Month: June 2022

Today, the Commission adopted a new Digital Strategy under the theme “Next Generation Digital Commission”. This corporate strategy sets out a vision for a digitally transformed, more agile administration that will contribute to the achievement of the EU’s strategic priorities, including Europe’s Digital Decade and the European Green Deal. Smooth interaction between people, processes, data and technology will underpin a fully digitalised Commission.

Building on the previous (2018) digital strategy of the Commission, the new strategy provides a corporate approach to further streamline current IT initiatives, refocus on digital modernisation and innovative service provision. It is based on guiding principles, which will be reinforced by the update, such as digital by default and once-only, security and privacy, openness and transparency, interoperability and cross-border, and user-centric, data-driven and agile.

Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Budget and Administration, said: “With this new Digital Strategy we show that the Commission is ready to lead by example for the digital transformation of administrations in Europe’s Digital Decade. We want to harness the potential of technology in a way that puts people in the centre and secures the sovereignty and resilience of our institution.”

The corporate strategy encompasses five strategic objectives:

Foster a digital culture – empower all staff and equip them with the necessary skills and tools to think ‘digital first’, whilst encouraging cross-functional teams and collaboration, supported by a flexible and accessible digital workplace;

Enable digital-ready EU policymaking – ensure digital technologies are considered from the very beginning of the policy cycle, making new policies fit for the Digital Decade;

Empower business-driven digital transformation – support Commission departments in reinventing their business by leveraging innovative technologies and data reuse;

Ensure a seamless digital landscape – efficiently manage a streamlined portfolio of IT systems;

Sustain a green, secure and resilient infrastructure as the foundation of the Commission’s operations and new ways of working.

The digital transformation of the Commission, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue to gather momentum with a broadened scope going far beyond IT. The strategy strengthens internal cooperation and knowledge sharing between departments and with Member States. There will be increased support for staff to boost their digital skills. Energy-efficient IT equipment supported with the new ways of working will contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable Commission. Strong IT security management, a commitment to move to zero-trust architecture and a strengthened cyber-awareness programme for staff, will bolster resilience against increasing cyberthreats. The progress towards the Digital Commission of the future will be tracked regularly to keep the digital transformation on course.

The Commission has made big strides in digital transformation over the last years. A digital workplace programme permitted all employees to shift to remote working within days of the start of the pandemic. This new strategy brings the shift from digital skills to digital culture, from using technology as a service to digitalisation of business and support to digital-ready policymaking amongst others.

Background

Since the adoption of the first European Commission Digital Strategy in 2018, the path towards a digital EU has accelerated. The target of full digitalisation of the Commission and of Europe by 2030 has been reinforced by President Ursula von der Leyen in her 2019-2024 political guidelines for the Commission.

Today’s launch of a new digital strategy contributes to the delivery of the EU’s strategic priorities based on European values and principles for digitalisation, such as a human-centred approach, digital inclusion, digital sovereignty, trust, and ethical use of innovative technologies.

This strategy sets the framework for the urgent digitalisation of our services and policymaking and prepares the Commission to support EU Member States in their digital transition, in line with Europe’s Digital Decade.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The stalemate in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem was among the issues which Cyprus President, Nicos Anastasiades, discussed on Wednesday with the US President, Joe Biden, and the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, during brief encounters he had with them, in the margins of the Euro-Atlantic dinner that took place in Madrid.

Anastasiades said in posts on his Twitter account that it was his privilege to talk to President Biden in the margins of the Euro-Atlantic dinner and that they discussed the situation in Ukraine. “I underscored that all EU and NATO countries, respectively, should join the Russia sanctions, if the latter are to be effective,” he added.

Moreover, he noted that they exchanged views on the current stalemate over the Cyprus issue. I argued that with the US and other partners’ assistance, a functional and viable solution is indeed feasible, Anastasiades stressed.

He said that on a different note, he expressed his full support to President Biden’s recent statements on women’s right to choose. Women’s rights have to be safeguarded, Anastasiades noted.

Moreover, Anastasiades said he was glad to briefly meet with UK PM, Boris Johnson. He added that he expressed his disappointment with regard to the lack of progress in the efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue. He also said that they agreed to revert back to the matter at the earliest possible opportunity.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Temur Ketsbaia is the new head coach of the Men’s National Football Team, as the Cyprus Football Association announced an agreement in principle with the Georgian manager.

According to the CFA, the agreement foresees a contract until the completion of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

As noted, Temur Ketsbaia has extensive experience and has had a lot of success at club and national level as a coach and as a footballer.

Ketsbaia was born in Georgia on 18 March 1968 and first came to Cyprus as a footballer for Anorthosis 30 years ago in 1992. He returned to Cyprus and Anorthosis in 2002 and after having played for AEK Athens, Newcastle, Wolves and Dundee United in the meantime.

He started his coaching career in 2004 at Anorthosis while still a player of the club. He won two championships with Anorthosis in 2005 and 2008, and in the same year became the first coach to lead a Cypriot team to the group stages of a European competition (Champions League).

From 2009 to 2014 he coached the Georgian national team and also worked at Olympiacos Piraeus, APOEL, AEK Athens and Orenburg Russia.

In 2019 he returned to Anorthosis with which he won the 2021 Coca-Cola Cup, while leading the team to the UEFA Conference League group stages. He left Anorthosis in May 2022.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The EU and New Zealand have today concluded negotiations for a Trade Agreement, which is set to open significant economic opportunities for companies and consumers on both sides. The deal also includes unprecedented sustainability commitments, including respect of the Paris Climate Agreement and core labour rights, which are enforceable through trade sanctions as a last resort.

Bilateral trade is expected to grow by up to 30% thanks to this deal, with EU annual exports potentially growing by up to €4.5 billion. EU investment into New Zealand has a potential to grow by up to 80%. The deal can cut some €140 million a year in duties for EU companies from the first year of application.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “New Zealand is a key partner for us in the Indo-Pacific region. This trade agreement brings major opportunities for our companies, our farmers and our consumers, on both sides. It can help increase trade between us by 30%. It includes unprecedented social and climate commitments. This new agreement between the European Union and New Zealand comes at an important geopolitical moment. Democracies – like ours – work together and deliver for people.”

Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, said: “This is a new generation of trade deal, with both sides set to make real economic and environmental gains. New economic opportunities are vital as we strive to recover from the twin shocks of COVID-19 and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This deal will unlock a raft of fresh export opportunities for EU businesses and SMEs for goods and services. It also contains the most ambitious sustainability commitments in any trade agreement ever. This proves we are already delivering on our promise to get more added value from our trade deals in terms of sustainability.”

New export opportunities for businesses big and small

The agreement will provide new opportunities for businesses by:

Eliminating all tariffs on EU exports to New Zealand.

Opening the New Zealand services market in key sectors such as financial services, telecommunications, maritime transport and delivery services.

Ensuring non-discriminatory treatment to EU investors in New Zealand and vice versa.

Improving access for EU companies to New Zealand government procurement contracts for goods, services, works and works concessions. The New Zealand procurement market is worth some €60 billion a year.

Facilitating data flows, predictable and transparent rules for digital trade and a secure online environment for consumers.

Preventing unjustified data localisation requirements and maintaining the high standards of personal data protection.

Helping small businesses export more through a dedicated chapter on small and medium enterprises.

Significantly reducing compliance requirement and procedures to allow for quicker flow of goods.

Significant commitments by New Zealand to protect and enforce intellectual property rights, aligned with EU standards.

Agri-food: stimulating EU exports while shielding EU sensitivities

EU farmers will have much better opportunities to sell their produce in New Zealand immediately upon application of the agreement. Tariffs will be eliminated as of day one on key EU exports such as pigmeat, wine and sparkling wine, chocolate, sugar confectionary and biscuits.

EU farmers will see benefits beyond the tariff cuts. The Agreement will protect the full list of EU wines and spirits (close to 2000 names) such as Prosecco, Polish Vodka, Rioja, Champagne and Tokaji. In addition, 163 of the most renowned traditional EU products (Geographical Indications), such as Asiago, Feta, Comté or Queso Manchego cheeses, Istarski pršut ham, Lübecker Marzipan, Elia Kalamatas olives will be protected in New Zealand.

The agreement takes into account the interests of EU producers of sensitive agricultural products: several dairy products, beef and sheep meat, ethanol and sweetcorn. For these sectors, the agreement will allow zero or lower tariff imports from New Zealand only in limited amounts (through so-called Tariff Rate Quotas).

The most ambitious sustainability commitments in a trade agreement ever

The EU-NZ Trade Agreement is the first one to integrate the EU’s new approach to trade and sustainable development announced in the Communication “The power of trade partnerships: together for green and just economic growth”, adopted just last week.

Both sides agreed to ambitious TSD commitments covering a wide range of issues based on cooperation and strengthened enforcement, including the possibility of sanctions as a last resort in case of serious violations of core labour principles or of the Paris Agreement. Respect for the Paris agreement will also be an essential element of this agreement.

For the first time ever in an EU trade agreement, the deal has a dedicated sustainable food systems chapter, a dedicated trade and gender equality article and a dedicated provision on trade and fossil fuel subsidies reform. The deal also liberalises green goods and services at entry into force.

This is in line with recommendations received from citizens coming out of the Conference on the Future of Europe, to promote sustainable trade while opening up new opportunities for European companies.

Next steps

The negotiated draft texts will be published shortly. These texts will go through legal revision (‘legal scrubbing’) and will be translated into all official EU languages. Following that, the European Commission will submit the agreement for signature and conclusion to the Council. Once adopted by the Council, the EU and New Zealand can sign the agreement. Following the signature, the text will be transmitted to the European Parliament for consent. After the consent by the Parliament, and once New Zealand also ratifies it, the agreement can enter into force.

Background

Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand started in June 2018. The 12th negotiating round was held in March 2022, followed by intersessional discussions leading up to the conclusion of the negotiations on 30 June 2022.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

“Every war is a war against children” is one of the main messages of an article on the EU’s policies regarding the support of children from Ukraine, by Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel and the Cypriot Minister for Education Prodromos Prodromou.

The op-ed attributed to the three officials lays out how member states and the Commission have handled welcoming refugee students from Ukraine, how schools on a national level handled their needs and how EU programmes were put into use.

The article points out that out of more than 6.5 million people from Ukraine that have sought refuge in the European Union due to Russia’s invasion, the majority are “women with school-aged children, having had to leave their belongings, loved ones, and a stable life behind.”

“As Ukraine’s immediate neighbours and allies, we in the European Union know we have a unique responsibility to help,” the three officials point out, underlining that the priority from the beginning was “to ensure that Ukrainian children and families feel welcomed in the EU.”

This is why “millions of volunteers opened their homes and showed solidarity from day one” the article goes on to say, giving as an example of this solidarity the fact of “the activation for the very first time in history of the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive – a tool allowing us to grant an immediate protected status to the millions fleeing the war.”

As they point out, part of that protected status is a right to education and training for all refugees from Ukraine who are under 18 years old and eligible for temporary protection, on all levels from early childhood education, primary and secondary schools, to initial vocational education training.

“Welcoming so many children on short notice in our education system was a common responsibility. We managed to ensure a smooth and welcoming process for all pupils and educators. Not least because we know about the importance of a stable daily routine and direct contacts with other children,” the three officials say.

In particular, they add, “traumatised children need to be able to participate in learning, alongside their peers, and be supported by appropriate teaching strategies.”

Two major challenges in this respect are the fact that “in most cases, children have to learn the language of their host country in order to participate in class”, while at the same time the EU and the members states “want to give them the opportunity to retain their own language and keep their culture alive”.

“We are very conscious of the need for Ukrainian children and young people to stay connected to the Ukrainian curriculum, educational content and language” they point out, recalling that this will enable these people to return to their country and continue their studies as soon as it is safe to do so.

“At the same time, welcoming so many Ukrainian refugees into the European schools and universities is a tremendous opportunity for sharing our European way of life and preparing Ukraine’s youth on their European path,” the article reads.

The three officials also make note of their very good cooperation with their Ukrainian counterparts, and the fact that schooling in Ukraine resumed, where possible, as of 14 March with the help of distance learning.

“Digital education and distance learning can offer short- to mid-term solutions for Ukrainian refugee children as they guarantee a level of education continuation. Working with the Ukrainian Ministry of Education, we have therefore ensured that Ukrainian school material is also available to pupils present in the EU” they write.

It is also noted in the article that the EU and the member states have activated different fast-track mechanisms in order to recruit the many teachers amongst the refugees from Ukraine. “Exchanges with the Ukrainian authorities make it possible for Member States to verify education documents in official databases, as administrative barriers for entry into the profession and recognition of prior qualifications have been removed by many countries” they explain.

The Commission also provides to both teachers from the EU as well as those that have fled Ukraine, with free resources and information through the School Education Gateway platform. In addition, dedicated discussion groups foster peer-to-peer support for teachers and pupils in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, with more than 3,000 teachers from Ukraine participating in eTwinning.

The three officials point out that the Commission is also mobilising EU funds to support Member States as they receive and integrate refugees from Ukraine, including through Erasmus which supports education, training, youth and sport in Europe, the Erasmus programme. “Through this programme, Ukrainian students abroad receive support adjusted to their needs,” they add.

Schinas, Gabriel and Prodromou point out that all these joint efforts by the European Commission and the member states have the same goals: “ensuring continued learning and education for all pupils, whether in the EU or in Ukraine” and “helping educators throughout the EU to provide this education under the best possible conditions.”

“As this school year ends, we can confidently say that we are ready for the autumn, and that our schools will remain a safe haven for all pupils, whether they are refugees or EU nationals,” they add.

The article concludes by pointing out that “every war is a war against children” and that “Ukraine can count on the European Union to support and protect the future of its proud nation” since the two “defend the same way of life, the same model of society, the same values and principles.”

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Index of Industrial Output Prices for May 2022 reached 130.4 units (base 2015=100), recording an increase of 22%, compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, according to data published by the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus.

The data shows that an increase was recorded in all sectors. Electricity supply increased by 51.8%, water supply and materials recovery by 19.7%, manufacturing by 13.9% and mining and quarrying 6.5%.

By division of economic activity in manufacturing, in May 2022 compared to the corresponding month of the previous year, increases were recorded in all economic activities. The most significant were observed in the manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture, where an increase of 34.6% was recorded. The manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products increased by 33.2%, the manufacture of rubber and plastic products by 19.5%, the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products by 17.5%. Also, the manufacture of machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and other transport equipment increased by 13.5% and the manufacture of food products, beverages and tobacco products by 11.3%.

In comparison to the previous month, April 2022, an increase of 4.1% was observed in May 2022. The index showed a rise in the sectors of electricity supply by 13.2%, mining and quarrying by 1.9% and manufacturing by 1.5%, while it showed a decrease in the sector of water supply and materials recovery by 2.9%.

The Cyprus Statistical Service says that for the period January-May 2022, the index showed an increase of 18.8%, compared to the corresponding period of 2021.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades has assured NATO leaders of his dedication to efforts to create the conditions that will allow the resumption of negotiations on Cyprus.

The President was speaking in Madrid after taking part in the Euro-Atlantic working dinner hosted for EU and NATO leaders in the framework of the NATO Summit.

He further said that the Cyprus problem remains “an open wound” and as long as it is perpetuated, threatens peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe.

The President further stressed the need to strengthen EU-NATO relations and raised four issues that need to be given priority. At the same time, on the sidelines of the dinner, he conversed with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan and expressed his readiness to resume negotiations under UN auspices.

In a written statement, Government Spokesperson Marios Pelecanos said the President also met a number of leaders. He exchanged views with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Austrian Chancellor Carl Nehamer and US President Joe Biden.

During his discussion with Erdogan, President Anastasiades expressed his readiness to resume negotiations for a Cyprus solution under the UN auspices noting the aim is to settle the aging Cyprus problem, where a solution would be beneficial for Cyprus and all Cypriots, as well as for the stability and security in Eastern Mediterranean and for Greco-Turkish relations and the EU-Turkish relations.

The Spokesperson said that during his speech at the dinner, President Anastasiades stressed the need to strengthen the EU-NATO relations to face the great challenges of the time, the repercussions from the Russian invasion of Ukraine which has brought major changes, not only in aspects of traditional security but also in areas such as food security, energy security and hybrid threats.

The NATO-EU cooperation, he added, should be based on respect of the two organisations as to their decision making procedures and international law.

President Anastasiades pointed out four issues that need to become a priority, strengthening the autonomous defence capabilities of the EU so that it can handle European crisis and also internationally, in coordination with NATO countries or countries that the EU shares mutual interests and values. He also pointed out there should be zero tolerance to the violation of international law or revisionist policies.

Anastasiades stressed the need to solve current problems that threaten the cohesion of the two organisations on the basis of mutual respect and solidarity. Finally he underlined the need for all countries to implement the sanctions against Russia in order for them to become more effective.

Referring to the Cyprus problem, he said it is an “open wound” which will be a threat to peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe as long as it is perpetuated.

He repeated the need to end the division of Cyprus and to achieve a functional, viable solution on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions and everything provided under international law.

President Anastasiades, said the Spokesperson’s written statement, underlined his dedication to creating the conditions that will allow or the resumption of the negotiations from the point where they were interrupted to find an overall solution to the Cyprus problem.

An aim that will be made possible on the condition that all those involved decide that it is finally time for an agreement which will lead to a normal state, which will be to the benefit of all citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots”, the President concluded.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The international investment position (IIP) recorded a small improvement at the end of first quarter of 2022, while the net external debt decreased by €2.23 billion, despite the deterioration recorded on the current account balance.

In particular, according to the provisional data for the Q1 of 2022 published by the Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Cyprus, the international investment position recorded a small improvement, presenting a net liability position of €28,008.9 million, compared with a net liability position of €28,786.8 million in 2021 Q4.

With the corresponding data being adjusted for the impact of SPEs, IIP recorded a net liability position of -€8,999.2 million at the end of 2022 Q1, compared with a net liability position of -€10.150,0 million, at the end of the previous quarter.

Moreover, according to the CBC, the current account balance of Cyprus recorded a deterioration, with the deficit increasing from €865.9 million in 2021 Q1, to €1,061.8 million, in 2022 Q1.

The resulting deficit when adjusting the data for the impact of Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), that is, classifying SPEs as non-residents, stood at €1,018.8 million in 2022 Q1, compared with a deficit of €682.7 million in 2021 Q1.

Also, gross external debt decreased to €189,246.7 million in 2022 Q1 from €192,714.8 million in 2021 Q4.

External assets in debt instruments decreased to €132,654.5 million, down from €133,889.4 million in 2021 Q4. “Consequently, net external debt decreased by €2,233.2 million to €56,592.2 million, over 2022 Q1”, CBC reports.

Adjusted for the impact of SPEs, gross external debt reached €64,658.8 million at the end of 2022 Q1, compared to €68,271 million, at the end of 2021 Q4, while the corresponding net external debt indicator decreased to -€5,793.5 million, compared with -€3,730.1 million at the end of the previous quarter.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Effective enforcement of EU antitrust rules is crucial to ensure that markets perform at their best. For almost two decades, the current procedural antitrust regulations have served us well. But in light of the challenges brought about by the digitisation of our economy, there may well be certain areas where improvements are possible or needed. Now is the time to take stock of the gained experience to ensure that the current rules remain up to date. We therefore invite all interested parties to share their views on whether the existing EU antitrust enforcement framework is still fit for purpose.”

The need for an evaluation

It has been almost 20 years since the adoption of the EU antitrust framework. While the Commission’s enforcement action has adapted to evolving markets, new technologies and changing ways of doing business, the procedural framework has remained largely the same.

Today’s consultation is part of a broader review exercise aimed at ensuring that the EU’s antitrust rules remain fit for purpose. The information collected through the consultation will provide part of the evidence to be used in the Commission’s evaluation.

In particular, the consultation addresses topics of particular importance for the evaluation, such as the Commission’s investigative powers, the procedural rights of parties to investigations and third parties, the Commission’s enforcement powers and the cooperation of the Commission with national competition authorities (‘NCA’) and courts.

The evaluation will help the Commission decide whether the current EU antitrust procedural framework should be maintained or changed.

The Commission will summarise the results of the evaluation exercise in a Staff Working Document that is planned to be published in the second quarter of 2024.

Background

Regulation 1/2003 and its implementing act, Regulation 773/2004 establish a procedural framework aimed at ensuring the effective and uniform application of Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. At the time of its adoption, Regulation 1/2003 represented a major reform of the way EU antitrust rules were enforced. In particular, it: (i) introduced a system of direct application of antitrust rules, (ii) empowered Member States to apply all aspects of the rules, (iii) strengthened the cooperation between the Commission and the NCAs, and (iv) enhanced the enforcement tools for the Commission to be better equipped to detect and address breaches of the EU antitrust rules.

In the Communication “Ten Years of Antitrust Enforcement under Regulation 1/2003: Achievements and Future Perspectives “, the Commission concluded that Regulation 1/2003 had considerably enhanced the antitrust enforcement across the EU. With the adoption of the ECN+ directive in 2018, targeting the powers of NCAs, the enforcement action at national level was further strengthened. This evaluation builds on these initiatives and is part of broader review exercise launched in the area of EU competition law in the past years.

The evaluation will be carried out under the Commission’s Better Regulation Guidelines, which set out the principles that the European Commission follows when preparing new initiatives and proposals and when managing and evaluating existing legislation.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Tomorrow, 1 July 2022, the new improved Roaming regulation enters into force. It extends “Roam-like-at-home” until 2032 – the scheme thanks to which travellers in the EU and the EEA can call, text and surf abroad without extra charges. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, said: “With our roaming regulation we have all benefitted from Roam-like-at-home. We can call, text and use the Internet without extra costs when we travel in the EU. This is a very tangible benefit of our European Single Market. Prolonging these rules will keep inter-operator prices competitive, and allow consumers to continue enjoying free-of-charge roaming services for the next ten years.” Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, said: “Remember when we had to switch off mobile data when travelling in Europe — to avoid ending up with a massive roaming bill? Well this is history. And we intend to keep it this way for at least the next 10 years. Better speed, more transparency: we keep improving EU citizens’ lives.” The new rules will also bring about significant benefits for EU businesses and citizens, who will enjoy a better roaming experience, with the same quality of mobile service abroad as they have at home. The new rules also improve access to emergency communications across the EU and guarantee clear information about services that may be subject to extra charges. For further information, please consult the press release and Q&A.

NextGenerationEU: European Commission updates Member States’ grant allocation key based on Eurostat outturn data for 2020 and 2021

Today, the European Commission published the updated grant allocation key for Member States under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), in line with the RRF Regulation requirements. The update takes into account the difference between the real GDP growth estimated in the 2020 Autumn Economic Forecast, which at the time of the adoption of the Regulation was the most recent economic forecast available, and the update based on actual outturn data provided by Eurostat. The update will lead to some changes in the available RRF grants for Member States. To enter into effect, the changes in the allocation of grants will have to be reflected in an updated Council Implementing Decision for the relevant Member States. More information is available online.

Ukraine: Commission supports Member States to include refugee children in their education systems for the next school year

Today, the Commission publishes a practical manual to help Ukrainian children and young people to continue their education in the EU, from early childhood education and care to upper secondary education (0-18 years). The document gathers essential education principles and practices for supporting the inclusion of displaced children from Ukraine in education. It is addressed to all relevant parties, including teachers and national authorities. The concrete insights build on the lessons Member States have collectively learnt since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started on 24 February. On occasion of the publication, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, said: “Welcoming so many Ukrainian refugees into European schools and universities is a tremendous opportunity to prepare Ukraine’s youth on their European path. Ukraine can count on the EU to support and protect their children, so that they can rebuild their country. Our solidarity is a pillar of our partnership – present and future.” Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, said: “As this school year ends, we can confidently say that we are ready for the autumn. We have been helping educators to provide education under the best possible conditions. And we have ensured that our schools will remain a safe haven for all pupils, whether they are refugees or EU nationals.” Today’s Staff Working Document was prepared in consultation with UNHCR and UNICEF, representatives of ministries of education, partner organisations that met in peer learning events between March and June 2022, and with experts from the Network working on the social dimension of education and training (NESET). More information is available here and on the School Education Gateway.

Supporting Ukrainian exports and improving connections to the EU: Commission strengthens cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova

Yesterday, Commissioner for transport Adina Valean together with Ukrainian minister for infrastructure Oleksandr Kubrakov, and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu, signed road freight transport agreements between the EU and each country. The agreements will help secure supply chains, including food security following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its blockage of traditional transport routes. In addition, Commissioner Valean and Minister Kubrakov signed an understanding on updating Ukraine’s indicative TEN-T network to improve infrastructure connections between the EU and Ukraine. The signatures took place during the Connecting Europe Days in Lyon. Commissioner Valean said: “These two agreements are another example of the concrete ways through which the EU supports Ukraine. We are partly liberalising road transport for Ukrainian and Moldovan hauliers in the EU to keeping up export flows and ensuring that Ukraine can import the goods it needs. They will also provide relief to Moldova, which has lost essential transport routes through Ukraine for its own exports, and whose economy has been heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine. We have also taken steps to tie Ukraine closer to the EU in terms of infrastructure, which will help guide the reconstruction effort once Ukraine has fended off Russia’s war of aggression.” The road transport agreements will facilitate the carriage of goods between the EU, Ukraine and Moldova allowing hauliers to transit through and operate between each other’s territories without the need for permits for these types of operations. The agreement between EU and Ukraine also provides for the recognition of Ukrainian driving licences and certificates of professional competence to further support Ukrainian drivers. Following the high-level understanding on the TEN-T network, the EU will include Ukraine’s updated TEN-T maps in its legislation with the aim to improve connections. The understanding underlines the shared intention to promote adequate planning and development of sustainable and resource-efficient transport connectivity between the two sides. Both actions are part of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes Action Plan, a large set of activities in the field of transport policy in support of Ukraine.

EU Digital COVID Certificate: Commission adopts equivalence decisions for Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar

The Commission adopted five new equivalence decisions certifying that COVID-19 certificates issued by Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar are equivalent to the EU Digital COVID Certificate. As a result, the five of them will be connected to the EU’s system. The EU will accept their COVID certificates under the same conditions as the EU Digital COVID Certificate. This means that holders of certificates issued by Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar, will be able to use them under the same conditions as holders of an EU Digital COVID Certificate do. Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders said: “With the start of the summer, people start thinking about holiday plans and I’m happy to announce that Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar are joining our system, which now has 72 connected countries and territories”. The Commission’s decisions will enter into force on 1 July 2022. All decisions are available online. In February 2022, the Commission proposed to the European Parliament and the Council to extend the EU Digital COVID Certificate system by a year, until 30 June 2023. The amended Regulation, the text of which is available online, also enters into force today. More information on the EU Digital COVID Certificate can be found on the dedicated website.

294 organisations join the EIT Higher Education Initiative to unlock the innovation potential of higher education institutions

Today, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) announced the 26 winning consortia selected to take part in the second round of the EIT HEI Initiative. 294 organisations from 38 countries will receive up to €31.2 million in total. They will join a network of over 270 organisations that are all geared to strengthen their innovation and entrepreneurial capacity. Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, said: “Over the past year, the EIT HEI Initiative has built up great momentum to make higher education institutions more innovative and entrepreneurial by linking them with businesses and research centres. 294 additional organisations will benefit from expertise, coaching and knowledge exchange. This support will help them to build local innovation ecosystems and achieve real institutional change.” The second call under the EIT HEI Initiative, which closed in March 2022, attracted 56 applications including over 680 organisations from across Europe. 26 projects were selected, comprising 147 HEIs and 147 non-academic organisations (companies, research centres, public authorities, and associations). The composition of the winning consortia has the potential to deliver on the important goal of creating strong collaborations between industry and HEIs to boost innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe. The EIT HEI Initiative aims to reach 550 higher education institutions by 2027 to boost innovation in the higher education sector and to support the twin transition towards a more sustainable, digital and competitive Europe.

Antitrust: Commission accepts commitments by Insurance Ireland to ensure access to its data sharing platform

The European Commission has made commitments offered by Insurance Ireland, an association of Irish insurers, legally binding under EU antitrust rules. Insurance Ireland must ensure fair and non-discriminatory access to its Insurance Link information exchange system, which contains important data for companies offering motor vehicle insurance services in Ireland. In the Statement of Objections issued in June 2021, the Commission outlined its preliminary view that Insurance Ireland arbitrarily delayed or in practice denied access of non-members to its Insurance Link information exchange system, thereby restricting competition in the Irish motor vehicle insurance market. To address the Commission’s concerns, Insurance Ireland offered certain commitments. Between 4 March and 4 April 2022, the Commission market tested them and consulted interested third parties to ascertain that they would remove the competition concerns. The Commission found that Insurance Ireland’s final commitments will ensure market participants’ access to the Insurance Link platform, and decided to make them legally binding on Insurance Ireland. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Insurance Ireland has offered commitments which will ensure access to its data sharing system on a fair, transparent, objective and non-discriminatory basis. Today, the Commission has made this binding. The commitments will restore the level playing field in the Irish motor insurance market and ease the entry of new players. As a result, consumers may benefit from a larger choice of suppliers. This is a good result since today’s economy increasingly relies on data sharing and access to data has become key in many markets.” A press release is available online.

Antitrust: Commission seeks feedback on performance of EU antitrust enforcement framework

The European Commission has launched today a call for evidence and a public consultation inviting feedback on the performance of the EU Regulations which lay out the procedures for the application of EU competition rules (Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004). Interested parties can respond to the public consultation for 14 weeks, until 6 October 2022. Today’s consultation is part of a broader review exercise aimed at ensuring that the EU’s antitrust rules remain fit for purpose. The information collected through the consultation will provide part of the evidence to be used in the Commission’s evaluation. The evaluation will help the Commission decide whether the current EU antitrust procedural framework should be maintained or changed. The Commission will summarise the results of the evaluation exercise in a Staff Working Document that is planned to be published in the second quarter of 2024. All details about the evaluation are available here. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Effective enforcement of EU antitrust rules is crucial to ensure that markets perform at their best. For almost two decades, the current procedural antitrust regulations have served us well. But in light of the challenges brought about by the digitisation of our economy, there may well be certain areas where improvements are possible or needed. Now is the time to take stock of the gained experience to ensure that the current rules remain up to date. We therefore invite all interested parties to share their views on whether the existing EU antitrust enforcement framework is still fit for purpose.” A press release is available online.

State aid: phase out of COVID Temporary Framework

As announced in May 2022, the State aid COVID Temporary Framework will not be extended beyond the current expiry date of 30 June 2022, for most of the tools provided. On 19 March 2020, following the coronavirus outbreak, the Commission promptly adopted the COVID Temporary Framework to enable Member States to use the full flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy and the most severely affected companies and sectors in a timely, targeted and proportionate way, while protecting the level playing field in the Single Market. Since its adoption, the Temporary Framework has been amended six times, last on 18 November 2021. As of today, the Commission has taken over 1350 decisions approving around 980 national measures notified by all 27 Member States for an estimate total State aid amount approved of approximately €3.2 trillion. In light of the improvement of the sanitary crisis in Europe and the progressive lifting of the related restrictive measures, the Temporary Framework will not be extended beyond 30 June 2022, with some exceptions. In particular, investment and solvency support measures may still be put in place until 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023 respectively, as already provided for under the existing rules. In addition, the Temporary Framework already provides for a flexible transition, under clear safeguards, in particular for the conversion and restructuring options of debt instruments, such as loans and guarantees, into other forms of aid, such as direct grants, until 30 June 2023. The Commission will continue to closely monitor future developments and will act fast again if the need arises. In addition, the Commission is well aware that the positive signals of recovery from the sanitary crisis are now being overshadowed by Putin’s cruel and unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine. This is why, on 23 March 2022, we have adopted a Temporary Crisis Framework providing Member States with the right toolbox to address the consequences of the current crisis and to support severely impacted companies and sectors. Finally, under existing EU State aid rules, there are many other possibilities constantly available to Member States, such as measures providing compensation to companies for damages directly suffered due to exceptional circumstances or measures helping companies cope with liquidity shortages and needing urgent rescue aid. A summary infographic will be soon available here.

Source: Cyprus News Agency