ANDREEVA: +32 (0) 498 99 13 82

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

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

Wheatley Group unveiled £185 million of new funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to help build and improve thousands of affordable homes across Scotland.

The landmark deal was announced in Glasgow by EIB Vice President Jonathan Taylor at a community event attended by Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP and tenants, staff and apprentices from across Wheatley, along with local politicians and business, community and social housing leaders.

It takes the amount of funding raised by Wheatley in the past four years to £800M and comes in the week the group was confirmed – for the second year running – as the UK’s largest builder of social-rented homes. Wheatley is progressing an ambitious building programme, from 2015 through to 2025, of 7500 affordable new homes from Balloch and Dumbarton through Glasgow, West Lothian and Edinburgh to North Berwick.

The EIB loan, by far the largest of its type made in Scotland, is linked to a commitment by Wheatley to invest £400M over the next three years in affordable housing. This also includes refurbishing existing homes to meet new Scottish and EU energy-efficiency standards, helping tenants cut energy bills, and housing and integrating refugees into Wheatley communities.

Wheatley Chair Alastair MacNish said: “This loan is fantastic news for people and families across Scotland and is a huge vote of confidence in Wheatley and our unyielding commitment to affordable housing.

“It will help us to consolidate our position as the UK’s largest builder of social-rented homes, which we hold close as a badge of honour at a time when the availability and supply of affordable housing is such an acute priority.”

Speaking at the funding announcement at the Reidvale Neighbourhood Centre in Gallowgate, Glasgow, where GHA, part of Wheatley Group, is building 143 homes, Jonathan Taylor, EIB Vice President, said:

“New investment in social housing is crucial to increase the number of affordable homes and cut heating bills in existing properties. The European Investment Bank supports social housing investment with leading housing associations across Europe and is pleased to back transformational investment here in Scotland by Wheatley, the largest housing association in Scotland and the largest builder of new social housing in the UK.

“This week’s visit to Glasgow provides a valuable opportunity to see how upgrading existing properties and construction of new social housing will improve lives, create skilled jobs, benefit local suppliers and cut heating bills in homes for hundreds of families.”

Wheatley has completed almost 1900 homes over the last three years and is building or planning up to 3000 more on 60 sites across Scotland. The new £185M EIB loan, along with future investments, will enable Wheatley to maintain a building programme of around 650 homes a year from 2021 to early 2025.  

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Ensuring people have access to quality housing is a fundamental part of building a fair and equal society. That is why we have committed to deliver at least 50,000 new affordable homes in the five years to 2021.

“Wheatley Group is vital in helping us achieve that, having delivered almost 1,900 new affordable homes across Scotland over the past three years and the additional funding from the European Investment Bank will help them build on this. It is also another reminder of how Scotland benefits from the EU and its institutions.”

Wheatley has completed almost 1900 homes over the last three years and is building or planning up to 3000 more on 60 sites across Scotland. The new £185M EIB loan, along with future investments, will enable Wheatley to maintain a building programme of around 650 homes a year from 2021 to early 2025.  

Wheatley Chief Executive Martin Armstrong said: “The EIB loan enables us to expand our ambitious building programme further in support of Scottish Government’s More Homes Scotland agenda.

“But it is about so much more than simply bricks and mortar. Wheatley’s mission is to make lives, not just homes, better. This wonderful investment by EIB will enable us to do just that.”

Over the last decade, the European Investment Bank has provided more than £4 billion for transport, education, social housing, transport, water, energy, urban regeneration and new hospital investment across the Scotland, with additional investment from UK wide programmes.