Mr Margaritis Schinas in Yerevan, Armenia; meets with Mr Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Armenia; meets with Mr Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia; meets with Mr Mher Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia; meets with Mr Ararat Mirzoyan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Armenia; delivers a speech at Yerevan State University; participates in the launch of the Visa Liberalisation Dialogue.
Ms Stella Kyriakides receives Ms Olga Kikou, Director of the European Institute for Animal Law and Policy; holds a videoconference call with Mr Mark Holland, Minister of Health of Canada, to launch the European Union-Canada Health Policy Dialogue.
TUESDAY 10 September
Ms Stella Kyriakides receives Professor Dame Sally Davies, Special Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance for the United Kingdom.
Vice-President Schinas in Yerevan to launch visa liberalisation dialogue with Armenia
On Monday, Vice-President Schinas will travel to Yerevan, Armenia, to launch a visa liberalisation dialogue at political level. Vice-
President Schinas will meet with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan to discuss the launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue and other aspects of the EU-Armenia Partnership Agenda.
The launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue – at political level with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan – is a strong signal from the EU and its Member States of their determination to deepen the already strong EU-Armenia partnership. The aim of this dialogue is to eventually lift the visa requirement for Armenian citizens for short stays in the EU once the Armenian authorities have implemented substantial reforms in key areas such as security of travel documents, border, migration and asylum management, public order and security, and fundamental rights related to freedom of movement. As experience with other third countries has shown, this dialogue with Armenia will be a multi-annual process that will be undertaken in close cooperation with EU Member
States in order to monitor progress and the evolution of reforms.
During his stay, the Vice-President will also engage in a discussion with students of Yerevan University on the substantial progress achieved recently in EU-Armenia relations and the prospects for deepening these relations on the basis of shared values.
(For further information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Elettra Di Massa Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
Commission publishes findings of evaluation of EU antitrust enforcement framework
The European Commission published yesterday a Staff Working Document (‘SWD’) summarising the findings of the evaluation of the EU Regulations which lay out the procedures for the application of EU competition rules (Regulation 1/2003 and Regulation 773/2004, together the ‘Regulations’).
The Regulations set out the procedural framework for the implementation of EU competition rules laid down in Articles 101 and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (‘TFEU’). They have played a crucial role i
n the enforcement of EU antitrust rules since their entry into force 20 years ago.
Between 1 May 2004 and August 2024, the Commission has adopted 225 enforcement decisions, either finding an infringement of EU competition rules or accepting commitments that would remove its preliminary concerns. The Commission has imposed fines of over pound 42 billion under Regulation 1/2003, approximately pound 37 billion of which has been upheld by the EU Courts. Between 2012 and 2021, the estimated total customer savings from all cartel and antitrust interventions by the Commission were between pound 50 to pound 87 billion.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: ‘The existing EU antitrust enforcement framework has been a resounding success. Regulation 1/2003 upgraded the Commission’s investigative and decision-making toolkit. It amplified the application of EU competition rules by empowering national competition authorities to enforce them, fostering a common competition cult
ure within the European Competition Network. At the same time, the evaluation identified areas for further reflection, to ensure that our enforcement tools keep up with the transformative changes of digitalisation and to ensure swift antitrust enforcement.’
A press release and a Q and A are available online.
(For more information: Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Nina Ferreira – Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63)
Commissioner Johansson visits Egypt to strengthen cooperation on migration and security affairs
From 9-10 September, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, will visit Egypt to reinforce ongoing EU-Egypt cooperation on migration and security. The Commissioner will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates, Badr Abdelatty, to discuss the ongoing comprehensive cooperation on migration and protection amongst other topics. The Commissioner will also meet the Minister of Defence, General Ahmed Abdel-Meguid Saqr and the Minister of Justice, Adnan Al-Fangari. Commissioner Johansson will
also visit the UNHCR reception centre for refugees in Giza, where registration and refugee status determination are carried out with the financial support of the European Union. This visit follows up to the signature of the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership in March 2024 by President von der Leyen and President Sisi. This partnership, where migration and security represent key pillars of a broad partnership, is supported by a significant financial and investment package.
(For more information: Anitta Hipper – Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Elettra Di massa Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61)
EU provides pound 40 million in humanitarian aid for winter preparedness in Ukraine
With relentless attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the Commission is boosting its humanitarian funding to vulnerable Ukrainians with an additional pound 40 million ahead of the approaching winter. Out of this, pound 35 million is allocated for humanitarian projects in Ukraine and pound 5 million for supporting Ukrainian refugees and their hos
t communities in Moldova.
The primary focus of this funding is to help prepare Ukraine for the freezing winter months. Together with its humanitarian partners, the EU aims to repair damaged buildings, ensure electricity and heating, and provide shelter to the ones most in need.
In Moldova, the new funding is targeting the most vulnerable refugees, to provide them with protection and access to basic services, and to enhance the preparedness for additional refugee flows.
The announcement comes as Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, is in Lithuania today attending a regional Civil Protection Forum, with a focus on mobilising further support to Ukraine ahead of the upcoming winter. During his visit, he will meet with the Minister of Interior of Lithuania, Agne Bilotaite.
Background
The EU has been providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine since the conflict erupted in 2014 and is actively operating across the country, prioritizing hard-to-reach areas near the frontlines in the eastern and souther
n regions. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the EU substantially ramped up its relief efforts in Ukraine.
Including the new funding announced today, the European Commission has allocated in total pound 966 million for humanitarian aid programmes to help civilians affected by the war in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Of this funding, pound 895 million has been allocated for humanitarian programmes within Ukraine and pound 71 million to support refugees who have fled to neighbouring Moldova.
In addition to its humanitarian aid operations, the European Commission has been coordinating its largest ever operation under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by delivering more than 150 000 tonnes of in-kind assistance into Ukraine, such as ambulances, fire engines, medicines, shelter supplies, power generators, and much more. For extra layer of crisis support, the EU has also deployed its own rescEU emergency stockpiles to send power generators, medical equipment, temporary shelter, a
nd specialised equipment for public health risks such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.
More information:
EU humanitarian aid and civil protection operations in Ukraine
Quote(s)
Russia’s war on Ukraine has continued to escalate in 2024 with no end in sight, putting civilian lives in constant danger. The approaching winter will only add to their hardships. Together with our humanitarian partners, we are already preparing for the challenges winter will bring to Ukraine. To support the most vulnerable, the EU is boosting its humanitarian aid with an additional pound 40 million, including pound 35 million for Ukraine and pound 5 million for Moldova, raising this year’s total contribution to pound 110 million for Ukraine and pound 13 million for Moldova. I want to also thank Lithuania and all other countries who continue offering vital energy supplies via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Your solidarity with Ukraine is as important as ever.
Janez Lenarcic, Commissioner for Crisis M
anagement
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Source: Cyprus News Agency