COVID 19

The European Commission has published a document with Questions and Answers on COVID-19 and farmed and domestic animals. The paper states that there is “no scientific evidence indicating that livestock can be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore,  preliminary  findings  from  studies  suggest  that poultry and pigs are not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2.” There is also “no report […]

Single Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has spoken out against protectionist measures taken by Member States to give preference to their domestic food and medicines industries. He told the European Parliament’s Committee for Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) that the European Commission has “zero tolerance” for such measures and would not hesitate to react. The […]

On 13 May, the European Commission has published several communications with guidelines and recommendations to help Member States gradually lift travel restrictions and allow tourism businesses to reopen safely after months of lockdown. The package also aims to help the EU tourism sector recover from the pandemic, by supporting businesses and ensuring that Europe continues […]

For the second time, the European Commission has expanded the Temporary Framework to recapitalisation and subordinated debt measures to further support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. This second amendment expands the Temporary Framework to allow Member States to make well-targeted public interventions in the form of recapitalisation aid to non-financial companies […]

On 6 May, the European Commission presented its Spring 2020 Economic Forecast. The Commission’s economists predict that, in the current quarter, the economic output in the EU is set to be almost 16% lower than in the last quarter of 2019. Although activity is expected to pick up again with the gradual easing of containment […]

On 4 May, the European Commission hosted the Coronavirus Global Response pledging event. The list of speakers includes several European and non-European Heads of States as well as health ministers, CEOs of pharma businesses, and representatives of international foundations and associations. By the end of the live-streamed event, the conference had raised €7.359.463.025 that will […]

The Commission has again approved several state aid schemes under the Temporary Framework that were launched by Member States to support their economies: – two additional Estonian schemes to support companies affected by coronavirus outbreak – two Hungarian schemes worth €1,55 billion and €900 million, respectively, to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak – […]

EU leaders convened in a video conference on 23 April to discuss plans for a recovery from the crisis. They agreed on the already discussed €540 billion package worked out by EU Finance Ministers and put forward the idea of a trillion-euro recovery fund. Crucial details on the size, its precise relation to the EU […]

On 3 April 2020, the European Commission published Decision C(2020) 2146 „on relief from import duties and VAT exemption on importation granted for goods needed to combat the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak during 2020”. The measure extends for instance to any kind of protective and medical equipment such as gloves, masks, glasses and ventilators […]

European Commissioner Thierry Breton (Internal Market and Industry) has been talking to various industries about their challenges and what the Commission should do to address them during the crisis and afterwards. Representatives of our sector, including our President, Thomas Nonn, and Board member Hans Carpels from Euronics, were invited to an exclusive video call on […]