European Commission - Daily News

European Commission - Daily News

Daily News 30 / 04 / 2021
Brussels, 30 April 2021
Fighting sexual abuse of children: Commission welcomes political agreement on interim
rules for voluntary detection measures by online service providers
The Commission welcomes yesterday's political agreement between the European Parliament and the
Council on the proposed interim legislation regarding the detection of child sexual abuse online by
communications services. This legal adjustment was urgently needed to give certain online
communications services such as webmail and messaging services legal certainty in their voluntary
measures to detect and report child sexual abuse online and to remove child sexual abuse material,
as such services fell under the e-Privacy Directive as of 21 December 2020. The new Regulation will
provide guarantees to safeguard privacy and protection of personal data. The voluntary measures
play an important role in enabling the identification and rescue of victims and reducing the further
dissemination of child sexual abuse material, and contribute to the identification and investigation of
offenders as well as the prevention of offences. The rules agreed yesterday have a narrow scope:
they will create a temporary and strictly limited derogation concerning the voluntary detection
activities of the online communication services. The Regulation must now be formally adopted by the
European Parliament and the Council. As announced in the EU Strategy for a more effective fight
against child sexual abuse, the Commission will propose later this year new comprehensive
legislation with detailed safeguards to fight child sexual abuse online and offline. These long-term
rules will be intended to replace the interim legislation agreed today. For more information on the
agreement, you can consult the full press release online. (For more information: Adalbert Jahnz -
Tel.: + 32 229 53156; Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615)

Fairness in the food supply chain: Member States to apply EU rules banning unfair trading
practices
Member States have until tomorrow, 1 May 2021, to transpose EU rules banning unfair trading
practices into national law. The Directive, adopted on 17 April 2019, ensures protection of 100% of
European farmers as well as small and mid-range suppliers against 16 unfair trading practices from
larger buyers in the food supply chain. It covers agricultural and food products traded in the supply
chain, banning for the first time at EU level such practices imposed unilaterally by one trading
partner on another. The unfair trading practices to be banned include, among others, late payments
and last minute order cancellations for perishable food products; unilateral or retroactive changes to
contracts; or forcing the supplier to pay for wasted products and refusing written contracts. Farmers
and small and medium sized suppliers, and their organisations, will have the possibility to file
complaints against such practices from their buyers. Member States should put in place designated
national authorities that will handle the complaints. Confidentiality is protected under these rules to
avoid any retaliation from buyers. This Directive contributes to strengthening the farmers' position in
the food supply chain. The Commission has also taken steps to increase market transparency and
promote producer cooperation in this context. Together these will ensure a more balanced, fair and
efficient supply chain in the agri-food sector. By November 2021, the Commission will present a first
report on the transposition and implementation of the Directive by Member States. The national
transposition measures communicated by the Member States are available here. More information
available here. (For more information: Miriam Garcia Ferrer – Tel.: +32 229 99075; Thérèse
Lerebours – Tel.: +32 229 63303)

Commission launches 424 new EUROPE DIRECT centres: reaching people in all corners of
the EU
A new generation of some 424 EUROPE DIRECT centres start operating across the EU as of 1 May.
These centres will bring the European Union, its policies and values to all corners of Europe, and they
will reinforce the important connection between EU institutions and citizens, helping to explain how
Europe is combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting recovery through NextGenerationEU, and

tackling the green and digital transitions. The new EUROPE DIRECT network will provide timely and
factual information on European matters, but also seek to engage with citizens regarding the state
and future of the European Union. Seeing their role and mandate modernised, the new generation of
EUROPE DIRECT centres will organise citizens' dialogues and participatory events, for example for
the Conference on the Future of Europe. They will offer relevant information on EU policies and
priorities to local media and multipliers, and involve them in their activities. They will also help the
Commission keep track of local sensitivities linked to EU policies. The new centres will equally
promote active European citizenship in schools and coordinate with other EU networks in the regions,
ensuring easier local access to information for citizens, organisations and businesses. Find your
nearest EUROPE DIRECT centre by selecting your Member State on this map (updated as of 1 May
with new list of centres). (For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 229 86500; Sinéad
Meehan-van Druten - Tel.: +32 229 84094)

Border management: Frontex agreement with Serbia enters into force
Tomorrow, the Status Agreement on border management cooperation between the European Union
and Serbia will enter into force. The agreement will allow the European Border and Coast Guard
Agency (Frontex) to carry out joint operations in Serbia, especially in the event of sudden border
management challenges. Frontex will be able to deploy teams of border guards and other experts at
the borders between Serbia and the neighbouring EU Member States if required. Frontex will lend
both technical and operational support, assisting Serbian border guards in performing checks at
crossing points and preventing unauthorised border crossings. All operations and deployments at the
common borders will be conducted in full agreement with and under the instructions of Serbian
authorities, with safeguards in place to ensure full respect of fundamental rights by both sides during
these operations. Similar agreements have been initiated with the Republic of North Macedonia (July
2018) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (February 2019), and Frontex also operates under respective
agreements in force in Albania and Montenegro in the common interest of both the European Union
and its neighbours in the region. (For more information: – Adalbert Jahnz, Tel: +32 229 53156;
Laura Bérard, Tel: +32 229 55721; Ciara Bottomley, Tel: +32 229 69971)

Rail transport: Commission welcomes adoption of improved rail passenger rights
Yesterday, the European Parliament took the final step and voted to modernise rail passenger rights
within the EU. The Commission welcomes the new rules, which include better protection for
passengers in case of disruptions, improved rail ticket services, and will ensure dedicated spaces for
bicycles. Commissioner for Transport,Adina Vălean, said: “I welcome yesterday's vote in the
European Parliament. The new rules will significantly improve rail passengers' protection in case of
delays, cancellations and missed connections. Also, the new regulation responds better to the needs
of people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Strong rail passenger rights are essential to improving
the sector's image and attracting more people to rail, two of our objectives for the European Year of
Rail.” The new rail passenger rights framework followed a Commission proposal in 2017 and will
become applicable as of 6 June 2023. You can find more information here. (For more information:
Stefan de Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 229 84680; Stephan Meder - Tel.: +32 229 13917)

Recovery and Resilience Facility: Slovakia submits official recovery and resilience plan
The Commission yesterday received an official recovery and resilience plan from Slovakia. This plan
sets out the reforms and public investment projects that Slovakia 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 this plan follows an intensive dialogue between the Commission and the Slovak
authorities 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 Commission has now received a total of five recovery and resilience plans,
from Germany, Greece, France, Portugal, and Slovakia. 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)

La concrétisation du Fonds européen de défense donne un nouvel élan à la défense de l'UE
La Commission salue l'adoption hier du Fonds européen de la défense (FED), qui a été approuvé par
le Parlement européen. Doté d'un budget de 7,9 milliards d'euros, le FED est le principal instrument
de la Commission pour soutenir la coopération en matière de défense en Europe. Le FED cofinancera
des projets collaboratifs de recherche et de développement des capacités, s'ajoutant ainsi aux
investissements nationaux. Il favorisera également une base industrielle de défense innovante et
compétitive. Margrethe Vestager, vice-présidente exécutive pour une Europe adaptée à l'ère du
numérique, a déclaré: « Il s'agit d'une étape importante vers une Europe plus forte. Ce Fonds jouera
un rôle clé dans la participation des PME aux chaînes d'approvisionnement de la défense et
l'accroissement de la coopération industrielle transfrontière. En offrant des possibilités aux
entreprises de toutes tailles, nous contribuons à l'obtention de solutions plus innovantes et
favorisons un marché intérieur ouvert. Le Fonds concourt donc non seulement au renforcement de la
coopération dans le domaine de la défense, mais aussi à notre compétitivité. » Thierry Breton,
commissaire chargé du marché intérieur, a dit: « Ce jour est historique pour l'Europe. L'idée selon
laquelle nous devons collaborer pour promouvoir notre union de la défense et assurer la sécurité des
citoyens de l'UE est désormais une réalité tangible. Dans un contexte mondial où l'Europe se doit
d'être plus forte, plus résiliente et plus autonome dans des domaines stratégiques, le Fonds
européen de la défense constitue une étape importante et contribuera considérablement à la sécurité
des citoyens de l'UE. » Sans se substituer aux efforts des États membres, le Fonds permettra de
promouvoir la coopération entre des entreprises de toutes tailles et des acteurs de la recherche dans
l'ensemble de l'Union, dans la recherche et le développement de technologies et d'équipements de
défense de pointe et interopérables. Il soutiendra aussi l'innovation et encouragera la participation
transfrontière des PME. Les projets seront définis sur la base des priorités en matière de capacités de
défense convenues par les États membres dans le cadre de la politique de sécurité et de défense
commune et notamment dans le contexte du plan de développement des capacités. Ils auront pour
objectif de contribuer aux intérêts de l'Union en matière de sécurité et de défense. Pour plus
d'informations, un communiqué de presse et une fiche d'informations sont disponibles en ligne.
(Pour plus d'informations: Sonya Gospodinova – Tél.: +32 229 66953; Célia Dejond – Tél.: +32 229
88199)

State aid: Commission approves €2.5 million Belgian scheme to support professional sport
clubs in Flemish and Brussels Regions in the context of the coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved a €2.5 million Belgian scheme to support professional sport
clubs in the Flemish and Brussels Regions that have been participating in club competitions during
the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The
public support will take the form of direct grants of up to €150,000 per club. The measure is
addressed to professional sports clubs that have experienced a significant revenue decline due to the
coronavirus outbreak and the measures that the Belgian authorities had to impose to limit the spread
of the virus. The scheme aims to address the liquidity needs of the beneficiaries and to help them
continue their activities during and after the outbreak. The Commission found that the scheme is in
line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular, the support (i) will not
exceed the limits per beneficiary set out in the Temporary Framework; and (ii) will be granted no
later than 31 December 2021. The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate
and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with
Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions 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 numbers SA.62466 in the State aid register on the Commission's
competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved. (For more information:
Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Giulia Astuti – Tel: +32 229 55344; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32
229 90526)

State aid: Commission approves €40 million Dutch subsidised soft bridge loans scheme to
support start-ups affected by coronavirus outbreak
The European Commission has approved a €40 million Dutch scheme providing soft bridge loans with
subsidised interest rates to start-ups affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The scheme was
approved under the State aid Temporary Framework. The measure is open to small and medium-
sized enterprises registered as start-ups in the first two quarters of 2020 and active in all sectors,
except the financial, primary agricultural production, fisheries and aquaculture sectors. It will be
managed by Qredits, a non-profit microcredit provider, on behalf of the Dutch State. The scheme

complements previous measures, by specifically addressing liquidity constraints of young start-ups
affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with the aim to preserve the continuity of economic activities
during and after the outbreak. The Commission found that the Dutch measure is in line with the
conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. In particular: i) the loan amount is limited to
€35,000 per beneficiary; ii) aid will only be granted to small and micro enterprises that are not
subject to collective insolvency procedure under national law and have not received rescue or
restructuring aid (or have given it back); and iii) aid will be granted no later than 31 December
2021. The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to
remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU
and in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission
has 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.62556 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 parts of Walgreens Boots Alliance's
Pharmaceutical Business by Amerisourcebergen
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole
control over (i) the wholesale pharmaceutical businesses of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. in Algeria,
Croatia, Czechia, Egypt, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Spain,
Turkey, the UAE and the UK; and (ii) the retail pharmaceutical business of Walgreens Boots Alliance,
Inc. in the Netherlands, Norway, and Lithuania, collectively incorporated in the Netherlands, by
Amerisourcebergen, of the U.S. The acquired businesses are active in the wholesale and retail of
pharmaceuticals and logistics. AmerisourceBergen is a pharmaceutical distribution and services
company. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition
concerns, given the companies' moderate combined market positions in the pharmaceutical logistics
market resulting from the proposed transaction. 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.10162. (For more information: Arianna Podesta –
Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

Mergers: Commission clears acquisition of Stark Group by CVC
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of Stark
Group of Denmark by CVC of Luxembourg. Stark is a general builders' merchant which mainly
distributes building materials in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden (the ‘Nordic countries') and
in Germany. CVC and its subsidiaries manage investment funds. In particular, CVC owns Ahlsell AB,
a specialist builders' merchant which mainly distributes installation products for heating, ventilation
and air-conditioning, and electricals, as well as tools and supplies in the Nordic countries. The
Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, given the
companies' limited overlaps at national level and their moderate combined shares in most local
markets, the fact they are not close competitors, and the presence of alternative suppliers in each of
the Nordic countries. 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.10164. (For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel. +32 229 87024; Maria
Tsoni – Tel.: +32 229 90526)

STATEMENTS

Déclaration du commissaire Schmit à la veille de la Journée internationale des travailleurs
A la veille de la Journée internationale des travailleurs, le 1er mai, le commissaire à l'emploi et aux
droits sociaux, Nicolas Schmit, a fait la déclaration suivante : « Demain, à l'occasion de la Journée
internationale des travailleurs, nous prendrons le temps de penser aux millions de personnes dont la
vie et les moyens de subsistance ont été bouleversés par la crise de la COVID-19. Jusqu'à présent,

les gouvernements sont parvenus à préserver l'emploi et à contenir la flambée du chômage. Les
dispositifs de chômage partiel, s'appuyant sur l'instrument européen SURE, ont permis de maintenir
des emplois et de préserver les revenus des familles. Malgré cela, de nombreux travailleurs,
notamment ceux de la jeune génération, ont vu leurs perspectives de carrière menacées, certains
d'entre eux pour la deuxième fois en l'espace d'une décennie, la crise financière les ayant également
touchés il y a dix ans. Si la crise n'est certainement pas encore terminée, nous voyons une raison
d'espérer et nous sommes convaincus que l'Europe sortira renforcée de cette crise. La solidarité a été
la clé de voûte de la réponse européenne à la crise et doit le rester alors que nous nous engageons
sur la voie de la reprise. […] La Commission continuera à collaborer avec tous les partenaires – le
Parlement européen, les États membres, les partenaires sociaux et la société civile – pour faire en
sorte que la reprise soit équitable, inclusive et résiliente. » La déclaration complète est disponible en
ligne en anglais, en français et en allemand. (Pour plus d'informations: Marta Wieczorek – Tél.: +32
229 58197; Flora Matthaes – Tél.: +32 229 83951)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

La commissaire Johansson participe à la conférence annuelle du réseau européen des
migrations : transformation numérique dans le domaine de la migration
Ce matin, Ylva Johansson, commissaire chargée des affaires intérieures, a prononcé un discours
d'orientation par message vidéo lors de la conférence annuelle virtuelle du réseau européen des
migrations sur la transformation numérique dans le domaine des migrations, organisée en
coopération avec la présidence portugaise du Conseil de l'Union européenne. La technologie
numérique a la capacité de transformer les services et les procédures d'asile. L'intelligence artificielle
devient un outil de plus en plus important dans le domaine de la gestion des frontières, ainsi que
dans le soutien aux procédures de migration et d'asile. La conférence réunit différentes parties
prenantes dans le domaine de la migration, ainsi que des experts dans le domaine de la
transformation numérique et des technologies de l'intelligence artificielle. La conférence constitue
une occasion de débattre d'exemples innovants sur la façon dont les outils numériques pourraient
soutenir la gestion des migrations et de réfléchir aux normes éthiques et aux garanties numériques
nécessaires. Le réseau européen des migrations est un réseau composé de la Commission
européenne et de points de contact nationaux dans chaque État membre ainsi qu'en Norvège. La
Géorgie et la Moldavie ont récemment rejoint le réseau en tant qu'observateurs. Le message vidéo et
le discours de la commissaire sont disponibles ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Adalbert Jahnz — Tél.:
+ 32 229 53156; Ciara Bottomley — Tél.: + 32 229 69971; Laura Bérard — Tél.: + 32 229 55721)

Commissioner Várhelyi travels to the Western Balkans as first EU-funded vaccines arrive
Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, will be travelling to the Western
Balkans next week as the first EU-funded COVID-19 vaccines arrive to the region. The vaccines are
funded from the €70 million package adopted by the Commission in December 2020. As announced
on 20 April, in total 651,000 vaccine doses will be delivered from the beginning of May to August to
accelerate the vaccination campaigns, ensuring all frontline medical workers and some of the most
vulnerable groups are inoculated. Austria has facilitated the sharing of these EU-funded vaccines
through legal arrangements with the producer and each Western Balkan partner. Commissioner
Várhelyi will start his visit to the region on Monday afternoon in Serbia, followed by Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Montenegro and North Macedonia on Tuesday, and subsequently Albania and Kosovo on
Wednesday. While in the region, he will discuss with the authorities the response to the pandemic as
well as the EU's support in this context. Ahead of his visit, Commissioner Várhelyi said: “I am
travelling to the Western Balkans to pass a clear message: We care! We care about our partners, and
we care about their health care workers and the most vulnerable. The delivery of the vaccines
confirms our continuous commitment to provide support, as we have been doing since the outbreak
of the pandemic. Stronger together!” A web release is available online and more info on the EU
support to the Western Balkans in tackling COVID-19 can be found here. (For more information: Ana
Pisonero - Tel.: +32 229 54320; Zoï Muletier - Tel.: +32 229 94306)

CALENDRIER – activités hebdomadaires des commissaires

Eurostat: communiqués de presse
                                                        MEX/21/2081