DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 20 June 2023
State aid: Commission approves €7 million Cypriot scheme to support sheep and goat breeders in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine
The European Commission has approved an approximately €7 million Cypriot scheme to support sheep and goat breeders in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 to support measures in sectors which are key to accelerate the green transition and reduce fuel dependencies. The new Framework amends and prolongs in part the Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted on 23 March 2022 to enable Member States to support the economy in the context of the current geopolitical crisis, already amended on 20 July 2022 and on 28 October 2022.
Under the scheme, the aid will consist in limited amounts of aid in the form of direct grants. The purpose of the measure is to support the liquidity needs of sheep and goat breeders, affected by the current geopolitical crisis.
The Commission found that the Cypriot scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. In particular, the aid (i) will not exceed €250,000 per beneficiary; and (ii) will be granted no later than 31 December 2023.
The Commission concluded that the scheme 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 Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the scheme under EU State aid rules. More information on the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and other actions taken by the Commission to address the economic impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and foster the transition towards a net-zero economy can be found here. The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.107895 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 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63; Sara Simonini- Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
EU officials meet Cyprus sanctions team
Over the last two days, a delegation of Commission officials responsible for sanctions met with Cypriot officials responsible for sanctions implementation and enforcement, including teams from the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Maritime, as well as the Central Bank of Cyprus, the police, customs authorities, and others. The purpose of the meeting was to focus on sanctions implementation, to exchange views on challenges that arise, to share best practices, and know-how.
During presentations by both sides, the importance of sanctions in helping Ukraine defend itself from illegal Russian aggression was stressed. The Cypriot and EU officials shared their full commitment to EU sanctions, and to make sanctions implementation and enforcement more effective. During the fruitful exchange between the Cypriot authorities and the Commission delegation, the Cypriot authorities presented the work performed to implement sanctions against Russia. Both sides agreed to continue the dialogue and follow-up on matters of sanctions implementation in the spirit of sincere cooperation.
EU sanctions officials have been meeting with the sanctions teams of each EU Member State. This is one in a series of bilateral meetings between Commission sanctions officials and Member State sanctions officials announced by Commissioner Mairead McGuinness at the first meeting of the High-Level Expert Group on restrictive measures on 24th October 2022.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions: €15.4 million to bring research closer to education and society
Today, the Commission opened a new call of €15.4 million for the 2024 and 2025 editions of the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools activities. These two flagship initiatives, funded under the EU's Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions MSCA and Citizens scheme, showcase the diversity of European research and innovation and their impact on citizens' daily lives through entertaining and educational activities such as science shows, exhibitions, lab visits, exchanges with researchers, games, and competitions.
The call will close on 25 October 2023 and is expected to fund around 50 projects implementing these activities in the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe. The European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at School enhance the connection between science and education and raise interest in research careers, especially amongst young people.
Vice-President for promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “The European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools stimulate the interest of children, youngsters, citizens and in particular girls and women in research careers and in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. They are making science and research accessible to all. I invite organisations involved in science engagement activities to apply.”
The European Researchers’ Night is the largest science engagement and communication event in the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe, attracting over 1.5 million visitors every year. The event takes place yearly on the last Friday of September. Researchers at Schools supports activities and direct interaction between researchers and thousands of primary and secondary education pupils throughout the year, especially on key topics such as climate change, sustainable development, or healthier lifestyles.
More information on the 2023 MSCA and Citizens call and on how to apply is available online.
(For more information: Sonya Gospodinova – Tel.: +32 2 296 69 53; Flore Boutier - Tel.: +32 2 296 60 43)
An EU approach to enhance economic security
The European Commission and the High Representative today published a Joint Communication on a European Economic Security Strategy. This Joint Communication focuses on minimising risks arising from certain economic flows in the context of increased geopolitical tensions and accelerated technological shifts, while preserving maximum levels of economic openness and dynamism.
The proposed strategy sets out a common framework for achieving economic security by promoting the EU's economic base and competitiveness; protecting against risks; and partnering with the broadest possible range of countries to address shared concerns and interests. The fundamental principles of proportionality and precision will guide measures on economic security.
A more comprehensive approach to risk management
Risks presented by certain economic linkages are evolving quickly in the current geopolitical and technological environment and are increasingly merging with security concerns. This is why the EU must develop a comprehensive approach to commonly identifying, assessing and managing risks to its economic security.
The Strategy proposes to carry out a thorough assessment of risks to economic security in four areas:
The Strategy proposes a methodology for this risk assessment. It should be carried out by the Commission and Member States in cooperation with the High Representative, where appropriate, and with input from the private sector. It should be a dynamic and continuous process.
The Strategy also sets out how to mitigate identified risks through a three-pronged approach, namely by:
Next steps
The Communication lays the basis for a strategic discussion with EU Member States and the European Parliament to develop a comprehensive approach to protect the Union's economic security. The European Council will consider the strategy during its meeting of 29-30 June 2023.
The Communication lays out the following new actions:
Background
Open, rules-based trade have shaped and benefitted the EU since its inception. At the same time, growing geopolitical tensions and greater geostrategic and geoeconomic competition, as well as shocks such as the COVID pandemic and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, have highlighted the risks inherent in certain economic dependencies. Such risks – unless properly managed – can challenge the functioning of our societies, our economies, our strategic interests and our ability to act. A comprehensive Strategy – including joint-up action across internal and external policies and a cohesive set of measures at EU and Member State level – is essential for the EU to assess and manage risks while at the same time maintaining our openness and international engagement.
For More Information
European Security Strategy - Communication
European Security Strategy - factsheet
Quote(s)
Global integration and open economies have been a force for good for our businesses, our competitiveness, and our European economy. And that will not change in the future. But we also have to be clear-eyed about a world that has become more contested and geopolitical. This is why the topic of economic security has become a priority for us and for many of our partners. And today, Europe becomes the first major economy to set out a strategy on economic security. It will ensure Europe’s sovereignty, security and prosperity in the years to come.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission - 20/06/2023
The EU’s economic strength is built on our unique Single Market and open, rule-based global trade. But current geopolitical shifts and the rapid development of sensitive technologies mean we have to strike a balancing act: we must uphold our economic security, while ensuring we continue to benefit from an open economy. This comprehensive approach on economic security will build on our strengths, maintaining and growing partnerships around the world, while addressing identified risks in a targeted and proportionate way.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade - 20/06/2023
Today’s proposal sets-out our plan to de-risk – rather than decouple – our economic interdependencies on technologies we need the most. And to assert the EU’s our position as a leader in the global technology race. When we don’t act together, we are a playground. When we do act together, we are a player.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age - 20/06/2023
Security is a concept that has new and multiple dimensions. One of them is economic security. We have learned how dependencies can be weaponised. With this strategy, we are combining economic security policy measures to reduce our excessive dependencies while preserving a global open rule-based trade system. To do this, we must engage with the broadest possible range of partners. As High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policy, I will ensure that our efforts to promote economic security become an integral part of the EU’s external action, and are coherent with our broader foreign policy.
High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell - 20/06/2023
World Refugee Day: Joint Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative
"Today, more than 110 million people are forcibly displaced around the world. On the occasion of World Refugee Day, we reiterate the EU's commitment to continue being a leading humanitarian and development donor and to step up our efforts to ensure that the EU remains a place where refugees find protection and safety.
Globally, the EU is working to help improve the situation of millions of refugees and forcibly displaced persons caught up in conflicts or major humanitarian crises such as those in Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Myanmar, Yemen, South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burkina Faso. We deliver life-saving aid including food, shelter, education, health care, as well as livelihood support.
While the vast majority of those forcibly displaced are outside the EU, we also support significant numbers of refugees in Member States.* In particular, with Russia's war against Ukraine, today Member States are hosting around 4 million people from Ukraine under temporary protection, with more than half being women and children. The EU also provides protection and humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in Ukraine, and we support refugees from Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova.
The journeys of refugees are often full of hardship and danger, with thousands risking their lives across deserts and seas in the hope of a better future. The EU is committed to work on comprehensive action to prevent the loss of life and provide orderly and safe pathways. We are working with EU Member States and international partners on resettlement and complementary pathways that can help scale-up admission places, from priority regions. The EU resettlement and humanitarian admission scheme was launched by the European Commission on 10 May 2023, kicking off the new pledging exercise for 2024-2025.
The EU welcomes the upcoming Global Refugee Forum in December 2023 as an important opportunity to better share global responsibility: to be truly effective we must all step up our efforts and work in partnership to address the multiple complex challenges created by forced displacement."
The EU reiterates that the right to seek and enjoy asylum and the principle of non-refoulement, as enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, must be respected at all times.
The EU and its Member States also make an important contribution to global resettlement efforts. Since 2015, EU resettlement schemes have helped more than 115,000 vulnerable refugees find a safe haven in EU Member States. In addition, almost 45,000 Afghans at risk were admitted to the EU since 2021. EU Member States have until mid-September 2023 to submit their pledges for the 2023-2024 pledging exercise.
A sustainable approach to migration management requires partnerships among countries and a balance between solidarity and responsibility. The European Commission has been tirelessly working to support Member States both with operational and legislative instruments. Through the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EU will strengthen the management of asylum applications in the EU, protecting refugees and people in need of international protection, as well as and supporting refugee-host countries. The European Commission is supporting co-legislators to finalise negotiations on the Pact by February 2024, in line with the Joint Roadmap.
Global Gateway: EU invests €110 million to advance education, health and green energy in Zambia
Today in Lusaka, Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, announced the resumption of budget support for Zambia and launched three programmes worth €110 million under Global Gateway. The announcement was made alongside President Hakainde Hichilema and Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane.
The three programmes focus on improving Zambia's education and health systems, increasing green energy and enhancing food security.
Commissioner Urpilainen and Minister Musokotwane also announced the intention of the EU and Zambia to launch negotiations for a Memorandum of Understanding on a strategic partnership on sustainable critical raw materials value chains.
Commissioner Urpilainen is accompanied in this visit by four members of the European Parliament's Committee on Development: Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, György Hölvényi, Udo Bullmann and Carlos Zorrinho. It is the first joint Team Europe mission of this kind.
The three EU programmes worth €110 million focus on:
Health and Education: The EU's new €60 million budget support allocation to Zambia comes on top of the initial €299 million cooperation budget in Multiannual Indicative Programming (2021-2024). The new grant marks the resumption of budget support for Zambia, and it will be used to improve education and health sectors in particular. It will enhance access to inclusive and quality education on primary and secondary levels. It will help Zambia address barriers to public health and boost the pharmaceutical sector development.
Green Energy: the EU will make an additional investment of €30 million in the rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam, a key infrastructure providing clean energy to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. It represents one third of Zambia's and half of Zimbabwe's power generation capacity. Previously, the EU has made a €83.5 million financial commitment for the Kariba Dam rehabilitation project. Today's new allocation will help finance the cost of additional works that were identified during the first phase of the project. The project is expected to conclude next year.
Food Security: The EU is contributing an additional €20 million to support smallholder farmers in Zambia. This support is part of the EU's response to the food security crisis and economic shock aggravated by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. New funding complements the €12.4 million already mobilised to assists 60,000 small-scale farmers in increasing small farmers' productivity and support to women working in the sector.
Global Gateway EU-Africa Investment Package
The Global Gateway stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet. It helps to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to improving health systems, and boosting competitiveness and security of global supply chains.
Supported by €150 billion in EU investment between 2021-2027, Global Gateway EU-Africa Investment Package aims to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, green and digital recovery and transformation. Together, the EU will support our African partner countries to achieve this by:
The package will be delivered through Team Europe initiatives, bringing together the EU, its Member States and European financial institutions to support transformational projects jointly identified in priority areas.
We are living in an increasingly complex geopolitical context. Amidst turmoil, the EU greatly appreciates the values-based cooperation we have with Zambia at regional, continental and multilateral levels. Our appreciation for Zambia is demonstrated by this joint visit of two EU institutions and the new financial commitments, which we announced today. The programmes we launched are examples of Global Gateway investment strategy in action. We invest in education, health, food security and green energy, and these investments will benefit Zambian people directly.
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships
The Jules Verne Consortium Will Host the New EuroHPC Exascale Supercomputer in France
The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has selected the Jules Verne consortium to host & operate in France the 2nd EuroHPC exascale supercomputer to exceed the threshold of one billion billion calculations per second.
This new exascale supercomputer will be managed by GENCI (as hosting entity), the French national agency for High Performance Computing, and operated at the TGCC computing centre by the CEA (as hosting site), the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, in Bruyères-le-Châtel. Exascale supercomputers are systems capable of performing more than a billion billion calculations per second and represent a significant milestone for Europe.
Just as the existing EuroHPC supercomputers, this new system will be available to serve a wide range of European users, no matter where in Europe they are located, in the scientific community, as well as industry, and the public sector. This exascale supercomputer will have a major impact on European scientific excellence by supporting the development of high-precision models of complex systems and helping to solve key societal questions regarding, for example, climate change and prediction of extreme weather events, innovative design and personalised medicine, the development of materials and new energies, digital twins for industry or use the artificial intelligence at scale.
The Jules Verne consortium will be led by France through GENCI supported by CEA, with the participation of the Netherlands through SURF, a cooperative association of Dutch educational and research institutions.
With a total budget of around EUR 540 million, the machine will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU, with budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and by contributions from France and the Netherlands. The JU will co-fund up to 50% of the total cost of the supercomputer. The exact funding arrangement for the new supercomputer will be reflected in the hosting agreement that will be signed soon.
The consortium has been selected as a result of a call for expression of interest for the selection of a hosting entity for a high-end supercomputer, launched in December 2022.
More details
· Les gouvernements français et néerlandais se félicitent de la décision de l'entreprise commune EuroHPC d'héberger et d'exploiter un nouveau supercalculateur européen Exascale en France, GENCI press release
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity created in 2018 to enable the European Union and EuroHPC participating countries to coordinate their efforts and pool their resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing. The mission of the EuroHPC JU is:
· to develop, deploy, extend and maintain in the EU a federated, secure hyperconnected supercomputing, quantum computing, service and data infrastructure ecosystem;
· to support the development and uptake of demand-oriented and user-driven innovative and competitive supercomputing and quantum computing systems based on a supply chain that will ensure the availability of components, technologies and knowledge;
· to widen the use of that supercomputing and quantum computing infrastructure to a large number of public and private users.
To date the EuroHPC JU has already procured eight supercomputers, located across Europe:
· LUMI in Finland,
· LEONARDO in Italy,
· Vega in Slovenia,
· MeluXina in Luxembourg,
· Discoverer in Bulgaria,
· Karolina in Czechia,
· MareNostrum5 in Spain, and
· Deucalion in Portugal.
The construction of additional two supercomputers is underway: JUPITER in Germany, the first European exascale supercomputer and Daedalus in Greece, with plans for more, including quantum computers. In October 2022, GENCI and CEA have been selected to host and operate a EuroHPC quantum computer.
President von der Leyen at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London
On Wednesday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted jointly by Ukraine and the UK in London.
The President will take part and give a speech at the plenary opening session in the morning, which you can follow live on EbS+ and which will be published shortly afterwards here.
This year's edition of the Ukraine Recovery Conference will focus on mobilising international support for Ukraine's economic and social stabilisation and recovery from the effects of Russia's war of aggression, including through assistance for immediate needs and private sector participation in the reconstruction process. It brings together Heads of State or Government and Foreign Ministers from the international community, leaders of international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society to mobilise support for Ukraine.
Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis will also participate in the Conference.
(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 2 299 40 73)
Commissioners Reynders and Johansson at the EU-US Ministerial meeting on Justice and Home Affairs
Today and tomorrow, 20-21 June, Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will attend the EU-US Justice and Home Affairs ministerial meeting in Stockholm.
The United States will be represented by the Secretary for Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, and by the Attorney General, Merrick Garland. The Swedish Minister for Justice, Gunnar Strömmer, will also attend along with the Spanish Ministers of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and of Justice, Pilar Llop.
The discussions will focus on the support to Ukraine amidst Russia's unjustified and illegal invasion, including EU-US collaboration to enforce sanctions, ensure accountability to prevent impunity, and assist individuals displaced by the war.
Special attention will be given to counterterrorism and information-sharing, with a particular focus on addressing violent extremism. Cross-border cooperation in criminal matters and the fight against organised crime will also be addressed, paying particular attention to drug trafficking, e-evidence and the challenges of fighting crime in the digital era. An update on the progress towards achieving visa reciprocity will be provided, and the priorities of the incoming Spanish Presidency will be presented.
Commissioners Reynders and Johansson, together with Minister Strömmer, Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas, will give a press conference after the ministerial meeting, at 13:30 CEST, which will be streamed live on EbS+.
(For more information: Christian Wigand - Tel.: +32 2 296 22 53; Anitta Hipper - Tel: +32 2 298 56 91)
COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Director in its department for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
The European Commission has decided to appoint Kamila Kloc as Director ‘Digital decade and Connectivity' in the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). This Commission department develops and implements policies to make Europe fit for the digital age.
Kamila Kloc, a Polish national, brings with her sound knowledge of the Commission's Digital Decade policy and a thorough understanding of regulatory matters in the field of telecommunications. She also boasts a repertoire of extensively developed management skills, which have been refined throughout her career. This is complemented by her adeptness in harnessing the power of digital technologies.
Kamila Kloc has been working in DG CNECT since 2019 and is currently Acting Director of the ‘Digital decade and Connectivity' Directorate. She coordinated the Digital Policy Programme as Deputy Director and, prior to that, headed the unit dealing with assessment of national regulators' decisions concerning access to networks.
At an earlier stage of her career, she was Deputy Head of the Cabinet of Vice-President responsible for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip. She was also Policy Officer in the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) and case-handler in the Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP). Before joining the Commission in 2002, she worked as an Adviser for the President of Competition Authority of Poland on competition and consumer protection, in Warsaw.
(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 in its department for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
The European Commission has decided to appoint Maria Luisa Cabral as Director ‘Working Conditions and Social Dialogue' in the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). This Commission department is responsible for EU policy on employment, social affairs, skills, labour mobility and the related EU funding programmes.
Maria Luisa Cabral, a Portuguese national, will leverage her profound expertise in the European Pillar of Social Rights, garnered through nearly two decades of policy experience within the European Commission. Moreover, her exceptional aptitude for delivering compelling presentations and conducting fruitful negotiations further enriches her skill set.
Maria Luisa Cabral is currently Skills and Social Adviser to President von der Leyen. She notably advises the President on skills and social issues ranging from minimum wage to platform work and social dialogue. In her previous capacity, she was Head of Unit ‘Interinstitutional Relations Group (GRI)' in Secretariat-General. Before, she served in DG EMPL as Head of Unit ‘Social Security Coordination' and Head of Unit ‘Rights of Persons with Disabilities'. She also occupied the role of Assistant to the Director-General in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST). Before joining the Commission in 2004, she was Director for Organisation, Documentation and Dissemination in the Regional Government of Autonomous Region of Madeira.
CALENDAR
[ for the full schedule of the College please visit Calendrier du lundi 19 au 25 juin 2023 (europa.eu) printer friendly version below ]
Thursday 22 June 2023
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Paphos, Cyprus (until 23/06): meets with Mr Phedonas Phedonos, Mayor of Paphos and members of the Paphos Municipal Council; visits the Geroskipou Cancer Screening Centre; visits the Paphos branch of the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends (PASYKAF); attends the ceremony to lay the foundation stone at the new building of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.
Friday 23 June 2023
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Nicosia, Cyprus: meets with Archbishop of Cyprus Georgios; visits the facilities of the Association of Rare Diseases ‘Monadika Xamogela'; meets with Ms Annita Demetriou, President of the Cyprus House of Representatives and President of the Democratic Rally party; meets with members of the LGBTQI trans community to discuss health issues.
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Calendrier du lundi 19 au 25 juin 2023
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