EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 26 October 2023
Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines to publish first transparency reports under the DSA
As part of their transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), designated Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines are due to publish their first transparency reports – and some did so already. The first seven platforms have already published their reports, and the rest have until 6 November to do so. These first seven platforms are Amazon, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, Zalando and Bing.
The transparency report, together with a Commission database on statements of reasons, as well as additional requirements for designated services, such as the future data access for researchers, will ensure transparency and accountability over content moderation online – for the benefit of citizens, researchers and regulators. This will contribute significantly to public scrutiny and accountability.
The transparency reports must include information concerning content moderation on the platforms' services, detailing the number of notices they receive from users (and once in place, trusted flaggers), the number of pieces of content taken down on the platform's own initiative, the number of orders they receive from all relevant national judicial or administrative authorities, and the accuracy and rate of error of their automated content moderation systems. The reports must also include information on content moderation teams, including their qualifications and linguistic expertise.
Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines have to publish these transparency reports for the first time, following their designation on 25 April, and will need to do so every six months. Platforms with less than 45 million users and intermediary services will also have to publish annual transparency reports once the DSA starts applying to them in February 2024. The DSA also gives the Commission the possibility to adopt implementing acts to lay down templates on the form, content, and other details of the transparency reports.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel.: +32 2 295 86 15; Thomas Regnier - Tel.: +32 2 291 33 91)
EU signs grant agreements for transport infrastructure to better connect Moldova with EU
The Commission welcomes the signature of three grant agreements under the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport worth almost €45 million to improve transport connections between Moldova and Romania along the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). The projects will modernise transport infrastructure at the road border crossing points Ungheni, AlbițaLeușeni, and Reni-Giurgiulești-Galați. These investments will strengthen the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes – the routes used since Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports to transport Ukraine's and Moldova's exports and imports.
Commissioner for Transport, Adina Vălean, said: “It is thanks to the strong cooperation between Romania and Moldova that we can today kick off the implementation phase of three very important projects that will significantly increase the capacity and ease traffic flows across the Romania-Moldova border. Swift implementation is important as the projects will bring EU candidate country Moldova even closer to the EU, giving its citizens and businesses easier and faster access to our internal market."
On the Romanian side, 18km of road will be modernised to improve customs services at the Ungheni border crossing point. Moldova will construct a new access road and border crossing point. Existing infrastructure on both sides of the Albița-Leușeni border crossing will be modernised to improve traffic flow management. The final project will extend parking facilities in Giurgiulești and procure customs control equipment.
EU-Moldova transport connections were discussed during the meeting between Commissioner Vălean and Prime Minister of Moldova Dorin Recean yesterday.
Additionally, a new CEF Transport call has just been launched and will make available over €7 billion for rail, inland waterways, maritime or inland port, and road infrastructure projects. For the first time, entities from Moldova can apply directly for EU funding under this call, following the signature of the CEF Association Agreement earlier this year.
(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Deborah Almerge-Ruckert – Tel.: +32 2 298 79 86)
The EU held its first Space Dialogue with the African Union in Dakar, Senegal
Today marks the last day of the first ever Space Dialogue that took place between the African Union and the European Union in Dakar, Senegal. It had started on the 24th of October.
During the dialogue, participants discussed their respective political priorities in the space domain. They covered the main aspects of the EU-AU collaboration in space: earth observation, satellite navigation and satellite connectivity. On this last point, the EU presented to its African partners the EU satellite constellation IRIS², which stands for Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite and that aims to offer global connectivity through satellites.
The Space Dialogue is a result of the long-standing and fruitful collaboration between the European Union and the African Union that has been ongoing in the space sector for the past 20 years. Its main goal is to establish a process of regular exchanges and concrete cooperation between the African Union and the EU on space affairs.
IRIS² will provide Member States with guaranteed access to highly secure, sovereign, and global connectivity services. It also aims at enabling the provision of a commercial infrastructure to provide high-speed.
(For more information: Johanna Bernsel — Tel.: + 32 2 298 66 99; Flore Boutier — Tel: +32 2 296 60 43)
Global Gateway: EU steps up support for global health and equitable access to health products and local manufacturing
Today, at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, the EU signed an additional €500 million for global health reinforcing the financing partnership recently launched between the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a further €134 million to increase local manufacturing and equitable access to quality, safe, effective and affordable health products in six African countries.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: “One of the key lessons of the COVID pandemic was that vaccine and medicines sovereignty is key to defeating global health threats. This is why, also thanks to Global Gateway, Team Europe is investing massively in local vaccine and medicines production around the world, with more than €1.2 billion for Africa already. Among many other projects, the mRNA technology vaccine manufacturing in Africa and for Africa will be a game changer to fight many diseases, from Malaria to COVID.”
Boosting global health
The €500 million signed today will reinforce the financing partnership recently launched between the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing the total amount for advancing global health to €1.6 billion under this partnership.
This additional funding provides a significant boost to strengthening healthcare capacities worldwide and contributing to making health innovations more accessible, increasing the security of pharmaceutical supply chains, and preparing for future pandemics.
The European Commission will guarantee €500 million in loans by the EIB, focusing on commercially viable private sector initiatives by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to strengthen health systems, primary health care R&D, production and marketing of vaccines, medicines and medical technology and skills.
The funded projects in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia, will be jointly developed by the EIB, the European Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Projects can cover, for example, efforts to make health innovations such as mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics more accessible to people in low- and middle-income countries or increasing the diagnostic and health laboratory capacity of African countries.
This significant increase in funding for global health and human development is expected to be matched with complementary funding provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Advancing equitable access to health products and local manufacturing in Africa
During the Forum, the EU also announced an additional €134 million to increase local manufacturing and equitable access to quality, safe, effective and affordable health products in Egypt (€3 million), Ghana (€32 million), Nigeria (€18 million), Rwanda (€40 million), Senegal (€25 million) and South Africa (€16 million).
The funds will complement on-going activities of the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+), launched by President Ursula von der Leyen in May 2021 in response to the call from the African leaders to step up local manufacturing of vaccines in Africa for Africa in line with the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing launched by the African Union. The implementation of the initiative is a key priority of the EU Global Health strategy, which is a fundamental part of the Global Gateway Strategy, and of the African Union – European Union Innovation Agenda.
The additional funding announced today will support the creation of sustainable ecosystems for equitable access to and local manufacturing of vaccines, medicines and health technologies in six African countries.
Background
Africa imports 99% of its vaccines and over 90% of its medicines. According to the World Health Organization, over 50% of people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to essential medicines.
The Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies (‘MAV+') works with African partners to strengthen their local pharmaceutical systems and manufacturing capacity. It offers a comprehensive, 360-degree approach to tackle barriers on both supply and demand sides. The overall objective of the TEI is to facilitate access to quality, safe, effective and affordable health products as outlined in the UN's Sustainable Development Goal target 3.8. Supporting access to essential health products and technologies is an opportunity to target several development objectives and geo-political priorities shared by both the EU and the African Union.
The Global Gateway Forum brings together for the first time an assembly of government representatives from the European Union and across the globe, alongside key stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, thought leaders, financial institutions, and international organisations to promote global investment in infrastructure – hard and soft – to deliver on the SDGs and sustainable growth and resilience worldwide.
Global Gateway is the EU's positive offer to reduce the worldwide investment disparity and boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy and transport sectors, and to strengthen health, education and research systems.
The Global Gateway strategy embodies a Team Europe approach that brings together the European Union, EU Member States, and European development finance institutions. Together, we aim to mobilise up to €300 billion in public and private investments from 2021 to 2027, creating essential links rather than dependencies, and closing the global investment gap.
For More Information
Team Europe Initiative on manufacturing and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Africa
Eradicating polio (europa.eu)
Health
Global Gateway Forum
Global Gateway
Quote(s)
One of the key lessons of the COVID pandemic was that vaccine and medicines sovereignty is key to defeating global health threats. This is why, also thanks to Global Gateway, Team Europe is investing massively in local vaccine and medicines production around the world, with more than €1.2 billion for Africa already. Among many other projects, the mRNA technology vaccine manufacturing in Africa and for Africa will be a game changer to fight many diseases, from Malaria to COVID.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
With its Global Health Strategy, the EU is committed to strengthening health systems and securing global chains around the world, while boosting our partners’ strategic autonomy, promoting universal health coverage and preventing future health emergencies. These additional Global Gateway support measures will bring in more actors from the private sector and civil society. Notably, they provide targeted support to our African partners in building capacities of local production of pharmaceuticals and medical technology.
Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships
Improving primary health care and unlocking health, medtech and pharmaceutical innovation is crucial to improve health around the world and a key focus of the impact focused Global Gateway partnership. The European Investment Bank is pleased to support EUR 500 million of new investment in global health in cooperation with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Commission.
Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Thomas Östros
Global Gateway: EU signs strategic partnerships on critical raw materials value chains with DRC and Zambia and advances cooperation with US and other key partners to develop the ‘Lobito Corridor'
Today, at the Global Gateway Forum taking place in Brussels, the EU signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with partners to develop critical raw materials value chains and boost transport connectivity.
Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a partnership on critical and strategic raw materials value chains with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Transport Minister, Marc Ekila Likombo, and a strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials value chains with Zambian Minister of Finance, Situmbeko Musokotwane.
As a direct follow up to the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 and its commitment to the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII), the EU – represented by Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen –, the United States of America, the DRC, the Republic of Zambia, the Republic of Angola, the African Development Bank and the Africa Finance Corporation signed today a Memorandum of Understanding to support the development of the “Lobito Corridor”. This transport corridor will connect the southern part of the DRC and the north-western part of the Republic of Zambia to regional and global trade markets via the Port of Lobito in Angola.
President von der Leyen said: “Global Gateway provides the frame for ambitious and strategic partnerships driving structural transformation. The new partnerships with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia will support the development of sustainable and resilient value chains of critical raw materials, while creating quality local jobs. The Lobito transport corridor will also be a game changer to boost regional and global trade.”
Five areas of cooperation on critical raw materials
The Global Gateway strategy will play a central role in supporting the actions under the partnership on critical and strategic raw materials value chains with the DRC and the sustainable raw materials partnership with Zambia. The two Memoranda of Understanding signed today establish close cooperation in five areas:
Following the signature of the Memoranda of Understanding, respective roadmaps with concrete joint actions to be implemented by 2030 will be developed.
Accelerating the development of the Lobito Corridor
The Memorandum of Understanding signed today outlines the collaboration between the different partners involved and defines roles and objectives for the development of the Lobito Corridor. The partnership draws from financial resources and technical know-how to accelerate the development of the ‘Lobito Corridor', including investments in digital access and agricultural value chains that will increase regional competitiveness.
Cooperation will focus on three areas: i) transport infrastructure investments; ii) measures to facilitate trade, economic development and transit; and iii) support to related sectors to fuel inclusive and sustainable economic growth and capital investment in the three African countries in the longer term.
Once fully operational, the Corridor will enhance export possibilities for Zambia, Angola and the DRC, boost the circulation of goods, and promote the mobility of citizens.
The partnerships signed today offer benefits to all parties, ensuring on the one hand that DRC's and Zambia's resources serve to underpin sustainable, fair, inclusive and peaceful socioeconomic development, whilst simultaneously enabling the EU to deliver on its ambitious Green Deal, empowering the green and digital transitions in both regions.
The EU needs to secure a sustainable supply of raw materials, especially critical raw materials, as an essential prerequisite for delivering on green and clean energy objectives. As part of the Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, the Commission has already started working to build partnerships with resource-rich third countries, making use of all external policy instruments and respecting its international obligations. The Commission has already established six strategic partnerships on raw materials with Canada (June 2021), Ukraine (July 2021), Kazakhstan and Namibia (November 2022), Argentina (June 2023) and Chile (July 2023) on behalf of the EU. The partnerships allow both sides to advance trade and investments into a secure, sustainable and resilient raw materials value chain, which is key to achieving the transition to climate-neutral and digitalised economies.
The Global Gateway Forum brings together for the first time an assembly of government representatives from the European Union and across the globe, alongside key stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, thought leaders, financial institutions, and international organisations to promote global investment in infrastructure -hard and soft – to deliver on the SDGs and sustainable growth and resilience worldwide.
More Information
Democratic Republic of Congo (europa.eu)
Zambia (europa.eu)
EU launches the first Forest Partnerships at COP27
EU-Angola Cooperation
Global Gateway provides the frame for ambitious and strategic partnerships driving structural transformation. The new partnerships with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia will support the development of sustainable and resilient value chains of critical raw materials, while creating quality local jobs. The Lobito transport corridor will also be a game changer to boost regional and global trade.
When I joined the Kinshasa Economic Forum earlier this year, I spoke strongly in favour of a mutually beneficial partnership with DRC. So, I am proud that today we conclude two partnerships in this region– not only with DRC but also with Zambia. These countries are rich in resources – such as copper, cobalt and lithium deposits and eager to generate local added value. Our cooperation offers mutually beneficial industrial opportunities to develop raw materials value chains and generate local added value. As our existing raw material partnerships show, we can encourage investment and create concrete industrial projects that will benefit economies on both sides.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market
The Lobito Corridor and partners’ strong ownership is an example of the transformative power of our strategic partnership with Africa. Following my participation in Kinshasa Economic Forum in March and official visit in Lusaka in June, I warmly welcome the signings of Memoranda of Understanding with the DRC and Zambia today. The fact we have been able to progress so fast is due to Global Gateway being a positive and sustainable offer, which can generate local added value and bring direct benefits to citizens.
Vice-President Schinas in Latin America following up on political engagement after the EU-CELAC summit [with Charmaine]
Today, the Vice-President in charge of promoting our European way of life, Margaritis Schinas, starts a working trip in Latin American countries, to visit Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Colombia. The focus of his visits is to engage and strengthen cooperation on a people-to-people perspective, notably in the areas of higher education, youth, skills, mobility, security, culture, sports and inclusion.
The Vice-President will meet today in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the State Governor Mr Tarcisio de Freitas. Then, Vice-President Schinas will hold a debate with students of the University of Sao Paulo, the largest public University of Brazil, and will deliver a lecture on the ‘EU-Latin America cooperation in a world in transformation'. Vice-President Schinas will also visit a social inclusion project financed by the EU that provides vocational training for disadvantaged people. Later, the Vice-President will meet with representatives of the Jewish communities of Sao Paulo to strengthen the global fight against antisemitism.
Tomorrow, Vice-President Schinas will participate in the opening ceremony of the Study in Europe Fair, together with the national secretary of higher education of Brazil, Denise Pires de Carvalho, to promote the higher education cooperation between Brazil and the EU, focusing on the opportunities for international mobility, Erasmus+ and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Alongside the ceremony, Vice-President Schinas will visit a field project related to inclusion and sports and will be meeting with the Regional Superintendent of the Federal Police in São Paulo, Rogério Giampaoli, to discuss about the fight against international organised crime.
Over the weekend, Vice-President Schinas will be in Cusco region, Peru. He will meet with Leslie Urteaga, Minister of Culture of Peru, to engage about cultural cooperation and on the promotion of patrimonial heritage. The Vice-President will also meet with local authorities, notably the Governor of Cusco, and will participate in an event with the President of the Supreme Court of Cusco and civil society, to boost a cooperation project on human rights, women inclusion and non-discrimination, funded by the EU.
On Monday, Vice-President Schinas will be in Lima, where he will meet Dina Boluarte, President of Peru, as with other members of the Government, among which Ana Cecilia Gervasi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Vicente Romero, Minister of interior. The Vice-President will also meet with representatives of the civil society bringing forward a positive agenda for citizens of the EU and Peru. The goal is to strengthen bilateral cooperation, notably on security issues and migration.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91, Fiorella Belciu – Tel.: +32 2 299 37 34)
Vice-President Schinas in Latin America following up on political engagement after the EU-CELAC summit
Today, the Vice-President in charge of promoting our European way of life, Margaritis Schinas, starts a working trip in Latin American countries, to visit Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Colombia. The focus of his visits is to engage and strengthen cooperation on a people-to-people perspective, notably in the areas of higher education, youth, skills, mobility, security, culture, sports, and inclusion.
The Vice-President will meet today in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with the State Governor, Tarcisio de Freitas. Then, he will hold a debate with students of the University of Sao Paulo, to deliver a lecture on the ‘EU-Latin America cooperation in a world in transformation'. Vice-President Schinas will also visit a social inclusion project financed by the EU that provides vocational training for disadvantaged people. Later, he will meet with representatives of the Jewish communities of Sao Paulo.
Tomorrow, Vice-President Schinas will participate in the opening ceremony of the ‘Study in Europe' fair, together with the National Secretary of Higher Education of Brazil, Denise Pires de Carvalho, to promote the higher education cooperation between Brazil and the EU, focusing on the opportunities for international mobility, Erasmus+ and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Alongside the ceremony, Vice-President Schinas will visit a field project related to inclusion and sports. He will also meet with representatives of the federal police of São Paulo to discuss about the fight against international organised crime.
Over the weekend, Vice-President Schinas will be in Cusco, Peru. He will meet with Leslie Urteaga, Minister of Culture of Peru, in particular to engage about cultural cooperation and on the promotion of patrimonial heritage. The Vice-President will also meet with local authorities – notably Werner Salcedo Álvarez, Governor of Cusco – and will participate in an event with regional judicial authorities to boost cooperation in projects on human rights, women inclusion, and non-discrimination.
On Monday, Vice-President Schinas will be in Lima, where he will meet Dina Boluarte, President of Peru, as well as other members of the Government of Peru, among which Ana Cecilia Gervasi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Vicente Romero, Minister of the Interior. The Vice-President will also meet with representatives of the civil society bringing forward a positive agenda for citizens of the EU and Peru. The aim is to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the EU and Peru, notably on security issues and migration.
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.
On behalf of
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