EC Report

A key official from the European Cycling Federation was the first speaker on the panel and he presented a number of case studies, from other European contexts, whereby cycling has been rendered safer and more feasible. Other speakers on the panel included a lawyer and a police officer who discussed the legal aspects involved in case of incidents / accidents while cycling, a road safety expert who brought a number of tangible examples from Maltese roads where safety is compromised, and an activist who will champion cyclocommuting by using an ebike for a number of weeks and documenting the experience on social mediThe European Commission Representation in Malta sponsored Rota through the purchase of an ebike that will be used by an influencer and then lent to the workshop participants who partake in a related competition. The ebike initiative will help people become accustomed to the practical benefits of travelling by bicycle in Malta, with the purpose of increasing the number of people who choose micromobility for some of their trips.

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The purpose of the proposed revision is to align the current rules with the current EU strategic priorities, in particular the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), as well as to the European Green Deal. Member States and other interested parties can respond to the consultation until 13 March 2022.

The consultation covers the proposed revisions of the various sets of State aid rules applicable to the agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors, namely the 2014 Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas, the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation (‘ABER'), the Guidelines for the examination of State aid to the fishery and aquaculture sector, the Fishery Block Exemption Regulation(‘FIBER') and the Fishery de minimis Regulation.

The Commission has conducted an evaluation of the existing rules applicable to the agricultural and forestry sectors and is also performing an evaluation of the rules applicable to the fishery sector. The input gathered has been reflected in the proposals under consultation.

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The draft declaration on digital rights and principles aims to give everyone a clear reference point about the kind of digital transformation Europe promotes and defends. It will also provide a guide for policy makers and companies when dealing with new technologies. The rights and freedoms enshrined in the EU's legal framework, and the European values expressed by the principles, should be respected online as they are offline. Once jointly endorsed, the Declaration will also define the approach to the digital transformation which the EU will promote throughout the world.

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The European Commission opened applications for the 2022 New European Bauhaus prizes. Following the success of the first prizes that received more than 2,000 applications last year, the 2022 edition will celebrate new inspiring examples of the transformations the initiative wants to bring about in our daily lives, living spaces and experiences. As in the first edition, the New European Bauhaus prizes 2022 will award young talents' ideas as well as existing projects for sustainability, inclusiveness and aesthetics bringing the European Green deal to people and local communities.

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As 2022 - designated European Year of Youth – begins, today's survey highlights the views of young Europeans on the challenges facing the European Union, alongside the key role young people are playing in the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Today's Eurobarometer shows that 91% of 15–24-year-olds believe that tackling climate change can help improve their own health and well-being, while 84% of those aged 55 or over agree. Almost every second European (49%) sees climate change as the main global challenge for the future of the EU, with overwhelming support for the environmental objectives of the European Green Deal: 88% of Europeans think it is important to increase the share of renewable energy in our economy and have greater energy efficiency, while 80% agree on the importance of making Europe the world's first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and promoting the growth of the zero- and low-emissions vehicles market.

Other future global challenges highlighted by respondents include health (34%) and forced migration and displacement (mentioned by some 30%).

Having comparable living standards (31%) and a common health policy (22%) are the two most helpful aspects for the future of Europe. Europeans also prioritise stronger solidarity among Member States (21%) and energy independence (20%).

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The EU SME Fund, with a budget of €47 million, will offer the following support:

Reimburse 90% of the fees charged by Member States for IP Scan services, which provide a broad assessment of the intellectual property needs of the applying SME, taking into account the innovative potential of its intangible assets;

Reimburse 75% of the fees charged by intellectual property offices (including national intellectual property offices, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the Benelux Intellectual Property Office) for trademark and design registration;

Reimburse 50% of the fees charged by the World Intellectual Property Organisation for obtaining international trade mark and design protection;

Reimburse 50% of the fees charged by national patent officesfor the registration of patents in 2022;

From 2023, further services could be covered e.g. partial reimbursement of the costs of the patent prior art search, of the patent filing application; private IP advice charged by IP attorneys (for patent registration, licensing agreements, IP valuation, alternative dispute resolution costs, etc.).

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The third session of the Conference Plenary took stock of the 90 recommendations made by the Panels on ‘European democracy / Values and rights, rule of law, security' and ‘Climate change, environment / Health', and of related recommendations from national Citizens' Panels.

The debates revolved around the recommendations from the two European Citizens' Panels that have finalised their work so far, in which some 200 Europeans of different ages and backgrounds, from all Member States, met (in person and remotely) to discuss and adopt recommendations on the challenges facing Europe now and in the future.

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The final Citizens' Panel will take place in Dublin on 25-27 February and will discuss and put forward recommendations on a stronger economy, social justice and jobs, education, culture, youth and sport and the digital transformation.

In the interview featured below, Colin Scicluna, Head of Cabinet for Vice-President Šuica, as well as co-head of the Common Secretariat of the Conference on the Future of Europe, answers questions about the Conference and gives the latest updates.

Where are we nine months after the start of the Conference?

We are entering the final stretch. The point of departure is the hub of all the ideas: the multilingual digital platform. So far, there have already been 13,000 ideas shared and nearly 42,000 participants registered. We expect even more input on the digital platform as the Conference enters a more substantial phase. It is still not too late to contribute, and I would invite all Commission colleagues to encourage their contacts and stakeholders to do so.

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On 26 November 2021, France submitted to the Commission a payment request based on the achievement of the 38 milestones and targets selected in the Council Implementing Decision for the first instalment. They cover reforms in the areas of public finance, housing, mobility, unemployment insurance, skills, and health, as well as France's audit and control system for the implementation of the RRF. Several targets also concern major investments in the fields of energy renovation of buildings, decarbonisation of industry, clean vehicles, research, youth employment, and education. With their request, the French authorities provided detailed and comprehensive evidence demonstrating the fulfilment of the 38 milestones and targets. The Commission has thoroughly assessed this information before presenting its positive preliminary assessment of the payment request. The French recovery and resilience plan includes a wide range of investment and reform measures in nine thematic components. The plan will be supported by €39.4 billion in grants, 13% of which (€5.1 billion) https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-217424?&lg=FRwas disbursed to France in pre-financing on 19 August 2021. Payments under the RRF are performance-based and contingent on Member States implementing the investments and reforms outlined in their respective recovery and resilience plans.

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Ministers held a policy debate on the proposed Council directive on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational groups in the Union. They agreed on the need to transpose the new rules of international corporate taxation into EU law as soon as possible. Ministers also discussed the state of play regarding implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). At this stage, Commission assessments of Recovery and Resilience Plans (RRPs) for five Member States are still pending while the Council has approved the assessments of 22 plans within the tight timeframe set forth in the regulation. So far, 21 Member States have received pre-financing (13% of the amounts requested) for a total of €56.6 billion. The Council discussed the annual European Semester process and adopted conclusions on the 2022 alert mechanism report and the 2022 annual sustainable growth survey. It approved the 2022 recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area (EAR). In addition, ministers gave guidance for further work on the G20 EU Terms of Reference in preparation for the upcoming meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors. Lastly, ministers received updates on legislative proposals in the field of financial services, the priorities of the G7 Presidency, and the latest EIB investment report.

The discussion was based on input from the European Commission. Laurence Boone, Chief Economist of the OECD, participated in this exchange of views with ministers. Participants discussed the solvency situation of the corporate sector and potential measures to facilitate corporate restructuring and economic adjustment in the euro area during the recovery after the global COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers also discussed the draft recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area for 2022. The draft recommendation will be approved at the ECOFIN meeting on 18 January 2022 and endorsed by the March European Council. Its final adoption is expected at a subsequent ECOFIN meeting. Basing their discussion on the Eurogroup work plan, ministers also examined the euro area fiscal framework and arrangements for financial assistance and post-programme surveillance. Meeting in inclusive format, ministers discussed the state of play on strengthening of the banking union, focusing on how to finalise a consensual, stepwise, and time-bound work plan on all outstanding elements. Ministers also took stock of the ratification of the revised European Stability Mechanism (ESM) treaty.

In the EU, the ratio also decreased from 90.9% to 90.1%. Both for the euro area and the EU, the decrease in the government debt to GDP ratio at the end of the third quarter was due to an increase in GDP, while debt continued to increase due to financing of measures adopted to mitigate the economic and social impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Compared with the third quarter of 2020, the government debt to GDP ratio rose in both the euro area (from 96.6% to 97.7%) and the EU (from 89.2% to 90.1%). The highest ratios of government debt to GDP at the end of the third quarter of 2021 were recorded in Greece (200.7%), Italy (155.3%), Portugal (130.5%), Spain (121.8%), France (116.0%), Belgium (111.4%) and Cyprus (109.6%), and the lowest in Estonia (19.6%), Bulgaria (24.2%) and Luxembourg (25.3%).