European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 14 / 04 / 2021
Brussels, 14 April 2021
RÉUNION DU COLLÈGE : La Commission présente les stratégies de l'UE pour lutter contre la
criminalité organisée et la traite des êtres humains
Aujourd'hui, la Commission présente de nouvelles stratégies de l'UE pour lutter contre la criminalité
organisée et la traite des êtres humains. La stratégie de l'UE pour lutter contre la criminalité
organisée est axée sur le renforcement de la coopération policière et judiciaire, la lutte contre les
structures criminelles et les formes de criminalité hautement prioritaires, l'élimination des profits
générés par la criminalité et la mise en œuvre de moyens d'action modernes face aux évolutions
technologiques. Les groupes criminels organisés continuent à se développer et à évoluer, comme en
témoigne l'augmentation du nombre de produits médicaux contrefaits et de la criminalité en ligne,
qui montre que ces groupes se sont rapidement adaptés à la pandémie de coronavirus. En 2019, les
recettes d'origine criminelle dans les principaux marchés criminels s'élevaient à 139 milliards
d'euros, ce qui correspond à 1 % du produit intérieur brut de l'Union. La stratégie propose des outils
et des mesures à utiliser au cours des 5 prochaines années pour désorganiser les modèles
économiques et les structures des organisations criminelles par-delà les frontières, tant en ligne
qu'hors ligne. La traite des êtres humains étant souvent perpétrée par des groupes criminels
organisés, la nouvelle stratégie de l'UE sur la lutte contre la traite des êtres humains est axée sur la
prévention de la criminalité, la traduction en justice des trafiquants et la protection et
l'autonomisation des victimes. Entre 2017 et 2018, plus de 14 000 victimes de la traite des êtres
humains ont été enregistrées au sein de l'Union européenne. À l'échelle mondiale, les bénéfices
réalisés par les trafiquants sont estimés à 29,4 milliards d'euros en une seule année. La stratégie
s'appuie sur le cadre juridique et politique global de l'UE mis en place pour lutter contre la traite des
êtres humains, enraciné dans la directive anti-traite. La Commission continuera à soutenir les États
membres dans la mise en œuvre de la directive et, si nécessaire, proposera des révisions pour
s'assurer qu'elle est adaptée à son objectif. Le coordinateur de l'UE pour la lutte contre la traite
continuera à jouer un rôle clé dans la mise en œuvre de cette stratégie. Un communiqué de presse et
une fiche d'information sur la stratégie de l'UE pour lutter contre la criminalité organisée, un
communiqué de presse et une fiche d'information sur la stratégie de l'UE sur la lutte contre la traite
des êtres humains et un document de questions et réponses conjointes sur les deux stratégies sont
disponibles en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations : Adalbert Jahnz — Tél.: + 32 229 53156; Ciara
Bottomley — Tél.: + 32 229 69971; Laura Bérard — Tél.: + 32 229 55721)

NextGenerationEU: Commission gets ready to raise up to €800 billion to fund the recovery
The Commission has today taken steps to ensure that borrowing under the temporary recovery
instrument NextGenerationEU will be financed on the most advantageous terms for EU Member
States and their citizens. The Commission will use a diversified funding strategy to raise up to
around €800 billion in current prices until 2026. This approach, which will be in line with the best
practices of sovereign issuers, will enable the Commission to raise the needed volumes in a smooth
and efficient way. This will also attract investors to Europe and strengthen the international role of
the euro. Johannes Hahn, Commissioner in charge of Budget and Administration, said:
“NextGenerationEU is a game changer for European capital markets. Today, we are unveiling the
engine that will pump the fuel to power NextGenerationEU. The funding strategy will operationalise
the NextGenerationEU borrowing, so we will have all necessary tools in place to kick-start the social
and economic recovery and promote our green, digital and resilient growth. The message is clear: as
soon as the Commission has been legally enabled to borrow, we are ready to get going!”
NextGenerationEU – at the heart of the EU's response to the coronavirus pandemic – will be funded
by borrowing on the capital markets. We will raise up to around €800 billion between now and end-
2026. This will translate into borrowing volumes of on average roughly €150 billion per year, which
will make the EU one of the largest issuers in euro. All borrowing will be repaid by 2058. While the
Commission has been borrowing before – to support EU Member States and third countries – the
volumes, frequency and complexity of the NextGenerationEU borrowing have called for a

fundamental change in the approach to capital markets. A diversified funding strategy will respond
to these new funding needs. It will enable the Commission to mobilise all funds when required on
the most advantageous terms for the EU Member States and their citizens. More information is
available in the press release and in the Q&A. (For more information : Balazs Ujvari - Tel: +32 229
54578; Claire Joawn - Tel: +32 229 56859)

L'équipe Europe, premier donateur mondial, a porté l'aide publique au développement à
66,8 milliards d'euros en 2020
L'UE et ses 27 États membres ont considérablement accru l'aide publique au développement (APD)
accordée aux pays partenaires, qui est passée à 66,8 milliards d'euros en 2020. Selon les chiffres
provisoires publiés ce jour par le Comité d'aide au développement (CAD) de l'Organisation de
coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE), il s'agit d'une progression de 15 % en
termes nominaux, correspondant à 0,50 % du revenu national brut (RNB) agrégé, contre 0,41 % en
2019. L'UE et ses États membres, qui fournissent 46 % de l'aide mondiale provenant de l'UE et
d'autres donateurs du CAD, confirment ainsi leur position de premier donateur mondial et se sont
sensiblement rapprochés de l'engagement qu'ils ont pris de consacrer au moins 0,7 % du RNB
agrégé à l'APD d'ici à 2030. Jutta Urpilainen, commissaire chargée des partenariats internationaux,
a déclaré: « L'équipe Europe a considérablement augmenté sa contribution à l'aide publique au
développement par rapport à l'année dernière. Cette évolution est fondamentale alors que dans nos
pays partenaires de nombreuses personnes connaissent de graves difficultés d'ordre sanitaire,
économique et social en lien avec la crise de la COVID-19. Les derniers chiffres montrent que, dix
ans avant la date prévue pour honorer l'engagement que nous avons pris de consacrer 0,7 % de
notre RNB agrégé à l'APD, nous sommes plus déterminés que jamais à réaliser cet objectif. » Au
total, en 2020, 17 États membres ont augmenté leur APD en termes nominaux par rapport à 2019.
L'APD des institutions de l'UE (c'est-à-dire la Commission européenne et la BEI) a globalement
progressé de 3,7 milliards d'euros (27 %) en termes nominaux. En réaction à la pandémie de la
COVID-19, l'UE, ses États membres et les institutions financières européennes, conjointement avec
la Banque européenne d'investissement et la Banque européenne pour la reconstruction et le
développement, ont mis en commun leurs ressources financières en tant qu'équipe Europe,
mobilisant plus de 40 milliards d'euros en faveur des pays partenaires en 2020. Un communiqué de
presse est disponible en ligne avec un document questions-réponses. (Pour plus d'informations :
Peter Stano - Tél : +32 229 54553; Gesine Knolle - Tél : +32 229 54323)

La Commission présente un ensemble d'outils pédagogiques pour les enseignants afin
d'aider les élèves à repérer et à combattre la désinformation
La Commission publie un ensemble d'outils pédagogiques dans toutes les langues de l'UE à
l'intention des enseignants du secondaire afin d'aider leurs élèves à repérer et à combattre la
désinformation. Ces ressources pédagogiques ont pour but de sensibiliser les jeunes au phénomène
de désinformation, aux menaces qu'elle représente, en expliquant comment se protéger contre ce
phénomène et en offrant l'occasion d'explorer la question avec des exemples réels. Věra Jourová,
vice-présidente chargée des valeurs et de la transparence, a déclaré: « La désinformation est et
restera une menace pour nos sociétés démocratiques. Grâce à ces outils, je suis convaincue que les
enseignants seront mieux armés pour aider leurs élèves à détecter la désinformation et à y réagir de
manière appropriée, participant à la création d'une société plus résiliente à ce type de menaces. »
Thierry Breton, commissaire chargé du marché intérieur, précise : « Cette initiative destinée aux
enseignants fait partie de notre approche holistique de lutte contre la désinformation. La
désinformation peut revêtir diverses formes dans l'espace informationnel et la détection requiert des
compétences de plus en plus fines, à la fois humaines et techniques. En mettant à disposition du
monde éducatif des outils adaptés, nous contribuons à une meilleure sensibilisation de la société
contre les méfaits de la désinformation. » Ces outils comprennent une présentation personnalisable
et une brochure explicative suggérant des plans de cours et apportant des ressources
supplémentaires aux enseignants. Apprendre aux élèves à explorer les opportunités et les dangers
d'un paysage de l'information en constante évolution est l'un des défis à relever pour renforcer la
résilience de la société. L'objectif est de soutenir les efforts actuellement déployés par la Commission
pour lutter contre la désinformation en ligne, comme le prévoit le plan d'action sur la désinformation
adopté en 2018 et renforcé par la communication conjointe de juin 2020 ainsi que le plan d'action
pour la démocratie européenne. Cela répond à l'un des objectifs de ces textes consistant à donner
aux jeunes citoyens les moyens d'agir, à les sensibiliser et à accroître la résilience de la société en
promouvant l'éducation aux médias et à l'information, y compris l'esprit critique. Ces ressources
pédagogiques sont disponibles dans toutes les langues de l'UE à cette adresse. (Pour plus
d'informations: Johannes Bahrke — Tél.: + 32 229 58615; Charles Manoury — Tél.:

+ 32 229 13391)

The Regulatory Scrutiny Board presents the 2020 annual report
The European Commission's Regulatory Scrutiny Board - an independent body within the
Commission that advises the College of Commissioners - has just published its annual report for
2020 covering the first year of the von der Leyen Commission, and the fifth year of the Board's
operations. The Board's annual report provides an overview of activities in the past year, and
reflections on current trends and practices in the Better Regulation agenda. In 2020, the Board
independently scrutinised a large number of impact assessments, evaluations and fitness checks of
the new flagship initiatives of the von der Leyen Commission – including for the European Green
Deal and the Digital Agenda. The Board stressed that coherence needs to be carefully considered
when assessing these interlinked initiatives. Vice-President of Interinstitutional Relations and
Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič, said: “I welcome the Regulatory Scrutiny Board's contribution in making
the Commission's proposals coherent and firmly based on evidence. The annual report shows that
the Board has responded well to the challenges of the past year, among others by giving advice to
the Commission's departments early on.” Read more about the Regulatory Scrutiny Board here. (For
more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel: +32 229 86500; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten – Tel: +32 229
84094)

State aid: Commission approves €8 million Cypriot scheme to support tour operators
affected by coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission approved a €8 million Cypriot scheme to support tour operators affected
by the coronavirus outbreak. The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework.
The public support, which will take the form of direct grants, will be open to tour operators that carry
out activities in the Republic of Cyprus and have concluded contracts with air carriers travelling to
Cyprus via the airports of Larnaca and Paphos. The scheme aims at stimulating incoming tourism,
benefitting indirectly many related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, the food industry, cultural
and sports events. The Commission found that the Cypriot measure is in line with the conditions set
out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the support will not exceed €1.8 million per
beneficiary; and (ii) the aid will be granted no later than 31 December 2021. The Commission
concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to remedy a serious
disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the
conditions of the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under
EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Framework and other actions taken by the
Commission to address the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be found here. The
non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.62199 in
the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have
been resolved. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.:
+32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

STATEMENTS

Statement by President von der Leyen on developments in the Vaccines Strategy
In a press statement today, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen,
announced an agreement with BioNTech-Pfizer to accelerate the delivery of 50 million vaccine doses
to the second quarter of this year, starting this month: “We are in a race against time. The faster we
reach our target of having 70% of adults in the European Union vaccinated, the better chances we
have of containing the virus. And the good news is: Vaccination is picking up speed across Europe!
Member States have received over 126 million doses of vaccines as of yesterday. And I am happy to
say that today we have reached 100 million vaccinations in the EU. This is a milestone that we can
be proud of. Of these 100 million vaccinations, more than a quarter are second doses – which means
that we have now more than 27 million people fully vaccinated I am pleased to announce that we
have reached an agreement with BioNTech-Pfizer to, once again, speed up the delivery of vaccines.
50 million additional doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccines will be delivered in quarter 2 of this year,
starting in April. This will bring the total doses delivered by BioNTech-Pfizer to 250 million doses in

the second quarter. These doses will be distributed pro-rata to the population, among all the Member
States. This will substantially help consolidate the roll-out of our vaccination campaigns.” As part of
preparations for the medium term, the Commission is also entering into a negotiation with BioNTech-
Pfizer for a third contract, to foresee the delivery of 1.8 billion doses of vaccine over the period of
2021 to 2023. This contract will entail that not only the production of the vaccines, but also all
essential components, will be based in the EU. The President's full statement is available online in
English, and French and shortly in German. You can watch it here. (For more information: Eric Mamer
– Tel.: +32 229 94073; Dana Spinant – Tel.: +32 229 90150; Stefan de Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32
229 84680)

APPOINTMENTS

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Deputy Director-General for
its energy department
Today, the European Commission decided to appoint Ms Mechthild Wörsdörfer to the function of
Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Energy (ENER). The date of effect of this
appointment will be determined later. Ms Wörsdörfer, a German national, has been working in the
European Commission for 26 years. Her extensive knowledge of various EU policies and in particular
energy and climate policy, as well as her leadership, management and negotiation skills will be an
asset in her new key function in a DG responsible for providing a secure, sustainable, and
competitive energy for Europe, where she will be in charge of the coordination of the just and clean
energy transition, and international affairs, as part of the European Green Deal. Ms Wörsdörfer has
been Director for ‘Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks' at the International Energy Agency, in
Paris, since 2018. She previously was a Director at DG ENER, in charge of renewables, research and
innovation, energy efficiency. From 2014 to 2017, she was Director at DG ENER, responsible for
international relations, legal aspects and economic analysis. She headed the adoption of the Energy
Roadmap 2050, the Energy and Climate Policy 2030 Framework and the Clean Energy Package.
Before, she pursued a long career at the Directorate-General of Enterprise & Industry and she has
served in the Cabinet of Commissioner Erkki Liikanen on competitiveness issues and digital economy.
She holds a Master's degree in Economic Policy and international relations from the Brussels
University. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel: +32 229 54578; Claire Joawn - Tel: +32 229
56859)

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Deputy Director-General for
its trade department
Today, the European Commission decided to appoint Ms Maria Martin-Prat de Abreu to the function of
Deputy Director-General of the Directorate-General for Trade (TRADE). The date of effect of this
appointment will be determined later. Ms Martin-Prat de Abreu, a Spanish national, has spent over
20 years at the Commission during which she acquired an extensive knowledge of EU policies,
notably internal market and trade policies as well as in-depth experience in international negotiations
and EU legislative decision making. Together with her experience, she has high-level negotiating,
management and representation skills, which make her very well suited to a post of Deputy-Director
general of DG Trade at a time where trade policy is central to achieving the objectives of the von der
Leyen geopolitical Commission. Ms Martin-Prat is currently Director in the European Commission's
Directorate-General for Trade. She is responsible for relations with a number of Asian countries as
well as for the policy areas of Services and Digital Trade, Investment and Intellectual Property. She
is the Commission's Chief Negotiator for the negotiations with China on a bilateral investment
agreement. Before she was the Head of the Copyright Unit in the Directorate-General for
Communications, Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT). She was in charge of the
development and enforcement of the EU rules in the area of copyright as well as international
negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Previously, she was the Head of Unit
responsible for free movement of services and freedom of establishment at the Directorate-General
for Internal Market and she was a member of Commissioner Joaquin Almunia's Cabinet (responsible
at the time for Economic and Monetary Affairs). Before joining the Commission in 1995, she worked
in the private sector and in the European Parliament. Ms Martin-Prat studied law at the University of
Seville in Spain. She also has two postgraduate degrees in European Law (from the European
Institute of the University of Amsterdam and from the Institute of European Studies of the Free

University of Brussels). (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel: +32 229 54578; Claire Joawn -
Tel: +32 229 56859)

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints two new Directors and a Head of
the Regional Office
Today, the European Commission has appointed Ms Doriane Givord-Strassel as Director of the
Directorate ‘European Networks, Digital, Justice, Home Affairs, Migration and Border Management,
Security, Values' of the Internal Audit Service (IAS) with date of effect to be determined later and Mr
Alberto Bacchiega as Director for the Directorate ‘Markets and cases III: Financial services' in the
Directorate-General for Competition (COMP) as of 16 April. Ms Doriane Givord-Strassel, a French
national, has spent over 25 years at the Commission during which she obtained substantial
experience most notably in audits and in Commission management matters and international trade
negotiations. Along with her strong management skills and her thorough knowledge of a variety of
EU policy areas, these experiences will allow her to provide effective leadership at the Directorate
IAS.A in charge of the audit of Commission services, EU decentralised agencies, and other EU bodies
which will cover the areas of natural resources, European Networks, Digital, Justice, Home Affairs,
Migration and Border Management, Security, Values. Ms Doriane Givord-Strassel is currently Head of
Unit of IAS. Previously, she held several positions at the Commission, working among others as Head
of the internal audit service of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI)
as well as assistant to the Director-General of DG AGRI and the Director General in the Directorate-
General of Research and Innovation (RTD). Mr Bacchiega, an Italian national, has worked for DG
COMP of the European Commission for more than twenty years, where he currently leads the unit
‘Mergers' in the Directorate dealing with financial services after having managed the ‘Task Force
Financial Crisis' and the ‘State aid to telecoms and media' unit. His sound knowledge of competition
law enforcement and financial services sectors, his experience in handling competition cases in the
areas of antitrust, mergers and State aid services, as well as his proven negotiation skills make him
particularly suitable to lead the Directorate which enforces the EU competition rules to make markets
work better, by ensuring that all companies compete equally and fairly on their merit. The European
Commission has appointed today Mr Manuel Szapiro as the new Head of the Commission's Regional
Office in Barcelona, Spain. The date of effect is to be determined at later stage. Mr Szapiro has over
20 years of experience in EU affairs, particularly in the fields of policy-making, diplomacy, finance
and human resources. He is also an experienced negotiator having represented the Commission in
international negotiation processes. He has already worked at the Commission's Region Office in
Barcelona as a Political Reporter. As Advisor to the Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking Fusion
for Energy (ITER Europe) he also helped set up the new Organisation in Barcelona. He is currently
deputy Head of Cabinet of Vice-President Šefčovič, and is responsible, among others, for EU-UK
relations, interinstitutional relations, strategic programming and foresight. More information on this
last appointment is available in the press release. (For information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229
54578; Claire Joawn - Tel.: +32 229 56859)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Commissioner Wojciechowski participates in the 8th Ministerial Conference on the
Protection of Forests in Europe
Commissioner Wojciechowski participates today via videoconference in the 8th Ministerial
Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, organised by Forest Europe. Representatives from
46 European countries, including the 27 EU Member States, will gather at the 8th Ministerial
Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe jointly organised by Slovakia and Germany and
taking place in Bratislava on 14 and 15 April 2021. The Conference is part of Forest Europe, a pan-
European voluntary high-level political process on the protection and sustainable management of
forests. In Bratislava, signatory parties of Forest Europe will sign a Ministerial Declaration ‘The future
we want: the forests we need' and a Ministerial Resolution ‘Adapting pan-European forests to climate
change'. These documents provide further commitment for cooperating on the protection and
sustainable management of forests in the pan-European region. A comprehensive set of actions aim
to further promoting sustainable forest management as well as to protect forests against the effects
of climate change and enhance their resilience and health. Commissioner Wojciechowski,
representing the European Commission, will sign the Ministerial Declaration and the Resolution on

behalf of the European Union. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel.: +32 229 99075;
Thérèse Lerebours – Tel.: +32 229 63303)

Eurostat: communiqués de presse
                                                                                         MEX/21/1742