What is in the new Work Programme?

Spanning seven years (2014 – 2020) and with a budget of €77 billion, Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU research and innovation funding programme ever. It is implemented via multi-annual work programmes.

Today, the European Commission presents the final Work Programme for Horizon 2020, covering the budgetary years 2018, 2019 and 2020 and representing an investment of around €30 billion.

The vast majority of this funding is allocated on the basis of competitive calls which are open to applications from researchers, businesses and other interested organisations located in any of the EU Member States or countries associated to Horizon 2020. Organisations from third countries can also participate in the projects, subject to certain conditions. All funding opportunities and related information is available on a single portal.

What are the new features of the Work Programme?

The 2018-2020 Work Programme builds on the success of Horizon 2020 so far, and takes account of the extensive interim evaluation of the programme. The Work Programme also responds to the European Commission’s political prioritiesand paves the way for its successor programme.

The new features include measures to support market-creating innovation, highly integrated activities called focus areas, emphasis on better dissemination of results and a focus on open access to data. The Work Programme also includes measures to increase simplification (e.g. lump sum funding), to widen participation from less performing countries, and to address skills mismatches.

What will the Work Programme focus on?

1. Market creating innovation

The Work Programme introduces measures to support market creating innovation, through a first phase of a European Innovation Council (EIC). This will be open to innovations in any technology or sector including novel innovations that cut across technologies and sectors.

The first phase of the EICwill support innovative firms and entrepreneurs to scale up their businesses rapidly at European and global levels, and help Europe better capture innovative ideas with the potential to create new markets and strengthen the industrial base.

With a budget of €2.7 billion, it brings together existing instruments: the SME Instrument, inducement prizes, FET-Open and Fast Track to Innovation. Further changes include making the SME instrument fully ‘bottom up’ so that innovative projects that cut across sectors and technologies can be supported.

For funding under the SME instrument (in Phase 2: support further development of innovative projects through activities such as testing, piloting or scaling up), the Commission also plans to introduce face-to-face interviews to the proposal evaluation system.

2. Political priorities

The Work Programme aims to address political priorities of the Commission through defining targeted research and innovation actions that can deliver significant impact.

‘Focus areas’ have been designed around four political priorities: a low-carbon, climate resilient future; circular economy; digitising and transforming European industry and services; and security union. These focus areas are ‘virtual calls’ that cut across several parts of the Work Programme and that are endowed with a substantial budget. Focus areas are expected to create an exceptional impact, addressing ‘big ticket’ challenges.

 

• ‘Building a low Carbon, Climate-resilient Future’ (budget of €3.3 billion), will align R&I investments with the climate change objectives of the Paris Climate Agreementas well as with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The focus area will support the development of solutions to achieve carbon neutrality and climate resilience by the second half of the century.
  As part of this focus area, R&I actions will support Europe’s implementation of the Energy Union. Over €2 billion will be invested in the four strategic priorities identified in the Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation Communication, namely renewables, energy efficiency in buildings, electro-mobility and energy storage solutions. The energy storage solutions will have an emphasis on the next generation of batteries (budget €200 million), which will play an essential role in the transformation of our society towards less dependency on fossil fuels and radical reduction of emissions.

• ‘Connecting economic and environmental gains – the Circular Economy’ (budget of €941 million) will support the Commission’s ambitious Circular Economy package. Through R&I actions a strong contribution will be made to sustainable development goals, climate action, resource efficiency, jobs and growth and industrial competitiveness.
• ‘Digitising and transforming European industry and services’ (budget of €1.7 billion) will address the combination of digital technologies (5G, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, Internet of Things, etc.) with innovations in other technological areas, as emphasised in the Digital Single Market strategy. This field offers huge opportunities for increasing industrial competitiveness, to create growth and jobs and to address societal challenges such as personalised medical treatments, more secure and efficient mobility, food security and sustainable use of natural resources, cleaner energy and security. In addition, a particular emphasis will be put on cybersecurity and on addressing the societal impact of the digital transformation.
• ‘Boosting the effectiveness of the Security Union’ (budget of €1 billion), will support the implementation of Security Union priorities such as preventing and fighting serious crime including terrorism, improving border security and protecting infrastructure against threats, including cyber-attacks. Research on security threats, in particular terrorism, cybercrime, natural and man-made disasters and hybrid threats, will underpin an innovative, effective and coordinated EU response to mitigate risks and their potential impact on European society. Horizon 2020 represents 50% of overall public funding for security research in the EU.
• Migration is a political priority which will receive dedicated support through the Work Programme. Although not defined as a focus area (the financial contribution comes from a single part of the Work Programme), more than €200 million will support research on issues such as the root causes of irregular migration, migration management and integration of migrants in host societies. The results will feed into the implementation of the European Agenda on Migration.

3. Strengthening international R&I cooperation

Cooperation is necessary to ensure the EU’s scientific leadership and industrial competitiveness. By collaborating on an international scale, the EU can better deliver on global commitments in line with its external policies. The Work Programme includes around 30 flagship initiatives on topics dedicated to international cooperation in areas of mutual benefit, comprising a total budget of over €1 billion. Examples include:

• Canada – personalised medicine
• Africa – food, nutrition security and agriculture, renewable energies
• All Atlantic Research Alliance
• Mission Innovation Initiative – energy
• US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia – road transport automation
• COP21 – climate change action support
• India – water challenges
• Russia – research infrastructure
• Multiple international partners – safe nanotechnology

What else is new?

Apart from the EIC pilot, the final Horizon 2020 Work Programme will also pilot several other new features:

• Lump-sum pilotconstitutesa new approach to cost reimbursement from a control-based to a trust-based system. Together with a bigger number of two-stage calls, this measure will reduce administrative burden and make the programme simpler for its users.
• Widening fellowshipspilot adds to the range of tools that contribute to narrowing the ‘innovation divide’ in Europe and putting more places on the map of excellent research and innovation. Through the Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation part of the programme,specific support will now be offered to researchers to undertake a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in a country that could do better in terms of participation in Horizon 2020.
• A disruptive innovation pilot will offer dedicated support to exceptionally promising, high-impact clean energy technologies to make the crucial final step to the market. The first series of projects will aim to crack two specific challenges in renewable energy: photovoltaic windows and the biological conversion of CO2 and renewable hydrogen to fuels.
• An ICT pilot using the mechanism of ERASMUS+ will address skills mismatches, including a shortage of specialists in information and communication technologies (ICT), that have emerged as a result of the fast-paced digital transformation. This scheme will support on-the-job learning for high education students and recent graduates and will be implemented through the mechanisms of Erasmus+. Starting in June 2018, the beneficiaries will undertake traineeships in the digital domain for up to five months. The pilot project is open to all Erasmus+ Programme Countries and to the Horizon 2020 Associated Countries.
• New 50% funding rate to some innovation actions with a high technology-readiness level aims to allow larger, high-cost demonstrator projects to be funded and to leverage commitment from the industry. Replacing the standard 70% funding rate for innovation actions, this 50% funding rate is piloted on a limited number of topics in the part of the programme covering Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology.

How are Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to the World reflected?

Open Innovation –aiming to make the most of Europe’s innovation talent and enable a wider transformation of knowledge into products and services that create new markets – is supported in many parts of the programme. Apart from the main novelty, the first phase of the European Innovation Council, with a budget of €2.7 billion, the Work Programme will fund several Open Innovation test beds with over €200 million, as well as around 30 topics in the Societal Challenges pillar with around €300 million. A new ‘multi-actor’ approach aims to include all relevant stakeholders.

Open Science – the Commission’s core strategy to improve knowledge circulation and thus innovation – is promoted throughout the Work Programme, in particular the open research data approach, and the creation of a European Open Science Cloud that will offer Europe’s 1.7 million researchers and 70 million science and technology professionals a virtual environment to store, share and re-use their data across disciplines and borders.

Open to the World – maximising international cooperation for mutual benefit as well as tapping into global talent, innovation networks and value chains – is promoted mainly by flagship initiatives in areas of mutual interest. Numbering around 30 in total, they will work with a budget of over €1 billion. Europe’s Outermost Regions will also receive dedicated support. There will be an increased effort to enhance mobility paths for European researchers as well as to attract researchers to Europe.

How is Horizon 2020 funding allocated?

The Work Programme sets out a number of calls which contain predefined topics, together with the relevant budgets, conditions, and closing dates for applications. Applications are assessed by independent expert evaluators against the criteria defined in the work programme. Grant agreements are concluded with the successful applicants within a deadline which is normally eight months from call deadline.

All funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 are accessible from the Participant portal.

What is the remaining budget of Horizon 2020?

The total remaining budget for the last three years of Horizon 2020 (2018, 2019 and 2020) is €37.1 billion.

Of this budget, €7.1 billion is not included in the work programme as it is managed through various public-private partnerships (€3.6 billion), public-public partnerships (€0.9 billion), the European Institute of Technology (€1.4 billion) and the in-house activities of the Commission’s Joint Research Centre (€0.1 billion).

The €30 billion of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020 adopted today includes the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (€2.8 billion) and Access to Risk Finance (€1.4 billion). This amount also includes the support to the ERC (€6 billion) which was presented in a separate ERC Work Programme in August. A separate Work Programme was also presented today for research carried out within the framework of the Euratom Treaty.

For More Information

Commission to invest €30 billion in new solutions for societal challenges and breakthrough innovation

The Commission today announced how it will spend €30 billion of the EU research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020. Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Artificial Intelligence, genetics, blockchain: science is at the core of today’s most promising breakthrough innovations. Europe is a world leader in science and technology and will play a major role in driving innovation. The Commission is making a concerted effort – including with the European Innovation Council which takes its first steps today – to give Europe’s many innovators a springboard to become world leading companies.” Over the next 3 years, the Commission will seek greater impact of its research funding by focusing on fewer, but critical topics such as migration, security, climate, clean energy and the digital economy. Horizon 2020 will also be more geared towards boosting breakthrough, market-creating innovation. The Commission is launching the first phase of the European Innovation Council, mobilising €2.7 billion from Horizon 2020 to support high-risk, high-gain innovation to create the markets of the future. The initiative complements wider efforts made by the Juncker Commission since the beginning of its mandate to give Europe’s many innovative entrepreneurs every opportunity to thrive.The Commissioner gives a press conference today at 12:00, which you can follow live here (12:00). A press release in all languages, a MEMO and country factsheets are available online. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tel.: +32 229 55040; Maud Noyon – Tel. +32 229-80379)

Investment Plan: €50 million to finance the construction of a new gas pipeline in Romania

The Juncker Plan has backed a €50 million European Investment Bank (EIB) loan to Transgaz to finance the construction of a new pipeline in Romania.  The 478-kilometre pipeline will run between Podişor and Recaș. This agreement was made possible by the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the central pillar of the European Commission’s Investment Plan for Europe. The project demonstrates how the Investment Plan supports wider strategic objectives, beyond the promotion of jobs and growth. The project is of critical importance for the promotion of European energy market integration and the security of energy supplies in Romania and the wider region. EuropeanCommissionVice-PresidentValdis Dombrovskis, responsible for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, said: “Thanks to support from the Juncker Plan, the European Investment Bank is providing € 50 million to Transgaz to build a new 478-kilometre gas pipeline from Bulgaria to Austria via Romania and Hungary. This important cross-border project will increase competition, which is good for the consumer. It will also bring thousands of jobs to the region, which is the fundamental objective of the Juncker Plan. Combining EFSI financing with funds from the Connecting Europe Facility helped the project get off the ground. I would encourage other project promoters to look into the possibility of combining different sources of financing for their investment projects.” As of October 2017, the Investment Plan is expected to mobilise €240.9 billion across Europe, and just under €1 billion in Romania. Some 21% of these investments are in the energy sector. (For more information about any of the projects and the latest Investment Plan results see the new Investment Plan website or contact Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 57361)

Commission gathers views on how to tax the digital economy fairly and effectively

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on how the EU can ensure that the digital economy is taxed in a fair and growth-friendly way. Taxing the digital economy has become an issue of pressing importance – politically and economically. Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, said: “Nobody can deny it: our tax framework does not fit anymore with the development of the digital economy or with new business models. Member States want to tax the huge profits generated by digital economic activity in their country. We need a solution at EU level, one which will deliver robust solutions for businesses and investors in the Single Market.” The Commission is particularly interested in gathering views on the main problems related to taxing the digital economy, for Member States and business. It also asks for feedback on possible solutions to these problems – both targeted, temporary measures and comprehensive long-term solutions. This public consultation will feed into the work underway on the digital taxation proposals for next year and runs until 3 January 2018. A press release is available here. (For more information: Annika Breidthardt – Tel.: +32 229 56153; Patrick McCullough – Tel.: +32 229 87186)

Digital visionaries to win €150,000 in 2017 European Social Innovation Competition

Yesterday evening, the Commission awarded three projects with the Equality Rebooted prize. This year’s edition of the 2017 European Social Innovation Competition asked candidates to present digital innovation projects addressing inequality in Europe. The winners will receive each €50,000 for having successfully and impressively proven how digital technologies can improve people’s lives. Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs Elżbieta Bieńkowska, said: “Digitisation is changing how our societies and labour market function. It is important that we indeed reboot equality and ensure technology is used to make everyone in Europe benefit from the opportunities created by technological change. I therefore congratulate the three winners, which show creative potential to push for a truly inclusive economy and society.” The innovations awarded are a collaborative platform to build more sustainable homes and neighbourhoods (Buildx from United Kingdom), a multimedia tool for blind and visually-impaired people (Feelif from Slovenia) and peer-to-peer learning network (Saga from Netherlands). Digital inclusionis anchored also in the Digital Single Market strategy, through which the Commission supports accessible ICT solutions, assistive technologies, development of digital skills as well as increasing participation of disadvantaged people in the digital society. This is part of the Commission’s broader aim to enhance social inclusion of disabled persons, via initiatives such as our proposal to make products and services more accessible for them. The European Social Innovation Competition is organised since 2012 in memory of the Portuguese politician and social innovator Diogo Vasconcelos to convert the most innovative ideas into sustainable and transformative projects. Read more about the winners and the competition in this news item. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Inga Höglund – Tel.: +32 229 50698; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tel.: +32 229 55040)

La Commission approuve une nouvelle indication géographique  protégée de Belgique

La Commission européenne a approuvé la demande d’inscription du «Saucisson d’Ardenne»/«Collier d’Ardenne»/«Pipe d’Ardenne» dans le registre des indications géographiques protégées (IGP). Ces trois termes désignent le même produit, un saucisson fumé et séché fait avec de la viande porc ou avec un mélange de viande de porc et de bœuf. Le saucisson et la pipe sont tous deux droits et allongés tandis que le collier se présenter en arc de cercle.  La totalité de la fabrication, de la préparation de la mêlée au séchage, se déroule dans les Ardennes belges qui comprend la province de Luxembourg et celles autour de Liège et de Namur. Le caractère fumé du Saucisson d’Ardenne constitue sa principale spécificité. À la fin du XIXe siècle, le développement d’un élevage bovin mixte a incité les charcutiers à incorporer de la viande bovine dans le Saucisson d’Ardenne. Le type de viande reste en revanche imperceptible pour les consommateurs. Cette nouvelle appellation va rejoindre plus de 1410 produits déjà protégés dont la liste est disponible dans la base de données DOOR. Pour plus d’informations, voir aussi les pages sur la politique de qualité. (pour plus d’information: Daniel Rosario – Tel: +32 2 29 56185; Clémence Robin – Tel: +32 229 52 509)

Mergers: Commission clears the acquisition of joint control over ASCN by Bosch and HASCO

The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the acquisition of joint control over Bosch Automobile Steering (Nanjing) Co. Ltd. (“ASCN”) of China by Robert Bosch GmbH (“Bosch”) of Germany and Huayu Automotive Systems Company Ltd. (“HASCO”) of China. ASCN is a Bosch-subsidiary active in the production of power assisted steering gears, predominantly in China. Bosch is a supplier of technology and services for the automotive industry, as well as for the industrial technology, consumer goods, energy and building technology industries. HASCO is active in the development, production and sale of automotive components for a variety of car manufacturers and is controlled through SAIC Motor Corporation by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the Shanghai Municipal Government. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns given that the companies’ activities do not overlap 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.8651. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Mergers: Commission clears the creation of a joint venture by Evonik and DSM

The European Commission has approved the creation of a joint venture by Evonik Industries AG of Germany and Koninklijke DSM N.V. of the Netherlands. The joint venture will manufacture and sale an algae-based product intended to provide an alternative for other sources of Omega-3 fatty acids for the production of animal feed. Both Evonik and DSM are specialty chemical companies active -amongst others- in animal nutrition. The Commission concluded that the proposed transaction would raise no competition concerns because the expected activities and turnover of the joint venture in the EEA are limited. 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.8514.  (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Maria Sarantopoulou – Tel.: +32 229 13740)

Eurostat: Deuxième trimestre 2017: Le revenu réel des ménages par habitant en hausse dans la zone euro et dans l’UE28, consommation réelle par habitant en hausse dans les deux zones

Dans la zone euro, en termes réels, le revenu des ménages par habitant a augmenté de 0,7% au deuxième trimestre 2017, après une hausse de 0,1% au trimestre précédent. La consommation réelle des ménages par habitant a progressé de 0,6% au deuxième trimestre 2017, après une hausse de 0,2% au premier trimestre 2017. Un communiqué de presse Eurostat est à votre disposition en ligne. (Pour plus d’informations: Christian Wigand – Tel.: +32 229 62253; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: +32 229 67094)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

First Vice-President Timmermans delivers a speech at the Vatican

This afternoon, European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans will deliver an opening speech at the event “Christian contributions to the future of the European project“, organised by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). The First Vice-President will discuss the important bridge building roles played by His Holiness the Pope and by the European Union, and will reflect on the Pope’s work to raise awareness of important global challenges such as migration and climate change. The First Vice-President – who leads the dialogue between the European Commission and churches and religious associations or communities – will say in his speech: “In Europe, our religions, our nations and our people all share common values…But despite our continent being united, our values are being challenged once again, by globalisation, by the 4^thindustrial revolution, by climate change and by migration. These great upheavals are testing our bonds and the values we sometimes take for granted.” As part of the event, the First Vice-President will also participate in a number of panel discussions, and will be granted a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis. The First Vice-President’s speech will be made available online this afternoon. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 229 58602)

 

First Vice-President Timmermans visits Athens on Monday and Tuesday

European Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans has been invited to Athens, Greece on Monday and Tuesday by the Greek authorities. On Monday evening, the First Vice-President will deliver a keynote lecture entitled “Unity in Diversity: what Hellenic Europe teaches us” at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where he will be awarded the title of Doctor honoris causa. First Vice-President Timmermans is also invited on Monday to receive the Grand Cross of the Phoenix from the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr Prokopios Pavlopoulos for his contribution to European and international politics, international relations and fundamental rights. On Tuesday, First Vice-President Timmermans is invited to receive the Medal of the City of Athens from the Mayor of Athens Mr Georgios Kaminis. The award ceremonies and the First Vice-President’s lecture will be available on EbS. (For more information: Margaritis Schinas – Tel.: +32 229 60524; Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 229 58602; Kasia Kolanko – Tel.: +32 229 63444)

 

Commissioner Stylianides to visit Italy and discuss strengthening EU Civil Protection response

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides will visit Italy during 26-28 October. Yesterday in Rome he met with Mr Angelo Borrelli, the Head of Italy’s Civil Protection department and discussed how the EU can boost crisis response collaboration with Member States faced with natural disasters. The visit comes as 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. Commissioner Stylianides said: “Italy plays a strong and constructive role in crisis response at European level. It is a country that knows all too well the impact of natural disasters. We all have a common interest in strengthening EU Civil Protection response for the benefit of our citizens and therefore I am glad to be here to discuss and consult on this with the Italian authorities.” On 27 November the Commissioner is meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Mr Angelino Alfano and Interior Minister Mr Marco Minniti. He will then speak at and take part in the two day international conference on “The Protection of Civilian Population in Warfare – The Role of Humanitarian Organisations and Civil Society” which will assess the role that humanitarian organizations play inprotecting civilians during armed conflicts and in safeguarding international humanitarian law. (for more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Commissioner Hahn to visit Egypt

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, will visit Egypt from the 29 to the 31 October. Following the adoption of the EU – Egypt Partnership Priorities of July 2017, Commissioner Hahn is travelling to Cairo to discuss on how to implement these priorities, with a particular focus on the EU’s many activities supporting Egypt’s economic stabilisation. Ahead of the visit Commissioner Hahn said: “The European Union and Egypt are key partners facing many common challenges and sharing similar objectives. During my visit I will discuss concrete ways we can work together to implement the Partnership Priorities for the period 2017-2020, focussing our cooperation on shared interests.  I will sign a range of EU funded projects supporting our shared priorities, to underline the EU’s commitment to invest in inclusive and sustainable growth and  job creation to the benefit of the Egyptian people“. Commissioner Hahn is expected to meet with key interlocutors including President of the RepublicAbdel-Fattah el-Sisi, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Sahr Nasr Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, as well as representatives of civil society organisation and representatives of the business community. Videos and photos of the visit will be available on EbS. (For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229 64887)

Calendar

The Commissioners’ weekly activities

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

The Hague, 27 October 2017

Paris Adamis joined Eurojust in September 2017.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Athens, followed by two Master’s degrees, one in law and one in terrorism studies, followed by an LL.M. and a Ph.D. in criminology.

His career in law began in 1990 as a judicial officer in the Greek Air Force in Athens, followed by seven years of private law practice. In 2000, he became a public prosecutor, and was promoted to Chief Prosecutor in 2009, serving until 2016, at which time he became Chief Prosecutor for S.I.Re.N.E., the Police Office for International Cooperation within the Greek Ministry of the Interior, until his appointment to Eurojust.

Mr Adamis was chosen as Prosecutor of the Year in 2011 by the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP), of which he is a member. He has written many speeches and papers on legal topics, as well as two books, one on hooliganism and one on responding to new religious terrorism.

Commenting on his appointment as National Member for Greece at Eurojust, Mr Adamis said: ‘My first encounter with Eurojust occurred when I attended a Eurojust seminar in 2010 at the behest of my national authorities in Athens. At that time, I never anticipated that one day I would be appointed National Member for Greece. My previous position of Chief Prosecutor at S.I.Re.N.E. introd0uced me to the challenges, complexities and advantages of international cooperation in cases involving serious organised crime. I look forward to furthering my expertise with the help of my colleagues in the College of Eurojust.’

Photo: © Eurojust

(Susceptible de modifications en cours de semaine)

Déplacements et visites

Calendar from 30 October to 05 November

Lundi 30 octobre 2017

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Portugal (until 31/10): in Lisbon: meets Mr António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal; members of the Conselho de Estado (Council of State) of Portugal; and Mr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, for a working dinner.

Mr Frans Timmermans in Athens, Greece (until 31/10): is awarded the “Grand Cross of the Phoenix” Medal by Mr Prokopios Pavlopoulo, President of the Hellenic Republic, at the Presidential Palace; receives a “Doctor honoris causa” from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens; and delivers a keynote lecture on “Unity in Diversity: what Hellenic Europe teaches us”.

Ms Federica Mogherini in Rome, Italy: delivers an intervention at a debate organised by the Ialian Institute of International Affairs, entitled ‘Europa piú Difesa’ with Ms Roberta Pinotti, Minister for Defence of Italy; delivers a speech at an event on “International Cultural Relations – the role of Italy in the new European Union strategy”, organised by the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Estonia (until 31/10): meets Ms Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia; Mr Jüri Ratas, Prime Minister for Estonia; Mr Toomas Tõniste, Minister for Finance of Estonia; Mr Eiki Nestor, President of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament); and delivers a keynote speech on “The Future of the EMU. 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).

Mr Johannes Hahn in Cairo, Egypt (until 31/10): on official visit.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens, Greece: delivers a speech at the Jean Monnet European Centre of Excellence.

M. Pierre Moscovici reçoit M. Nick Clegg, ancien Vice-Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni; M. Kenneth Clarke et M. Andrew Adonis, Membres du Parlement du Royaume-Uni à Bruxelles.

Mr Phil Hogan in Belfast, Northern Ireland: delivers a speech at the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit; meets Mr Michael Gove, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom; and meets representatives of the German Milk Industry.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Prague, Czech Republic: delivers a keynote speech at the “Jewish Communities and Western Democracies: What Future?” conference; presents the Commission’s Work Programme for 2018 at a roundtable with stakeholders; meets Mr Ondřej Malý, Digital Agenda Coordinator at the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Bucharest , Romania (until 31/10); delivers a keynote speech at the 7^th annual high-level international conference “New global challenges in cyber-security”; meets Mr Ion-Marcel Ciolacu, Deputy Vice Prime Minister of Romania; Mr Lucian Șova, Minister for Communications and Information Society; and stakeholders focusing on illegal content.

Mardi 31 octobre 2017

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Coimbra, Portugal: receives a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the University of Coimbra and delivers a keynote speech; and meets Mr António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, for a working lunch.

Mr Frans Timmermans in Athens, Greece: receives the “Medal of the City of Athens” from Mr Yiorgos Kaminis, Mayor of Athens.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Tartu, Estonia: participates in a Citizens’ dialogue on “The Future of the Economic and Monetary Union”, in the framework of the European Semester.

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Tallinn, Estonia: meets government representatives and Members of the Parliament; participates in a Citizens’ dialogue to discuss the Future of EU finances as part of a tour across EU Member States to gather views about the next EU multiannual budget.

Mr Neven Mimica receives Mr Ernest Bai Koroma, President of Sierra Leone.

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris, France:rencontre M. François Villeroy de Galhau, Gouverneur de la Banque de la France.

Mr Christos Stylianides in Bangladesh (until 01/11): meets Mr Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh; representatives of local authorities; and humanitarian partners; and visits Rohingya refugees camps and EU aid projects, in Cox’s Bazar.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Helsinki, Finland: meets Mr Antti Häkkänen, Minister for Justice of Finland; delivers a keynote speech at the high-level seminar “Finland 100 Years – European perspectives to the Rule of Law”; visits an EU-funded school project on Gender Equality; attends a roundtable discussion on the digital agenda with representatives of businesses; and visits Vantaa prison.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Bucharest,Romania: delivers a keynote speech and participates in the International Digital Forum II; meets representatives of the ITC and European affairs committees; Mr Cătălin Drulă, President of the ITC committee of the Chamber of Deputies and representatives of the two EU-funded projects.

Mercredi 01 novembre 2017

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Riga, Latvia: meets government representatives and Members of the Parliament, participates in a Citizens’ dialogue to discuss the Future of EU finances as part of a tour across EU Member States to gather views about the next EU multiannual budget.

Ms Vĕra Jourová in Prague, the Czech Republic: meets Mr Pavel Zeman, Supreme Public Prosecutor of the Czech Republic; and delivers a keynote speech at the Gala Law Awards for Pro bono & CSR 2017.

 

Jeudi 02 movembre 2017

Mr Günther H. Oettinger in Vilnius, Lithuania: meets government representatives and Members of the Parliament to discuss the Future of EU finances as part of a tour across EU Member States to gather views about the next EU multiannual budget.

Mr Neven Mimica in Tanzania (until 03/11): meets Mr John Magufuli, President of Tanzania; Mr Augustine Mahiga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of Tanzania; Mr Medard Matogolo Kalemani, Minister for Energy of Tanzania.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Athens, Greece: attends the AMVER Awards Ceremony at the International Propeller Club of the United States.

Vendredi 03 novembre 2017

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis in Riga, Latvia: participates in a Citizens’ dialogue on “Strengthening EMU, competitiveness and the future of Europe”; meets representatives of the Latvian Academy of Sciences; and representatives of the Association of Latvia’s Seven Largest Cities.

Mr Neven Mimica meets actors from the economic and research sectors as well as partners from NGOs and international organisations; and participates in a roundtable on current trends and issues in the field of governance and human rights in Tanzania.

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Warsaw, Poland; delivers a speech in front of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Aarhus, Denmark: delivers a keynote speechat the Aarhus Symposium hosted by the Aarhus University; meets local mayors from the Region of Central Denmark; and delivers a speech at the 10-year reception of the Central Denmark European Union Office.

 

Samedi 04 novembre 2017

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Milan, Italy (until 06/11): participates in a high-level event co-hosted by the Italian G7 Presidency, the Italian Ministry of Health and the city of Milan on Nutrition and Food for Healthier Future; and delivers a speech on “Celebrating Progress toward the Global Nutrition Targets”.

 

Dimanche 05 novembre 2017

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Milan, Italy: participates in the G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting; and meets Ms Michiyo Takagi, State Minister for Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan.

 

Calendar from 06 November to 12 November

Lundi 06 novembre 2017

Eurogroup, in Brussels

06-07/11 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH), in Brussels

President Jean-Claude Juncker delivers remarks at the presentation of the report “Reaching out to EU citizens: a new opportunity” by Mr Luc Van den Brande, Special Adviser to President Juncker for the outreach towards the citizens, in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives representatives of the “Rethink Plastic” NGO.

Mr Frans Timmermans delivers a keynote speech to a group of young Benelux diplomats, in Brussels. 

Mr Andrus Ansip delivers a speech at the event on Future Emerging Technologies.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Mr Matthias Kurth, Executive Chairman of Cable Europa.    

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives representatives from cross-sectorial Social Partners: the Centre Européen des Employeurs et Entreprises (CEEP), the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME) and the Confederation of European Trade Union (ETUC) on the Mobility Package.

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives a delegation from the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ECCK).

Mr Jyrki Katainen receives Mr Suren Karayan, Minister for Economic Development and Investments of Armenia.

Ms Cecilia Malmström in Chișinău, Moldova (until 07/11): on official visit.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Milan, Italy: participates in the G7 Health Ministers’ Meeting.

M. Pierre Moscovici à Paris, France: rencontre M. Emmanuel Macron, Président de la République française.

Mr Phil Hogan attends an event on beef organised by Copa Cogeca, European farmers and European agri-cooperatives, in Brussels.

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska receives representatives of European Plastics Converters (EuPC) organisation.

Mr Tibor Navracsics, Ms Margrethe Vestager and Mr Carlos Moedas in Lisbon, Portugal: participate in the Web Summit and deliver speeches.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Lisbon, Portugal (until 07/11); participates in Erasmus Talks; meets Mr Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, Minister for Education of Portugal; Mr Luís Filipe Castro Mendes, Minister for Culture.

Ms Margrethe Vestager in Lisbon, Portugal (until 07/11): meets Mr António Costa, Prime Minister for Portugal; and participates in a fireside interview; attends the debate “Women in Power – the new role of women in politics”, organised by ALDE members in Portugal.

Mr Julian King in Lisbon, Portugal (until 07/11): visits the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

 

Mardi 07 novembre 2017

Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH), in Brussels

Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), in Brussels

President Jean-Claude Juncker receivesMr Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

President Jean-Claude Juncker meets President Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, for a working lunch.

President Jean-Claude Juncker delivers a speech to the Young Members of Parliament Forum 2017, in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans hosts the annual High-Level meeting with Religious Leaders, on “The Future of Europe: a value-based and effective Union”,in Brussels.

Mr Frans Timmermans receives Mr Tudorel Toader, Minister for Justice of Romania.

Mr Andrus Ansip receives Mr Alberto Calcagno, CEO and General Manager of Fastweb.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič participates in the high-level conference on clean energy financing:” Delivering the energy transition for jobs, growth and investment“, at the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič receives Mr Marco Alverà, CEO of Snam S.p.A and Managing Director of Snam Rete Gas.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis receives Ms Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote speech at the high-level conference on clean energy financing: Delivering the energy transition for jobs, growth and investment, organised by the European Parliament, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote speech and participates in a panel discussion on “Making globalisation great again” at the Economic Ideas Forum, organised by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote address at the Public Sector Transformation conference, organised by Forum Europe, in Brussels.

Ms Cecilia Malmström in Chișinău, Moldova: on official visit.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete delivers a keynote speech at the high-level conference on clean energy financing: Delivering the energy transition for jobs, growth, and investment, at the European Parliament, Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella meets MrDejan Židan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia, in Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella meets Mr Rumen Porodzanov, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry ofBulgaria, in Brussels.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis participates in the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, at the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), in Brussels.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis meets the representatives of the European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers, in Brussels.

Mr Christos Stylianides receives Mr Yiannis Yiannakis, Commissioner for Volunteerism and Non-Governmental Organisations of Cyprus.

Ms Violeta Bulc delivers a speech at the high-level conference on financing clean energy for all Europeans in Brussels

Ms Elżbieta Bieńkowska in Tallinn, Estonia: delivers a speech at the EU – European Space Agency Informal Space Ministerial Meeting.

Ms Vĕra Jourová delivers a keynote speech at the 11th European Forum on the Rights of the Child: “Children deprived of their liberty and alternatives to detention”, in Brussels.

Ms Vĕra Jourová exchanges views at a debate “Multi-speed Europe” organised by the Delegation of Prague to the EU, the Institute for Politics and Society and the European Liberal Forum, in Brussels.

Mr Tibor Navracsics, Ms Margrethe Vestager, Mr Carlos Moedas and Mr Julian King in Lisbon, Portugal: participate in the Web Summit and deliver speeches.

Mr Tibor Navracsics in Lisbon, Portugal; participates in a hearing at the Parliamentary Commission for European Affairs; and meets Mr Manuel Heitor, Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Lisbon, Portugal (until 08/11): delivers a speech to promote the EU Prize for Women Innovators; participates in and announce the winners of the iCapital Awards ceremony; participates in a panel debate on ‘Repairing our relationship with experts’; and in a panel debate on ‘How we can stop killing our oceans’, in the framework of the Web Summit.

Mr Julian King in Lisbon, Portugal: participates in a hearing at the Parliamentary Commission for European Affairs on the European Commission’s Work Programme for 2018.

Mercredi 08 novembre 2017

College meeting

President Jean-Claude Juncker receives Mr Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

President Jean-Claude Juncker, together with the College of Commissioners, receives the members of the Bulgarian Government for a plenary meeting in preparation of the upcoming Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

President Jean-Claude Juncker holds a joint press conference together with Mr Boyko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

Mr Valdis Dombrovskis delivers a keynote address at the conference “Making the Euro fit for the 21st Century – the Future of EMU”, organised by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote address at the Young Members of Parliament Forum 2017, in Brussels.

Mr Jyrki Katainen delivers a keynote address at the Strategic Council of the European Policy Centre on the future of Europe’s economy and the role of innovation in achieving Europe’s economic, environmental and social objectives.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete delivers a speech at the KPMG 7^th Global Power and Utilities Conference 2017, in Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella receives Ms Véronique Willems, Secretary General of the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME).

Mr Karmenu Vella delivers a speech at the event on “Marine Plastics Need European Action!”, organised by MrRicardo Serrão Santos, Member of the European Parliament, together with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) European Regional Office, in Brussels.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos receives Mr David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee.

Ms Marianne Thyssen receives Ms Tatjana Babrauskiene, Chair of the Governing Board of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop).

M. Pierre Moscovici à Berlin, Alemagne: rencontre M. Peter Altmaier, Ministre des Finances de l’Allemagne; M. Christian Lindner, Président du Parti libéral-démocrate allemand (FDP); et prononce un discours au French German Business Forum, organisé par Handelsblatt et Les Echos.

Mr Phil Hogan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (until 09/11): participates in the opening session of the business event: “Doing business in Saudi Arabia: Agri-Food Sector”.

Ms Vĕra Jourová delivers a keynote speech at the International Association of Privacy Professionals’ Europe Data Protection Congress, in Brussels.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Ms Bernadett Szél, co-chair of the Hungarian Green Party ‘Lehet Más a Politika’.

Mr Tibor Navracsics receives Mr Yiannis Yiannaki, Commissioner for Volunteering and Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Cyprus.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Ms Nikolina Angelkova, Minister for Tourism of Bulgaria.

Ms Corina Creţu receives Ms Bernadett Szél, co-chair of the Hungarian Green Party ‘Lehet Más a Politika’.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Lisbon, Portugal: participates in the Web Summit and delivers a keynote speech on “Can the benefits of publicly funded research continue to outweigh the costs?”

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Mr Jean-Noël Tronc, CEO of Sacem, the music society for authors, song writers and publishers.

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Ms Monique Goyens, Director-General of the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC).

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Ms Maria Stoyanova, member of the European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media (ERGA).

 

Jeudi 09 novembre 2017

Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA), in Brussels

President Jean-Claude Juncker in Salamanca, Spain: receives a Honoris Causa Doctorate by the University of Salamanca; and delivers a keynote speech.

Ms Federica Mogherini in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (until 10/11): chairs the EU-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Mr Andrus Ansip in Budapest, Hungary: participates in ICT Proposers’ Day 2017 conference, organised by the European Commission.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Athens, Greece (until 10/11): delivers the opening address at the 2nd EU-Arab World Summit “Towards a Solid Alliance”; and attends meetings as part of his Energy Union Tour.

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Buenos Aires, Argentina: participates in high-level political meetings in the context of the ongoing Mercosur trade negotiations.

Mr Neven Mimica in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (until 10/11): attends the EU-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete receives Mr Eldar Sætre, President and CEO of Statoil.

Mr Miguel Arias Cañete delivers a keynote speech at the “Plenary across Institutions, Businesses and Civil Society: Financing the Energy Union” event, organised by Energy Solutions, at the European Parliament, Brussels.

Mr Karmenu Vella delivers a speech at the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Information Day on”A wave of opportunities for blue growth“, in Brussels.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis in Prague, Czech Republic: participates in a high-level conference on African swine fever “Measures to prevent further territorial spread of the disease and eradication plans” at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

Mr Dimitris Avramopoulos in Larnaca, Cyprus: delivers the keynote address at the annual Plenary Congress of AIRPOL organisation for security enhancement at European airports.

Ms Marianne Thyssen participates in a panel discussion at the People Experiencing Poverty meeting, in Brussels.

Mr Phil Hogan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: on official visit.

Ms Violeta Bulc in Tallinn, Estonia: delivers a keynote speech at the Digital Transport Days.

Ms Vĕra Jourová receives Mr Vladimír Dlouhý, President of the Czech Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Carlos Moedas in Aman, Jordan (until 10/11): participates in the 8^th World Science Forum.

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives Ms Joséphine Staron, Doctorante SciencesPo.

Ms Mariya Gabriel receives stakeholders from the European Organisation for Astronomical Research (ESO) from Bulgaria.

Vendredi 10 novembre 2017

Foreign Affairs Council – Trade (FAC), in Brussels

Ms Federica Mogherini in Samarkand, Uzbekistan: chairs the EU-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Greece: on Energy Union Tour.

Mr Jyrki Katainen in Brasilia, Brazil: participates in high-level political meetings in the context of the ongoing Mercosur trade negotiations.

Mr Neven Mimica in Samarkand, Uzbekistan: attends the EU-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis participates in the EU Platform on Animal Welfare, in Brussels.

Ms Violeta Bulc receives Mr Raphaël Schoentgen, Chair of the governing board of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU).

Mr Carlos Moedas in Amman, Jordan: participates in the 8th World Science Forum; delivers a keynote address in the plenary session on “Science Diplomacy to Strengthen Governance and Build Enduring Relationships”; and a speech at the closing ceremony; and participates in the ceremony on the signature of the EU – Jordan PRIMA international agreement.

Ms Mariya Gabriel in Sofia, Bulgaria: attends the ceremony of “Manager of the Year”.

 

Samedi 11 novembre 2017

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Bonn, Germany (until 12/11): participates in the Informal meeting of the Board of the Global Covenant of Mayors as part of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Mr Karmenu Vella in Bonn, Germany: participates in the Oceans Day as part of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Mr Phil Hogan in Tehran, Iran (until 13/11): delivers a speech at the opening session of the EU-Iran Agri-Food Business Forum.

 

Dimanche 12 novembre 2017

Mr Maroš Šefčovič in Bonn, Germany: participates in  the Climate Summit of Local and Regional Leaders as part of the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Mr Phil Hogan in Tehran, Iran (until 13/11): on official visit.

  

Prévisons du mois de novembre:

13-14/11 Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in Brussels.

13-16/11 European Parliament plenary session, in Strasbourg.

15/11 General Affairs Council (GAC), in Brussels.

17/11 Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), in Brussels.

17/11 Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth, in Gothenburg.

20/11 General Affairs Council (GAC), in Brussels.

20-21/11 Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council (EYCS), in Brussels.

24/11 Eastern Partnership summit, in Brussels.

27/11 Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in Brussels.

29-30/11 European Parliament plenary session, in Brussels.

30/11 – 01/12 Competitiveness Council (COMPET), in Brussels.

Prévisions du mois de décembre:

30/11 – 01/12 Competitiveness Council (COMPET), in Brussels.

04/12 Eurogroup, in Brussels.

04-05/12 Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE), in Brussels.

05/12 Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), in Brussels.

07-08/12 Justice and Home Affairs Council (JHA), in Brussels.

07-08/12 Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), in Brussels.

11/12 Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in Brussels.

11-12/12 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (AGRIFISH), in Brussels.

11-14/12 European Parliament plenary session, in Strasbourg.

12/12 General Affairs Council (GAC), in Brussels.

12/12 General Affairs Council (Art. 50), in Brussels

14-15/12 European Council, in Brussels.

18/12 Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE), in Brussels.

19/12 Environment Council (ENVI), in Brussels.

 

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 28 au 29 octobre 2017:

Annika BREIDTHARDT: +32 (0) 460 75 61 53

Permanence DG COMM du 01 au 02 novembre 2017:

Johannes BAHRKE: +32 (0) 460 75 86 15

Permanence DG COMM le WE du 28 au 29 octobre 2017:

Tove ERNST: +32 (0) 498 98 44 83

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

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

Keynote Address by Peter Praet, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the 5th Frankfurt Conference on Financial Market Policy, organised by the SAFE Policy Center of Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, 27 October 2017

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank the organisers Jan-Peter Krahnen and Hans-Helmut Kotz for inviting me to speak at the fifth edition of the Frankfurt Conference on Financial Market Policy.

The theme of the conference is well-chosen. Despite significant improvements to its architecture over recent years, there is a clear sense that Economic and Monetary Union, or EMU, remains incomplete. There is much less clarity and precious little agreement on what a complete EMU would look like, however. This is why the question posed by the organisers – “how much federalism” – is so relevant.

In my remarks, I would like to first review how federalism has evolved in the EU, highlighting that it is as much a process as it is an end-state. I will then – drawing on the economic concept of fiscal federalism – look more at the question of “how much federalism”, focusing on issue of risk-sharing and the role of different levels of governance within EMU.

Federalism in the EU

The nature of the discussion on federalism in Europe has changed quite dramatically over time. Shortly after the Second World War, the ambition for some was to create a “United States of Europe”, mainly as a way to avoid renewed, devastating war.

This vision was shared by those who laid the foundations of the European Union in the 1950s, most notably Jean Monnet, the first President of the European Coal and Steel Community. From today’s perspective, it may seem surprising that the start of such a grand project was confined to an area as specific as coal and steel. But Monnet and the other early architects of European integration clearly understood that political federalism was the end-point of long process, which had to be achieved incrementally and through focused actions in limited policy areas where the benefits of European cooperation could be clearly seen.

To quote one of Monnet’s contemporaries, Alcide de Gasperi,“we must begin by pooling only what is strictly essential to the achievement of our immediate aims, and do this by means of flexible formulae which can be gradually and progressively applied”. For these “fathers of Europe”, however, it was self-evident that such incremental measures would gradually move Europe deeper into federalism. Indeed, this clear sense of direction was, in their way, a key motor to keep the integration process moving forward.

Since then, the European integration process has tended to move in waves. There have been times when it has stalled, such as the during the “empty chair crisis” in the 1960s. And there have been times when it has unexpectedly sped ahead, such as with the launch of the Single Market Act in the 1980s, and the commitment to Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) in the 1990s. But today, there is some confusion as to where we stand.

In some ways, the degree of ambition to achieve a full political federation seems to have become more limited, which has led some to wonder whether the integration process will lose its forward momentum. This reflects in part the failure of the Constitution for Europe in 2005. The unsuccessful referendums in France and the Netherlands can be interpreted in different ways, but they clearly suggested that the people of the European Union were not ready to embark on the road towards full political federalism – or at least not at that point in time. It is also fair to say that the appetite for such federalism today is not much different from in 2005. In recent years there have been growing doubts about the European project.

At the same time, polls consistently show that European citizens support federal decision-making in a wide range of areas, ranging from energy to migration to the fight against terrorism. This reflects the fact that the benefits of federalism are much broader than its economic, fiscal and monetary dimensions. Indeed, since the EU was originally devised as a peace-keeping device, it is not surprising that one of the early initiatives for European integration was a motion to establish a European Defence Community, although this failed in 1954. While a full defence union is probably still unrealistic, there are increasing signs that further integration in this area could happen in the near future.

The Commission reflection paper published on 7 June of this year lays out proposals for establishing a European Defence Fund, which could form the nucleus of a future defence union. Last week, the European Council welcomed the significant progress made by Member States in preparing a Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the field of defence, and the work done on the Commission’s proposal for a European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). All this clearly chimes with the preferences of European citizens, three-quarters of whom support “a common defence and security policy among EU Member States”.^[1]

The conclusion that follows is that we have to distinguish federalism as a state from federalism as a process. It may be the case that a full political federation is not currently desired by European citizens. But that does not mean that they reject the process of federalism – which is to say, the dynamic allocation and reallocation of responsibilities to different levels of government according to the preferences and needs of the time. While this process may benefit from the gravitational pull of a pre-defined end point, it can also advance without it, so long as actions are taken in areas where the benefits of cooperation are clear and the steps taken are legitimate in the eyes of citizens. Indeed, what gave the EU both momentum and popular legitimacy in the years after the war was its achievements – effective actions in specific areas – not necessarily the visions of a unified Europe.

So how much federalism would satisfy these requirements today? One way to assess this is through looking at the economic aspects of federalism. Certainly, as Richard and Peggy Musgrave wrote, “economic analysis does not tell us what degree of closeness the member units of a federation should feel toward each other”. Political aspects transcend economic ones. But economic analysis can help us better understand the consequences of various institutional arrangements and choose the instruments we should use to pursue our common objectives. In the rest of my remarks I will zoom in on some of these aspects of federalism.

Economic aspects of federalism

An important theme – one aspect of which will be addressed in the first session today – is risk-sharing. The crisis has reminded us that both private and public risk-sharing are underdeveloped in Europe, and that this underdevelopment comes at huge cost.

So, there is general agreement that risk-sharing channels need to be improved. There is less agreement on where the emphasis should lie. Some argue that the priority should be to strengthen private risk-sharing, by completing the banking union and establishing a truly integrated capital markets union. Others argue that EMU needs to focus on public risk-sharing, be it through introducing a central euro area fiscal capacity or creating safe assets.

In reality, separating these two channels of risk-sharing is far from the obvious solution. Is private risk-sharing a substitute for public risk-sharing? Or do they complement each other? There are several arguments in support of the view that the two channels complement each other – but only if the right powers are matched at the federal level.

For example, it is clear that the banking union would not fully achieve its goal of severing the toxic link between banks and national governments without a central fiscal backstop for the already-existing Single Resolution Fund, as well as for the European Deposit Insurance Scheme that is still under discussion. At the same time, fiscal backstops generally raise legitimate questions about incentive structures to protect taxpayers, which need to be addressed in parallel by appropriate fiscal governance at the federal level.

The process of building the banking union also illustrates how important it is to reach an appropriate degree of federalism to achieve the objective of a stable and integrated financial system that supports the European economy. Ideally, in a genuine banking union banks would operate in the Single Market just as they operate in their domestic market. This is essential to reap the full benefits of financial integration. The country in which a bank is headquartered should be irrelevant. But, in practice, it remains relevant for as long as the consequences of potential bank failures are still predominantly national. The irrelevance of a bank’s headquarters, therefore, depends on the institutional structure of the banking union.

Let me take one very specific example to illustrate my point. The banking union is not yet considered a single geographical area in the supervisory methodology applied to globally systematically important banks. These G-SIBs are subject to additional capital requirements, which are calibrated on the basis of a cross-jurisdictional indicator. This indicator reflects the fact that failures of global banks are more difficult to handle owing to coordination difficulties and cross-border spillover effects.

When the responsibility for banks is shared, additional capital buffers for cross-border activities lose their raison d’être. A single set of harmonised prudential rules for all banks in the European Union would not, in and of itself, be sufficient for the EU to be considered as a single geographical area. But the Single Rulebook, the existence of a single supervisor, the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), of a single resolution authority, the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), and of a common backstop, the Single Resolution Fund (SRF), when taken together, have equipped the banking union with all the features of a single geographical area. This should mean that the banking union is treated as a single geographical area in the supervisory methodology in future.

Finally, there is the question of how to design fiscal risk-sharing mechanisms for EMU, while taking into account EMU’s unique nature. In existing federations the stabilisation function of the central budget is usually a by-product of redistribution via large tax transfer systems. At this stage of European integration, it is clear that any politically acceptable euro area fiscal capacity will be modest in size. So, the key question for the economics profession is whether it is possible to remove the link between the stabilisation function and the redistributive function, allowing for a central budget of moderate size to have a meaningful macroeconomic stabilisation effect. If this were possible, such a central budget could help monetary policy, especially in times of deep recessions when nominal interest rates may reach their effective lower bound. The European Commission set out some proposals in its reflection paper published on 31 May – these require further study.

Conclusion

Let me conclude.

The answer to the question of today’s conference – “How much federalism?” – is not easy. Yet, speaking as an economist, I think it is likely that the right answer lies on the side of “more than today” rather than “less than today”.

Monnet famously said that “Europe will be forged in crises, and will be the sum of the solutions adopted for those crises.” He was certainly right that further integration will proceed incrementally rather than in a big bang. What I hope, though, is that Europe will not be forged in crises only. Significant progress towards a genuine Economic and Monetary Union has been achieved in times of acute crisis. Today’s improved economic environment offers a window of opportunity to demonstrate that progress is possible in quieter times, too.

I thank you for your attention and hope you have productive discussions at today’s conference.