Today, the Commission launched a consultation request at the World Trade Organization (WTO), challenging China’s initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation against imports of certain dairy products from the EU.
This is the first time the EU has decided to challenge an investigation at its initiation stage. The EU’s action was prompted by an emerging pattern of China initiating trade defence measures, based on questionable allegations and insufficient evidence, within a short period of time.
In so doing, the Commission is following through on its commitment to firmly defend the interests of the EU dairy industry and the Common Agricultural Policy against abusive proceedings.
The Commission has followed the investigations very closely from the beginning, in full cooperation with exporting EU producers and Member State authorities. The Commission is determined to make full use of all available legal means to defend EU industry against the abuse of trade defence instruments.
The consultations requested by t
he EU today represent the first step in WTO dispute settlement proceedings. If they do not lead to a satisfactory solution, the EU could request a panel to be set by the WTO to decide on this investigation.
Background
China initiated its dairy investigation on 21 August 2024. The investigation targets liquid milk and cream with a fat content higher than 10% and various types of cheese from the EU. The investigation targets subsidies under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy as well as certain national and regional programmes. The Commission is confident that these subsidy schemes are fully in line with international rules and are not causing injury to the Chinese dairy industry.
For More Information
Current trade disputes
Dispute settlement (europa.eu)
Trade defence (europa.eu)
Quote(s)
The Commission is doing everything it takes to defend EU dairy producers and the Common Agricultural Policy from the abuse of trade defence instruments. The Chinese investigation on EU dairy is based on questionable al
legations and insufficient evidence, therefore we will continue to challenge it vigorously in all available venues, while calling on China to bring it immediately to an end.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade
Commission proposes pound 120 million support to farmers affected by adverse weather events in Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania
Today, the Commission proposed to allocate pound 119,7 million from the agricultural reserve to directly support farmers from Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy and Romania who have been impacted by exceptional adverse climatic events in Spring and early Summer.
The Commission proposed to allocate pound 10,9 million to Bulgaria, pound 46,5 million to Germany, pound 3,3 million to Estonia, pound 37,4 million to Italy and pound 21,6 million to Romania.
This will contribute to compensating farmers from these countries who have lost part of their production and as a result, part of their income. The amounts presented today are a
sign of EU solidarity with affected farmers, which can be complemented by up to 200% with national funds.
Once adopted, national authorities will have to distribute this aid by 30 April 2025 and ensure that farmers are the ultimate beneficiaries. The Member States concerned will also have to notify the Commission by 31 December 2024 about the details of the measures’ implementation, notably the criteria used to determine the granting of individual aid, the intended impact of the measure, the forecasts for payments broken down per month until the end of April, and the level of additional support to be provided. The notification should also include the actions taken to avoid distortion of competition and overcompensation.
The Commission’s proposal will be discussed with all Member States, before they decide on its approval during meeting of the Committee for the Common Organisation of Agricultural Markets on 7 October.
Farmers in other Member States have been affected by extreme weather events in the second
half of Summer. The Commission will assess whether such damages also warrant EU solidarity to be provided.
Background
The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 includes an agricultural reserve of at least pound 450 million per year to cope with market disruptions or exceptional events affecting production or distribution. To activate the agriculture reserve, Member States have to send a report to the Commission substantiating their claims for compensation and showing their assessment of the damage incurred by the exceptional weather event or sanitary measures.
In the first half of 2024, unusually warm temperatures and dry conditions of unprecedent magnitude were recorded in the southern mainland and islands of Italy. This affected the production of fruit and vegetables, wine and arable crops. Bulgaria was also affected by drought during the summer with an impact on crops sown in spring, especially maize and sunflower. In July, Romania was hit by heatwaves, drought but also violent storms and heavy hai
l, damaging the production of arable crops and oilseeds.
In April, frost in parts of Germany significantly damaged orchards and vines after they started growing following mild temperatures in March. As for Estonia, it suffered from extraordinary fluctuating weather conditions going from frost and cold spells in December and January to unusually warm temperatures in March, followed by frost and hail and later in the summer, intense rainfall and floods. Production of crops, in particular potatoes, rapeseed, fruit and vegetables, was negatively affected.
In July, part of the agricultural reserve was already allocated to Austria, Czechia, and Poland, which faced similar adverse climatic events, as well as Portugal, which was dealing with serious market disturbances in the case of wine producers.
For More Information
EU exceptional market measures enhance the agricultural sector’s resilience amidst crises
Quote(s)
This proposal to allocate pound 120 million from the agricultural reserve of the CAP represents
a strong statement of EU solidarity with farmers in need. This allocation, which can be complemented by up to 200% with national funds, can provide significant support to farmers who have suffered damages and lost incomes. Our farmers do not stand alone in the fight against climate change – they can count on the support of the European Commission to react to crises, adapt to new challenges, and protect the future of their farms and families.
Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture
EU and Africa meet during 3rd Competition Week to discuss competition policy developments and enforcement
Officials and experts from the EU and Africa will meet in Bruges from 23 to 27 September 2024 to discuss their cooperation on competition law and enforcement.
Participants will discuss recent developments in EU competition law, including the economics of competition law, vertical agreements, cartels, unilateral conduct and market studies. Special focus will be given to competition law enforcement in the area of fo
od supply and high food prices.
The EU-Africa Competition Week has been taking place annually since 2022 and is organised by the Commission and funded by the EU. It offers technical cooperation, among others, to competition authorities in Africa and aims at creating a new platform for exchange and dialogue on competition policy and enforcement between national and regional competition authorities in Africa and the EU. The Competition Week strengthens the contacts between participating authorities and European officials and professionals. It also gives participants specific insights into new policy developments of the Commission and the EU’s approach to a range of key topics faced by competition enforcers.
More information about the Commission’s bilateral dialogue with Africa in the field of competition policy is available on the Commission’s website.
(For more information : Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
EU kicks off high-level meetings in New York
The EU has ki
cked off a week of high-level meetings and events during the UN General Assembly in New York. During the weekend, Executive Vice-President Vestager, Vice-President Šuica and Commissioner Urpilainen participated in the Summit of the Future’s Action Days covering topics ranging from youth, children’s rights, sustainable development, demography, gender equality and sexual reproductive health, as well as the Global Digital Compact adopted at the Summit of the Future.
On Sunday, President of the European Council Charles Michel, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, and Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen, represented the EU in a trilateral meeting with the African Union and the United Nations. See the Joint Communiqué here. They then held a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. High Representative Borrell co-hosted a Ministerial dinner on the Middle East with the participation of representatives from all over the world. Commissioner Kyriakides attended the annual Representation Matte
rs reception organised by Women Political Leaders focusing on enhancing women’s participation in policymaking.
Today, President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver a keynote address at the Association of Small Islands States Leaders’ Meeting, which will be live on EbS at 14:00 CEST (08:00 EST). High Representative Borrell will reiterate the EU’s support to Ukraine’s energy sector in a G7+ Foreign Ministers meeting, including the pound 160 million package worth of support announced by President von der Leyen last week. In the afternoon, he will chair the annual informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers, with Ukraine and the Middle East region on top of the agenda. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will join a part of the meeting upon the High Representative’s invitation. Commissioner Urpilainen will represent the Commission at that meeting. Doorstep remarks will be transmitted live on EbS as of 20:45 CEST (14:45 EST). High Representative Borrell will hold a press conference at around 00:00 CEST (1
8:00 EST), transmitted live on EbS. In the evening, he will participate in a G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting.
Vice-President Šuica, together with the African Union and UNICEF, will bring leaders from governments, business and civil society at the High-Level event ‘Proven solutions for children: accelerating progress for the SDGs and beyond’, focusing on concrete, cost-effective, and evidence-backed policy solutions for every child. Vice-President Šuica will also speak at a high-level event on children and climate change organised by UNICEF and the UN Climate Change Conference COP 29. Commissioner Johansson will host the high-level side event ‘Leading the way forward: managing migration globally’ together with UNHCR, IOM and UNDOC drawing political attention. Commissioner Urpilainen will sign a Declaration on School Meal Coalition with the World Food Programme during the Global Education Forum, committing to ensure that every child receives a nutritious meal in school by 2030. Commissioner Simson will participa
te in the Global Renewables Summit, the first high-level public-private summit to discuss the progress, opportunities and challenges of tripling renewable energy globally by 2030. She will deliver opening remarks at the Sustainability Summit. Commissioner Hoekstra will participate in a roundtable organised by the World Economic Forum on mobilising Business for COP impact.
(For more information: Eric Mamer – Tel.: +32 229 94073; Peter Stano – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 53; Xavier Cifre Quatresols – Tel.: +32 229 73582)
Commissioner Ferreira in China to deepen cooperation in regional and urban policy
Today, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira signed a 5-year action plan with China to deepen EU-China regional policy cooperation.
The signature ceremony took place in Beijing during the EU-China High-Level Regional Policy Dialogue with the Vice-Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China, Guo Lanfeng.
The action plan proposes to enhance exchange of knowledge and experien
ce on regional and urban policies through regular high-level dialogues and seminars, capacity building activities and joint studies as well as strengthened cooperation between European and Chinese cities and regions. This cooperation aims to identify policies and tools that can help to respond to common economic, social and environmental challenges, namely through a new phase of the EU’s International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme including peer-level exchange and networking.
Commissioner Ferreira is in a two-day visit to China to discuss cooperation between the EU and China in the area of regional and urban policy and ways to ensure strengthened cooperation in the future. This builds on a long-standing dialogue, established in 2006, between the EU and China on regional policy.?
On Tuesday, Commissioner Ferreira will travel to Tianjin to meet with representatives of the Tianjin Municipal Government.
The long-standing EU-China dialogue on regional policy has provided networking opportuniti
es and enabled the establishment of partnerships between respective regional and urban authorities and in pooling international policy experience, including on concrete projects, for the benefit of cities and regions on both sides.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)
EU study shows that opening up the rail market leads to lower ticket prices and better services
A study published today by the Commission highlights the benefits of increased competition in the rail market, both for passengers and for rail freight services. According to the study, increased competition in parts of the EU rail market following market opening has led to significant reductions in ticket prices for passengers and freight transport costs.
The gains are visible in all segments of the rail market, including competitive access to rail passenger services, connections linked to public service obligations (PSOs) and freight.
In Italy, for example, free market access
has led to a 31% reduction in ticket prices, while Austria has seen a 41% increase in service frequency. These two examples illustrate how competition can improve both affordability and quality of service. The study shows that competition can bring benefits such as lower fares, increased frequency, more comfort and reduced public spending.
In the PSO market, where Member States financially support railway companies to provide essential but commercially unprofitable services, France has seen a significant improvement. Thanks to competitive tenders, the frequency of some railway lines has increased by up to 110%, in parallel with the introduction of new rolling stock.
In the rail freight market, competition has led to lower prices and operating costs, as well as a slight increase in demand, particularly for intermodal freight. This is well reflected, in particular, in the stable and resilient growth of the share of rail in Germany.
While the full impact of the opening of the passenger transport market is not
yet fully measurable, the implementation of the Fourth Railway Package and its associated measures will contribute greatly to realising its full potential.
(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 298 25 04)
Commission to announce winners of third EU Organic Awards
Today, on the occasion of European Organic Day 2024, the European Commission will announce the winners of the third EU Organic Awards. The awards include 7 categories and 8 individual prizes, rewarding innovative, sustainable and inspiring projects that add significant value to organic production and consumption.
The ceremony will start at 15:00 in the Schuman Room at the Berlaymont and will be broadcast live. European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski will deliver a speech at the start of the ceremony.
This year’s winners follow the high standards set by their predecessors and showcase sustainable and inspiring projects across the European organic value chain. The winning pro
jects – and the people behind them – demonstrate how organic farming and production can create innovative value chains and generate new employment opportunities in rural areas.
The European Organic Day was launched in 2021 as a new initiative to celebrate and promote organic farming, which plays a vital role in developing a sustainable food system for the EU.
(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Thérèse Lerebours – Tel.: +32 2 296 33 03)
CALENDAR
Tuesday 24/09
President Ursula von der Leyen attends the 79th United Nation General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, US, together with Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, Vice-President Dubravka Šuica, and Commissioners Stella Kyriakides, Didier Reynders, Ylva Johansson, Janez Lenarcic, Jutta Urpilainen, Kadri Simson and Wopke Hoekstra. They will host and participate in events and meetings with leaders from around the world, and have a number of high-level bilateral meetings in New York
throughout the week.
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Madrid, Spain (until 25/09): participates in a panel session ‘The future of the EU: feasibility of enlargement’ organised by the Asociación de Periodistas Europeos.
Ms Stella Kyriakides in New York, US: attends the Food Waste Champions 12.3 and World Resources Institute (WRI) Public Event; delivers a speech at the UN General Assembly side event ‘The IPC and Antimicrobial Stewardship: from policy to implementation at the point of care’; delivers pre-recorded remarks at the SIOPE Policy Event ‘Why Childhood Cancer should stay high on the EU agenda for 2024-2029?’.
Wednesday 25/09
Mr Margaritis Schinas in Madrid, Spain: visits the International Centre Sports Mental Coaching; delivers introductory remarks at the conference ‘The European Union necessary condition’ organised by Fundación Carlos de Amberes.
Ms Stella Kyriakides in New York, US: delivers a speech at the UN General Assembly side event ‘Fostering Cross-Country Solidarity to Address Antimicrobial Resist
ance in the WHO European Region and Beyond’; delivers a speech at the side event ‘High-level Meeting on AMR and beyond: Bringing the voices and perspectives of the Low-and middle-income countries’; attends the 2024 Concordia Annual Summit – the First Ladies Luncheon Roundtable on breast cancer; participates in the Foreign Policy’s Health Forum ‘The Power of Prevention: Universal HPV Vaccination Strategies’.
Thursday 26/09
Ms Stella Kyriakides in New York, US: delivers a speech on behalf of the EU at the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance.
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Source: Cyprus
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