European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 31 / 05 / 2021
Brussels, 31 May 2021
Économie circulaire : La Commission fournit des orientations pour une application
harmonisée des règles relatives aux plastiques à usage unique et avance sur le suivi des
engins de pêche
La Commission européenne fournit aujourd'hui des orientations sur les règles de l'UE relatives aux
plastiques à usage unique et adopte une décision d'exécution sur la surveillance et l'inventaire des
engins de pêche mis sur le marché ainsi que des déchets d'engins de pêche collectés. Ces règles
visent à réduire les déchets marins provenant des produits en plastique à usage unique et des
engins de pêche et à promouvoir la transition vers une économie circulaire basée sur des modèles
commerciaux, des produits et des matériaux innovants et durables. Selon les règles de l'UE de 2019
concernant les plastiques à usage unique, d'ici le 3 juillet de cette année, les États membres devront
s'assurer que certains produits en plastique à usage unique ne se trouvent plus sur le marché de
l'UE. Les lignes directrices visent à garantir l'application respectueuse et uniforme des nouvelles
règles dans toute l'UE. Une transposition harmonisée dans la législation nationale est importante
pour le bon fonctionnement du marché intérieur en ce qui concerne les produits couverts par ces
règles. Les lignes directrices en donnent les définitions et les termes-clés et ont été élaborées à la
suite de consultations approfondies avec les États membres et d'interactions avec un large éventail
parmi les acteurs concernés. La décision d'exécution relative à la surveillance et à l'inventaire des
engins de pêche mis sur le marché et des déchets collectés en provenant, permet aux États
membres de s'acquitter de leur obligation de révéler, à partir de 2022, les engins de pêche
contenant du plastique mis sur le marché et les engins de pêche repêchés en mer. L'objectif est
d'inciter à rapporter tous les engins de pêche collectés à terre et à améliorer leur retraitement en
faisant appel à des systèmes de responsabilité élargie des producteurs. Vous trouverez plus
d'informations dans le communiqué de presse et les questions-réponses. (Pour plus d'informations:
Vivian Loonela – Tél.: +32 229 66712; Daniela Stoycheva – Tél.: +32 229 53664)

Écoconception: La Commission demande l'avis du public sur l'économie circulaire et les
mesures d'efficacité énergétique pour les téléphones portables et les tablettes
La Commission lance aujourd'hui une consultation publique sur d'éventuelles nouvelles mesures en
matière d'écoconception et d'étiquetage énergétique pour les téléphones portables et les tablettes.
L'objectif de cette consultation est de recueillir les réactions de toutes les parties prenantes sur
d'éventuelles nouvelles mesures, ainsi que des informations sur les habitudes, les préférences et les
choix des utilisateurs en ce qui concerne l'achat, l'utilisation, la réparation et le recyclage des
téléphones portables et des tablettes. Les résultats de la consultation aideront la Commission à
évaluer la pertinence des nouvelles mesures réglementaires afin de garantir que ces produits
deviennent plus efficaces et plus durables sur le plan énergétique et plus faciles à réparer, à
améliorer, à réutiliser et à recycler. De nouvelles initiatives visant à traiter le cycle de vie des
produits et à faire en sorte que les ressources utilisées soient conservées dans l'économie de l'UE
aussi longtemps que possible ont été annoncées dans le nouveau Plan d'action en faveur de
l'économie circulaire adopté par la Commission en 2020, y compris d'éventuelles mesures sur les
téléphones portables et les tablettes. La Commission a publié il y a quelques semaines une étude
préparatoire sur l'écoconception des téléphones portables, des smartphones et des tablettes, qui
évalue en particulier la possibilité de proposer des exigences en matière d'écoconception et
d'étiquetage énergétique pour ces groupes de produits. La directive sur l'écoconception permet de
fixer des exigences minimales pour les produits afin d'améliorer leur performance environnementale
en ce qui concerne les aspects liés à la consommation d'énergie, à la consommation d'eau, aux
niveaux d'émission ainsi qu'à l'efficacité des matériaux (économie circulaire). Avec le règlement sur
l'étiquetage énergétique, cette législation garantit que les produits les moins performants ne
peuvent pas être mis sur le marché de l'UE et donne aux consommateurs un simple instrument leur
permettant de choisir en connaissance de cause les produits économes en énergie. La consultation
publique restera ouverte jusqu'au 23 août 2021. (Pour plus d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova –

Tél.: +32 229 66953; Célia Dejond – Tél.: +32 229 88199; Federica Miccoli – Tél.: +32 229 58300)

Politique de cohésion de l'UE: 7 millions d'euros pour l'Autriche et la Belgique afin de lutter
contre l'impact social et économique de la crise du coronavirus
La Commission a approuvé un montant total de 7 millions d'euros pour l'Autriche et la Belgique dans
le cadre de REACT-EU afin d'aider à lutter contre les effets de la pandémie de coronavirus et préparer
la reprise. Ce financement supplémentaire permettra principalement de soutenir les enfants et les
demandeurs d'emploi. En Autriche, le Fonds européen d'aide aux plus démunis (FEAD) versera 6
millions d'euros supplémentaires pour venir en aide à quelques 45 000 enfants dans le besoin. À la
rentrée 2021-2022, les enfants recevront des fournitures scolaires telles que des cartables, des
trousses, et des nécessaires pour l'écriture et la peinture. Depuis 2015, la Croix-Rouge autrichienne a
distribué plus de 250 000 de ces colis. En Belgique, l'UE ajoute 1 million d'euros du Fonds social
européen (FSE) pour la Communauté germanophone pour soutenir les chômeurs qui rencontrent des
difficultés particulières à trouver un emploi, notamment les jeunes sans diplôme de fin d'études
secondaires ou d'apprentissage, ou les chômeurs de longue durée. REACT-EU fait partie de
NextGenerationEU et fournit 50,6 milliards d'euros de financement supplémentaire (en prix courants)
au cours de 2021 et 2022 aux programmes de la politique de cohésion. Les mesures visent à
soutenir la résilience du marché du travail, les emplois, les PME et les familles à faible revenu, ainsi
que la mise en place de fondations à l'épreuve du temps pour les transitions vertes et numériques et
une reprise socio-économique durable. (Pour plus d'informations: Vivian Loonela - Tél.: +32 229
66712; Marta Wieczorek – Tél.: +32 229 58197; Veronica Favalli - Tél.: +32 229 8726; Flora
Matthaes – Tél.: +32 229 83951)

Recovery and Resilience Facility: Ireland and Sweden submit official recovery and resilience
plans
The Commission has received an official recovery and resilience plan from Ireland and Sweden. 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
their contents into legally binding acts. The Commission has now received 21 recovery and resilience
plans from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and
Sweden. It will continue to engage intensively with the remaining Member States to help them
deliver high quality plans. A press release and a Q&A are available online. (For more information:
Marta Wieczorek – Tel.: +32 229 58197; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)

Agriculture: the Commission approves a new protected geographical indication from South
Africa
The European Commission has approved the registration of 'Rooibos' / 'Red Bush' from South Africa
in the register of protected designation of origin (PDO). 'Rooibos' / 'Red Bush' refer to the dried
leaves and stems cultivated in the Western Cape Province and in the Northern Cape Province, a
region which is known for its hot dry summers and cold wet winters. ‘Rooibos' / ‘Red Bush' has
developed some unique characteristics to adapt in this harsh climate and presents fruity, woody and
spicy flavours. It is harvested each year during the hot summers and is sun dried just after
harvesting. The tea court process is often described as an art form and is one of the most critical
parts of the ‘Rooibos' / ‘Red Bush' production process with specific know-how and expertise
required. The use of the dried leaves and stems of ‘Rooibos' / ‘Red Bush' as a tea was first
documented almost 250 years ago. Since then its fruity, sweet taste has resulted in it being a
cultural icon of South Africa. There are currently 262 geographical indications from non EU countries
registered. More information in the eAmbrosia database and in the quality schemes pages. (For more
information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel.: +32 229 99075; Thérèse Lerebours – Tel.: +32 229 63303)

State aid: Commission approves an amended Dutch scheme to support mink-fur animal
farmers in context of coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved an amended Dutch scheme to support mink-fur animal
farmers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The amended scheme was approved under the State
Aid Temporary Framework and under the 2014 EU Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and
forestry sectors and in rural areas. The budget of the scheme is 31 million. Under the scheme, the
public support will take the form of direct grants to fur animal farmers who, due to the coronavirus
outbreak, face financial difficulties to wind up their activities, demolish the fur farms and invest in
the conversion of their undertakings to other primary agricultural production. Due to the health
measures imposed by the government on fur farms, the Dutch fur farming sector has been greatly
affected. Minks of many fur farms were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and eventually the Dutch
government ordered the early termination of fur farming operations, as well as an advanced ban on
fur farming, to prevent a further spread and mutations of the virus. The existing scheme, adopted by
the Commission in 2016, concerned the demolition of fur farms on the one hand and investments for
the conversion of these farms on the other. The aim of the amended scheme is thus to help the
beneficiaries address their liquidity needs to continue their economic activities during and after the
outbreak. The Commission found that the Dutch scheme with regard to the demolition of the unused
farm assets is in line with the conditions of the Temporary Framework. In particular, (i) the aid does
not exceed €225,000 per beneficiary; and (ii) the scheme will run until 31 December 2021. The
Commission concluded that the demolition 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. The Commission also concluded that the
amended investment measure is in line with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and fulfils the requirements set
out in the 2014 EU Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas.
In particular, it found that the aid is proportionate and that the measure contributes to a more
effective achievement of the conversion to activities in other primary agricultural production sectors.
On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme 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.62816 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)

Concentrations : La Commission autorise l'acquisition du contrôle exclusif de Mondial Relay
par Advent
La Commission européenne a approuvé, en vertu du règlement européen sur les concentrations,
l'acquisition du contrôle exclusif de Mondial Relay SAS ("Mondial Relay"), basée en France, par
Advent International Corporation ("Advent"), basée aux Etats-Unis. Mondial Relay est active dans la
fourniture de services de réseau "Pick-Up & Drop-Off" (PUDO), de services de livraison de petits colis
et, dans une moindre mesure, de livraisons transfrontalières, en Belgique, en Espagne, en France, au
Luxembourg, aux Pays-Bas et au Portugal. Advent est une société d'investissement active
mondialement dans les secteurs suivants : services commerciaux et financiers; biens et services
industriels; opérations de détail, biens de consommation de marque et services de loisirs; médias,
télécommunications et technologies de l'information; services de santé et produits pharmaceutiques.
Advent est également active dans la fourniture de services PUDO, de services de livraison de petits
colis et, dans une moindre mesure, de livraisons transfrontalières, en Allemagne, en Italie, en
Pologne et au Royaume-Uni. La Commission a conclu que l'acquisition envisagée ne soulèverait pas
de problème de concurrence compte tenu de son impact très limité sur la structure du marché.
L'opération a été examinée dans le cadre de la procédure simplifiée de contrôle des concentrations.
De plus amples informations sont disponibles sur le site internet concurrence de la Commission
européenne, dans le registre public des affaires sous le numéro d'affaire M.10228. (Pour plus
d'informations: Arianna Podesta – Tél.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tél.: +32 229 90526)

State aid: Commission approves €10 billion German scheme to compensate companies for
damages suffered due to coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has found a €10 billion German scheme to compensate companies for
damages related to the coronavirus outbreak to be in line with State aid Temporary Framework.
Under the scheme, companies from all sectors will be entitled to compensation for certain damages
suffered due to the full closure of their activities as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and the
restrictive measures that the German government had to introduce to contain the spread of the

virus. The compensation period will depend on whether restrictions are in place in the period
between 16 March 2020 and 31 December. The compensation, in the form of direct grants, can cover
up to 100% of the actual damage incurred by the beneficiaries during the eligible period, and can
only be granted after damage is incurred. The Commission assessed the measure under Article
107(2)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which enables the
Commission to approve State aid measures granted by Member States to compensate specific
companies or sectors for damage directly caused by exceptional occurrences. The Commission
considers that the coronavirus outbreak qualifies as such an exceptional occurrence, as it is an
extraordinary, unforeseeable event having a significant economic impact. The Commission found that
the German aid scheme will compensate damages that are directly linked to the coronavirus
outbreak. The Commission therefore concluded that the scheme is in line with EU State aid rules.
Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €10 billion scheme
enables Germany to compensate, at least in part, businesses of all sectors for the damages suffered
and emergency measures taken to limit the spread of the coronavirus. We continue working closely
with Member States to find workable solutions to support companies in these difficult times, in line
with EU rules.” The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case
number SA.62784 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any
confidentiality issues have been resolved. A 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)

STATEMENTS

World No Tobacco Day 2021: Statement by Health and Food Safety Commissioner Stella
Kyriakides
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, taking place today, Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for
Health and Food Safety, made the following statement: “Tobacco use is the single largest avoidable
health risk. It is the leading cause of preventable cancer, with 27% of all cancers attributed to
tobacco. With Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, we are proposing bold and ambitious actions on
prevention to reduce the use of tobacco. We have set a very clear objective – to create a smoke-free
generation in Europe, where less than 5% of people use tobacco by 2040. This would be significant
change compared to the around 25% today. And reducing the use of tobacco is crucial to reach this
goal. With no tobacco use, nine out ten cases of lung cancer could be avoided. The COVID-19 crisis
has highlighted the vulnerability of smokers, who have up to a 50% higher risk of developing severe
disease and death from the virus, a fact that has triggered millions of them to want to quit tobacco.
But quitting can be difficult. We can do more to help, and this is precisely what this year's World
Tobacco Day is about – committing to quitting. We need to increase the motivation to leave smoking
behind. Stopping smoking is a win-win situation at all ages, always. We need to step up our game
and ensure that EU tobacco legislation is enforced more strictly, especially as regards sales to minors
and campaigns on giving up smoking. It also needs to keep pace with new developments, be
sufficiently up to date to address the endless flow of new tobacco products entering the market. This
is particularly important to protect younger people. My message is simple: quitting is saving your
life: every moment is good to quit, even if you have been smoking forever.” The full statement is
available online. (For more information: Stefan de Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Stephan
Meder - Tel.: +32 229 13917)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Digital Assembly 2021: Leading Europe's Digital Decade
On 1 and 2 June 2021, the European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of
the European Union will host the Digital Assembly, which this year will be dedicated to Europe's
Digital Decade. This high-level event will focus on the EU targets for 2030 for the Digital Decade and
on the Digital Europe Programme, a new €7.5 billion funding programme for the deployment of

European digital projects. The event will bring together Ministers from several Member States,
representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission, as well as representatives of the
private sector and the civil society. They will discuss ways to promote European leadership across the
areas and the 2030 targets outlined in the Commission's Digital Decade Communication, including
on digital skills, digital transformation of businesses, high-speed connectivity and secure and
sustainable digital infrastructure, as well as digitisation of public services. The discussions will also
focus on how European values and rights can best be promoted and protected in the digital world.
On the first day of the Digital Assembly, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der
Leyen, will present the preparations for a joint inter-institutional Declaration of digital rights and
principles for the Digital Decade. The Prime Minister of Portugal, António Costa, will present the
Lisbon Declaration, which will contribute to these preparations. The upcoming Declaration of digital
rights and principles for the Digital Decade will include commitments such as ensuring access to
high-quality connectivity across Europe, promoting digital skills to all citizens, and building a fair
online world without discriminations. More information is available in this joint press release by the
European Commission and the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. (For
more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 229
83583)

Commissioner Breton in Lithuania to discuss pressing issues and to visit vaccine
manufacturing site
Commissioner Thierry Breton, in charge of the Internal Market and responsible for the Task Force on
Industrial Scale-up of COVID-19 vaccine production, is in Lithuania today. During his visit in Vilnius,
Commissioner Breton met passengers of the hijacked flight and expressed his deepest solidarity. In
the morning, Commissioner Breton met with the President of the Republic Gitanas Nausėda. They
had a constructive discussion on the ramping up of vaccine production and the security of supply
chains. While the EU is on track to reach its vaccination objective, Commissioner Breton and
President Nausėda share the same concerns about low vaccination rate in neighbouring countries. In
addition, they discussed the relevance for Lithuania of the European Defence Fund and EU policies in
the area of cyber security and space. Commissioner Breton also met with Prime Minister Ingrida
Šimonytė, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Marius Skuodis, Minister of
Transport and Communications and other high-level government officials. Later in the morning, the
Commissioner visited the newly opened facility of Thermo Fischer Scientific Baltics in Vilnius, which
is supplying reagents used in COVID-19 vaccine production. He met with the management and
visited the facility. In the afternoon, Commissioner Breton will hold a roundtable with
biotechnologies companies. The trip is part of the Commission's continuous work on scaling up the
production of vaccines throughout Europe. A press statement by the Commissioner is foreseen at the
end of the visit and it can be followed on Ebs. The speech pronounced by Commissioner Breton in
the margins of his official visit in Lithuania is available here. (For more information: Sonya
Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300 Célia Dejond – Tel.:
+32 229 88199)

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell to visit Indonesia and ASEAN
From Tuesday 1 to Friday 4 June, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell will visit Indonesia. He will hold
discussions with the Indonesian government and will have meetings at the headquarters of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The visit demonstrates the EU's wish to deepen
relations with Indonesia, one of the world's largest democracies and economies, which will hold the
G20 Presidency in 2022 and the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023. The visit also comes in light of the
upgrade of EU-ASEAN relations to a Strategic Partnership, the recent adoption of Council Conclusions
on an EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, and ongoing efforts to address the military
coup and the ensuing political crisis in Myanmar. In Jakarta, High Representative/Vice-President
Borrell will meet President Joko Widodo, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as well as Defence Minister
Prabowo Subianto. He will also have meetings at the Indonesian Parliament with Meutya Hafid, Chair
of the Commission on Foreign Relations, and Fadli Zon, Chairman of the Committee for Inter-
Parliamentary Cooperation. The High Representative and Foreign Minister Marsudi will deliver joint
press statements after their meeting on 2 June. While in Indonesia, the High Representative will also
meet the Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Lim Jock Hoi, and the
ASEAN Committee of Permanent Representatives. High Representative Borrell will visit the ASEAN
Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance, inaugurate the new premises of the EU Delegation
to Indonesia and oversee the official upgrade of the EU Mission to ASEAN to a fully-fledged EU
Delegation. He will also give a speech at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies on the EU

Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Audiovisual footage of the visit will be provided by
Europe by Satellite. More information is available in a full press release. (For more information:
Nabila Massrali – Tel.: +32 229 88093; Adam Kaznowski – Tel.: +32 229 89359

Eurostat: communiqués de presse
                                                                                              MEX/21/2785