EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 03 November 2023
InvestEU: EIB lends €40 million to In Ovo to stop culling of male chicks
Dutch AgriTech company In Ovo has signed a €40 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank. The Leiden University spin-off aims to scale up its proprietary Ella® technology. In Ovo's high-throughput screening machine can identify the sex of eggs at an early stage, allowing hatcheries to only hatch laying hens, and eliminating the need to cull male chicks directly after hatching. Worldwide, an estimated 6.5 billion male chicks are killed every year in the production of laying hens. The technology ultimately results in an egg production channel with higher animal welfare and lower CO2 emissions.
The EIB financing for the project is made possible with the support of the InvestEU programme, which aims to mobilise over €372 billion in additional investment for EU policy priorities over the period 2021-2027.
“In Ovo's technology means an improvement in the field of animal welfare and sustainability of the poultry sector, which is a good match with the EIB's overall priorities.” commented EIB Vice-President Kris Peeters. “We have supported several important innovations coming out of the Netherlands in recent years and aim to continue to do so, especially when it comes to such environmentally relevant technologies.”
“We are super excited and humbled to be receiving this prestigious and fantastic support from the EIB.” said In Ovo's founder Wouter Bruins. “It will permit us to further develop our technology pipeline and become a worldwide player, making impact on animals throughout the food production channel.”
Commissioner for the Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said: “Ensuring that Europe's animal welfare standards are amongst the highest in the world is a priority for us. With this technology, we will be avoiding the systematic killing of millions of male chicks throughout the European Union. This is a major step in our work to strengthen animal welfare standards in our Union.”
In Ovo will invest the money in further improving the Ella technology and rolling-out more Ella machines. With this, In Ovo lowers the threshold for hatcheries to install an Ella machine and for markets to switch to a production system in which no day-old chicks have been culled. In addition to investing in Ella, the loan will accelerate the development of Eve – In Ovo's new technological platform that improves animal health and welfare by optimising environmental aspects of the hatching process. Finally, In Ovo is working on a pipeline of other innovations to continuously improve the sustainability of the poultry sector.
Background information
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. Over the last five years, the European Investment Bank has financed over €10 billion worth of projects in the Netherlands.
The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investments for the European Union's policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. The InvestEU programme brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments currently available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is implemented through financial partners that will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.
In Ovo, a Dutch AgTech scale-up is based in Leiden, which develops high-tech solutions to improve animal welfare and sustainability in the poultry sector. After nearly a decade of development, In Ovo's Ella® machine produced the first "Girls-only Chicks" in 2020. Since then, a much-improved Ella® machine has been developed with a larger capacity to meet the high production volumes of modern hatcheries. In addition to Ella®, In Ovo has a number of other innovations in the pipeline to further increase the impact.
COVID-19: Commission authorises third adapted vaccine for Member States' autumn vaccination campaigns
The Commission has authorised the Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine, developed by Novavax. This is another important step in the fight against the disease. It is the first protein-based adapted vaccine authorised for this autumn and winter season.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) carried out an in-depth evaluation of the vaccine. Following this evaluation, the Commission authorised the adapted vaccine under an expedited procedure so that Member States have sufficient time to prepare for their autumn-winter vaccination campaigns.
In line with previous recommendations by the EMA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), adults and adolescents from 12 years of age who require vaccination are invited to get a single dose, irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination history.
Background
With the EU Vaccines Strategy, the Commission continues to ensure that Member States have access to the latest authorised COVID-19 vaccines to protect the vulnerable members of their population and deal with the epidemiological evolution of the virus.
Novavax has adapted its COVID-19 vaccine to target the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain XBB.1.5. This is in line with ECDC-EMA statement on updating COVID-19 vaccines composition for new SARS-CoV-2 variants. The adapted vaccine is also expected to increase the breadth of immunity against current dominant and emerging variants.
For More Information
Commission authorisation
EMA recommendation
EU Vaccines Strategy
Safe COVID-19 vaccines for Europeans
EU Coronavirus Response
Overview of the Commission's Response
Quote(s)
Vaccination remains our most effective tool against COVID-19, and today we are adding a protein-based adapted vaccine option to our portfolio. Ahead of the Winter season, I call on everyone eligible, especially those aged 60 years and above, persons with weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions and pregnant women, to get their booster dose with the latest updated vaccines targeting the variants that are currently spreading. Let’s take care of each other and protect our most vulnerable.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety - 31/10/2023
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists: Joint statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell and Vice-President Věra Jourová
Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November, and in the year that marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, High Representative Josep Borrell and Vice-President Věra Jourová issued the following statement:
“In these difficult times, marred by wars*, conflict and terrorist acts, we recall and praise the essential role played by journalists and media workers in fighting for the truth and for human rights. Journalists contribute to counter disinformation and hate speech and to keep checks and balances on governments and public institutions. They shed light on war crimes and human rights violations, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.
We firmly condemn the killings, physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, online and offline intimidation, harassment, and surveillance, that journalists at times face while exercising their profession. Media worldwide continue to be raided or closed, and journalists are increasingly targeted by legislation that curtails freedom of expression, and by abusive litigation, thus limiting pluralism, editorial independence, and infringing freedom of expression.
There can be no impunity for human rights violations and abuses against journalists. We call to establish national frameworks for the safety of journalists, that include awareness raising, prevention, protection, and prosecution elements, with an attention to include specific measures for women journalists and those belonging to minority groups.
The EU remains committed to support independent journalists and media workers everywhere. We will continue to mobilise all the diplomatic tools at our disposal to raise attention to individual cases of journalists in detention or at risk. We have also established ProtectDefenders.eu to provide journalists at high risk with physical and digital protection, legal support, and relocation.
The EU stands united to support the United Nations human rights system, including the critical work of both the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNESCO to promote the safety of journalists and to identify common solutions.
Under the Global Europe Human Rights and Democracy programme, the EU provides €185 million for support to independent media, harnessing digitalisation worldwide.
Protecting journalists means protecting our own rights. Democracy cannot work without free and independent media. This is why the EU is also taking unprecedented steps at home to protect journalists.
We call on Member States to implement the Commission Recommendation on the safety of journalists. The proposal for a Media Freedom Act aims to safeguard their independence and media pluralism. The Commission also took action to fight strategic lawsuits against public participation, which put pressure on journalists and want to silence them. These legislative proposals should be adopted swiftly to improve the environment in which journalists and media operate and to set global standards.
The European Union stands with journalists around the world who, each and every day, exercise their freedom of expression for the benefit of us all.”
The EU continues to promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression both online and offline, as well as media freedom, and to condemn harassment, threats and attacks against journalists, bloggers and other media workers. As outlined in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for 2020- 2024, the EU works around the world to assist those intimidated or threatened, by appealing to state authorities to prevent and condemn human rights violations and take effective measures to end impunity. In 2021, the EU also adopted a Recommendation on the protection of journalists, highlighting the importance of ensuring the safety of journalists and media professionals within the EU. Last year, the Commission adopted a proposal to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), providing journalists and human rights defenders with tools to fight back against abusive court proceedings. Furthermore, we have made the protection of journalists one of the key elements of the European Media Freedom Act, put forward in September 2022.
Independent NGOs document an impunity rate of 80% for murders against journalists over recent years. As of October 2023, the UNESCO Observatory on killed journalists documents 688 ongoing and unresolved cases concerning the murder of journalists. The Journalists' Safety Indicators developed by UNESCO as well as its Observatory of Killed Journalists are essential tools for making individual cases visible and putting an end to impunity.
ProtectDefenders.eu is the EU human rights defenders mechanism, established to protect defenders at high risk and facing the most difficult situations worldwide. The mechanism provides financial assistance for physical and digital protection, legal support, medical support, monitoring of trials and monitoring of arrests or imprisonment, support for families, training, and other support measures.
The EU's Global Europe Human Rights and Democracy programme includes the priority of “Safeguarding fundamental freedoms, including harnessing the opportunities and addressing the challenges of digital and new technologies”. The programme aims to strengthen the capacity of independent, pluralistic and quality media, including investigative journalists, bloggers and fact-checkers to provide the public with reliable information through responsible and professional reporting. It will support civil society in fostering online media literacy and digital skills and in promoting an open, global, free and secure internet equally accessible to all. The estimated budget for support to media and harnessing digitalisation is € 185 million for the period 2021-2027. The programme complements further support at bilateral and regional level.
Through projects, such as the Media 4 Democracy initiative, our Delegations can enhance their work with journalists all around the world. We are committed to continue to provide financial assistance to promote media freedom and advance media pluralism projects, including those supporting independent journalists exiled in the Union.
The EU Special Representative for Human Rights raises the safety and protection of journalists and media workers, as well as issues around freedom of expression in his bilateral engagements, where appropriate. This also includes highlighting individual cases of journalists and media workers imprisoned or detained for their work as well as regular engagement with civil society.
*Updated on 01/11/2023, at 17:45
EU welcomes opening of Rafah border crossing and safe passage of EU citizens
The EU welcomes the evacuation of a number of EU citizens and other foreign nationals, as well as injured persons via the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt today.
The EU has tripled its humanitarian assistance to Gaza to €78 million, aiming to enable our partners to continue their invaluable humanitarian work.
The European Council Conclusions, adopted on 26 October, called for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs.
The EU has launched a Humanitarian Air Bridge operation in aid to the people affected by the crisis, facilitating the delivery of humanitarian cargo supplied by partners.
Since 16 October, 6 flights carrying over 263 tonnes of aid reached Egypt. The operations aim to facilitate the prepositioning of aid in support of fast delivery of assistance to people in need in Gaza.
Furthermore, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to offer support for repatriation flights from Israel.
I would like to warmly thank the Egyptian authorities for their admirable efforts to help foreign citizens, staff of international organisations and their families, including European citizens, to safely enter their country. It has been an important request we have made to our partners. We must keep working together to further intensify our efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission - 01/11/2023
Our thanks to Egypt for its humanitarian efforts to enable people, injured and others, to leave Gaza in an orderly fashion, and to the US and Qatar for having brokered this humanitarian agreement. On our side we are fully mobilised and we offer support to alleviate the suffering in Gaza. We call for humanitarian corridors and pauses to address the urgent needs. Protecting civilians and easing the increasingly dire situation is our priority.
High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell - 01/11/2023
Since 7 October, civilians have borne the brunt of the violence unleashed by Hamas’ terrorist attack and Israel’s response. I welcome the opening for EU citizens to leave the Gaza Strip for safety. The EU stands ready to help repatriate European citizens, as well as to evacuate Palestinian patients through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. At the same time, I call on all involved to ensure safe and unrestricted humanitarian aid at scale needed for all civilians that continue to be trapped in the Gaza Strip.
Commissioner Janez Lenarčič - 01/11/2023
EU allocates more than €26 million in additional humanitarian aid to East Africa
The Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes regions continue to face multiple and overlapping humanitarian crises, aggravated by conflict and climate-related disasters. To help mitigate the consequences, the Commission has allocated additional humanitarian funding of €26.7 million to South Sudan, Uganda, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, primarily to support newly displaced people fleeing conflicts and climatic events.
In South Sudan, where around 2,000 people arrive daily from neighbouring Sudan, the additional funding of €6.4 million will support humanitarian response in the border areas. Out of the new arrivals – refugees and South Sudanese returnees – 70% are women and children, and 1 in 5 are malnourished.
In Somalia, around 2 million people will require emergency humanitarian assistance as a result of conflict, floods and cholera outbreak before the end of 2023. The additional €5.5 million will support the overall humanitarian response in the country.
€1.5 million will strengthen food security in Uganda, for a refugee population of more than 1.5 million – with over 220,000 new arrivals since January 2022.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, €13.3 million will support the scale-up of the humanitarian response amidst escalating violence and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
For more information:
EU Humanitarian Aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
EU Humanitarian Aid to Somalia
EU Humanitarian Aid to South Sudan
EU Humanitarian Aid to Uganda
The humanitarian consequences of the conflict in Sudan are enormous, not only for the country itself, but for its neighbours and the region. Hundreds of thousands are seeking safety across borders – including in South Sudan, which was already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis prior to April 2023. In the East Africa and Great Lakes region, food insecurity – due to conflict or climate-induced disasters – is rising. The emergency humanitarian aid allocated by the EU aims at alleviating the suffering of the most vulnerable, in close cooperation with our humanitarian partners on the ground.
Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management - 06/11/2023
Commissioner Hoekstra in Kenya for international climate talks with national representatives and civil society ahead of COP28
On 6 and 7 November, Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra is visiting Kenya to continue preparations for the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference (30 November - 12 December). Kenya is a key partner in the African continent for building momentum towards a successful COP28 outcome. Following this visit, the Commissioner will be travelling onwards to Zambia later this week.
On Monday, in Kenya, Commissioner Hoekstra will meet bilaterally with President William Ruto, and later in the day with the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, Soipan Tuya; and then, with the Minister of Finance and Cabinet Secretary, National Treasury and Economic Planning, Njuguna Ndung'u. During the day, he will also meet with key representatives of civil society and the policy community.
On Tuesday, the Commissioner will visit an EU-funded project supporting regional capacity to monitor, analyse, and communicate weather patterns in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region in Eastern Africa, with the support of the World Meteorological Organisation. He will also deliver a speech to students at the University of Nairobi, outlining the EU's priorities for advancement of the global climate action agenda.
(For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 02; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25)
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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