European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 20 / 07 / 2021
Brussels, 20 July 2021
COLLEGE MEETING: Rule of Law: EU report shows positive developments in Member States
but also points to serious concerns
The European Commission has today published the second EU-wide Report on the Rule of Law with a
Communication looking at the situation in the EU as a whole and dedicated country chapters on each
Member State. The 2021 report looks at the new developments since last September, deepening the
assessment of issues identified in the previous report and taking into account the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the report shows many positive developments in Member States,
including where challenges identified in the 2020 report are being addressed. However, concerns
remain and in certain Member States these have increased, for instance when it comes to the
independence of the judiciary and the situation in the media. The report also underlines the strong
resilience of national systems during the pandemic. This pandemic also illustrated the importance of
the ability to maintain a system of checks and balances, upholding the rule of law. Vice-President for
Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, said: “The Rule of Law Report is a useful preventive tool
that has stimulated needed debate among the Member States and other actors. The second edition
shows that Member States can make progress to address rule of law matters. Yet, this has been
uneven and there are causes for serious concern in a number of Member States, especially when it
comes to the independence of judiciary. Moreover, two journalists were murdered over the past
months – this is not acceptable. The report calls for decisive action to improve media freedom and
pluralism. Over the next year, we expect the findings of the 2021 report to nourish discussions
between Member States as they work to strengthen the rule of law.” Commissioner for Justice, Didier
Reynders, said: “Over this past year, the 2020 Rule of Law Report has encouraged positive reforms
related to the rule of law in a number of Member States. Moreover, the Council of Ministers used it to
modernise its rule of law dialogue, with regular country-specific debates. I have also debated the
report in 20 national parliaments. This year, we have further deepened our assessment, which
benefitted from even more outreach than last year. The report can help us to have a real dialogue as
a Union, side by side, in an honest and open spirit. This 2021 report, building on the one of last year,
will foster this process.” More information is available in the press release, Q&A and two factsheets
on the Rule of Law Mechanism and the Rule of Law Toolbox, as well as on the Commission's
dedicated webpage on the rule of law. (For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel: + 32 229
62253; Katarzyna Kolanko - Tel: + 32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli - Tel: + 32 229 92729)

COLLEGE MEETING: EU-UK relations: Commission proposes draft mandate for negotiations
on Gibraltar
The European Commission has today adopted a Recommendation for a Council decision authorising
the opening of negotiations for an EU-UK agreement on Gibraltar. The Commission also presented its
proposal for negotiating guidelines. It is now for the Council to adopt this draft mandate, after which
the Commission can begin formal negotiations with the United Kingdom. Vice-President Maroš
Šefčovič, the EU's co-chair of the Joint Committee and Partnership Council, said: “By putting
forward this draft mandate, we are honouring the political commitment we made to Spain to start
the negotiations of a separate agreement between the EU and the UK on Gibraltar. This is a detailed
mandate, which aims to have a positive impact for those living and working on either side of the
border between Spain and Gibraltar, while protecting the integrity of the Schengen Area and the
Single Market.” Gibraltar was not included in the scope of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation
Agreement agreed between the EU and UK at the end of 2020. The Commission committed to begin
the negotiation of a separate agreement on Gibraltar, should Spain request so. That is why the
Commission is now recommending that the Council authorises the launch of specific negotiations on
Gibraltar. Read the press release here and a statement by Vice-President Šefčovič is available on
EbS. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten –
Tel.: +32 229 84094)

EU disburses €250 million in Macro-Financial Assistance to Jordan
The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has today disbursed €250 million in macro-financial
assistance (MFA) to Jordan. Today's disbursement is partly from the €3 billion emergency MFA
package for ten enlargement and neighbourhood partners, which aims to help them limit the
economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19 MFA programme), and partly from Jordan's
€500 million third MFA programme (MFA-III programme), which was approved in January 2020. The
first €250 million disbursement to Jordan under these two MFA programmes took place in November
2020. Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for the Economy, said: “Today's disbursement of €250 million
is testament to the European Union's ongoing solidarity with the Jordanian people. These funds,
released following the fulfilment of the agreed policy commitments, will help the Jordanian economy
to emerge from the shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.” A press release is available here. (For
more information: Veerle Nuyts – Tel.: +32 2 29 96302; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

L'UE conteste à l'OMC des pratiques discriminatoires en matière de passation de marchés
par des entreprises publiques russes
Hier, l'UE a sollicité la tenue de consultations avec la Russie dans le cadre de l'Organisation mondiale
du commerce (OMC) au sujet de certaines mesures russes qui restreignent ou empêchent la vente,
par les entreprises de l'UE, de biens et de services à des entreprises publiques russes et à d'autres
entités lors de la passation de marchés à des fins commerciales. Ces pratiques semblent contraires
aux règles de l'OMC, qui imposent à la Russie de ne pas faire de discrimination à l'égard des
entreprises étrangères dans ce domaine. Depuis 2015, la Russie a progressivement étendu sa
politique de substitution des importations en recourant à diverses restrictions et incitations.
L'incidence économique pour les entreprises de l'UE est très importante. En 2019, la valeur des
appels d'offres publiés par des entreprises publiques s'élevait à 23 500 milliards de roubles, soit
environ 290 milliards d'euros, et représentait 21 % du PIB russe. L'UE conteste, en particulier, trois
mesures russes qui semblent incompatibles avec les règles de l'OMC, notamment le principe
fondamental du traitement national, qui impose aux membres de l'organisation de traiter les
producteurs étrangers et nationaux de manière non discriminatoire. Il s'agit des mesures suivantes:
(i) évaluations discriminatoires des offres; (ii) conditions d'autorisation préalable ; (iii) quotas de
produits nationaux dans les marchés. Les consultations sollicitées par l'Union constituent la première
étape de la procédure de règlement des différends à l'OMC. Si elles n'aboutissent pas à une solution
satisfaisante, l'Union pourra demander à l'OMC la constitution d'un groupe spécial, qui sera chargé
de régler le différend. Vous trouverez la demande de consultations ici. De plus amples informations
sont disponibles dans notre communiqué de presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Arianna Podesta –
Tél.: +32 229 87024; Álvaro Rangel Hernández – Tél.: +32 229 13665)

La Commission lance une consultation publique sur l'évaluation de la directive sur les
droits des victimes
Le 19 juillet, la Commission européenne a lancé une consultation publique afin de recueillir des
données, des informations et des expériences sur l'application de la directive relative aux droits des
victimes. Cette directive est le principal instrument au niveau de l'UE applicable à toutes les victimes
de toutes les infractions. Elle est entrée en vigueur en 2015 et son évaluation, actuellement en cours
et à laquelle s'inscrit cette consultation publique, est l'une des actions clés de la Commission
exposées dans la stratégie de l'UE sur les droits des victimes. Didier Reynders, commissaire chargé
de la justice, a déclaré: « Chaque année, des millions de personnes dans l'Union européenne sont
victimes de la criminalité. La directive sur les droits des victimes garantit qu'elles ont accès à la
justice et qu'elles sont traitées avec respect. J'encourage tous ceux qui souhaitent participer à cette
consultation publique à le faire. Cela nous donnera une image claire de l'efficacité de la directive au
cours des cinq dernières années. » La directive renforce considérablement les droits des victimes et
des membres de leur famille à l'information, au soutien et à la protection. Elle renforce aussi les
droits procéduraux des victimes dans le cadre des procédures pénales. La directive exige également
que les États membres de l'UE assurent une formation appropriée sur les besoins des victimes pour
ceux qui sont susceptibles d'entrer en contact avec les victimes en leur qualité professionnelle. La
consultation publique est ouverte à tous. Elle durera 14 semaines et se terminera le 25 octobre
2021. Pour accéder à la consultation publique, cliquez ici. Vous trouverez de plus amples
informations sur la directive relative aux droits des victimes ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Christian
Wigand — Tél. + 32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko — Tél.: + 32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli — Tél.: +
32 229 92729)

EU and Japan hold high-level policy dialogue on loneliness and social isolation

Today, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography, Dubravka Šuica, held a meeting with
Japanese Minister of Loneliness, Tetsushi Sakamoto, to exchange knowledge and best practices on
tackling the global phenomenon of loneliness and social isolation, heightened by the COVID-19
pandemic. During the pandemic, a survey has shown that a quarter of EU citizens claim they felt
lonely, more than half of the time. Vice-President Šuica said: ”While the pandemic has amplified the
effect, loneliness is not a new phenomenon, nor is it limited to the EU. I look forward to the
outcomes of our exchange with Japan; we have much to learn from each other to ensure the
wellbeing of citizens and to find solutions to this phenomenon that knows no borders.” The
Commission is fully committed to tackling the negative effects of loneliness. Research shows that it
has significant impacts on social cohesion, physical and mental health, and ultimately on economic
outcomes. To further asses its impacts, Vice-President Šuica has launched an evidence-building
process with an upcoming report by the Joint Research Centre, which will lay the ground for further
work on loneliness, including a pilot project on loneliness at EU level. Today's exchange is happening
against the backdrop of excellent bilateral relations between the EU and Japan and follows last
month's EU-Japan summit, underpinning increasing cooperation and the strength of the strategic
partnership between EU and Japan. Read the joint statement here. (For more information: Arianna
Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten – Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Conference on the Future of Europe: Executive Board meets for the first time under the
Slovenian Presidency
The Executive Board of the Conference on the Future of Europe last evening agreed to allocate more
seats in the Conference Plenary to regional and local elected representatives, as well as to social
partners. The Board amended the Rules of Procedure by adding to the Conference Plenary six elected
representatives from regional and six from local authorities. They also agreed to increase the number
of representatives from the social partners by four, to a total of 12. An exchange of views was held
on the communication plan developed jointly by the European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission, with all three institutions committing to work together to boost public participation in
the multilingual digital platform, and to encourage all bodies who participate in the Executive Board
and the Plenary sessions to do likewise. Since its launch, some 1 million people have visited the
platform, with over 5,500 ideas shared, over 11,000 comments posted and over 1,500 events across
Europe registered there. The Board received an update on the organisation of the European Citizens'
Panels. They also discussed the working methods of the Plenary working groups in which
representatives of the respective Panels will take part. Vice-President for Democracy and
Demography, Dubravka Šuica, said: “We are looking forward to the next phase of the process: the
deliberations of the European Citizens' Panels, which is the truly innovative aspect of the Conference
on the Future of Europe.” The first sessions of the European Citizens Panels will take place in mid-
September. Read the joint statement here. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229
87024; Sinéad Meehan–van Druten – Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of International Paper (Poland) by Mayr-Melnhof
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of
International Paper (Poland) of Poland (‘IP'), by Mayr-Melnhof (‘MM Group') of Austria. IP
manufactures uncoated woodfree paper, kraft paper, pulp and cartonboard, in particular folding box
board. MM Group is mainly active as a producer of both cartonboard, including folding box board, and
packaging products, in particular folding boxes. The Commission concluded that the proposed
acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the limited overlaps between the activities of
the companies and the presence of a number of alternative strong players on the markets concerned.
The transaction was examined under the normal merger review procedure. More information is
available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case
number M.10206. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.:
+32 229 90526)

APPOINTMENTS

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Deputy Director-General for
its department of International Partnerships and transfers two Deputy Director-Generals

Today, the European Commission has appointed Ms Myriam Ferran as Deputy Director-General of the
Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) with date of effect to be determined
later. She will be in charge of the three geographical directorates of DG INTPA: Africa, Latin America
and the Caribbean, relations with all Overseas Countries and Territories and Middle East, Asia and
Pacific. In her new capacity, she will be coordinating approximately 2,500 staff in Headquarters and
Delegations. Ms Myriam Ferran, a French national, is currently holding the position of Director for
Strategy and Turkey at the Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations
(DG NEAR) since 2017. She started her career in external relations back in 2001 and has since been
building extensive knowledge on enlargement policy, accession negotiations and on different
geographic areas. In addition to her expertise in this field, her experience in negotiating and
representing the Commission at high level and discussing effectively with internal and external
stakeholders, her proven management and leadership experience and her conceptual and analytical
skills, make her well suited to contribute to the overall strategic orientation and management of DG
INTPA. In addition to this appointment, the College today decided that in the interest of the service,
Ms Joanna Drake has been transferred from the function of Deputy Director-General in DG
Environment (DG ENV) to the function of Deputy Director-General in DG Research and Innovation
(DG RTD) in charge of Implementation, Impact and Sustainable Investment Strategies. Mr Patrick
Child has been transferred to her current post from the function of Deputy Director-General in DG
Research and Innovation in charge of Implementation, Impact and Sustainable Investment
Strategies. (For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Daniela
Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints three new Directors in its
department of regional and urban policy
Today, the European Commission has appointed three new Directors in the Directorate-General for
Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO): Ms Sofia Alves as Director in charge of Directorate E
‘Administrative Capacity Building and Programmes Implementation II'; Ms Emma Toledano Laredo
as Director in charge of Directorate F ‘Better implementation, Closure and Programme
Implementation III'; and Mr Peter Berkowitz as Director in charge of Directorate B ‘Policy', all three
with date of effect to be determined later. Ms Sofia Alves, a Portuguese national, has been the Head
of Representation of the European Commission in Portugal since 2016. In this role, she has
represented the European Commission and stimulated informed debate about EU issues in Portugal,
has provided political intelligence and guidance and has managed the Representation and its
resources. Her management and leadership experience have been also proven in her former roles as
Chief of Staff of the President of the Portuguese Competition Authority and Head of Unit at
Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP). Ms Sofia Alves has large experience in negotiating
and representing the Commission at senior level also from her earlier role as a Member of the
Cabinet of Vice-President Joaquín Almunia, responsible for competition policy, between 2010 and
2013. Ms Emma Toledano Laredo, an Italian national, is currently serving as a Head of Unit
responsible for Spain and Malta in Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
(DG EMPL) where she is exercising major financial and political responsibility overseeing the
programming and implementation for a number of EU programmes. Prior to that, between 2009 and
2015 she served as a Head of Unit of two other Units in DG EMPL, as well as a Head of Unit in
Director-General for Development (DG DEVCO), where she not only confirmed her managerial,
leadership and communication skills, but also successfully managed budget, finance and contracts,
which makes her very well suited for her new role at DG REGIO. Mr Peter Berkowitz, a French
national, has more than 26 years' experience working in the European Commission, during which he
has obtained substantial experience, most notably in his roles as Head of Unit in various units in DG
REGIO, which he has held since 2008. Currently, Mr Peter Berkowitz is Head of Unit for ‘Smart and
Sustainable Growth' in DG REGIO, a position he has held since 2017. Previously, he held several
positions at the Commission, working among others as Head of Unit for Policy and Legislation and
Assistant to the Director-General in DG REGIO and Assistant to the Deputy Director-General
responsible for rural development and economic analysis in DG AGRI. With his extensive knowledge
about the Commission and his excellent management, leadership and communication experience, Mr
Peter Berkowitz will be well suited to provide strong and effective leadership and strategic vision for
the tasks of the Directorate. (For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680;
Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints two new Heads of Representation
in Paris and Luxembourg
Today, the Commission has appointed two new Heads of Representation in Paris and Luxembourg. Ms

Valérie Drezet-Humez will start in her new function in Paris on 1 September 2021. Ms Anne Calteux
will take up her duties as Head of Representation in Luxembourg, at a date still to be decided. They
will act as the official Representatives of the Commission in the Member States under the political
authority of President von der Leyen. Ms Valérie Drezet-Humez, a French national, with 25 years of
experience in the Commission, will draw on her strong policy background, her strategic
communication and managerial skills and legal expertise in EU matters. Ms Anne Calteux, a
Luxembourg national, brings a long experience in the Luxembourg and European diplomacy to her
new assignment, which will allow her to effectively manage key political communication and strategic
coordination. More information is available in the press release. (For more information: Stefan De
Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 229 53664)

Liste des points prévus à l'ordre du jour des prochaines réunions de la Commission
Veuillez noter que ces informations sont données sous réserve de modifications.

Eurostat: communiqués de presse

The Spokesperson's Service has re-opened the Berlaymont press room to a limited number
of journalists. For more information, please see here.
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