DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 1 March 2023
Sustainable Finance: Commission welcomes political agreement on European green bond standard
The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission's proposal for a European Green Bond Regulation.
This Regulation, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal, will establish an EU voluntary high-quality standard for green bonds. The European green bond standard (EUGBS) will be available to companies and public entities that wish to raise funds on capital markets to finance their green investments, while meeting tough sustainability requirements. In particular, issuers of EUGBS would need to ensure that at least 85% of the funds raised by the bond are allocated to economic activities that align with the Taxonomy Regulation. This will allow investors to more easily assess, compare and trust that their investments are sustainable, thereby reducing the risks posed by greenwashing.
Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union, said: “Led by Europe and European issuers, the green bond market is growing into an important source of funding for companies that need to fund large-scale climate-friendly investments, such as renewable energy, clean transportation, and energy-efficient buildings. With the European Green Bond Standard, we are creating a new gold standard available to those companies that want to be at the forefront of the sustainability transition.”
As a result of the agreement, the Commission will also publish EU templates for issuers of other bonds with environmental objectives, even if they do not make use of the EUGBS. The use of these templates will be strictly voluntary. For the first time, there will be a standardised template that issuers can use to report information on the Taxonomy-alignment of green bonds, thereby reducing administrative burdens and uncertainty both for green bond issuers and for their investors.
The Regulation also creates a regime for the registration and supervision of external reviewers. External reviewers play an important role in the market by assessing green bonds in detail and providing confirmation to investors about their environmental credentials. Issuers making use of the new EUGBS will be required to employ such external reviewers at several points during the bond's life-cycle, including to check the alignment of the funded projects with the Taxonomy Regulation.
(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 2 298 76 24)
Hydrogen Valleys: European Commission signs joint declaration with European stakeholders to boost the EU hydrogen economy
The Commission and key stakeholders will sign today a joint declaration highlighting the crucial role of sustained efforts in renewable hydrogen research and innovation. Through this declaration, the Commission together with the European hydrogen industry, scientific community, and European regions, commit to stepping up and accelerating joint actions in research, development, demonstration, and deployment of Hydrogen Valleys. In line with the EU Hydrogen Strategy and contributing to the REPowerEU Plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan objectives, these powerhouses connect hydrogen production, transportation, and a range of cutting-edge applications - from clean mobility to industrial feedstock - creating fully functional and sustainable clusters of supply and demand, advancing renewable hydrogen deployment and as a result driving forward the clean energy transition.
The joint declaration also calls for sustained investments, strengthening synergies between funding resources, sharing knowledge, stimulating the development of education and training for skills, and building regional hydrogen networks and interconnections between Hydrogen Valleys.
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth said: “Hydrogen Valleys are key for the creation of a European research and innovation area for hydrogen. They prove that European cooperation can catalyse innovation, create jobs and opportunities while tackling the great energy challenges of our times. And we will rapidly hit the target of doubling the number of operational Hydrogen Valleys by 2025.”
The joint declaration will be signed in an event hosted by the Commission in Brussels. It will bring together over 300 leading stakeholders in hydrogen. A press point with Commissioner Gabriel; Melissa Verykios, Chair of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Governing Board; Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe; and Luigi Crema, President of Hydrogen Europe Research, will take place at 15:55 CET in Autoworld Brussels.
Years of support to research and innovation on hydrogen have put the EU in the global lead for key hydrogen technologies, notably electrolysers, hydrogen refuelling stations and megawatt-scale fuel cells. Horizon Europe supports the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (CHJU) with €1 billion, matched by the same amount from industry and research partners. As part of REPowerEU, the Commission has allocated an additional €200 million to the CHJU to accelerate the rollout of Hydrogen Valleys. The Commission also recently granted approximately €4 million under Erasmus+ for a long-term partnership between industry and education to develop advanced skills for the hydrogen economy.
Other EU programmes also offer opportunities for investment in Hydrogen Valleys such as the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Cohesion policy funds under the relevant smart specialisation priorities, and the Connecting Europe Facility.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel: +32 2 295 86 15; Marietta Grammenou – Tel.: +32 2 298 35 83)
College meeting: The European Commission appoints a new Director for its department for agriculture and rural development
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Marie Bourjou as Director ‘Assurance and Audit' for its Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI). This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on agriculture and rural development and deals with all aspects of the common agricultural policy (CAP). The date of effect of her appointment is to be determined later.
Marie Bourjou, a Belgian national, is equipped with sound knowledge of key audit working methods and the Commission's general audit strategy, combined with her expertise in agriculture and rural development matters which she acquired during her 20 years of experience in DG AGRI. In addition, she has also honed her leadership and representation skills throughout her former functions which will serve her greatly in her new capacity.
Marie Bourjou has been Acting Director for Resources in DG AGRI as well as Head of Unit ‘Budget management' since 2022. Earlier in her career, she headed the unit ‘Direct payments'. She was also Team Leader ‘Budget policy coordination' and ‘Audits of cross compliance'. Before joining the Commission in 2003, she worked as a Senior Auditor for a Consultant firm and Accounts consolidator for an energy company.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Claire Joawn - Tel.: +32 2 295 68 59)
College meeting: The European Commission appoints a new Director for its department for International Partnerships
The European Commission has decided today to appoint Erica Gerretsen as Director ‘Human Development, Migration, Governance & Peace' for its Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA). The Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships is responsible for formulating the EU's international partnership and development policy, with the ultimate goal to reduce poverty, ensure sustainable development, and promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world. The date of effect of her appointment is to be determined later.
Erica Gerretsen, a Dutch and French national, has obtained extensive expertise in the area of external relations, including through her experience with various EU Delegations in different regions. In addition to her robust experience in undertaking representation, management and negotiation duties, she is also endowed with a proven strategic planning capacity and sound judgement.
Currently Head of Unit ‘Macro-economic Analysis, Fiscal Policies and Budget Support', she has been Acting Director ‘Sustainable Finance - Jobs & Growth' in DG INTPA from January to October 2021. Prior to that, she headed several units ‘Financing for Development, Development effectiveness and EU-Joint programming', ‘Central Africa' and ‘West Africa' in the same Directorate-General. She has headed the sector in charge of the European Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy in 2010-11. From 2004 to 2007, she was Head of the Economic section at the EU delegation in Benin, and policy officer in the Delegation in Slovenia from 1999 to 2001. Before joining the Commission in 1995, she worked as Programme Manager in the Council of European Municipalities and Regions.
College meeting: The European Commission appoints a new Head of Representation in Malta and a new Head of Regional Office in Milan
Today, Lorenzo Vella has been appointed as new Head of the European Commission Representation in Valletta. In this function, he will act as the official representative of the European Commission in Malta under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen. Moreover Claudia Colla has been appointed as new Head of the Regional Office in Milan, in Italy. The date of effect of their appointments will be determined later.
Lorenzo Vella, a Maltese national, will draw on his extensive experience of 15 years in European affairs in Brussels and Luxembourg but also in the Maltese public service. In his new position, he will build on his refined diplomatic and representation skills as well as his thorough understanding of key EU policy priorities. He is currently the Permanent Representative of Malta to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Prior to that, he was a Deputy Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU in Brussels, representing Malta at COREPER I. From 2012 until 2014, he also worked in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) of the European Commission as a Programme Manager, responsible for the overall monitoring of policy developments in Malta in relation to the priorities and objectives of Europe 2020 Strategy. Prior to that, he worked in the public sector mainly in Malta, complemented by a short experience as a project manager at the European Court of Auditors. He holds two Master's Degrees in European Politics and Policies from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium and from the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy in University of Malta.
Claudia Colla, an Italian national, will lead the Regional Office in Milan, which is part of the Commission Representation in Italy led by the Head of Representation in Rome. In this capacity, she will rely greatly on her advanced negotiation and representation skills, and her deep knowledge of an array of EU policies. She currently works in the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) as Team Leader and Head of the EU delegation in the Technical Barriers to Trade Committee of the Word Trade Organisation (WTO). She previously worked in the Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP) and in the Directorate-General Internal Market and Services (DG MARKT). During these years, she has been responsible for different topics and policies, including State Aid, Intellectual Property Rights and International Trade. Before joining the Commission in 2004, she was a Member of the Cabinet of the Italian Minister for European Affairs. She has been lecturing on International Relations and EU integration at the University of Florence and Bologna. Claudia Colla is a fellow of the Marshall Memorial Fellowships Program and of the United Nations Fellowships Program on Disarmament. She holds a Master Degree in Advanced European Studies at the College of Europe of Bruges, in Diplomatic and International Studies at the University of Bologna, and in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Florence.
The press release is available online.
Road safety: Commission proposes updated requirements for driving licences and better cross-border enforcement of road traffic rules
The Commission today presented proposals to modernise driving licence rules, including the introduction of a digital driving licence valid throughout the EU, and new provisions to facilitate the enforcement of traffic rules across borders. More than 20,000 lives were lost on EU roads last year and the majority of victims were pedestrians, cyclists and users of scooters and motorbikes.
The new rules will improve safety for all road users, and will help the EU achieve its Vision Zero – having no deaths on EU roads by 2050.They will prepare drivers better for zero-emission vehicles and for driving on city roads, alongside more bicycles and two-wheelers, and with many pedestrians around. They will also allow young drivers to gain experience through an accompanied driving scheme - from the age of 17, young people will be able to learn to drive and obtain a licence. Those who pass at 17 will be able to drive alone from their 18th birthday, and to work as a professional driver as soon as a specific job allows. This will help address the current driver shortage.
Modernised driving licence rules to make roads safer and simplify everyday life
The proposal on driving licences amends existing EU law and is inspired by best practices already in force in several Member States.
A key objective of the new rules will be improving road safety, with measures including:
To simplify the recognition of driving licences between Member States, the Commission proposes the introduction of a digital driving licence, in a world first. It will be much easier to replace, renew or exchange a driving licence since all procedures will be online. In the same vein, it will also be easier for citizens from non-EU countries with comparable road safety standards, to exchange their driving licence for an EU one.
Updated testing rules will take into account the transition to zero-emission vehicles. They will, for example, assess the knowledge and skills linked to advanced driving assistance systems and other automated technologies. Novice drivers will also be taught how their driving style has an impact on their emissions – the timing of gear changes, for example. Finally, the permitted mass of a ‘B' category vehicle will be adjusted for alternatively fuelled vehicles, since battery-carrying zero-emission vehicles can be heavier.
Effective cross-border enforcement of safety-related traffic rules
Current EU rules on cross-border enforcement have helped to ensure that non-resident road offenders do not remain anonymous. Nonetheless, in 2019 some 40% of cross-border offences were committed with impunity, either because the offender was not identified or because the payment was not enforced.
Today's proposals seek to address this by allowing enforcement authorities to gain access to national driving licence registers. The Commission is also proposing to strengthen the role of established national contact points so they can better cooperate with the enforcement authorities involved in the investigation of offences. This will address current shortcomings in cooperation between Member States when investigating offences.
Furthermore, the current law covers some of the most frequent and egregious offences, such as speeding and drink-driving. The Commission proposes to expand the scope of traffic offences covered to:
These additions will help reduce impunity for such offences and improve Member States' ability to penalise offenders from other Member States. It will also ensure equal treatment of resident and non-resident offenders.
The updated laws will ensure that the rights of people accused of traffic offences are upheld. Non-residents retain the right to an effective remedy and a fair trial, to the presumption of innocence, and to defence. These rights will be better guaranteed by provisions ensuring unified content and delivery^of penalty notices, by ensuring recipients of such notices are able to verify their authenticity, and by making the sharing of information with presumed offenders a standard requirement.
A dedicated IT portal will give citizens easy access to information on the road safety rules in place in each Member State and, in time, allow them to pay any fines directly.
The rules will also be aligned with the EU rules on personal data protection (GDPR and LED).
Driver disqualifications with EU-wide effect: an end to impunity for severe offences
To prevent impunity among road traffic offenders, a new system will be put in place, allowing for an EU-wide driving disqualification when a Member State decides to disqualify a driver because of an offence committed on its territory.
Holding road traffic offenders accountable in all Member States is essential for road safety. However, under current rules, when a serious offence results in a driving disqualification, it cannot be enforced EU-wide if the driver committed the offence in a Member State other than the one that issued his/her driving licence.
Today's proposal covers severe road traffic offences such as excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and causing death or serious bodily injury as a result of any traffic offence.
Next steps
The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council under the ordinary legislative procedure.
Background
In its EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030, the Commission recommitted to its ambitious goal of having close to zero deaths and zero serious injuries on EU roads by 2050 (‘Vision Zero') and to reducing deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030. Today's proposals will help to achieve these goals, and were announced in the Commission's 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.
The Commission published most recent road safety figures last week, showing fatalities remain below pre-pandemic levels, but progress remains to slow.
The Commission is implementing a Safe System Approach to driving in the EU. This Safe System requires safe driving, safer vehicles, safer infrastructure, lower speeds and better post-crash care.
For More Information
Proposal for a Revision of the Directive on Driving Licences
Proposal for a Directive amending Directive (EU) 2015/413, facilitating cross-border exchange of information on road-safety-related traffic offences
Proposal for a Directive on the Union-wide effect of certain driving disqualifications
Questions&Answers: proposals on driving licences and cross-border enforcement of traffic offences
Factsheet: New EU driving licence on its way – what to expect
Quote(s)
Today’s package of proposals seeks to simplify rules on driving licences while adapting them to technological and medical progress; to make sure that novice drivers are well trained and supported; that obstacles to cross-border mobility are eliminated; and that there is no impunity for those who break road safety rules across borders, through better cross-border exchange of information on traffic offences and driver disqualification for the most serious ones. Safe driving is crucial in our efforts to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport - 01/03/2023
We need to make our roads safer for all users. Most road deaths involve a car but very often the victim is not someone sitting in it. The new rules on training and testing therefore teach future drivers how to share the roads and streets with a growing number of other, more vulnerable users, such as cyclists. There will also be less impunity for traffic offences committed in other EU Member States, while new administrative deadlines make sure drivers are not taken by surprise by a fine arriving many months after the fact.
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal - 01/03/2023
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· Adalbert JAHNZ
Phone
+ 32 2 295 31 56
Mail
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