EU Civil Protection Mechanism responds to multiple wildfires across the continent
During the past week, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to help deal with forest fires – many of which are occurring simultaneously across Europe.
Yesterday Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time ever for forest fires. The European Commission has quickly mobilised two rescEU planes stationed in France, expected to be deployed today.
Greece activated the Mechanism on 12 August. In response, the two Swedish rescEU helicopters currently in Bulgaria are expected to be deployed. Prepositioned firefighters from Czechia, Moldova and Romania also took part in the efforts to put out the fires.
In Bulgaria six countries - Czechia, Slovakia, France, Hungary, Romania, Sweden - mobilised aircraft via the Mechanism including the rescEU helicopters stationed in Sweden.
In Albania, the Commission mobilised rescEU aerial assets from Croatia, Bulgaria, Italy and Czechia and Slovakia.
In Montenegro, the Commission mobilised rescEU assets stationed in Czechia, Croatia and Italy. Serbia, Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina also deployed aircraft means as part of bilateral offers, and Austria offered ground firefighting teams.
The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has already been activated 16 times during the current fire season, as countries in Europe battle a heat wave accompanied by a high number of catastrophic wildfires around the continent. The number of activations for 2025 is already equal to the total activations for wildfires for 2024 during the whole fire season. Copernicus was also activated for the fires in Greece, Spain and Bulgaria.
(For more information: Eva Hrnčířová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Daniel Puglisi – Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40)
Commission approves €264 million Hungarian State aid measure to support an electric vehicle battery plant
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €264 million Hungarian measure to support Hungary Sunwoda Automotive Energy Technology Kft. (‘Sunwoda Hungary) in setting up an electric vehicle battery plant.
The measure, which will take the form of a cash grant and of a tax credit, will support Sunwoda Hungarys €1.43 billion investment in a greenfield electric vehicle battery plant located in Nyíregyháza. This will incentivise the company to centre its investment in Hungary and contribute to the economic development of Nyíregyháza, by creating over 2500 direct jobs and over 470 indirect jobs in the region. The project will produce lithium-ion battery cells that can power electric vehicles and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Commission assessed the Hungarian measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(a) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU), which enables Member States to grant aid to promote the economic development of the most disadvantaged areas in Europe, and the Regional Aid Guidelines. The Commission found that the measure will contribute to the economic development, employment and competitiveness of a disadvantaged region. In addition, the Commission concluded that the aid is necessary and appropriate. Furthermore, the aid has an incentive effect, as the beneficiary would not have carried out the project in the European Economic Area without the public support. Finally, the Commission found that the measure is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary to trigger the investment in Hungary. In particular, the support will not exceed the maximum amount of aid calculated on the basis of the aid intensity set out in the Hungarian regional aid map, and has a limited impact on competition and trade within the EU. On this basis, the Commission approved the Hungarian measure under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.114496 in the State aid register on the Commissions competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information : Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears acquisition of Coin by Sagitta and MIA
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Coin S.p.A. by Sagitta SGR S.p.A. (‘Sagitta) and MIA S.r.l., all of Italy.
The transaction relates primarily to the retail of clothing, personal care and household products.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12065.
(For more information : Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears acquisition of Wells Fargos rail assets by GATX and Brookfield
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, (i) the acquisition of joint control of the rail operating lease portfolio of Wells Fargo & Company (‘Wells Fargo) by GATX Corporation (‘GATX) and Brookfield Infrastructure Fund V-C, L.P. (‘Brookfield), all of the US; (ii) the acquisition of sole control of the rail finance lease portfolio of Wells Fargo by Brookfield; and (iii) the acquisition of sole control of the locomotive operating lease portfolio of Wells Fargo by GATX.
The transaction relates primarily to operation and lease of railcars and locomotives.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12054.
(For more information : Lea Zuber – Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
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Upcoming events of the European Commission
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