European Commission Daily News – 4 April
Brexit preparedness: EU prepared for possible “no-deal” scenario in the area of public health and food safety
The EU regrets, but respects the UK’s decision to leave the EU. While the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and the UK remains the best possible outcome, the EU is prepared for a possible “no-deal” scenario in the area of public health, in particular on the crucial topics of pharmaceutical products and medical devices, as well as on food safety. At a press conference today in Brussels, Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President of the Commission, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, currently also in charge of the Health & Food Safety portfolio, said:“Health and food safety are two areas which have an immense impact on citizens’ daily life, but also on the functioning of countless operators and businesses. This is why the Commission and the EU-27 have been working extensively for the past two years to face the challenge of a no-deal scenario. My message is simple: the EU and the Member States are there to tackle the most disruptive changes, and we will be ready to manage. Safety of medicines will remain unchanged and Member States and the European Medicines Agency are constantly monitoring the situation and liaising with industry to ensure availability of medicines in the EU. As regards pets, they will still be allowed to travel, but the conditions will change since new controls will have to be carried out at the EU’s borders with the UK”. Pharmaceuticals were carefully considered throughout the preparation of the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. The European Medicines Agency has published a Q&A, prepared with the Commission and the Member States’ pharmaceutical authorities, on prevention of medicines shortages. Rules for citizens and businesses that need to get prepared for the movement of live animals and animal by products and transporters are available on the SANTE website. The full speech of Vice-President Katainen is available online. (For more information: Anca Paduraru – Tel.: +32 229 91269; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 229 87624)
Brexit preparedness: Commissioner Bulc presents preparations in the transport sector for possible “no-deal” Brexit scenario
Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for Transport, today presented the EU’s contingency and preparedness measures in the transport sector given the increasing risk of the UK leaving the EU without a deal. These measures have been agreed by Member States and the European Parliament in record time and aim at limiting the most significant disruptions caused by a possible “no-deal” scenario. The measures on air, road and rail transport allow for the continuation of safe basic connectivity between the EU and the UK for a limited period of time, provided that the UK maintains an adequate level of safety standards and gives reciprocal treatment to EU companies and operators. The re-alignment of the North Sea – Mediterranean Core Network Corridor adds new maritime links between Ireland, France, Belgium and the Netherlands to the core network, and introduces a new funding priority to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): adapting transport infrastructure for security and external border check purposes. Finally, the revision of the Regulation on ship inspection and survey organisations aims to ensure legal certainty and secure business continuity in shipping. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172; Stephan Meder – Tel.: +32 229 13917)
Commissioner Arias Cañete in the Netherlands to present the strategy for a climate neutral Europe by 2050
Today, Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, will be in the Netherlands to present the European Commission’s strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate-neutral economy by 2050, published by the Commission last November. His visit will start with a meeting with Ed Nijpels, former Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment and current member of the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands, to present the Commission’s vision for a climate-neutral Europe. Later that day, Commissioner Arias Cañete will appear in front of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Climate Policy of the Dutch Parliament to discuss the opportunities for European industry in the modernisation and transition towards a climate neutral economy. The Commissioner will also meet the regional ministers Tjisse Stelpstra (Drenthe) and Patrick Brouns (Groningen). Finally, the Commissioner will meet with Eric Wiebes Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, and Stientje van Veldhoven, State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management to discuss climate neutrality objectives. This is the fifth of a number of visits that the Commissioner is planning in the coming weeks and months to highlight the EU’s long-term vision, aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. (For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 229 56186; Lynn Rietdorf – Tel.: +32 229 74959)
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