Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the European Commission on 28 October 2022.

Today, the European Commission has decided to prolong and amend the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework in order to address the evolving needs of Member States to support the economy in the context of the continued invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Russia’s continued unjustified war against Ukraine and its weaponisation of energy resources has serious effects on Europe’s economy. All European households and companies face extraordinary increases of energy costs. In this context, the Temporary Crisis Framework provides a horizontal tool enabling Member States to support those that need it, using the full flexibility of State aid rules, while preserving a level playing field in the Single Market.

The Temporary Crisis Framework has been designed with a number of objectives in mind. First, we need to enable Member States to support companies that are seriously affected by the current energy prices today. This support must be geared for addressing the current needs and allow a transition to a situation of more stable energy prices in the future – even if likely at higher levels than in the past. Second, we need to ensure that there are clear incentives to reduce energy consumption, as without more energy efficiency, we will increase scarcity, driving prices even higher. Third, we need to continue working on the root causes of the current energy crisis and invest into a future where we are less dependent on fossil fuels. And fourth, we need to protect the level playing field. We must overcome this crisis together and prevent support to companies that don’t need it or that otherwise risks fragmenting the Single Market.

The amendment of the Temporary Crisis Framework adopted today by the Commission is in line with this logic: it gives Member States more flexibility to set up support schemes tailored to the needs of their economy, continuing to incentivise the green transition, while maintaining safeguards to ensure that aid remains targeted and proportionate. At the same time, it also maintains market incentives for those same companies to further reduce energy consumption, since they will have to shoulder also parts of the higher prices. Furthermore, the amendment expands the tools for Member States to accelerate the roll-out of renewables and industrial decarbonisation efforts. Overall, we have prolonged the application of the Framework until end of 2023 in view of the continued crisis, giving Member States more predictability and time to implement support schemes and providing a stable legal framework for companies.

Today’s changes have been discussed intensely with Member States in three rounds of consultations, involving a survey on Member States’ needs and two subsequent consultations on specific drafting proposals. We will continue to work closely with Member States and coordinate our action to make sure our Framework serves all European consumers and continues to support the Commission’s policy initiatives in the field of energy.”

The press release issued by the European Commission on 28 October 2022.

The European Commission welcomes the agreement reached last night by the European Parliament and Council ensuring all new cars and vans registered in Europe will be zero-emission by 2035. As an intermediary step towards zero emissions, the new CO2 standards will also require average emissions of new cars to come down by 55% by 2030, and new vans by 50% by 2030. This agreement marks the first step in the adoption of the ‘Fit for 55′ legislative proposals tabled by the Commission in July 2021, and demonstrates ahead of COP27 the EU’s domestic implementation of its international climate commitments.

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “The agreement sends a strong signal to industry and consumers: Europe is embracing the shift to zero-emission mobility. European carmakers are already proving they are ready to step up to the plate, with increasing and increasingly affordable electric cars coming to the market. The speed at which this change has happened over the past few years is remarkable. It is no wonder that this file is the first one in the entire Fit for 55 package where Member States and the European Parliament have come to a final deal.”

This clear signal to manufacturers and citizens will accelerate the production and sale of low- and zero-emission vehicles and put road transport on a firm path to climate neutrality by 2050. This new legislation will make the EU’s transport system more sustainable, provide cleaner air for Europeans and marks an important step in delivering the European Green Deal. It clearly shows the commitment of the EU to reach its climate goals and shows that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine is not slowing our clean energy transition but rather accelerating our work and making us progress faster to become the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050.

Next steps

Today’s provisional agreement now requires formal adoption by the Parliament and the Council. Once this process is completed, the new legislation will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and enter into force.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 28 October 2022.

The EU will provide €1 million to support the work of the Envoy on Technology of the UN’s Secretary-General over the next two years. This contributes to the financing of the Office’s work as well as the Envoy’s outreach activities.

This will be done under a cooperation agreement signed between the Commission ant the Office of the Envoy on Technology.

This agreement reflects the commitment by the EU and its Member States to support the UN Envoy on Technology in implementing the digital aspects of the UN Secretary-General’s ‘Our Common Agenda’, notably the development of a Global Digital Compact and the promotion of the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance. EU Member States will also offer their support to the Office of the Envoy on Technology in a Team Europe spirit.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said: “The European Union is committed to contribute to an Open Internet, and to a global digital transition firmly grounded in human rights and freedoms. All this in line with Sustainable Development Goals. This is at the heart of our digital ambition, and of the cooperation agreement we signed with the UN. I am looking forward to working with the new UN Tech envoy on ensuring that many more people benefit from the digital transformation.”

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “Every day, we see a battle of narratives and values. This battle is waged using and misusing all the advances of technologies and digital space. Digital issues are not just technical matters, they affect every single aspect of our lives. So it is crucial that we build a set of shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all: a Global Digital Compact. This is the task of the UN Tech Envoy, and the EU will be supporting very closely this work as part of our digital diplomacy.”

The Office of the Envoy on Technology aims to play an advocacy role in the global debate on digital transitions, helping advance a digital transformation in line with Sustainable Development Goals, while putting the emphasis on the open internet and human rights as cornerstones of digitalisation.

The EU and its Member States advocate for a global multi-stakeholder effort to close the digital divides across the world. The free, open, secure and un-fragmented internet, underpinned by a concern for Human Rights, should be at the very centre of the digital transition, upholding the right to privacy, free speech and data protection, addressing arbitrary and mass surveillance while actively combatting internet shutdowns, online censorship, hate speech online, disinformation and cybercrime.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 26 October 2022.

Executive Vice-President Timmermans

Onto our proposals to tackle pollution, to have less people die prematurely, and with which billions of euros can be saved.

The European Green Deal aims for an environment that’s free of harmful pollution by 2050. Because getting to climate neutrality is about more than pushing down greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why we call it climate neutrality and not just carbon neutrality.

To have a zero-pollution environment in 2050, we need to step up action today.

We have ample reason to do so.

Each year about 300.000 Europeans die prematurely as a result of air pollution. Many more suffer from lung diseases or pollution-induced cancers. So, this is also completely in line with our strategy to attack cancer and to make sure that we have a European policy on cancer. This is very dear as you know to our President.

Day in, day out, we get new information about the degree to which public health is directly endangered by pollution. Babies now have microplastics in their blood. And there’s PFAS in self-caught fish and homegrown vegetables.

The directives we are revising now are outdated, one even 30 years old. Scientific knowledge and technology have advanced, and we need to bring our legislation up to par.

Moreover, we pay for pollution.

With taxes, health, and human lives – we pay.

And the longer we wait to reduce this pollution, the higher the costs to society.

Today’s proposals tackle pollution at both sides: first we prevent, and when pollution does occur, those who created it should pay for cleaning up.

Let me give you a little more detail on each of the three proposals.

First, we need to bring our air pollution norms in line with the new WHO standards. Already now, this will take well over a decade to achieve. We will set stricter norms for fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5 – cutting the maximum allowed level by more than half by 2030. Air pollution standards to date have not been easily enforceable, so we’re also tackling this and ensuring there will be easier access to justice for those affected by poor air quality.

We also need to update our frameworks for water pollution and urban wastewater. The massive death of fish this summer in the Oder river shows how the combination of climate extremes and pollution can create tipping points for biodiversity.

In our proposals today, we add 25 new substances to the directive on integrated water management. They all have carefully calibrated limit values which stipulate maximum levels for substances that pollute our waters. These norms will also take into account combination effects, reflecting scientific progress.

On urban wastewater, we start to monitor microplastics release and create the European framework to routinely monitor pathogens like covid-19. This is something we have learned during the pandemic: wastewaters were a great indicator and a great way of pinpointing where we needed to be active to combat these pathogens.

So, we will provide rules to stimulate the recovery of crucial minerals and nutrients from sludge and make wastewater treatment plants a source of renewable energy. It is a good business model.

And we introduce the polluter pays principle. Right now, residues from pharmaceutical products and cosmetics cause 73% of pollution in urban wastewater. The costs of removing these are borne by water companies and ultimately of course by taxpayers.

Let me finish by emphasizing that a toxic-free environment demands that all related policies maintain and deliver the required level of ambition. A healthy, zero-pollution future is possible if we say goodbye to fossil fuels, move to clean mobility, sustainable agriculture, healthy diets, etcetera.

In the end, this is about protecting our health and that of the environment, against costs that are already borne by society.

And if we learned one thing from the pandemic, our citizens want us to do this. That is why the Commission today is delivering on this.

—–

Commmissioner Sinkevičius

Good afternoon everyone.

Today we took another big step forward for citizens’ health, health of our environment, sustainable development of our economy and for the European Green Deal.

As you know, this Commission has a zero pollution ambition, as part of the deal. We have already delivered half of actions foreseen in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

But if we want to see pollution come down to levels that no longer harm human health or the environment, there is still a huge amount of work to do.

What we are presenting today has three major components, one to improve air quality, one to address freshwater quality, and one to modernise wastewater treatment.

Let’s start with the air.

This is an area where we have already seen major improvements thanks to EU policies. Nevertheless air pollution is still the largest environmental threat to our health and a serious challenge to our economies.

The impacts are worst for the most vulnerable ones, notably children, the elderly, people with certain medical conditions and the economically disadvantaged. It’s clear that we need to do more here, and that we need to act with determination.

What we propose is to set interim 2030 targets, to align EU air quality standards more closely with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation. At the same time, we are setting the EU on a trajectory to achieve zero pollution for air at the latest by 2050, through regular reviews of those standards to take into account scientific and technological progress.

When you add this revision to existing policies, the result will be at least 70% less premature deaths from bad air quality in the next ten years.

Nearly 300,000 Europeans die prematurely each year as a result of air pollution, so this is a huge number of lives we aim to save.

These new rules will be easier to enforce, and – very importantly – will provide citizens with strong tools to claim justice.

Because fresh air should not be something luxurious. It must be taken as a basic human right.

Thus we want to give citizens a collective right to claim compensation when their health has suffered as a result of laws not being enforced, for air and waste water.

At the same time we’re harmonising the rules for competent authorities, so that they can impose more dissuasive penalties against polluters who breach air quality measures at the national or local level.

We are also proposing to strengthen the rules for monitoring and modelling air quality, and improve the framework for air quality plans. And we are strengthening the way Member States need to cooperate in tackling cross-border cases.

As I said, this is good for human health and the environment.

And it will also relieve the economy of the cost burden from illness, lower productivity, loss of crop yields and damages to materials and ecosystems. The benefits are at least 7 times greater than the costs.

 

The second proposal is for freshwater.

Indeed, the incident in Oder river is a good example what can happen if you fail to protect a river from pollution in times of drought. Reducing pollution means making rivers more resilient.

Today it’s still a case that pharmaceuticals, pesticides and PFAS, the ‘forever chemicals’ can be found in Europe’s freshwaters, at levels that endanger the aquatic environment.

So we’re raising the standards for rivers, lakes and groundwaters, as part of our drive towards zero pollution.

Key changes include tackling new pollution threats by bringing their concentrations down to safe levels, introducing an early warning mechanism for water pollution, increasing the availability and transparency of pollution data and requiring Member States to alert each other about pollution events, avoiding situations like we saw with the Oder.

The benefits will be significant, for water, soil, and human health.

 

The third proposal is for a revision of a major piece of legislation, which has already brought enormous benefits to European citizens – the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive.

What we propose will save energy and produce renewable energy, including “green” biogas, and reduce the sector’s emissions by almost fifty percent by 2040.

As a matter of fact, our goal is energy neutrality for the sector by 2040.

We’re also bringing in new rules to reduce micropollutant emissions, in line with the ones identified in the freshwater proposal.

And I want to stress what Frans already said – for two categories which typically reach freshwaters from waste water treatment plants – pharmaceuticals and personal care products – producers will be required to contribute to the cost of cleaning waste water.

That way we avoid taxpayers having to pay those costs in full.

High standards for air and water quality are wonderful. But on their own, they’re not enough. We have to make sure that they are implemented effectively on the ground.

So all three of these proposals share one common feature.

And that is, they all come with suggestions for improving their enforcement.

The result should be laws that are more effective, with what actually amounts to a reduction in the administrative burden for Member States.

Delivering zero pollution is not getting any easier in the geo-political context of today. But we cannot afford to be distracted. If we did start to deviate from our long-term path to zero pollution, the consequences would be very serious and very real.

Europe needs these improvements. Our citizens and science ask for them and so I’m very proud to put this proposal forward.

Thank you.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 26 October 2022.

The European Commission has approved a €1.25 billion Hungarian loan and guarantee scheme to support small and medium enterprises (‘SMEs’) and large companies in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework, adopted by the Commission on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July 2022, based on Article 107(3)(b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’), recognising that the EU economy is experiencing a serious disturbance.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “This €1.25 billion scheme will enable Hungary to provide them with liquidity support necessary for the continuation of their activities. We continue to stand with Ukraine and its people. At the same time, we continue working closely with Member States to ensure that national support measures can be put in place in a timely, coordinated and effective way, while protecting the level playing field in the Single Market.”

The Hungarian measure

Hungary notified to the Commission, under the Temporary Crisis Framework, a €1.25 billion loan and guarantee scheme to provide liquidity support to SMEs as well as to large companies in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Under this measure, the aid will take the form of (i) loans with subsidised interest rates; and (ii) guarantees on loans granted by the Export-Import Bank Private Limited Company Eximbank (“Eximbank”), the State-owned export credit agency.

The measure will be open to companies active across sectors affected by the current geopolitical crisis, with the exception of financial institutions.

The Commission found that the Hungarian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. In particular, when it comes to aid in the form of guarantees: (i) the maturity of the guarantees cannot exceed six years; (ii) the maximum coverage cannot exceed 90% of the underlying loan; and (iii) the guarantee premiums respect the minimum levels set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework. When it comes to aid in the form of loans: (i) the maturity of the loans cannot exceed eight years; and (ii) the interest rates on the loans respect the minimum levels (modulated by an increase reflecting the duration of the guaranteed loans) set out in the Temporary Crisis Framework; and (iii) for indirect loans, the financial intermediary will pass on the advantage to the beneficiary to the largest extent possible. Finally, the loans and guarantees will be granted no later than 31 December 2022.

The Commission concluded that the Hungarian 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 Framework.

On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 26 October 2022.

Today the Commission is proposing stronger rules on ambient air, surface and groundwater pollutants, and treatment of urban wastewater. Clean air and water are essential for the health of people and ecosystems. Air pollution alone means nearly 300,000 Europeans die prematurely each year, and the proposed new rules will reduce deaths resulting from levels of the main pollutant PM_2.5 above World Health Organization guidelines by more than 75% in ten years. Across air and water, all of the new rules provide clear return on investment thanks to benefits in health, energy savings, food production, industry, and biodiversity. Learning the lessons from current laws, the Commission proposes to both tighten allowed levels of pollutants and to improve implementation to ensure pollution reduction goals are more often reached in practice. Today’s proposals are a key advance for the European Green Deal‘s zero pollution ambition of having an environment free of harmful pollution by 2050. They also respond to specific demands of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “Our health depends on our environment. An unhealthy environment has direct and costly consequences for our health. Each year, hundreds of thousands Europeans die prematurely and many more suffer from heart- and lung diseases or pollution-induced cancers. The longer we wait to reduce this pollution, the higher the costs to society. By 2050, we want our environment to be free of harmful pollutants. That means we need to step up action today. Our proposals to further reduce water and air pollution are a crucial piece of that puzzle.”

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “The quality of the air we breathe and the water we use is fundamental for our lives and the future of our societies. Polluted air and water harm our health and our economy and the environment, affecting the vulnerable most of all. It is therefore our duty to clean up air and water for our own and future generations. The cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention. That is why the Commission is acting now to ensure coordinated action across the Union to better tackle pollution at source – locally and cross-border.”

Cleaner ambient air by 2030, zero pollution aim by 2050

The proposed revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives will set interim 2030 EU air quality standards, aligned more closely with World Health Organization guidelines, while putting the EU on a trajectory to achieve zero pollution for air at the latest by 2050, in synergy with climate-neutrality efforts. To this end, we propose a regular review of the air quality standards to reassess them in line with latest scientific evidence as well as societal and technological developments. The annual limit value for the main pollutant – fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) – is proposed to be cut by more than half.

The revision will ensure that people suffering health damages from air pollution have the right to be compensated in the case of a violation of EU air quality rules. They will also have the right to be represented by non-governmental organisation through collective actions for damage compensation. The proposal will also bring more clarity on access to justice, effective penalties, and better public information on air quality. New legislation will support local authorities by strengthening the provisions on air quality monitoring, modelling, and improved air quality plans.

Today’s proposals leave it to national and local authorities to determine the specific measures they would take to meet the standards. At the same time, existing and new EU policies in environment, energy, transport, agriculture, R&I and other fields will make a significant contribution, as detailed in the factsheet.

Today’s proposal will help achieve dramatic improvement in air quality around Europe by 2030, leading to gross annual benefits estimated at €42 billion up to €121 billion in 2030, for less than a €6 billion costs annually.

(WHO guidelines: <5 µg/m³, annual; 2030 proposal: <10 µg/m³; current directive: <25 µg/m³)[i]

Air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to health and a leading cause of chronic diseases, including stroke, cancer and diabetes. It is unavoidable for all Europeans and disproportionately affects sensitive and vulnerable social groups. Polluted air also harms the environment causing acidification, eutrophication and damage to forests, ecosystems and crops.

Better and more cost-effective treatment of urban wastewater

The revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive will help Europeans benefit from cleaner rivers, lakes, groundwaters and seas, while making wastewater treatment more cost-effective. To make the best possible use of wastewater as a resource, it is proposed to aim for energy-neutrality of the sector by 2040, and improve the quality of sludge to allow for more reuse contributing thus to a more circular economy.

Several improvements will support health and environmental protection. These include obligations to recover nutrients from wastewater, new standards for micropollutants and new monitoring requirements for microplastics. Obligations to treat water will be extended to smaller municipalities with 1,000 inhabitants (from 2,000 inhabitants currently). To help manage heavy rains, made more frequent by climate change, there is a requirement to establish integrated water management plans in larger cities. Finally, building upon the Covid-19 experience, the Commission proposes to systematically monitor wastewater for several viruses, amongst which CoV-SARS-19, and anti-microbial resistance.

EU countries will be required to ensure access to sanitation for all, in particular vulnerable and marginalised groups.

As 92% toxic micro-pollutants found in EU wastewaters come from pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, a new Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will require producers to pay for the cost of removing them. This is in line with the ‘polluter pays’ principle and it will also incentivise research and innovation into toxic-free products, as well as making financing of wastewater treatment fairer.

The wastewater sector has significant untapped renewable energy production potential, for example from biogas.  EU countries will be required to track industrial pollution at source to increase the possibilities of re-using sludge and treated wastewater, avoiding the loss of resources. Rules on recovering phosphorus from sludge will support their use to make fertiliser, benefiting food production.

The changes are estimated to increase costs by 3.8% (to €3.8 billion a year in 2040) for a benefit of over €6.6 billion a year, with a positive cost-benefit ratio in each Member State.

Protection of surface and groundwater against new pollutants

Based on up-to-date scientific evidence, the Commission is proposing to update lists of water pollutants to be more strictly controlled in surface waters and groundwater.

25 substances with well-documented problematic effects on nature and human health will be added to the lists. These include:

• PFAS, a large group of “forever chemicals” used among others in cookware, clothing and furniture, fire-fighting foam and personal care products;
• a range of pesticides and pesticide degradation products, such as glyphosate;
• Bisphenol A, a plasticiser and a component of plastic packaging;
• some pharmaceuticals used as painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as antibiotics.

The substances and their standards have been selected in a transparent and science-driven process.

In addition, learning the lessons from incidents such as the mass death of fish in the Oder river, the Commission proposes mandatory downstream river basin warnings after incidents. There are also improvements to monitoring, reporting, and easier future updates of the list to keep up with science.

The new rules recognise the cumulative or combined effects of mixtures, broadening the current focus which is on individual substances solely.

In addition, standards for 16 pollutants already covered by the rules, including heavy metals and industrial chemicals, will be updated (mostly tightened) and four pollutants that are no longer an EU-wide threat will be removed.

Next steps

The proposals will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council in the ordinary legislative procedure. Once adopted, they will take effect progressively, with different targets for 2030, 2040, and 2050 – giving industry and authorities time to adapt and invest where necessary. 

The press release issued by the European Commission on 25 October 2022.

Thank you, Jozef, and good afternoon, everyone.

Exactly a week ago, the Commission presented the most recent package of proposals to tackle the energy crisis, dedicated to gas prices in particular. Following the endorsement and guidance of the European Council last week, we now had a more detailed discussion with the ministers on how to move forward.

The package has a number of important elements that we will jointly work on, to be ready for adoption at the next Extraordinary Council.

First, making joint purchasing of gas a reality. There was strong support for this idea among the ministers and a keen interest in the details of the set-up. It is clear that combining our strength on the global market is to our advantage. If the proposed two-step model will be agreed at the November Council, we will be ready to jointly buy gas to refill the storage after this heating season.

This process will cover at least 13.5 billion cubic meters of gas, enough to be attractive to the suppliers and meaningful for the market. In parallel, we will continue negotiations with our partners to secure necessary supplies for this winter and beyond. I will be in Norway after tomorrow for a High-Level Energy Dialogue.

Second, addressing the high gas prices. With our proposal, we ask ACER to develop by 31 March a new complementary EU gas benchmark that adequately reflects the current market situation. There is a broad consensus that this is a useful step to take to increase transparency and predictability of prices.

While the new benchmark will be ready by the next filling season, we have also proposed to establish a dynamic cap on TTF that can be used immediately to address excessively high gas prices. Based on the constructive discussion today, the Commission will swiftly work on the details of the proposal. As we develop this short-term tool, we must ensure security of supply and avoid increasing gas consumption.

In addition to these two measures, the Commission has tasked ESMA with developing circuit breakers for intra-day derivatives trading.

The third pillar of the package is strengthening solidarity between Member States in case of severe supply disruption in the coming winter. Our proposal includes default rules that will apply in case there is no bilateral solidarity agreement in place. We will also propose a mechanism for the allocation of gas between Member States for which an emergency has been declared.

Following the European Council conclusions, we will further examine the cap on gas used for electricity production, including a cost-benefit analysis. The Member States have received a Commission analysis of the measure as input for today’s discussions.

The European Council conclusions also invite a fast-track simplification of permitting procedures for renewables and grids, including through emergency measures.  As you know, the Commission already proposed in May measures to streamline and speed up the permitting process. I am calling on both the Council and the European Parliament to have their position ready by early November.

As we are tackling the current energy crisis, we cannot forget about our longer-term plans. I therefore very much welcome today’s discussion on the hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package. Scaling up green hydrogen and biomethane will help us to phase out Russian fossil gas fully and for good. Today’s discussion makes me confident that the Council can agree on its position by December.

We took one step closer to a more energy-efficient future with the Council reaching a political agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. Buildings consume 53% of gas in the EU, making it a key sector for decarbonisation and energy security, as well as reducing energy bills. Today’s agreement is less ambitious than the original Commission proposal. But it is a step forward and a basis for engaging in the negotiations with the Parliament as soon as possible – to give the necessary certainty to people and businesses involved.

Finally, today’s Council gave me the opportunity to inform Ministers about the critical energy situation of two countries in our European family.

In Ukraine, Russia’s recent shelling has targeted energy infrastructure and caused severe damage. 30% of Ukrainian equipment, such as transformers, circuit breakers and power lines have been destroyed, causing mass outages.

It is urgent that the EU steps up its support to quickly replace the damaged infrastructure. What is at stake, is the protection and well-being of tens of thousands of households, vulnerable people, children and elderly this coming winter. I have written to all the ministers and called for their urgent support in this.

As you remember, we have set up months ago a fund at the Energy Community Secretariat, dedicated to repairing specific energy infrastructure in Ukraine. We have now collected 20.5 million euros in donations, but we clearly need more. I recalled that Member States have another option available to help Ukraine’s energy repair and reconstruction. This is to donate energy equipment through Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. This mechanism has already facilitated more than 60 energy-related donations.

Private companies have also been generous and delivered supplies worth over 10 million euros. We are encouraging them to do even more and can help with transporting the donated equipment to Ukraine. Besides energy equipment, we need to continue supplies of gasoline and diesel.

In Moldova, the situation is also increasingly challenging. Moldova relied on Ukraine for 30% of its electricity imports. The forced suspension of electricity exports from Ukraine poses a major problem for Moldova

Last week, Moldova was also informed that gas flows from Gazprom will be further reduced and so will the electricity supplies from Transnistria. This is another clear example that Russia is weaponising energy supplies. Moldova has secured some alternative supplies from Romania for a limited period, but this is not enough.

We are working with the Energy Community to ensure Moldova can import gas and electricity from alternative sources other than Transnistria. But the challenge is not only the access to supply, but the financing as well.

We are looking into ways of stepping up the EU support.

This Council was in the end about solidarity and a united response to the crisis. I am glad that today’s discussions, and the decisions taken on the EPBD, show that we remain united both in driving forward our Green Deal agenda and in shaping effective solutions to the energy crisis, both for the EU Member States  and our neighbours.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 25 October 2022.

The Commission adopted a recommendation to the Council to authorise the opening of negotiations of upgraded European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) status agreements between the EU and Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, as well as with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Commission is also adopting today a new assistance package worth €39.2 million under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA III) to strengthen border management in the Western Balkans.

Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said: “We are committed to supporting our partners in the Western Balkans and strengthening our cooperation on migration management on the ground. Therefore, we propose to negotiate status agreements under the new legal framework that would allow for the deployment of Frontex to all four partner countries with the full power of its mandate, to ensure that their borders continue to be respected and protected in line with European best practices.”

Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Olivér Várhelyi, said: “This package is timely, as migration remains an area where we need to work even more closely with our Western Balkan partners. Given the increased migratory pressure in the region, we are focusing on strengthening border protection, fighting the smuggling networks and stepping up returns from region. To this end, we will provide increased political and financial help. Between 2021 and 2024, we intend to increase our funding by 60% in total, to at least €350 million for our Western Balkan partners. This will support the Western Balkans in all areas of developing effective migration management systems, including asylum and reception, border security and returns. We count on the commitment our Western Balkan partners to make these actions a success.”

With today’s proposal, the Commission with the support of Frontex will strengthen the capacity of the Western Balkans’ partners in their migration management, fight against smuggling and ensuring security. Under the currently existing status agreements between Frontex and Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, deployment of the standing corps may only take place at the countries’ borders with the EU and without exercising executive powers. Under the new legal framework, the status agreement will allow Frontex standing corps to be deployed in the third country both at the EU border and at the borders with the third countries and exercise the executive powers. Therefore, new status agreements will better support and strengthen cooperation on border management in the Western Balkans.

The assistance package adopted today follows a detailed assessment of needs established with the Western Balkan authorities. The support targets the region’s border management capacities mainly through the provision of specialised equipment. It includes mobile surveillance systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, biometric devices, training and support to establish and operationalise National Coordination Centres. The support also covers the operationalisation of migration facilities, including reception and detention facilities. This package brings the total bilateral and regional support adopted in this area under IPA III to €171.7 million.

The press release issued by the European Commission on 25 October 2022.

Today, the European Commission has published the 2022 Eurobarometer surveys dedicated to EU competition policy. The surveys show strong support among citizens and Small and Medium Enterprises (‘SMEs’) for both competition policy and its enforcement.

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “The results from the survey are clear: competition improves the daily life of citizens and SMEs, bringing better prices, more choice and increased innovation. This support is consistent across the EU, and it is a reminder that fair competition is as important as ever.”

Main findings 

The Eurobarometer surveys published today show that Europeans support the main goals of competition policy, recognising its important contribution to the European economy. In particular, respondents confirmed that in their view competition policy:

• encourages innovation (82% of citizens and 89% of SMEs);
• allows for better prices (74% of citizens and 81% of SMEs) and more choice (83% of citizens and 84% of SMEs);
• helps EU companies become more competitive on global markets (72% of citizens and 73% of SMEs).

The vast majority of citizens and SMEs participating to the survey strongly support different measures to improve competition even further. They believe that competition has a key role to prevent players across market sectors from abusing their market power (87% of citizens and SMEs) and to fight cartels (84% of citizens and SMEs). 76% of citizen’s and 73% of SMEs believe it is important to prevent mergers and acquisitions that reduce competition. Finally, Europeans think it is important to take advantages away from competitors subsidised by non-EU governments (70% of citizens and 74% of SMEs) and by EU governments (69% of citizens and 73% of SMEs).

A majority of respondents recognise competition policy and its enforcement as a key tool in facing the challenges ahead. As an example, 66 per cent of SMEs agree that regulation, such as the Digital Markets Act, can be an effective solution in markets with systemic issues. For what concerns the achievement of the Commission’s policy priorities, a majority of citizens believe that competition encourages the digital transformation of the economy and society (73%), as well as the offer of more environmentally friendly goods and services in the EU Single Market (54%).

For what concerns citizens, more than 50 per cent (54%) have experienced issues caused by a lack of competition, such as higher prices, less choice or lower quality. When asked about the areas in which they believe competition enforcement should play an even stronger role, citizens expressed their concerns for the lack of competition in the energy sector (27%), followed by food retailing (20%). In the last Eurobarometer survey, published in 2019, telecommunications and Internet access were at the top of citizens’ concerns (26%), while today only 18% of respondents have identified this as an area in which competition should be improved.

When asked about the competition-related difficulties experienced, SMEs mentioned high prices (57%), as well as powerful suppliers and buyers being able to impose unfair conditions (experienced by respectively 57% and 42% of respondents). For what concerns specific sectors, SMEs expressed their view that stronger competition in the provision of raw materials (12%) would be of the essence, as well as in the provision of energy (8%) and in the use of digital platforms to reach customers (8%).

European citizens and SMEs stay on top of the news concerning competition enforcement mostly through newspapers (including online) (52% of citizens and 51% of SMEs) and TV (48% of citizens and 41% of SMEs). However, social media has proven to be an increasingly relevant source of information for citizens on competition (rising from 24% in 2019 to 39% in 2022), as well as for SMEs (37% in 2022).

The press release issued by the European Commission on 24 October 2022.

Today, the Council has adopted the final building blocks of the European Health Union: the Regulation on Serious cross-border health threats, the Regulation on the extended mandate of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Emergency Framework Regulation to provide extra powers to the European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). These new rules complete the European Health Union, building a powerful legal framework to improve the EU’s capacity in the vital areas of prevention, preparedness, surveillance, risk assessment, early warning, and response.

Welcoming the adoption, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “Today’s adoption by the Council of the three Regulations is a major achievement, and strengthens the EU Health Security Framework. With these new regulations, we have shown that we can move forward together, decisively, and fast. This legislation will work hand in hand with the financial support provided through the EU4Health Programme and the Recovery and Resilience Facility to ensure more resilient health systems across the EU. Collaboration and solidarity are key for the challenges ahead of us.”

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, said: “The central pillars of our European Health Union are now in place. The pandemic has shown the need for more Europe in public health, and a stronger capacity to protect citizens from health threats. With a stronger ECDC, an empowered HERA and a reinforced role for the EU in preventing, preparing for, and managing cross-border health threats, we now have additional tools to quickly react and respond to emerging health crises, decisively and with unity”.

With the adoption of the Serious cross-border threats to health Regulation, the EU will have:

• a robust preparedness planning and a more integrated surveillance system;
• a better capacity for accurate risk assessment and targeted response;
• solid mechanisms for joint procurement of medical countermeasures;
• the possibility to adopt common measures at EU level to address future cross-border health threats.

A stronger ECDC will not only issue recommendations to Member States regarding health threats preparedness, but also host a new excellence network of EU reference laboratories and establish an EU Health Task Force for rapid health interventions in the event of a major outbreak.

To be effective and operational in times of public health emergencies, the Emergency Framework Regulation will allow the establishment within HERA of a Health Crisis Board. This Board will rapidly coordinate at EU level the supply of and access to medical countermeasures. The Regulation also enables the activation of the EU fab facilities, emergency research and innovation plans and access to emergency funding.

Next steps

Following today’s adoption of the three Regulations, they will be published in the Official Journal and will enter into force in November 2022.