European Commission launches campaign to raise awareness and increase the social acceptance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) people.
The Commission is putting forward a 'List of actions to advance LGBTI equality' for 2016 -2019 to combat LGBTI discrimination, which includes communication and awareness-raising activities to improve the social acceptance of this group. The Commission's list of actions is supported by the Council who adopted Council Conclusions on LGBTI Equality for the first time in this policy field in June 2016.Commissioner Jourová said: "With increasing levels of discrimination, politicians need to be more vocal to protect the rights of more vulnerable groups in society. Our campaign should help improve fairness, social acceptance and equal rights for LGBTI people in Europe, and will involve stakeholders at all levels from NGOs, national authorities, to the media." On Saturday, as part of the campaign, Commissioner Jourová will participate in the 2016 Europride in Amsterdam, where she will meet with Randy Berry, U.S. Special Envoy on LGBTI rights, to discuss LGBTI rights, particularly in the wake of tragic events such as the attack in Orlando. Commissioner Jourová will also be joined by Maltese Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumers and Civil liberties, Ms Dalli, as well as Michael O’Flaherty, Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. The latest Eurobarometer on discrimination (2015) shows that 60% of EU citizens see discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as widespread - a trend which has been rising since 2012; and according to the latest EU Agency for Fundamental Rights survey, one in three LGBTI people are reported to have been attacked or threatened with violence because of their sexuality. It is in this context that the Commission is launching this campaign. More information is available here. (For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt - Tel.: +32 229 67083; Mélanie Voin – Tel.: +32 229 58659)
State aid: Commission finds Spain's support for private TV broadcasters in breach of EU rules
The European Commission has found that a Spanish scheme compensating terrestrial private broadcasters for carrying out parallel broadcasting during the digitisation of the terrestrial television signal is in breach of EU state aid rules. Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner in charge of competition policy, said: "This measure provided a selective advantage to terrestrial broadcasters and platform operators over other available technologies. This goes against the principle of technological neutrality and does not appear necessary or proportionate. Spain has already completed the digital frequency switch with no state aid having been granted. Therefore, no recovery will be required." Following an in-depth investigation, the Commission concluded that the measure selectively favoured terrestrial broadcasters as well as platform operators to the detriment of broadcasters and operators representing alternative platforms and thereby distorted competition in the Single Market. As no aid has been granted yet, no recovery will be required. A full press release is available in EN, FR, DE and ES. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Komel – Tel.: +32 229 61175)
Concentrations: la Commission autorise l’acquisition, sous conditions, de la division «santé grand public» de Boehringer Ingelheim par Sanofi
La Commission européenne a autorisé, en vertu du règlement de l'UE sur les concentrations, le projet d'acquisition de la division «santé grand public» de la société allemande Boehringer Ingelheim par la société française Sanofi. Les deux sociétés exercent leurs activités dans le secteur pharmaceutique au niveau mondial. Cette décision est subordonnée à la cession d’un certain nombre d'activités de Sanofi et de Boehringer Ingelheim en Estonie, en France, en Hongrie, en Irlande, en Grèce, en Lettonie, en Pologne, en République tchèque et en Slovaquie. La Commission craignait que l’opération, telle que notifiée au départ, ne réduise la concurrence sur les marchés de plusieurs produits pharmaceutiques. Les engagements proposés par Sanofi lèvent ces craintes. Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne en FR, EN et DE. (Pour plus d'informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Komel – Tel.: +32 229 61175)
Mergers: Commission clears Brazilian joint venture by Gerdau and Sumitomo
The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of the joint venture Gerdau-Summit Aços Fundidos E Forjados S.A. of Brazil by Gerdau of Brazil and Sumitomo Corporation of Japan. The joint venture will manufacture and sell forged and cast rolling mill rolls and forged steel products such as main shafts and rings for bearings mainly for wind turbines, mining, cement, electric or steam generators, oil and gas businesses in Brazil. Gerdau produces and sells steel products through its mills located in fourteen different countries in the Americas, Asia and Europe. Sumitomo produces and supplies a wide range of goods and services, including metal products, transportation and construction systems, infrastructures, mineral resources, energy, chemicals and electronics. The Commission concluded that the proposed acquisition would raise no competition concerns, because the activities of Gerdau and Sumitomo on the one hand and the activities of the joint venture on the other hand do not overlap. Furthermore, the joint venture has no or negligible foreseen activities in Europe. The transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure. More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.7973. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Giulia Komel – Tel.: +32 229 61175)
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)
