European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 28 / 04 / 2021
Brussels, 28 April 2021
Recovery and Resilience Facility: Germany and Greece submit official recovery and
resilience plans
The Commission has received official recovery and resilience plans from Germany and Greece. These
plans set out the reforms and public investment projects that each Member State plans to implement
with the support of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The RRF is the key instrument at the
heart of NextGenerationEU, the EU's plan for emerging stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic. It will
provide up to €672.5 billion to support investments and reforms (in 2018 prices). This breaks down
into grants worth a total of €312.5 billion and €360 billion in loans. The RRF will play a crucial role in
helping Europe emerge stronger from the crisis, and securing the green and digital transitions. The
presentation of these plans follows intensive dialogue between the Commission and the national
authorities of these Member States over the past number of months. The Commission will assess the
plans within the next two months based on the eleven criteria set out in the Regulation and translate
its content into legally binding acts. The Council's approval of the plan would pave the way for the
disbursement of a 13% pre-financing to each Member State. This is subject to the entry into force of
the Own Resources Decision, which must first be approved by all Member States. The Commission
has now received a total of three recovery and resilience plans, from Germany, Greece and Portugal.
It will continue to engage intensively with the remaining Member States to help them deliver high
quality plans. A press release and Q&A are available online. (For more information: Marta Wieczorek
– Tel.: +32 229 58197; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

The first-ever financial programme to boost the Single Market is ready to kick-off
Today, the Commission welcomes the adoption of the first Single Market Programme by the co-
legislators. With €4.2 billion over the period of 2021-2027, the Programme provides an integrated
package to support and strengthen the governance of the Single Market, including for financial
services. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the importance of a well-functioning Single Market for
the resilience of our economy. This Programme provides a dedicated budget to boost the Single
Market. The Single Market Programme is a modern, simple and flexible programme, which
consolidates a large range of activities that were previously financed separately, into one coherent
programme. This will reduce overlaps and improve coordination. It will ensure continuity in the
efficient delivery of the Single Market on the ground, while providing better value for money for EU
citizens, and allowing a focus on priorities essential for the economic recovery. Moreover, the
Programme will support a better enforcement of Union law and promote the competitiveness of
SMEs, including through the Enterprise Europe Network and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs.
Executive Vice-President for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age, Margrethe Vestager, said: “A well-
functioning Single Market has a significant and positive impact on jobs, growth and health; it offers
more choice and lower prices for consumers. And it allows businesses to exchange products and
services. The new Single Market Programme regulation, will make the Single Market more effective
and will contribute to a sustainable recovery and successful green and digital transitions.”
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “The Single Market has proved, time and
time again, to be our engine for growth, jobs and resilience. The agreement on the very first-ever EU
programme to strengthen the Single Market in all its diversity is a good sign for the years to come. It
will benefit on the ground citizens, consumers and companies alike, in particular SMEs that continue
to be deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Single Market Programme regulation will be
published in the EU Official Journal in the next days and will apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.
A press release is available here. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953;
Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300)

Le programme spatial prêt à décoller
La Commission salue aujourd'hui l'adoption du règlement sur l'espace par le Parlement européen et

le Conseil, confirmant ainsi l'accord politique intervenu en décembre 2020 sur le règlement spatial.
Le programme spatial, qui dispose du budget le plus élevé jamais alloué à l'espace, soit 14,88
milliards d'euros, englobe toutes les activités spatiales de l'UE dans un seul règlement relatif au
programme spatial. Le programme spatial assurera la continuité et l'évolution des trois programmes
phares existants, à savoir Galileo, Copernicus et EGNOS. Il soutiendra également de nouvelles
initiatives en matière de surveillance de l'espace (SSA), y compris la surveillance de l'espace et de
suivi des objets en orbite (SST), la météorologie spatiale et les objets géocroiseurs (NEO) et les
télécommunications par satellite (Govsatcom). Le programme spatial contribuera aux
transformations verte et numérique de l'économie de l'Union, ainsi qu'à sa résilience. Grâce à ce
nouveau règlement, l'UE encouragera les applications/technologies en aval, une meilleure adoption
des programmes spatiaux par les utilisateurs et le marché, ainsi que l'exploitation de l'énorme
potentiel que recèlent les données et services spatiaux pour développer des applications et des
services. Le programme spatial encourage également l'esprit d'entreprise dans l'écosystème spatial
européen et sa compétitivité. Le fonds d'investissement dans l'espace, CASSINI, doté de 1 milliard
d'euros, stimulera les start-ups et l'innovation de rupture. Il contribuera à faire de l'Europe un pôle
d'entrepreneuriat spatial dans le monde. Un communiqué de presse et une fiche d'informations sur le
programme spatial sont disponibles en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.:
+32 229 66953; Célia Dejond – Tél.: +32 229 88199)

EU budget 2021-2027: Record €1.8 billion funding for projects promoting rights and values
in the EU*
Yesterday evening, the European Parliament gave its final approval for two new funding
programmes: the Justice programme and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme. The
budget for both amounts to €1.8 billion for 2021-2027, making it the largest ever amount of EU
funding dedicated to promoting Union values of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in the
EU. Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice, said: “With a budget of €1.8 billion for the next
seven years, we are stepping up our action to support justice professionals in their initiatives
upholding EU values and the rule of law. A record amount of funding will be made available to the
civil society sector, which plays a crucial role in safeguarding our EU common values.” Helena Dalli,
Commissioner for Equality, added: “As we continue to tackle the inequalities that were exacerbated
by the pandemic, we must step up our efforts to protect fundamental rights and achieve equality for
all. These programmes are actions taken to deliver a Union of Equality and taking care of the
inclusion, participation and success of all!” The Justice Programme, with a budget of €305 million,
focusses on judicial cooperation, judicial training and facilitating access to justice. The Citizens,
Equality, Rights and Values Programme received a major budget top-up and was more than doubled.
Funding is €1.55 billion will be available to civil society organisations on European, national and local
level, as well as equality bodies, municipalities and other stakeholders. Calls for proposals will
support civil society action ranging from fighting racism and gender-based violence to promoting
equality, the rule of law and citizens' participation in democracy. Member States will establish
national contact points to assist organisations in applying. On 25-28 May, Commissioners Reynders
and Dalli will launch the programme during the first Civil Dialogue week of the Citizens, Equality,
Rights and Values programme. You can find more information and subscribe to the justice funding
newsletter here. (For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko
- Tel.:+32 229 6 34 44; Jördis Ferroli – Tel: +32 229-92729)

La Commission européenne se félicite de l'approbation finale de la gestion du budget 2019
de l'UE
Le Parlement européen a approuvé mardi la manière dont la Commission européenne, en coopération
avec les États membres, a exécuté le budget de l'Union en 2019, en accordant la décharge lors d'un
vote en plénière. Le vote sur la décharge sur le budget de l'UE a été adopté à une large majorité des
voix. Johannes Hahn, le commissaire chargé du budget et de l'administration, a déclaré : « Je me
félicite du vote de confiance du Parlement européen sur la façon dont la Commission exécute le
budget de l'UE dans un environnement complexe, dans de nombreux pays, avec un large éventail de
partenaires: Les États membres, les organisations internationales, les petites et moyennes
entreprises, les organisations non gouvernementales, les universités, etc. Alors que le budget de l'UE
est relativement modeste, il est un instrument très efficace, il crée une valeur ajoutée européenne et
il produit des résultats qu'aucun État membre ne pourrait atteindre seul. Le rapport de décharge
2019 constate que la gestion financière du budget de l'UE s'est améliorée constamment au fil du
temps. Nous sommes à présent à la croisée des chemins entre deux périodes de programmation, ce
qui est l'occasion de tirer parti des enseignements tirés et de mettre en place les mécanismes
nécessaires pour les années à venir. La Commission s'emploiera à préserver l'équilibre délicat entre

un faible niveau d'erreur, des paiements rapides, des coûts raisonnables de contrôle et une valeur
ajoutée, dans l'intérêt de tous les bénéficiaires du budget de l'UE et des citoyens dans leur
ensemble. » La décharge budgétaire annuelle est l'approbation finale par le Parlement européen de la
manière dont la Commission européenne a exécuté le budget de l'UE au cours d'une année donnée.
Le vote de décharge clôt donc formellement l'exercice budgétaire en question. Le Parlement
européen octroie la décharge sur recommandation du Conseil. La procédure est donc l'occasion, pour
le Parlement européen et le Conseil, d'exercer un contrôle démocratique sur la manière dont l'argent
des contribuables est dépensé. Avant de prendre sa décision, le Parlement examine les comptes et le
rapport sur la gestion du budget préparé par la Commission, ainsi que le rapport annuel de la Cour
des comptes européenne et tout rapport spécial pertinent. En outre, dans le cadre de la procédure de
décharge, la Commission européenne échange en permanence des informations complémentaires
avec le Parlement. (Pour plus d'informations: Balazs Ujvari - Tél.: +32 229 54578; Claire Joawn -
Tél.: +32 229 56859)

Youth volunteering: Commission seeks public views on the mobility of young volunteers
The Commission is today launching a public consultation on the mobility of young volunteers across
the EU. The 12-week long consultation will collect citizens' views and identify new challenges and
opportunities in the field of youth volunteering. Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for
Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Solidarity is a key value of the Union.
Each year, thousands of young volunteers put it into practice through cross-border activities that
empower them with new competences, while building an inclusive Europe. We owe it to our young
people to make sure the European policy framework is in optimal shape to further improve the
quality of their volunteering and remove remaining obstacles to cross-border mobility. That is the
purpose of this new initiative, which at the same time supports the resilience and recovery of our
European societies.” This consultation will contribute to revising the 2008 Council recommendation
on mobility of young volunteers, in order to adapt to a constantly evolving society. This initiative will
allow young people in Europe to take full advantage of the opportunities in the new European
Solidarity Corps and to participate in optimal conditions in cross-border solidarity activities organised
by national authorities or private bodies. It will take into account health challenges, such as the
COVID-19 pandemic, as well as digitalisation, social inclusion, inter-generational solidarity and
climate change. The consultation will build on concrete proposals of an expert group as well as a
study on removing obstacles to cross-border solidarity activities. Both the expert group and the
study provide preliminary evidence and insights into obstacles, challenges, needs and opportunities
in the cross-border solidarity landscape. The public consultation and more information are available
online. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Sinéad Meehan–van
Druten – Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Fonds structurels et d'investissement européens: les dépenses ont doublé en 2019-2020
Le taux d'investissement des cinq Fonds structurels et d'investissement européens (Fonds ESI) dans
l'Union européenne s'est considérablement accéléré au cours des deux dernières années, passant de
28 % de l'enveloppe totale en 2018 à 56 % à la fin de 2020, selon un rapport publié aujourd'hui par
la Commission. Cette augmentation significative des dépenses en 2020 montre que, malgré les
circonstances exceptionnelles de la crise du coronavirus, l'utilisation des fonds structurels soutenant
les investissements dans les régions d'Europe s'est accrue. Cela était en partie dû à la flexibilité
introduite dans la législation relative à la politique de cohésion fournie par les initiatives
d'investissement dans la lutte contre le coronavirus (CRII et CRII +) permettant aux États membres
de rediriger les ressources non dépensées vers les domaines ayant le plus besoin de soutien. Grâce à
cette mesure, plus de 22 milliards d'euros ont été utilisés pour soutenir les secteurs de la santé, les
PME, l'emploi et les groupes de population vulnérables dans presque tous les États membres avec la
possibilité supplémentaire de bénéficier d'un taux de cofinancement à 100 % de l'UE. Le vice-
président exécutif Valdis Dombrovskis a déclaré: « Il existe de nombreuses preuves que le soutien
des Fonds ESI a été efficace dans de nombreux domaines et pour différents types de bénéficiaires -
tant dans les secteurs public et privé que pour les particuliers. Qu'il s'agisse de la réponse au
changement climatique, de la recherche et de l'innovation ou de la croissance inclusive, la valeur
ajoutée de l'UE est frappante. » La commissaire chargée de la cohésion et des réformes, Elisa
Ferreira, a ajouté: « La politique de cohésion porte ses fruits. Les chiffres parlent d'eux-mêmes:
l'augmentation des dépenses témoigne de la solidarité de l'UE, alors que notre réponse sans
précédent à la crise du coronavirus aide des millions d'Européens et d'entreprises à se remettre sur
pied et à participer à la reprise économique et sociale. » Les investissements des fonds ESI sont
destinés à l'économie réelle, ils représentent 463 milliards d'euros sur la période 2014-2020 et ont
mobilisé un investissement total de 644 milliards d'euros pour favoriser une convergence socio-

économique durable, la résilience et la cohésion territoriale. Plus de détails dans notre communiqué
de presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Vivian Loonela - Tél.: +32 229 66712; Veronica Favalli - Tél.:
+32 229 87269)

Investment Plan for Europe boosts digital skills and education together with EIF and EIT
Digital
The European Investment Fund (EIF) and EIT Digital, a knowledge and innovation community of the
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), have signed an agreement for a maximum
volume of €2.5 million that will allow more European students and learners to benefit from EIT
Digital's training programmes. The agreement is part of the EFSI Skills & Education Guarantee Pilot,
an initiative dedicated to stimulating access to finance in education, training and skills, backed by
the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the main pillar of the Investment Plan for
Europe. Thanks to this agreement, EIT Digital will be able to offer deferred payment schemes for
students and learners participating in its courses thus improving access to education. Future EIT
Digital students and learners will be able to apply for the new scheme from June 2021 onwards.
Around 500 people are expected to benefit from the scheme. Vice-President for Promoting our
European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “The digital transition profoundly changes the way
we live, study and work. We must equip people with the right skills to master this transition and
make the most out of the opportunities the future brings. Thanks to the EU Skills & Education
Guarantee Pilot and the EIF, even more students and entrepreneurs looking to expand their digital
skills will benefit from the education and learning offers of the EIT Digital School.” The Investment
Plan for Europe has so far mobilised €546.5 billion of investment across the EU. The press release is
available here. (For more information: Marta Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Flora Matthaes –
Tel.: +32 229 83951)

Commissioner Gabriel meets European Women in Venture Capital Group to support female
innovators
Today, Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, met
with the European Women in Venture Capital Group, a community of women investors who seek to
build an active network for women professionals and strengthen the participation of women in the
venture capital industry in Europe. The meeting was the first of a newly established working group,
led by Commissioner Gabriel, that brings together 23 senior professionals and representatives from
the EU Member States to work towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced innovation ecosystem,
where creativity and diversity flourish. Commissioner Gabriel said: “We need women's creativity and
entrepreneurial potential to create jobs and growth. If we want more women innovators in Europe,
we need to invest more and provide them with the right education and support early on.'' Increasing
women's participation and fostering gender equality in research and innovation is a priority under
Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme, which will require public bodies,
research and higher education institutions to have in place a gender equality plan to be eligible for
EU funding. Another new initiative under Horizon Europe is the recently announced ‘Women TechEU',
which will support deep-tech start-ups led by women and help them grow their company into the
technology champions of tomorrow. The new working group complements these efforts, as well as
the work of the European Innovation Council (EIC) fund, by promoting women's participation in the
start-ups and innovation ecosystem in Europe. Together with the renewed European Research Area,
adopted last autumn, and in synergy with the European Education Area, the Commission is
committed to boosting gender equality and inclusiveness in Europe. (For more information: Johannes
Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 229 83583)

A strengthened EU Civil Protection Mechanism endorsed by European Parliament
The European Parliament voted yesterday to strengthen the role of the European Union in crisis
management through a legislative revision of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This allows for
faster and more effective European solidarity operations in response to large-scale emergencies or
disasters that affect several countries at the same time. The EU will have at its disposal additional
financial means for civil protection and will strengthen emergency tools such as the rescEU medical
reserve of protective equipment. As a direct response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this boost
to the EU Civil Protection will ensure that no EU Member State will face shortages of personal
protective equipment in the future. On this occasion, Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez
Lenarčič, said: “I welcome the European Parliament's vote. Through this wide-ranging upgrade of
the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism, we will be equipped with additional tools to respond to new
risks in Europe and in the world. The Mechanism will become more agile, more comprehensive and

more fit-for-purpose in view of today's challenges. When the next large-scale crisis strikes, the EU
needs to have the tools to respond effectively, including during transboundary crises, affecting
multiple Member States and several sectors at the same time. Reinforcing the EU's crisis
management system comes in direct response to the 27 Members States and the European
Parliament's request for a stronger EU role in emergencies, and strong public support for the EU to
strengthen its disaster management.” Read the full press release and Q&A. (For more information:
Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 229 54578; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 229 69140)

Antitrust: Commission fines investment banks €28 million for participating in SSA bonds
trading cartel
The European Commission has fined Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Crédit Agricole, and Credit Suisse
a total of €28,494,000 for breaching EU antitrust rules. Deutsche Bank was not fined as it revealed
the existence of the cartel to the Commission. The four banks took part in a cartel in the secondary
trading market within the European Economic Area of Supra-sovereign, Sovereign and Agency (SSA)
bonds denominated in US Dollars. The four investment banks participated in a cartel through a core
group of traders working in their USD SSA bonds divisions, who were in regular contact with each
other. The traders, who were in direct competition, typically logged into multilateral chatrooms or
bilateral chatrooms on Bloomberg terminals. They provided each other with recurring updates on
their trading activities, exchanged commercially sensitive information, coordinated on prices shown
to their customers, or to the market in general and aligned their trading activities on the secondary
market for these bonds. The conduct took place during a five-year period and affected the trading of
US denominated SSA bonds on the secondary market in the entire EEA. This behaviour violates EU
rules that prohibit anticompetitive business practices such as collusion on prices (Article 101 of the
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement). Executive
Vice-President of the Commission Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy said: “Today
we have issued a decision against Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Crédit Agricole, Credit Suisse and
Deutsche Bank, whose traders colluded on trading strategies, exchanged sensitive pricing
information and coordinated on prices. The behaviour of the investment banks restricted competition
in a market in which investment and pension funds regularly buy and sell bonds on behalf of their
investors and pensioners. The cartel harmed the financial markets and today's decision sends a clear
message that the Commission will not tolerate any type of collusive behaviour.” The press release is
available here. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.:
+32 229 90526)

State aid: Commission approves €4 million Portuguese employment aid scheme to preserve
jobs on Azores Islands during coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved a €4 million Portuguese aid scheme for preserving
employment on the Azores Islands during the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under
the State aid Temporary Framework. The scheme aims at avoiding layoffs by compensating the wage
costs of business in the Region of the Azores, which would otherwise have laid off personnel due to
the containment measures adopted by the Portuguese authorities to limit the spread of the
coronavirus outbreak. The scheme is open to employers who have experienced a decrease in turnover
of at least 25% with respect to before the outbreak and meet certain eligibility conditions. The aid
will take the form of a direct grant equal to maximum two regional monthly salaries. The Commission
found that the Portuguese measure is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary
Framework. In particular, (i) the support will not exceed 80% of the gross salary of the benefitting
personnel in the relevant period of 2021; (ii) the employers commit to keep the employees covered
by the subsidies in continuous employment for the period during which they receive the aid; and (iii)
the aid will be granted no later than 31 December 2021. The Commission concluded that the
Portuguese 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 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.61240 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)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Hydro Rolling by KPS Capital Partners

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Norsk
Hydro's Aluminium Flat Rolled Products business (‘Hydro Rolling') of Norway by KPS Capital Partners,
LP of the U.S. Hydro Rolling is active in the production and supply of aluminium flat rolled products.
KPS Capital Partners is an investment fund controlling manufacturing and industrial companies
across a diverse array of industries, including basic materials, branded consumer, healthcare and
luxury products, automotive parts, capital equipment and general manufacturing. The Commission
concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given that the
companies are not active on the same markets. The transaction was examined under simplified
merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in
the public case register under the case number M.10227. (For more information: Arianna Podesta –
Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel.: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Eurostat: communiqués de presse
*Updated on 28-04-2021, at 13:01
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