EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 17 March 2025
The EU is evacuating burn victims after deadly fire in a nightclub in North Macedonia
In the early hours of Sunday, 16 March, a fire broke out in a nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, killing 59 people and injuring more than 155. In the immediate aftermath, the EU's Emergency Response Coordination Centre established contact with the civil protection authorities in North Macedonia to offer solidarity and support. North Macedonia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism requesting assistance to evacuate 15 patients suffering from severe burns. In a swift reaction, 9 European countries – Croatia, Greece, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, Lithuania, Hungary, Luxembourg and Norway – made immediate offers of assistance via the mechanism.
Already, several patients have been evacuated to Hungary by Luxembourg and Romania is transporting patients to Lithuania. The EU is now coordinating the transportation of further patients to countries that have offered treatment. The EU remains in close contact with the national authorities in North Macedonia and stands ready to mobilise more assistance if needed.
Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib, said: “We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected. The EU stands in solidarity with the people of North Macedonia at this difficult time. I thank European countries for quickly offering treatment and assistance to the victims via our Civil Protection Mechanism.”
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40)
Commission approves €699 million Spanish State aid scheme to support energy storage to foster the transition to a net-zero economy
The European Commission has approved a €699 million Spanish scheme to support investments in energy storage facilities to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme contributes to the achievement of the priorities of the European Commission for 2024-2029, based on the Political Guidelines, which call for investments in clean energy and technologies. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (‘TCTF'), adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and on 2 May 2024.
The purpose of the scheme is to provide investment aid for the deployment of large-scale energy storage. This will ensure independence from fossil fuel imports and higher penetration of variable renewable energy sources in the Spanish electricity system. Under the scheme, the aid, partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund (‘ERDF'), will take the form of direct grants to support the construction of 1 800 MWh of new electricity storage capacities. The measure will be open to all storage technologies.
The Commission found that the Spanish scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, the aid will be (i) granted through a competitive bidding process open to all technologies; (ii) limited by the ERDF co-financing rates and will not exceed 85%; and (iii) granted no later than 31 December 2025. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities in line with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the conditions set out in TCTF. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules.
More information on the TCTF can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the number SA.116836 in the in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commission approves €90 million Czech State aid scheme under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to enable the supply of affordable rental housing and amendment to existing scheme
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €90 million Czech scheme to support the construction, reconstruction, and acquisition of affordable rental housing. The scheme will be funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (‘RRF'), following the Commission's positive assessment of the Czech Recovery and Resilience Plan and its adoption by the Council.
The aim of the scheme is to facilitate an additional supply of rental housing that the market would not supply by itself. The housing will be provided for an affordable rent to households falling within one of the following groups: (a) households with insufficient funds; (b) young families; (c) households where at least one member is active in a profession of an essential nature, such as healthcare, education, maintenance of public security, provision of social services or public administration; and (d) households including victims of domestic abuse. Under the scheme, the aid will take the form of subordinated loans. The scheme will run until 30 June 2026.
The European Commission has also approved an amendment to an existing Czech affordable rental housing scheme, which was approved in April 2024 and partly funded by the RRF, in order to align its conditions with the scheme approved today.
The Commission assessed the schemes under EU State aid rules, in particular under Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities under certain conditions. The Commission found that the schemes are necessary and appropriate to support the supply of affordable rental housing. Moreover, the Commission concluded that the schemes are proportionate, as they are limited to the minimum necessary, and have a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Czech schemes under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under case number SA.115811 in the State aid register on the Commission's competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
Commissioner Brunner in the Hague to present Europol's Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment report
Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, is heading to the Hague, the Netherlands, tomorrow to unveil Europol's report on the threats posed by serious and organised crime in Europe.
The event will kick off with a press conference where Commissioner Brunner will be joined by Europol's Executive Director, Catherine De Bolle, Polish Undersecretary of State, Maciej Duszczyk, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Police.
The Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment report analyses the key threats, networks and trends that are shaping the criminal landscape in Europe. Drawing on expertise from EU Member States, third party contributions, and Europol's own knowledge, the report provides important insights in the complexities of serious and organised crime. The findings of the report will feed into the European Commission's new Internal Security Strategy, set to be presented this spring.
The event will be transmitted online at +/- 13:00 CET and can be followed online. Journalists interested in attending this press conference in person at Europol's headquarters are requested to confirm their participation to press@europol.europa.eu by Monday 17 March, at 16:30 CET. More information on the event is available on the Europol website.
(For more information : Markus Lammert — Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33 ; Elettra Di Massa - Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
CALENDAR
Calendrier du lundi 17 mars 2025 au dimanche 23 mars 2025
18 March
Mr Costas Kadis receives Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); awards the medals for 20 years of service at the European Commission
Mr Costas Kadis receives representatives of the European Mollusc Producers Association (EMPA); receives representatives of the Environmental Justice Foundation; receives Ms Livia Spera, General Secretary of the European Transport Worker's Federation.
20 March
Mr Costas Kadis in Norway: on official visit.
21 March
The European Commission is committed to personal data protection. Any personal data is processed in line with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. All personal information processed by the Directorate-General for Communication / European Commission Representations is treated accordingly. If you do not work for a media organisation, you are welcome to contact the EU through Europe Direct in writing or by calling 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11.
Athanasios ATHANASIOU
Press Officer / Political Reporter
European Commission
Representation in Cyprus
EU House, 30 Vyronos Avenue, 1096 Nicosia
Tel: +357 22 81 75 76 Mob: +357 99 363753
Twitter: @aathans