European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 15 / 04 / 2021
Brussels, 15 April 2021
Corps européen de solidarité: premier appel à propositions pour soutenir les activités de
volontariat des jeunes
La Commission a lancé aujourd'hui le premier appel à propositions dans le cadre du nouveau corps
européen de solidarité 2021-2027. Le corps européen de solidarité soutient les jeunes souhaitant
participer à des activités de volontariat dans divers domaines allant de l'aide aux personnes dans le
besoin à des actions dans les secteurs de la santé et de l'environnement, dans l'ensemble de l'UE et
au-delà. Cette année, la priorité sera accordée à la santé, des volontaires étant mobilisés pour
travailler sur des projets visant à relever les défis sanitaires, y compris l'impact de la pandémie de
COVID-19, ainsi qu'à la relance. Margaritis Schinas, vice-président chargé de la promotion de notre
mode de vie européen, a déclaré ce qui suit : « La solidarité est au cœur du projet européen, tant à
l'intérieur de notre Union qu'avec nos partenaires dans le monde entier. Notre mode de vie européen
est un mode de vie qui montre à nos jeunes générations que nous sommes plus forts ensemble.
C'est ce dont ces jeunes ont fait l'expérience et c'est ce qu'ils peuvent partager grâce aux possibilités
qu'offre le corps européen de solidarité. Le volontariat étant au cœur du programme, ce dernier
mobilise les jeunes et leur donne ainsi les moyens de jouer un rôle dans la société, en étant fidèles à
nos valeurs, et de devenir de véritables acteurs du changement. » La commissaire chargée de
l'innovation, de la recherche, de la culture, de l'éducation et de la jeunesse, Mariya Gabriel, s'est
exprimée en ces termes : « Les jeunes ont beaucoup à apporter à la société. À un âge où tout
semble possible, nous voulons les encourager à être actifs, à faire preuve de solidarité et à partager
leur temps, leur engagement et leur passion pour les causes qui leur tiennent à cœur. Faire partie du
corps européen de solidarité est également une occasion inestimable d'acquérir de l'expérience et de
développer de nouvelles compétences. Cette année, en mettant particulièrement l'accent sur les
activités et les projets dans le domaine de la prévention et du soutien en matière de santé, nous
espérons également mobiliser des volontaires dans le cadre de nos efforts conjoints pour lutter
contre la pandémie de COVID-19. » Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus
d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 229 66953; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten – Tél.: +32
229 84094)

InvestEU: Commission adopts new guidance documents and decisions to facilitate the start
of the operations
The Commission has adopted various implementing acts and guidance documents in the framework
of the InvestEU programme. First, the Investment Guidelines offer detailed information on the
requirements that financing and investment operations must satisfy in order to receive support from
the InvestEU Fund. Those guidelines are now subject to a two-month non-objection period by the
European Parliament and the Council before they enter into force. Second, the Sustainability Proofing
Guidance details how financing and investment operations under the InvestEU Fund are to meet the
three dimensions of the EU's sustainability commitments: climate, environmental and social. This
guidance will be complemented in the coming weeks with an additional climate and environmental
tracking guidance. Third, the Implementing Decision establishing the InvestEU Portal lays down
simplified rules for the functioning of the easily-accessible database of investment opportunities
within the EU. Finally, the Commission has taken a series of decisions related to the governance of
InvestEU. The Commission Decision on the nominations to the Advisory Board will allow the
consultative body to convene for the first time at the end of April. The Advisory Board will provide
advice to the Commission and the Steering Board, and exchange views on market developments. The
Commission also appointed its four members and four alternates to the Steering Board. Furthermore,
the Commission adopted a Decision on the call to select members of the Investment Committee and
will launch the call for applications on the InvestEU website in the next few days. The Investment
Committee will be an independent body with 12 members tasked with decisions on the EU guarantee
allocation to the financing and investment operations proposed by the implementing partners, in line
with the Regulation and the Investment Guidelines. As a next step, the Commission will need to

conclude the guarantee and advisory agreements and the selection of implementing partners other
than the EIB Group. To this end a call for expression of interest will be launched end of April. (For
more information: Marta Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Enda Mcnamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976;
Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 229 83951)

Investment Plan in Spain: European Investment Bank and Valencia city council join forces
to build more than 320 new affordable housing units
The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide up to €27 million to ‘Sociedad Anónima Municipal
Actuaciones Urbanas de Valencia', a municipal company owned by the city of Valencia, to promote
affordable public rental housing. This agreement is backed by a guarantee from the European Fund
for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of the Investment Plan for Europe. This financing
will contribute to the construction of 323 new units, 85% of which will be in near-zero-energy
buildings, and the rehabilitation of four existing ones across different locations in the city of Valencia.
Moreover, this loan will help to create more than 450 jobs per year during the construction phase.
Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “I warmly welcome this financing agreement
between the EIB and the Valencia City Council, which is backed by the Investment Plan for Europe.
This construction and rehabilitation project successfully demonstrates how targeted investment can
help tackle several pressing issues at once: creating new jobs and making available affordable,
socially inclusive and energy-efficient housing options.” The Investment Plan for Europe has so far
mobilised €546 billion of investment across the EU, of which €63 billion in Spain. The press release is
available here. (For more information: Marta Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Enda McNamara –
Tel.: +32 229 64976)

Winning design for the commemorative coin for 35th anniversary of Erasmus programme
The Commission is pleased to announce the winning design of the public vote for a common
commemorative €2 coin to celebrate 35 years of the Erasmus+ programme. The coin designed by Mr
Joaquin Jimenez has been selected, having received over 22,000 votes. Euro area Member States are
now invited to finalise the next steps in order to proceed to the minting and issuance scheduled for 1
July 2022. After more than 70 coin designs were submitted for this competition, a jury selected six
coins to go forward for consideration in public vote which the Commission launched last month. Over
72,000 voted to select the design they believed best represented and celebrated the success of the
Erasmus project. Erasmus+ is one of the EU's most emblematic initiatives and a European success
story. Since its inception in 1987, 10 million people have benefitted from it. Mariya Gabriel,
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said: “The Erasmus+
programme has been a life changing experience for generations of young people across and beyond
the European Union. I am proud to commemorate its 35th anniversary with this beautiful coin,
honouring both Erasmus himself and the numerous intellectual and human exchanges between past
and present participants in the programme. I extend my warmest congratulations to the designer,
Joaquin Jimenez, and look forward to many more decades of European exchange.” Paolo Gentiloni,
Commissioner for Economy said: “Warm congratulations to the winner of our Erasmus+ coin design
competition, Joaquin Jimenez of the Monnaie de Paris. For more than three decades, Erasmus+ has
enabled young Europeans to study in another EU country, enriching their lives as well as their CVs.
Erasmus+ and the euro are two of the most tangible symbols of European unity, so it's very fitting
that we celebrate the programme's success with this special €2 coin.” (For more information: Marta
Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

State aid: Commission approves €1.97 million Danish aid to support establishment of new
private notified body for certification of medical devices
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, an individual aid measure to
support the establishment of a new private notified body for conformity assessment and certification
of medical devices in Denmark. The Danish measure aims at equipping Denmark with a notified body
and at addressing the shortage of certifying capacity that currently hampers the marketing of
medical devices in Denmark and, more generally in the EU. This is of particular relevance given the
increased certification needs and requirements also envisaged by recent EU regulation. The aid takes
the form of an approximately €1.97 million (DKK 14.7 million) direct grant to TÜV SÜD Product
Service GmbH, which was selected to be the new notified body following a public tender procedure.
The direct grant will cover 20% of the overall estimated initial investment for establishing the
notified body, which amounts to €9.549 million (approximately DKK 71 million). The new notified
body will operate on market conditions without public interventions, except for the normal
supervision by the Danish authorities. The Commission found that the aid measure facilitates the

economic activity of conformity assessment and the certification of medical devices in the internal
market. In particular, the Commission found that the support measure is necessary as otherwise,
due to the high entry barriers for new notified bodies, the shortage in the market for the certification
of medical devices would remain unaddressed. Furthermore, the Commission found that the positive
impact of the measure outweighs any potential negative effect on competition or trade. On that
basis, the Commission concluded that the individual aid measure is compatible with EU State aid
rules. More information will be available on the Commission's competition website in the public case
register under the case numbers SA.59176 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)

State aid: Commission approves €10 million Estonian scheme to support research and
development of coronavirus-relevant products
The European Commission has approved a €10 million Estonian scheme to support research and
development (R&D) into products relevant to the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved
under the State aid Temporary Framework. The public support, which may be granted until 31
December 2021, will take the form of direct grants of between €20,000 and €500,000 per
beneficiary, and will be open to companies of all sizes, active in specific sectors and carrying out
coronavirus-related experimental development activities. The aim of the scheme is to support
coronavirus-relevant and other antiviral-relevant experimental development projects. This includes
research into vaccines, medicines, medical devices, hospital and medical equipment, disinfectants,
and protective clothing and equipment, as well as the development of innovative processes for their
efficient production. The Commission found that the Estonian scheme is in line with the conditions
set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the aid will cover between 40% and 60% of
the relevant experimental development costs incurred by the beneficiary; and (ii) any results of the
research activities will be made available to third parties in the European Economic Area at non-
discriminatory market conditions through non-exclusive licences. The Commission concluded that the
Estonian measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to fight the public health crisis, in line
with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the conditions set out in 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.62513 in 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)

State aid: Commission approves €500 million Romanian scheme to support companies
active in tourism, accommodation and food services as well as travel agencies affected by
coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved a €500 million (approximately RON 2.437 billion) Romanian
scheme to support companies active in tourism, accommodation and food services, as well as travel
agencies in the context of 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 cover up to
20% of the losses of revenues (or, for certain travel agencies applying a special regime, the volume
of invoices issued for tourist services, including the margin) incurred by the beneficiary between 1
January and 21 December 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. The measure aims at helping
the beneficiaries address their liquidity needs and continue their activities during and after the
outbreak. The Commission found that the Romanian scheme 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
as provided by the Temporary Framework, 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.60650 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)

State aid: Commission approves €10 million Italian scheme to support companies operating
small ships in the tourist transport sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved a €10 million Italian scheme to support companies
operating small ships in the tourist transport sector by sea and inland water in the context of the
coronavirus outbreak. The measure was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The
support, which will take form of direct grants, aims at mitigating the impact on the beneficiaries of
the restrictive measures that the Italian government had to implement to limit the spread of the
virus and which resulted in a sharp decline in the number of passengers and tourists. The
beneficiaries will be eligible to receive the aid provided they experienced a decline in turnover of at
least 20% in the period between 1 February and 31 December 2020, compared to the same period in
2019. The Commission found that the Italian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the
Temporary Framework, in particular the support (i) will not exceed €1.8 million per beneficiary as
provided by the Temporary Framework, and (ii) 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.62525 in
the State aid register on the Commission's competition website. (For more information: Arianna
Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229
90526)

Mergers: Commission approves acquisition of certain Suez waste management companies
by the Schwarz Group, subject to conditions
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of certain
Suez waste management companies in Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Poland, by the
Schwarz Group. The Commission had concerns that the proposed acquisition, as originally notified,
would have significantly reduced the level of competition in the market for the sorting of LWP in the
Netherlands. In particular, the Commission's investigation found that the merged entity would
become by far the largest market player, owning more than half of the capacity for LWP sorting in
the Netherlands, and an unavoidable trading partner to Dutch customers. To address the
Commission's competition concerns, the Schwarz Group offered to divest the entirety of Suez's LWP
sorting business in the Netherlands, including Suez's LWP sorting plant in Rotterdam and all assets
necessary for its operation. These commitments fully remove the overlap between the Schwarz Group
and the Suez waste management companies concerned. The Commission therefore concluded that
the proposed transaction, as modified by the commitments, would no longer raise competition
concerns. The decision is conditional upon full compliance with the commitments. Executive Vice-
President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Competitive markets at every
level of the recycling chain are a crucial contribution to a more circular economy and essential to
achieve the objectives of the Green Deal. With the divestment of Suez' sorting plant in the
Netherlands, the acquisition can go ahead while preserving effective competition in the sorting of
plastic waste market in the Netherlands.” The full press release is available online. (For more
information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria
Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control over OneVet by Unavets and Inter-
Risco
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint
control over OneVet Group, SGPS, S.A. (‘OneVet') of Portugal by Unavets Healthcare, S.L. (‘Unavets')
of Spain and Inter-Risco, Sociedade de Capital de Risco, S.A. (‘Inter-Risco') of Portugal. OneVet is
currently solely controlled by Inter-Risco. OneVet is active in the supply of medical veterinary
services and ancillary activities in Portugal. Unavets is active in the supply of medical veterinary
services and ancillary activities in Spain. Inter-Risco is active in the hospitality, engineering and
construction sector, as well as in the supply of medical veterinary services through OneVet, and in
the roasting and commercialisation of coffee. The Commission concluded that the proposed
transaction would raise no competition concerns because of the lack of horizontal overlaps and
vertical links between the companies involved. 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.10143. (For more information: Arianna Podesta –
Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Réunion de l'Eurogroupe et vidéoconférence informelle des ministres de l'économie et des
finances, 16 avril 2021
Le vice-président exécutif Dombrovskis et le commissaire Gentiloni représenteront la Commission
lors de la réunion de l'Eurogroupe qui se tient demain par vidéoconférence. Le président de
l'Eurogroupe fournira des informations aux membres de l'Eurogroupe sur les réunions de printemps
du Groupe de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international auxquelles il a participé. Sur
la base d'une note technique préparée par la Commission, les membres de l'Eurogroupe discuteront
des cadres en matière d'insolvabilité. Les ministres des finances feront le point sur les travaux en
cours concernant l'euro en tant que monnaie numérique. La discussion s'appuiera sur un rapport de
la Banque centrale européenne présentant les résultats de la consultation sur un euro numérique qui
a été lancée le 12 octobre 2020. Les ministres examineront les pratiques actuelles de lʼEurogroupe en
matière de transparence. Lors de la réunion de l'Eurogroupe en configuration ouverte (à 27), le
président du groupe de travail de haut niveau sur le système européen d'assurance des dépôts
informera les ministres des progrès réalisés dans l'élaboration collective d'un plan de travail relatif
aux éléments encore nécessaires à l'achèvement de l'union bancaire. Le commissaire Gentiloni
représentera la Commission lors de la conférence de presse qui suivra la réunion. Les vice-présidents
exécutifs Vestager et Dombrovskis, et les commissaires Hahn, Gentiloni et McGuinness
représenteront la Commission lors de la vidéoconférence informelle des ministres de l'économie et
des finances. La Commission informera les ministres sur la mise en place de l'union des marchés des
capitaux. Les ministres échangeront également sur la relance économique dans l'Union européenne,
notamment sur la mise en œuvre de l'encadrement temporaire des aides d'État, la facilité pour la
reprise et la résilience, et sur le financement de NextGenerationEU. Par ailleurs, les ministres
débattront de l'état d'avancement des travaux et de la voie à suivre en ce qui concerne l'architecture
financière européenne pour le développement. La présidence présentera l'état d'avancement des
propositions législatives dans le domaine des services financiers. Enfin, la présidence du Conseil et la
Commission donneront aux ministres des informations sur la réunion des ministres des finances et
des gouverneurs des banques centrales du G20 qui s'est tenue le 7 avril 2021. Le vice-président
exécutif Dombrovskis représentera la Commission lors de la conférence de presse qui suivra la
réunion. (Pour plus d'informations: Marta Wieczorek - Tél.: +32 229 58197; Daniel Ferrie - Tél: +32
229 86500; Enda McNamara - Tél.: +32 229 64976; Aikaterini Apostola - Tél.: +32 229 87624)

Eurostat press releases
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