DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 21 June 2023
InvestEU: Up to €280 million in new financing for Czech and Slovak SMEs to support the green and digital transition, skills, cultural sectors and the social economy
The European Investment Fund (EIF), backed by the InvestEU programme, has signed two guarantee with Komerční banka, which will enable the Czech lender to extend up to €280 million in fresh financing to micro, small and medium-sized companies. The operation will facilitate lending on favourable terms to support investment in innovation and digitalisation, sustainability, social entrepreneurship, skills and education, as well the culture and creative arts sectors. The operation is expected to benefit around 6,500 companies in Czechia and Slovakia.
The Council Recommendation on developing social economy framework conditions, proposed by the Commission last week, highlights the need to help social economy entities access tailored funding for the different stages in their life cycle, to harness their full potential for jobs, innovation and social inclusion.
Paolo Gentiloni, Commissioner for Economy, said: "InvestEU plays a crucial role in supporting micro, small, and medium-sized companies across Europe. Access to finance is vital for small and mid-caps to make a significant impact in areas such as digitalisation, sustainability, education and the cultural sector. I am delighted that, thanks to these two agreements, 6,500 businesses in Czechia and Slovakia will receive the support they need, fostering competitiveness, job creation, and accelerating progress towards a more innovative, sustainable, green and resilient economy."
The InvestEU programme provides the EU with long-term funding by leveraging private and public funds in support of EU policy priorities. As part of the programme, the InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee and thus mobilising at least €372 billion in additional investment.
A press release is available online.
(For more information: Veerle Nuyts - Tel.: +32 2 299 63 02; Flora Matthaes – Tel.: +32 2 298 39 51)
Food safety: Commission authorises three genetically modified maize and renews the authorisation of four genetically modified crops for use as food and animal feed only
Today, the Commission authorised three genetically modified maize and renewed the authorisation for four genetically modified crops, three soybeans and one cotton for food and animal feed. The Commission's authorisation decisions do not allow for their cultivation in the EU, only for their use as food and animal feed.
These genetically modified crops have gone through a comprehensive and stringent authorisation procedure, which ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health, and of the environment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a favourable scientific assessment concluding that these GMOs are as safe as their conventional counterparts.
Member States did not reach a qualified majority either in favour or against the authorisation at the Standing Committee and at the subsequent Appeal Committee. The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any product produced from these GMOs will be subject to the EU's strict labelling and traceability rules. For more information on GMOs in the EU, see here.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Célia Dejond – Tel.: +32 2 298 81 99)
Commission invites Member States to contribute to a collection of 3D-digitised cultural heritage assets
Today, the European Commission launched the ‘Twin it! 3D for Europe's culture' campaign and invited the 27 EU Ministries of Culture to select and submit one 3D digitised cultural heritage asset to the common European data space for cultural heritage, deployed by the Europeana initiative. The aim is to accelerate the use and re-use of 3D in the common European data space by raising awareness of the opportunities and benefits and to help build capacity of EU Member States heritage institutions.
Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said: “Europeana currently gives access to 57 million cultural heritage assets with only 0.01% in 3D. Let's take advantage of the opportunities brought by technology to preserve our European cultural heritage for future generations. Today, we are calling Member States to select digital 3D assets to enhance innovation and creation not only in the cultural and creative sectors but also in education, tourism and smart cities. This will benefit and empower people and businesses.”
In its Recommendation of 2021 on a common European data space for cultural heritage, the Commission encouraged Member States to digitise all monuments and sites that are at risk of degradation by 2030 and half of those highly frequented by tourists. The ‘Twin it! 3D for Europe's culture' initiative will contribute to achieving these ambitious objectives.
The European Cultural Heritage Cloud, which is currently under preparation, will also support these objectives. Alongside Europeana and the Common European Dataspace for Cultural Heritage, the Cloud will connect cultural heritage institutions and professionals, driving collaboration and innovation in cultural preservation, with the aim of digitising artefacts and study artworks, and fostering cultural preservation.
The pan-European 3D collection of emblematic cultural heritage assets will be showcased during a high-level event in Brussels planned in spring 2024 and will be accessible online.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel: +32 2 295 86 15; Marietta Grammenou – Tel: +32 2 298 35 83)
State aid: Commission approves €1.1 billion Hungarian scheme to support electricity storage facilities to foster the transition to a net-zero economy
The European Commission has approved a €1.1 billion (approximately HUF 436 billion) Hungarian scheme to support electricity storage facilities to foster the transition to a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
The measure will be open to companies active in the energy sector in Hungary, with the exception of financial institutions. It will also be open to cross-border participation (i.e. storage facilities in neighbouring Member States), within the limits of available transmission capacity and taking into account the share of renewables in the energy mix of neighbouring Member States. All storage technologies will be eligible.
The aid will be granted in two cumulative forms: (i) an investment grant, which will be paid during the construction phase of the supported projects; and (ii) support in the form of a two-way contract for difference ('CfD') to be paid annually during the 10 first years of the operations phase of the supported projects.
The Commission concluded that the Hungarian scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the REPower EU Plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in line with Article 107(3)(c) TFEU and the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: "This €1.1 billion Hungarian measure will facilitate the development of electricity storage capacity. The Hungarian electricity system will be more flexible. The preparation for a higher integration of renewables into the electricity mix, is in line with EU climate and energy targets.”
(For more information: Arianna Podesta – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 229 9 81 63; Sara Simonini- Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
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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