The Agreement, which was signed on 30 April 2013, replaces the 1993 Agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the European Economic Community and Mongolia.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini said: “The European Union and Mongolia are consolidating their strong ties, based on shared values and interests, and a common will to work more closely together. The entry into force of our Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, combined with the establishment of a European Union Delegation in Ulaanbaatar, which will take place in the coming days, consolidates existing areas of cooperation and engagement, and deepens and diversifies relations further in areas of mutual interest, for the sake of our peoples.”

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement strengthens the existing relationship between the European Union and Mongolia and builds on a shared commitment towards good governance, human rights and sustainable development. Moreover, the Agreement will broaden cooperation in a wide range of areas, such as sustainable development, raw materials, climate change, justice and security, human rights, science and technology, good governance, as well as facilitate trade and investment. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement brings on board the European Union and all of its Member States, therefore providing opportunities to create synergies between EU activities and individual Member States’ policies.

The entry into force of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement coincides with the opening of an EU Delegation in Mongolia, for which implementing the Agreement will be a top priority. 

For more information:

Website of the EU Delegation to Mongolia

Factsheet on the EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

Press release on the decision to open an EU Delegation to Mongolia

Full text of the EU-Mongolia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

“The EU and Cuba are truly turning a page, and the new chapter of our partnership begins now – with the provisional application of our new agreement. Today the European Union gets closer to Cuba and all Cuban citizens as the country goes through economic, political and social modernisation”, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President Federica Mogherini, adding: “We Europeans are tied to Cuba, Latin America and the Caribbean by a shared history, culture, values, and aspirations for the present and the future”.

The Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) comprises three main chapters on political dialogue, cooperation and sector policy dialogue as well as trade cooperation.

It promotes dialogue and cooperation to encourage sustainable development, democracy and human rights, as well as to find shared solutions to global challenges through joint action in multilateral fora. Areas of common interest include for example renewable energies, rural development, the environment, human rights, good governance, security, and job creation. Activities will be conducted with all actors in Cuba, including the public sector, local authorities, the whole range of civil society, the private sector, as well as international organisations and their agencies.

Background

On 12 December 2016, EU and Cuba signed the political dialogue and cooperation agreement, and the European Parliament approved it on 5 July 2017. While most of the agreement starts provisionally applying on 1 November 2017, its full application will begin once all EU Member States have ratified the agreement.

This agreement also confirms the EU’s continued engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean. Cuba was the only country in the region with which the EU had not yet agreed on a legal basis for dialogue and cooperation.

For More Information

Factsheet EU-Cuba relations

Delegation of the EU to Cuba

The report reaffirms the role of the Fund as a flagship demonstration of European solidarity within the limits of its set-up and budgetary availabilities, having helped close to 19,500 workers to adjust to changing trade patterns and consequences of the economic and financial crisis in that period.

European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marianne Thyssen,said: “Today’s results demonstrate the added value of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund in helping redundant workers who have difficulties to find a new job. The assistance worth €70 million of the Fund has paid off: in 2015 and 2016, 9,072assisted workers were re-employed, despite the challenging labour market situation these people faced. This year’s tenth anniversary of the Globalisation Adjustment Fund marks it as a proof of European solidarity to workers falling victim to mass lay-offs caused by globalisation or the crisis.”

9,072 workers, or close to half of the workers who participated in the Globalisation Adjustment Fund measures, had found new jobs or were self-employed after one year, at the end of the implementation period of the measures. An additional 645 people were at that time in education or training to increase their future employability. Member States also reported that the personal situation, employability and self-confidence of the workers concerned had visibly improved thanks to the Globalisation Adjustment Fund assistance and services. This was even the case for those who had not found new work immediately after the end of the measures.

These positive results are encouraging, especially given the difficult context in which they have been achieved. The labour market situation in some Member States was particularly challenging in the period covered by the report. Mass lay-offs occurred in territories that were already suffering from above average unemployment rates. Many supported workers were low-skilled or had other disadvantages as jobseekers. This proves once again that EU funding, such as the Globalisation Adjustment Fund, can make a difference, especially for the most vulnerable people in our societies.

Background

More open trade with the rest of the world leads to overall benefits for growth and employment, but it can also cost jobs, particularly in vulnerable sectors and among lower-skilled workers. This is why the Commission set up a fund to help those adjusting to the consequences of changing trade patterns or those who have been made redundant because of the economic crisis.

The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund provides funding for concrete measures to help dismissed workers improve their employability and find new job opportunities. It finances measures tailored to the specific circumstances of each worker concerned, such as:

• intensive, personalised job-search assistance
• various types of vocational training, up-skilling and retraining measures
• temporary incentives and allowances for the duration of the active measures
• Support for business start-up
• mentoring throughout the process

Founded in 2007, this year marks the 10^th anniversary of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund. Since then, the Fund has received 147 applications. Some €600 million has been requested to help about 137,600 workers and 2,944 NEETs.

In 2015 and 2016, the Globalisation Adjustment Fund provided assistance to 19,500 redundant workers and 1,251 young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). The EU contribution amounted to more than €70 million and was matched by another €48 million from national resources. 11 Member States requested assistance from the Fund: Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

For More Information

EGF website

Video News Releases:

Europe acts to fight the crisis: the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund revitalised

Facing up to a globalised world – The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund

Subscribe to the European Commission’s free e-mail newsletter on employment, social affairs and inclusion

President Juncker visits Portugal, 30-31 October

At the invitation of the Portuguese President, President Juncker is travelling to Portugal today and tomorrow on what is his second official visit to the country as President of the Commission. Later today, in Lisbon, he will meet Prime Minister António Costa in a bilateral meeting, before being received by President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and will then participate, on invitation of the President, in a meeting of the Council of State. Tomorrow, 31 October, President Juncker will be awarded the Honoris Causa diploma by the University of Coimbra, in the presence of President Rebelo de Sousa, President of the Assembly of the Republic Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, Prime Minister Costa, and representatives of the diplomatic corps of the EU countries. After a working lunch with Prime Minister Costa, President Juncker and the Prime Minister will meet the leaders of the 130-year-old Academic Association of Coimbra and participate in a debate with students and entrepreneurs on “Future of Europe – what Europe do we want?” at the Gil Vicente Academic Theatre. (For more information: Daniel Rosario – Tel.: +32 229 56185)

Le Plan Juncker traverse l’Atlantique: premier projet signé en Guyane

Vendredi à Cayenne, à l’occasion de la conférence des Présidents des Régions Ultrapériphériques, le premier projet guyanais sous le Plan Juncker a été signé en présence du Président de la Commission européenne Jean-Claude Juncker. L’Europe soutient ainsi la construction d’un complexe composé d’une résidence pour les seniors et d’un hôtel dans la commune de Macouria. La Commissaire Corina Creţu, en charge de la Politique régionale, a déclaré: « J’ai été ravie de signer ce projet en Guyane en présence du Président Juncker. La dimension sociale est au cœur du Plan d’Investissement; ces projets petits par la taille ont un grand impact dans la vie des communautés. Celui-ci créera des emplois mais surtout du lien social dans la région. Dans le cadre de notre nouvelle stratégie pour les régions ultrapériphériques, nous travaillons avec la Banque européenne d’investissement sur une initiative dédiée, pour qu’elles aient plus facilement accès aux Fonds européens pour les investissements stratégiques. » Le projet, soutenu par l’Agence française de Développement, est également un exemple d’une combinaison réussie entre les fonds de la politique de Cohésion, qui apportent ici 4 millions d’euros, et le Fonds européen pour les investissements stratégiques (EFSI). Par ailleurs, la Commission salue l’extension de l’accord de partage de risque entre la Banque Européenne d’Investissement et l’Agence Française de Développement aux Territoires français d’Outre-mer, comme la Polynésie française, par exemple. Sous le Plan Juncker, les deux entités avaient signé en décembre 2016 un programme cadre de 150 millions d’euros pour développer les financements dans les Départements d’Outre-Mer, grâce à la garantie européenne. Avec cette extension de l’accord, le montant total des financements sous ce programme augmentera de 30 millions d’euros, pour s’élever à 180 millions d’euros. Plus d’informations sur la nouvelle stratégie de l’UE pour les régions ultrapériphériques sont disponibles en ligne. Retrouvez la visite du Président Juncker et de la Commissaire Creţu en Guyane sur le portail audiovisuel de la Commission. (Pour plus d’informations: Margaritis Schinas – Tel.: +32 229 60524; Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Sophie Dupin de Saint-Cyr – Tel.: +32 229 56169)

Concentrations: la Commission autorise l’acquisition d’ENGIE E&P par le groupe Carlyle, CVC et CIC

La Commission européenne a approuvé en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations, l’acquisition de la société française ENGIE E&P International S.A. par le groupe américain Carlyle, la société luxembourgeoise CVC Capital Partners SICAV-FIS S.A. et la société chinoise China Investment Corporation (“CIC”). ENGIE E&P est présent sur le marché de l’exploration et de la production pétrolières, ainsi que sur celui de services connexes ayant notamment trait au forage, au reconditionnement et aux gisements pétroliers. Carlyle et CVC sont des sociétés de gestion d’actifs. CIC est une entreprise d’État dont l’objet est de diversifier le portefeuille de devises étrangères de l’État chinois. Les activités des sociétés se recouvrent partiellement en ce qui concerne l’exploration pétrolière et gazière, le développement, la production et la fourniture en gros de gaz et de pétrole brut, et le raffinage de ce dernier. La Commission a conclu que la concentration envisagée ne soulèverait pas de problème de concurrence compte-tenu de la faiblesse de la part de marché combinée des sociétés, et de la présence d’un nombre significatif de concurrents sérieux sur chaque marché. L’opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure simplifiée du contrôle des concentrations. De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrencede la Commission, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d’affaire M.8542. (Pour plus d’informations: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

EU and Egypt cooperation: towards a stronger partnership

The EU adopted a multiannual framework defining the priorities for the financial and technical cooperation with Egypt for the period 2017-2020, with a special focus on youth and women. Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, currently in Cairo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the EU Single Support Framework with the Egyptian authorities. Commissioner Hahn also signed two financial agreements supporting the sectors of health, environment and transport as well as a €60 million programme to support Egypt in addressing migration challenges. High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: “With the new EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities, we are focussing on the future of the Egyptian people. We believe that social development and social protection, especially when it comes to young people and women, are key towards sustainable growth and stability in Egypt and in the region. That is why we put them at the basis of our partnership”. Commenting on the signature together with Sahar Nasr Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “We recognise the significant socio-economic challenges Egypt is facing. The EU is fully committed to supporting Egypt’s efforts to reform its economy to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, and to tackle key socio-economic challenges, such as the high population growth and the impact of economic reforms on the most vulnerable.” The full press release is available online. (For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Catherine Ray – Tel.: +32 2 296 99 21; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229 64887)

Forest fires: EU helps mobilise firefighting planes and satellite mapping for Italy

The European Commission has helped mobilise emergency support for Italy through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, following a request for assistance to battle forest fires in the country. In an immediate response, Croatia has offered 2 specialised Canadair planes that have been operating in the affected areas in northern Italy since yesterday. The EU’s Copernicus satellite system has also been activated to provide mapping services for the local civil protection authorities. “The EU is here to help. Firefighting aircraft and our EU satellite mapping system are supporting the national civil protection authorities. I want to thank Croatia for its swift response to Italy’s request. Our thoughts are with all the people and the brave first responders working in the affected areas. This week I had the pleasure of meeting the head of the Italian Civil Protection department Mr Borelli and our cooperation with Italy is excellent,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. The Commission’s 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre is closely monitoring the situation in Italy and other natural disasters across Europe, including the flooding in northern and central Europe over recent days. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has now been activated 17 times since this summer by several countries across Europe for forest fires. The European Commission coordinates offers of assistance through the Civil Protection Mechanism and offers to co-finance related transport costs to countries offering support. President Juncker has tasked Commissioner Stylianides to put forward proposals this year to boost the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism, following the many devastating natural disasters across Europe this past year. Photos and video stockshots of the Emergency Centre are available, as well as a MEMO ‘Fighting forest fires in Europe – how it works’. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Vice-President Dombrovskis in Tallinn, Estonia

Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice-President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, is in Tallinn and Tartu for a European Semester visit and a Citizens’ Dialogue on 30 to 31 October. Vice-President Dombrovskis’ visit also includes several bilateral meetings, including with Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia, Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister of Estonia, Toomas Tõniste, Minister of Finance of Estonia, Ardo Hansson, Governor of the Bank of Estonia and Eiki Nestor, Speaker of the Riigikogu, Parliament of Estonia.On Monday, the Vice-President will deliver a keynote speech on “The Future of the Economic and Monetary Union. The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance and the EU Legal Framework” at the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union(SECG) in Tallinn. On Tuesday, Vice-President Dombrovskis will participate in a Citizens’ Dialogue on “The Future of the Economic and Monetary Union“, in the framework of the European Semester in Tartu. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

Future of EU finances – Commissioner Oettinger visits Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

Commissioner Günther H. Oettinger, in charge of Budget and Human Resources, is visiting Estonia on 31 October, Latvia on 1 November and Lithuania on 2 November as part of his tour across EU Member States aimed to gather views on the future of EU finances and the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). In Estonia, the Commissioner will meet the country’s Prime Minister, Mr Jüri Ratas, Mr Toomas Tõniste, Minister of Finance, and Mr Matti Maasikas, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister. He will also exchange views with members of the Finance, Economic Affairs and EU Affairs Committees of the Estonian Parliament. Commissioner Oettinger will deliver a keynote speech at the Interparliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the European Union and answer questions by citizens at a Citizens’ dialogue in the Estonian Business School. In Latvia, the Commissioner will meet Ms Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Minister of Finance, Mr Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kaspars Gerhards, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, and Mr Jānis Dūklavs, Minister of Agriculture. Commissioner Oettinger will discuss the challenges ahead of the EU budget with members of the European Affairs and Budget Committees of the Latvian Parliament, and with the wider public at a Citizens’ Dialogue. In Lithuania, the Commissioner will meet the country’s Prime Minister, Mr Saulius Skvernelis, Mr Vilius Šapoka, Minister of Finance, Mr Bronius Markauskas, Minister of Agriculture, Mr Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, Minister of Energy, and Mr Albinas Zananavičius, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs. Commissioner Oettinger will visit the Parliament and meet the speaker and members of the European Affairs committee and deliver a keynote speech at a conference on Lithuania and the future of EU finances. The meetings in the three Baltic states are part of the Commissioner’s tour aimed to gather the broadest possible views on the future of EU finances – #MFFtour27. The Commission kicked off this debate on 28 June 2017 with the publication its Reflection paper on the future of EU finances, which is also available in Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian. Stakeholder views will be taken into account when preparing the next MFF, to be presented in May 2018. (For more information: Alexander Winterstein – Tel.: +32 229 93265; Andreana Stankova – Tel.: +32 229 57857)

Commissioner Jourová on visit to Prague

Today, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Vera Jourová, is on a visit to Prague, Czech Republic. This morning, the Commissioner gave a keynote speech at the conference “Jewish Communities and Western Democracies: What Future?”. In the afternoon, she will participate in a round table with stakeholders to discuss the Commission Work Programme for next year. The Commissioner will use this visit also as an opportunity to meet Mr Aleš Chmelař, Czech State Secretary for European Affairs, and Mr Ondřej Malý, Government Co-ordinator of Digital Agenda. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Mélanie Voin – Tel.: +32 229 58659)

Commissioner Gabriel in Bucharest to discuss progress on Digital Single Market legislation

Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel is in Bucharest, Romania for a two-day visit. This morning she delivered a keynote speech at the 7^th annual high-level international conference ‘New global challenges in cybersecurity’ focussing on the Commission’s proposals to scale up EU’s response to cyber-attacks. After the speech she met with Romania’s Minister for Communications and Information Society Lucian Șova to discuss among other digital topics the coordination of spectrum policies that is vital for successful 5G deployment. Later today, Commissioner Gabriel will meet Deputy Vice Prime Minister of Romania Ion-Marcel Ciolacu with a focus on the swift progress on the Digital Single Market legislation. Additionally to the bilateral meetings, the Commissioner will visit the startup mentoring programme Innovation Labs, hold a meeting on tackling illegal content online and participate in a working breakfast of the Digital Romania International Forum ‘Start-ups in 4.0 industries’. Tomorrow morning she will hold a keynote speech at the Forum and meet the representatives of the Parliament of Romania. In the afternoon she will briefly meet Codette community – an education and inclusion project brought to life by women who are passionate about ICT –, and visit Dream project dedicated to the inclusion of blind or visually impaired people. The Commissioner’s visit concludes with a bilateral meeting with Alexandru Oprean, State Secretary in the Romanian Ministry of Culture. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Inga Höglund – Tel.: +32 229 50698)

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

Following the adoption of Partnership Priorities with Egypt in July 2017, the EU adopted the Single Support Framework (SSF) which sets the priorities and the financial allocation in key strategic areas of bilateral cooperation with the country. Across different sectors, particular attention will be given to youth, on which the long-term stability of our societies lies, and to women empowerment, essential for progress in any society.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner forEuropean Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, currently in Cairo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the EU Single Support Framework with the Egyptian authorities. Commissioner Hahn also signed two financial agreements supporting the sectors of health, environment and transport as well as a €60 million programme to support Egypt in addressing migration challenges.

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: “With the new EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities, we are focussing on the future of the Egyptian people. We believe that social development and social protection, especially when it comes to young people and women, are key towards sustainable growth and stability in Egypt and in the region. That is why we put them at the basis of our partnership”.

Commenting the signature together with Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “The EU is fully committed to support Egypt’s efforts to reform its economy to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth, and to tackle key socio-economic challenges, such as the high population growth and the impact of economic reforms on the most vulnerable.“

Background

Single Support Framework

This Single Support Framework (SSF) defines the areas of focus for EU assistance. It is based on the EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities for the years 2017-2020 and, in defining the priorities, takes into account the Egypt’s Economic Reform Programme, being also aligned with Egypt’s “Sustainable Development Strategy – Vision 2030”.

The three sectors of intervention identified in the SSF are:

• Sector 1: Economic modernisation, energy sustainability and environment (indicative 40% of total budget)
• Sector 2: Social development and social protection (indicative 40% of total budget) 
• Sector 3: Governance, enhancing stability and modern democratic state (indicative 10% of total budget)

In addition, there will be complementary support for capacity development and civil society (indicative 10% of total budget)

The proposed indicative allocation for EU bilateral assistance to Egypt under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), for 2017-2020 is between EUR 432 and EUR 528 million.

The SSF is the result of intensive consultations with all relevant stakeholders in Cairo and in Brussels, including the civil society, local authorities and ministries, as well as EU Member States.

Financing agreements and new programme

Through the financing agreements, the EU will support the following strategic cooperation programmes in Egypt which will have direct benefits for its citizens:

1. The ‘Fayyoum Waste Water Expansion Programme’: with an EU grant of €38 million, €360 million in soft loans from the EIB and the EBRD will be leveraged. This programme will provide access to improved sanitation services to nearly 1 million inhabitants and increase the coverage of sanitation services in the Fayyoum from just over 30% to almost 90%. It is also expected to create over 30,000 temporary and permanent jobs.

2. The ‘Rehabilitation of Alexandria’s Raml Tram Programme’: with an EU grant of €8 million, €237.7 million in soft loans from the EIB and the AFD will be leveraged to rehabilitate the Alexandria’s Raml Tram. The rehabilitated tramway will have doubled capacity and will reduce waiting times which will benefit more than 200,000 passengers per day.

New programme ‘Enhancing the Response to Migration Challenges in Egypt’

With an EU grant of €60 million, the EU will support Egypt’s efforts in enhancing migration management, addressing the root causes of irregular migration and sustaining Egyptian communities hosting migrants and refugees. The programme will cover seven projects in total and is adopted in the framework of the ‘North of Africa Window’ of the EU Emergency Trust Fund

For more information

EU-Egypt cooperation

EU Delegation to Egypt