European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 28 / 09 / 2021
Brussels, 28 September 2021
NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses pre-financing payments to Austria,
Czechia and Croatia
The European Commission has today disbursed €450 million to Austria, €915 million to Czechia and
€818 million to Croatia in pre-financing under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). These
payments are equivalent to 13% of each country's grant allocation under the RRF. These pre-
financing payments will help to kick-start the implementation of the crucial investment and reform
measures outlined in each national recovery and resilience plan. The Commission will authorise
further disbursements based on the implementation of the investments and reforms outlined in the
national recovery and resilience plans. Austria is set to receive €3.5 billion, Czechia €7 billion and
Croatia €6.3 billion over the lifetime of their plans. Today's disbursements follow the recent
successful implementation of the first borrowing operations under NextGenerationEU. By the end of
the year, the Commission intends to raise up to a total of €80 billion in long-term funding,
complemented by short-term EU-Bills, to fund the first planned disbursements to Member States
under NextGenerationEU. The RRF is at the heart of NextGenerationEU which will provide €800 billion
(in current prices) to support investments and reforms across Member States. The Austrian, Czech
and Croatian plans are part of the unprecedented EU response to emerge stronger from the COVID-
19 crisis, fostering the green and digital transitions and strengthening resilience and cohesion in our
societies. (For more information: Veerle Nuyts – Tel.: +32 2 29 96302; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32
229 64976)

Union européenne de la santé : vers une réforme de la législation pharmaceutique de l'UE
Aujourd'hui, dans le cadre de ses travaux visant à créer un cadre réglementaire du secteur
pharmaceutique à l'épreuve du temps et résistant aux crises, la Commission a publié une
consultation publique sur la révision de la législation pharmaceutique de l'UE. Il s'agit de la dernière
étape vers une réforme ambitieuse annoncée dans la stratégie pharmaceutique pour l'Europe,
adoptée en novembre 2020. Stella Kyriakides, commissaire à la santé et à la sécurité alimentaire, a
déclaré: « Aujourd'hui, nous franchissons une étape importante dans la réforme de la législation
pharmaceutique de l'UE d'ici la fin de l'année prochaine. Un cadre réglementaire pour les produits
pharmaceutiques, modernisé et adapté à sa finalité, est un élément essentiel d'une Union
européenne de la santé forte et essentiel pour relever les nombreux défis auxquels ce secteur est
confronté. J'invite tous les citoyens et parties prenantes intéressés à nous aider à façonner les règles
de l'UE pour l'avenir, en répondant aux besoins des patients et en maintenant notre industrie
innovante et compétitive au niveau mondial. » La consultation, qui durera douze semaines, jusqu'au
21 décembre, permettra de recueillir les avis du grand public et des parties prenantes afin de
soutenir l'évaluation et l'analyse d'impact de la révision de la législation pharmaceutique de l'UE. Le
développement d'aujourd'hui fait suite à la consultation publique menée en vue de l'élaboration de la
stratégie elle-même. De plus amples informations sont disponibles en ligne dans le communiqué de
presse. (Pour plus d'informations: Stefan De Keersmaecker - Tél.: +32 229 84680; Darragh Cassidy
- Tél.: +32 229 83978)

Energy intensive industries: Commission kicks off consultations towards a more resilient,
sustainable and digital ecosystem
Today, the Commission invites relevant partners to reflect and contribute on the transition of the
energy intensive industries. Industrial partners across different value chains in the energy intensive
industries ecosystem, public authorities, social partners, and research organisations can express their
views on a set of scenarios and enablers, laying out how energy intensive industries can accomplish
the twin transitions, while increasing their resilience. The consultation document also asks
stakeholders for an assessment of scale, cost, benefits and conditions of the required actions to
accompany the transitions. Through this process of co-creation, a jointly agreed transition pathway

will be finalised by early 2022 at the latest. Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for the
Internal Market, said: “Heavy industries like steel, cement or mining provide some of the most
essential materials needed for our economy and employment. But this industrial ecosystem also
needs to maintain its competitiveness while contributing to a climate neutral Europe by mid of this
century. Today, I invite all stakeholders to work together and propose concrete actions, commitments
and investments to unleash this ecosystem's green and digital potential, while strengthening the
resilience of its value chains.” The consultation on the transition pathway for energy intensive
industries will last 8 weeks and will also be fed by discussions from the High Level Group on Energy
Intensive Industries and other relevant fora. The update of the EU Industrial Strategy published in
May 2021 highlights the need to accelerate the green and digital transition of EU industry and its
ecosystems. The consultation on the transition pathway on energy intensive industries follows the
recently completed consultation on the pathway for the tourism ecosystem. In addition, work is
already underway on other priority transition pathways, like the ones for the mobility and
construction ecosystems, and the textiles and social economy. More information, here. (For more
information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 229 66953; Federica Miccoli – Tel.: +32 229 58300)

Commission seeks public opinion on short-term accommodation rentals
The Commission has launched a public consultation related to short-term accommodation rentals.
Over 1.5 million guests sleep in short-term accommodation across the EU per year. The objective of
this consultation is to collect information about issues resulting from the rapid growth of short-term
rentals, in particular for the sustainable development of cities, consumer safety or level playing field.
The feedback from the consultation will help the Commission to assess the relevance of new
regulatory measures. Short-term accommodation rentals have created new opportunities for hosts,
guests and a range of new service providers, most of which are SMEs. To regulate this rapid rise of
short-term rentals, many authorities across the EU have taken initiatives, which has resulted in a
patchwork of varying rules and regulations. In its SME Strategy of March 2020, the Commission
announced an initiative on short-term accommodation rental services. The Commission proposes
scenarios towards the co-creation of a transition pathway for a more resilient, innovative and
sustainable tourism ecosystem. This document mentions a possible legislative proposal for improving
the framework for short-term accommodation rental services, among other actions to be explored.
The public consultation is open until 13 December 2021. (For more information: Sonya Gospodinova
– Tel.: +32 229 66953; Célia Dejond – Tel.: +32 229 88199)

Consumer Protection: Commission and national consumer protection authorities called
upon Volkswagen to compensate European consumers
Today, the Commission and EU consumer authorities, working together in the Consumer Protection
Cooperation (CPC) network, issued a statement calling upon Volkswagen to compensate all EU
consumers, also those residing outside of Germany, for having mislead them as regards their
vehicles' emission standards. The Commission and EU consumer authorities consider that
Volkswagen's commercial practices violate EU consumer protection law as regards the marketing of
diesel cars equipped with illegal systems. They also state that the marketing of such diesel cars was
a clear instance of a misleading practice banned in the EU. Didier Reynders, Commissioner for
Justice, said: “Six years ago ‘Dieselgate' broke. Up until now, not all consumers have been
compensated. There have been court rulings exposing Volkswagen's unfair treatment of consumers,
and yet the car maker is not willing to work with consumer organisations to find appropriate
solutions for consumers. As I wrote to the company last year, not only consumers residing in
Germany, but all consumers need to be compensated.” To date, Volkswagen has only agreed to
compensate EU consumers residing in Germany at the time of the car purchase. The German car
manufacturer has informed the Commission and authorities of its view that voluntary payments to
European consumers residing outside Germany were not justified since the affected cars have now
been altered to meet legal requirements. The company's position has not changed despite recent EU
and national court decisions which is why the Commission and EU consumer authorities are
mounting the pressure. The letter in which Commissioner Reynders' asked Volkswagen for
compensation in 2020 is available here. More information is available here. (For more information:
Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko - Tel.: +32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli -
Tel.: +32 229 92729)

The EU provides €36.4 million to tackle COVID-19 and support police reform in the Republic
of Moldova
Today, the European Union has disbursed a grant of €36.4 million for the Republic of Moldova to

continue supporting country's fight against COVID-19 and police reform during the visit of Prime
Minister Natalia Gavrilița and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European
Integration Nicu Popescu in Brussels. Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and
Enlargement, said: ”The EU provided this support after the Republic of Moldova met the conditions
for disbursement, notably progressing on key reform priorities in the law enforcement sector and in
the fight against COVID-19. They demonstrate the EU's commitment to supporting a pro-reform for
the Republic of Moldova, as announced in the Economic Recovery Plan for the Republic of Moldova,
published on 2 June. This assistance will help the Republic of Moldova to strengthen the resilience of
its health sector, support the economic recovery process, and support the fight against COVID-19 in
the law enforcement area." The support is part of the EU's Economic Recovery package of up to €600
million over the next three years to promote investments in the Republic of Moldova and support
recovery from the COVID-19 crisis in the country, in exchange for structural reforms. Budget support
programmes offer grant funding to partner countries to advance on agreed reform priorities. Read
the press release here. (For more information: Ana Pisonero - Tel.: +32 229 54320 ; Zoï Muletier -
Tel: +32 229 94306)

NextGenerationEU: la Commission européenne approuve le plan pour la reprise et la
résilience de la Roumanie, doté d'une enveloppe de 29,2 milliards d'euros
La Commission européenne a adopté une évaluation positive du plan pour la reprise et la résilience
de la Roumanie, une étape importante vers le versement par l'UE à la Roumanie d'un montant de
14,2 milliards d'euros sous forme de subventions et de 14,9 milliards d'euros sous forme de prêts au
titre de la facilité pour la reprise et la résilience (FRR). Ce financement soutiendra la mise en œuvre
des mesures essentielles d'investissement et de réforme décrites dans le plan pour la reprise et la
résilience de la Roumanie. La Commission a évalué le plan de la Roumanie au regard des critères
énoncés dans le règlement FRR. Le Conseil dispose à présent, en principe, de quatre semaines pour
adopter la proposition de la Commission. La FRR est l'instrument clé au cœur de NextGenerationEU.
Il fournira jusqu'à 800 milliards d'euros (en prix courants) pour soutenir les investissements et les
réformes dans l'ensemble de l'UE. (Pour plus d'informations: Veerle Nuyts – Tél.: +32 2 29 96302;
Enda McNamara – Tél.: +32 229 64976)

State aid: Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for Poland
The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules Poland's map for granting regional
aid from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2027, within the framework of the revised Regional aid
Guidelines (‘RAG'). The revised RAG, adopted by the Commission on 19 April 2021 and entering into
force on 1 January 2022, enable Member States to support the least favoured European regions in
catching up and to reduce disparities in terms of economic well-being, income and unemployment –
cohesion objectives that are at the heart of the Union. They also provide increased possibilities for
Member States to support regions facing transition or structural challenges such as depopulation, to
contribute fully to the green and digital transitions. At the same time, the revised RAG maintain
strong safeguards to prevent Member States from using public money to trigger the relocation of
jobs from one EU Member State to another, which is essential for fair competition in the Single
Market. Poland's regional aid map defines the Polish regions eligible for regional investment aid. The
map also establishes the maximum aid intensities in the eligible regions. The aid intensity is the
maximum amount of State aid that can be granted per beneficiary, expressed as a percentage of
eligible investment costs. Under the revised RAG, regions covering 92.9% of the population of Poland
will be eligible for regional investment aid. 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)

State aid: Commission approves modification of two Czech schemes supporting companies
affected by coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has found the modification of two existing Czech schemes to support
companies affected by coronavirus outbreak to be in line with the Temporary Framework. Czechia
notified the following modifications to the first scheme, approved on 12 January 2021 (SA.59899):
(i) an overall budget increase, from €160 million to €856 million; (ii) an increase of the maximum
nominal amount of aid per company; (iii) a prolongation of the scheme until 31 December 2021. In
addition, Czechia notified the following amendments to the second scheme, approved on 27 July
2020 (SA.57102) and amended on 12 January 2021 (SA.59334): (i) an overall estimated total
budget increase, from €970 million to €1.1 billion; and (ii) a prolongation of the scheme until 31
December 2021. The Commission found that the two Czech schemes, as amended, continue to be in

line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, when it comes to the first
scheme, the aid (i) will not exceed €225,000 per company active in the primary production of
agriculture products, €270,000 per company active in the fishery and aquaculture sector, and €1.8
million per company active in other sectors; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2021.
Then, when it comes to the second scheme, (i) the measure will assist companies that are
particularly affected by the coronavirus outbreak and is aimed at avoiding layoffs; (ii) the monthly
wage subsidies will not exceed 80% of the monthly gross salary of the benefitting personnel; and
(iii) the aid will be granted before 31 December 2021. The Commission concluded that the two
amended Czech schemes remain 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
measures 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 numbers
SA.62442 and SA.62441 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 Cesar, SDA and VDM by H.I.G. Capital
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole
control over Cesar di Barbarossa Enio e F.lli S.r.l. (‘Cesar'), Gruppo SDA S.r.l. Servizi Distribuzione
Associati (‘SDA') and VDM Vaccaro Distribuzione Merci S.r.l. (‘VDM'), all of Italy, by H.I.G. Capital,
LLC of the US. Cesar, SDA and VDM are active in the retail sale of a wide range of health, beauty and
other daily consumer mass products in Italy. H.I.G. Capital is a global private equity and alternative
assets investment firm. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no
competition concerns, because none of the companies is engaged in business activities in the same
geographic market. 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.10392. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024;
Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Litoral Gas and Energy
Consulting Services by Tecpetrol and Oaktree
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint
control of Litoral Gas and Energy Consulting Services (‘ECS'), both of Argentina, by Tecpetrol
Internacional (‘Tecpetrol') of Spain and Oaktree Capital Group (‘Oaktree') of the US. Litoral Gas
distributes gas in Argentina. ECS provides gas commercialisation services. Tecpetrol is active in the
exploration, production, transportation and distribution of hydrocarbons, as well as power generation,
in several Latin American countries. Oaktree manages global investment funds. The Commission
concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, because Litoral Gas
and ECS have no actual or foreseen activities within the European Economic Area. 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.10397. (For
more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of joint control of Langdi Pharmaceutical by CPP
Investments and FountainVest
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint
control of Beijing Zhendong Langdi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and its subsidiaries (‘Langdi
Pharmaceutical'), of China, by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (‘CPP Investments') of Canada
and FountainVest Capital Partners GP4 Ltd. (‘FountainVest') of the Cayman Islands. Langdi
Pharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical company mainly active in the production and supply of calcium
supplements for children, pregnant and lactating women, menopausal women and elderly people, to
help prevent and treat osteoporosis. CPP Investments is a professional investment management
organisation that invests in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed
income instruments. FountainVest is an independent private equity firm. The Commission concluded
that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, since Langdi Pharmaceutical has
no actual or foreseen activities within the European Economic Area. 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.10452. (For more

information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Protection des consommateurs: le commissaire Reynders dévoile les lauréats du prix
européen de la sécurité des produits 2021
Didier Reynders, commissaire chargé de la justice, accueillera l'édition 2021 de la cérémonie de
remise des prix de l'UE sur la sécurité des produits cet après-midi à Bruxelles. 11 entreprises de huit
pays européens seront récompensées pour leurs efforts visant à renforcer la sécurité des
consommateurs vulnérables ainsi que pour l'utilisation de nouvelles technologies visant à accroitre la
sécurité des produits. Cette initiative veut à la fois encourager davantage les entreprises à faire de la
sécurité des produits une priorité et sensibiliser les consommateurs à la sécurité des produits. Avant
la cérémonie, le commissaire Reynders a déclaré: « Je me réjouis à la perspective d'annoncer les
lauréats du prix européen de la sécurité des produits 2021. Malgré toutes les difficultés de la
pandémie pour les entreprises, je suis très heureux de constater qu'il existe des entreprises qui
placent la sécurité des produits au cœur de ce qu'elles font, en essayant de réhausser la barre de
l'innovation et de la protection des consommateurs dans toute l'Europe. » La deuxième édition du
prix est axée sur deux catégories d'initiatives: Protéger les groupes de consommateurs vulnérables
et combiner sécurité et nouvelles technologies, avec des prix distincts pour les petites et moyennes
entreprises et les grandes entreprises. Pour suivre l'événement, vous pouvez vous inscrire ici. Un
communiqué de presse reprenant les noms des lauréats sera disponible ici. De plus amples
informations sur la sécurité des produits sont disponibles ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Christian
Wigand — Tél.: +32 229 62253; Katarzyna Kolanko — Tél.: +32 229 63444; Jördis Ferroli — Tél.:
+32 229 92729)

La commissaire Ferreira en Grèce pour discuter de la relance et des réformes
Elisa Ferreira, commissaire chargée de la cohésion et des réformes, se rendra en Grèce du 29
septembre au 1er octobre pour discuter des accords de partenariat 2021-2027 de la politique de
cohésion et de la transition énergétique avec plusieurs membres du gouvernement ainsi que des
acteurs concernés. Elle rencontrera le Premier ministre Kyriakos Mitsotakis et les ministres essentiels
à la mise en œuvre de l'accord de partenariat: le ministre du Développement, chargé de la politique
de cohésion, le ministre des Infrastructures et le ministre de la Protection civile. Ces rencontres de
haut niveau seront l'occasion d'échanger sur les priorités de la prochaine période de financement et
les réformes nécessaires. La Grèce est le premier pays de l'UE à avoir soumis son accord de
partenariat à la Commission et à l'avoir fait approuver. De plus, la commissaire s'adressera à
l'assemblée générale de l'association industrielle de Grèce centrale et se rendra en Macédoine
occidentale pour rencontrer le gouverneur régional, les maires des municipalités de l'énergie et
d'autres acteurs impliqués. Elle visitera également une zone minière de lignite pour discuter de la
transition juste de la zone vers une économie plus durable, et rencontrera des jeunes de la région
dans une bibliothèque municipale dont la construction a été cofinancée par l'UE. (Pour plus
d'informations: Vivian Loonela - Tél.: +32 229 66712; Veronica Favalli – Tél.: +32 229 87269)

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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