DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 16 February 2024
Rising measles cases require coordinated public health response
Against the backdrop of measles outbreaks in several EU countries, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today published a threat assessment brief. According to the report, a growing number of cases in the European region is of particular concern in areas where vaccination coverage levels are low, with clusters of unvaccinated people. Infants under 12 months of age who are too young to be immunized represent the largest risk group, with unvaccinated children under 5 years of age, immunocompromised children, and adults at higher risk of severe illness and mortality. increased.
To interrupt the transmission of this highly contagious disease, it is necessary to vaccinate 95% or more of the population with two doses of the vaccine. The ECDC encourages public health authorities to maintain high vaccination coverage, ensure surveillance capabilities, early detection, diagnosis and control of outbreaks, as well as increase awareness among health professionals and the public.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: “The increasing trend in measles cases in Europe is worrying. It is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious complications, especially for children and vulnerable people. The good news is that it is a disease that can be prevented by vaccination and there are many safe and effective vaccines available in the EU. When we see measles outbreaks, we know there is a gap in vaccinations. I invite everyone to check their vaccination status and parents to ensure that their children and adolescents' vaccinations are up to date. Vaccination protects and saves lives and is one of our most powerful tools against measles and many other infectious diseases.”
(For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel: +32 2 295 86 02; Ana Apse-Paese – Tel: +32 2 298 73 48)
Commission welcomes provisional agreement on tackling ship-source pollution to help make European seas cleaner
The Commission welcomes the political agreement reached last night between the European Parliament and the Council on the amendment of Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for pollution offences. The co-legislators agreed to align the Directive with the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (Marpol) and to extend the scope of the directive to cover more types of polluting substances discharged into the sea, such as sewage and garbage.
The new rules will improve transparency by making information available online regarding the pollution offences in European seas and the penalties imposed. Additionally, information on how coastal authorities verified a potential spill after an alert by satellite surveillance will be available online. The amendment clarifies the application of administrative penalties to make them more effective: for example, the size of the illegal discharge, its impact on the environment or the financial capacity of the responsible entity will be considered when the Member States impose penalties. There will be stronger tools and platforms for the exchange of information and experience for Member State authorities. For example, satellite surveillance for ship-source pollution (CleanSeaNet - EMSA's surveillance and information sharing database) will be improved and will have better resolution.
All the new measures make the deterrent effect stronger and contribute to pollution prevention in European seas.
Next steps
The political agreement reached last night must now be adopted formally. Once this process is completed by the European Parliament and the Council, the new rules will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force 20 days later. Member States will have 30 months to transpose the Directive into national law.
Background
This legislation was presented by the Commission in June 2023 as part of the maritime safety package, a concrete outcome of the Commission's sustainable and smart mobility engagements.
The Directive is being revised for the second time. In 2009, it was revised to add criminal penalties, whereas with the current revision has removed criminal provisions and has moved them to the new Environmental Crime Directive, which now covers an offence related to unlawful ship-source pollution and criminal penalties for ship-source pollution.
As laid out in the EU Green Deal, the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Commission has a vision to set shipping on a path towards zero emissions, pollution and accidents.
Quote(s)
We can only protect European seas and prevent illegal discharges from ships by working together. The revised rules for ship-source pollution make it easier to impose effective penalties that discourage pollution in the future.
Adina Vălean, Commissioner for Transport
Digital Services Act starts applying to all online platforms in the EU
On 17 February, the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU's landmark rulebook that aims to make the online environment safer, fairer and more transparent, starts applying to all online intermediaries in the EU.
Under the DSA, EU users are better protected against illegal goods and content and have their rights upheld on online platforms where they connect with other users, share information, or buy products.
New responsibilities for platforms and empowered users
All online platforms with users in the EU, with the exception of small and micro enterprises employing fewer than 50 persons and with an annual turnover below €10 million, must implement measures to:
In addition to online platforms, the Digital Services Act also applies to hosting services (e.g. cloud services or domain name systems, background services which connect users to requested website addresses), as well as to online intermediaries (e.g. internet service providers, or domain). Hosting services and online intermediaries are subject to a subset of obligations under the DSA.
Since end of August 2023, the DSA has already applied to the 19 Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) and Search Engines (VLOSEs) designated in April 2023 (with more than 45 million monthly users on average). Three other platforms designated as VLOPs in December 2023 have until end of April to comply with the most stringent obligations under the DSA. However, they will have to comply with the general DSA obligations from tomorrow.
Digital Services Coordinators in Member States
Platforms not designated as VLOPs or VLOSEs will be supervised at Member State level by an independent regulator acting as the national Digital Services Coordinator (DSC). It will be the responsibility of the DSCs to ensure that these platforms play by the rules. DSCs will supervise and enforce the DSA for the platforms established on their territory.
In practice, the Digital Services Coordinators will:
The European Board for Digital Services
The Digital Services Coordinators and the Commission will form an independent advisory group, the European Board for Digital Services, to ensure that the DSA is applied consistently, and that users across the EU enjoy the same rights, regardless of where the online platforms are established.
The Board will be consulted on the enforcement of the DSA and advise on arising issues related to the DSA and can contribute to guidelines and analysis. It will also assist in the supervision of Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines and will issue yearly reports on the prominent systemic risks and best practices in mitigating them.
The Board will meet for the first time on 19 February 2024.
Next Steps
In March 2024, the Commission intends to adopt Guidelines on risk mitigation measures for electoral processes. A public consultation on the data access delegated act is expected in April with adoption by July and entry into force in October 2024. In May, the Commission plans to adopt an Implementing Act on transparency report templates. More details on the tentative calendar are included in the annex.
For More Information
Digital Services Act – policy page
Digital Services Act – Q&A Memo
Digital Services Act – fact page
From tomorrow, the Digital Services Act rules apply to all online platforms accessed by users in the EU. Users, Member States and platforms can now use the tools under the DSA to shape a safer and more transparent online world. This is a big milestone that reflects our fundamental EU values and principles.
Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age
As of 17 February, the DSA starts applying to all online platforms in the EU. We are fully mobilised to ensure full implementation of the DSA and we encourage all Member States to make the most out of our new rulebook. Effective enforcement is key to protect our citizens from illegal content and to uphold their rights.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for Internal Market
CALENDAR
Monday 19/02
Mr Margaritis Schinas receives Susanne Kraus-Winkler, State Secretary of Labour and Economy of Austria.
Tuesday 20/02
Mr Margaritis Schinas delivers opening remarks at the EIB Summit.
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Bruges, Belgium: delivers a lecture and holds an exchange with students at the College of Europe; meets with Ms Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe.
Wednesday 21/02
Mr Margaritis Schinas delivers opening remarks at the EPP Group Conference ‘Social Market economy that cares'.
Ms Stella Kyriakides receives Mr Robert M. Califf, Commissioner of Food and Drugs of the United States.
Friday 23/02
Ms Stella Kyriakides in Rzeszów, Poland: meets with Mr Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health of Ukraine; meets with Ms Izabela Leszczyna, Minister of Health of Poland; visits the Jasionka Medevac Hub.
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