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Coronavirus: EU grants €314 million to innovative companies to combat the virus and support recovery
08/06/2020 - Covid-19 / Research and innovation
The Commission announced today that it has awarded nearly €166 million, via the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Pilot, to 36 companies set to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
08/06/2020 - Consumer affairs and public health / Energy, environment and climate
05/06/2020 - Justice and citizens’ rights / Transport and travel
Home affairs ministers discussed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the field of internal border controls and the free movement of persons. As the overall health situation improves, all member states are in the process of de-escalating and gradually lifting some of the measures that have been applied at national or regional level. This includes the gradual lifting of border controls and the full restoration of the free movement of persons which has been limited due to the pandemic.
05/06/2020 - Energy, environment and climate / EU regional and urban development / Security and defence
To prepare for the risk of forest fires during the upcoming summer, the EU is further reinforcing its European fleet of firefighting aircraft under the rescEU system. The EU is financing purchases by the Swedish government of 2 new firefighting airplanes to add to the reserve. This adds up to a total of 13 airplanes and 6 helicopters that will be part of the rescEU fleet in 2020 and funded by the EU.
04/06/2020 - Justice and citizens’ rights
Justice ministers covered the proposed regulation on the law applicable to the third-party effects of assignments of claims, the extradition of EU citizens to third countries and the impact of COVID-19 in the area of justice.
04/06/2020 - Covid-19 / Research and innovation
The European Commission is announcing a pledge of €300 million to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for the period 2021–2025. It will help immunise 300 million children around the world and finance vaccine stockpiles to shield against outbreaks of infectious diseases.
03/06/2020 - Covid-19 / Economy and the euro
The Commission has proposed modifications to its budget for 2020 to make €11.5 billion for crisis repair and recovery available already in 2020. Once available, the funds will go to help the regions most in need, support businesses and those in need outside EU borders.
03/06/2020 - Employment and social rights
Today, the Commission launches the second-stage consultation of European trade unions and employers' organisations on how to ensure fair minimum wages for all workers in the European Union.
02/06/2020 - Covid-19 / Economy and the euro / International aid, development and cooperation
As part of the revised long-term EU budget 2021-2027 package, the European Commission has proposed a budget of €118.2 billion for external action, with an additional €15.5 billion to support its partners in recovery efforts in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the European Union's role of a strong global actor.
02/06/2020 - Covid-19 / Economy and the euro
The Commission proposes today to give the European Union the tools to react more quickly when a serious cross-border emergency such as the coronavirus strikes and affects EU countries at the same time.
02/06/2020 - Transport and travel
The European Commission today updated the EU Air Safety List, the list of airlines that are subject to an operating ban or operational restrictions within the European Union as they do not meet international safety standards.
29/05/2020 - Consumer affairs and public health / Covid-19
29/05/2020 - Business, taxation and competition / Economy and the euro
The Commission is enhancing InvestEU, Europe's flagship investment programme, to a level of €15.3 billion to mobilise private investment in projects. The Commission is also proposing a new Strategic Investment Facility built into InvestEU, to generate investments of up to €150 billion, thanks to a contribution of €15 billion from Next Generation EU, to boost the resilience of strategic sectors, notably those linked to the green and digital transition, and key value chains in the internal market.
- Remarks by Commissioner Gentiloni at the press conference on an enhanced InvestEU Programme and its new Strategic Investment Facility
- Questions and Answers: The proposed InvestEU Programme
- Factsheet: An enhanced InvestEU Programme and Strategic Investment Facility
- Proposals: EU long-term budget 2021-2027: Commission Proposal May 2020
29/05/2020 - Business, taxation and competition / Economy and the euro
The Solvency Support Instrument can be operational from 2020 and will have a budget of €31 billion, aiming to unlock €300 billion in solvency support for otherwise healthy companies from all economic sectors and prepare them for a cleaner, digital and resilient future.
- Statement by Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager at the press conference on Solvency Support Instrument
- Questions and Answers: Solvency Support Instrument
- Factsheet: Solvency Support Instrument, helping kick-start the European economy
- Proposals: EU long-term budget 2021-2027: Commission Proposal May 2020
28/05/2020 - Business, taxation and competition / Energy, environment and climate
The facility will be implemented with the involvement of the European Investment Bank and will encourage investments that support the transition towards a climate-neutral economy by public sector authorities to the benefit of coal- and carbon-intensive regions.
- Questions and answers on the Just Transition Mechanism
- Press release: Financing the green transition: the European Green Deal Investment Plan and Just Transition Mechanism
- Press release: Commission supports Member States in their transition towards a climate-neutral economy
- Factsheet: How Cohesion policy funds support Member States' green reforms
27/05/2020 - Business, taxation and competition / Covid-19 / Economy and the euro
The European Commission has put forward its proposal for a major recovery plan. To ensure the recovery is sustainable, even, inclusive and fair for all Member States, the European Commission is proposing to create a new recovery instrument, Next Generation EU, embedded within a powerful, modern and revamped long-term EU budget.
- Speech by President von der Leyen
- EU future at stake: MEPs broadly welcome Commission’s recovery package proposals
- Q&A on the MFF and Next Generation EU
- Recovery Plan Communication: “Europe's moment: Repair and Prepare for the Next Generation”
- EU Budget Communication: “The EU budget powering the recovery plan for Europe”
- Website for the MFF proposals
- Website on the Commission's coronavirus response
Research and Innovation Performance report: Enabling Europe to lead the green and digital transition
27/05/2020 - Research and innovation
26/05/2020 - Consumer affairs and public health / Covid-19 / Institutional affairs
Ministers held an exchange of views on a comprehensive approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the de-escalation of containment measures and economic recovery.
