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Parliament approves new tool to ensure fair competition on the single market

The European Parliament and Member States concluded their negotiations on the 30th June 2023 on the Instrument against distortive Foreign Subsidies (IFS). “This is a major step forward for protecting our EU Single Market while keeping it open to fair and beneficial international trade and investments. We are ensuring that the strict competition and state aid rules for European companies also apply to competitors that receive subsidies from abroad”, said Christophe Hansen MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on International Trade, who negotiated the text on behalf of the European Parliament.

“If foreign companies want to take control of European companies or participate in European public procurement, the European Commission has to ensure that they operate under similar conditions as European companies which have to stick to a strict state aid regime. We will fill this longstanding regulatory gap at last”, Hansen continued.

“We remain an open market, but – as Jean-Claude Juncker said – ‘Europe is open but not naive’. With this new instrument, the message is clear to foreign companies: you’re welcome to the EU’s internal market if you play by the rules. Those who do not play fair are left out. Re-establishing fair competition on the EU Single Market is not only important for the companies, but also to shore up support for global trade and open economies”, Hansen added.

As Chief Negotiator, Christophe Hansen introduced into the instrument the possibility for the Commission to enter into a dialogue with a third country if it becomes aware of repeated distortive subsidies, to enable the Commission to address not only the symptoms in the Single Market but also the root causes of harmful industrial subsidies. “Overall efficacy of the instrument has been my guiding compass. Protectionism would be enormously damaging to our economy, which operates globally and benefits from the inputs from third countries”, he added.

Hansen also sought to increase legal certainty for undertakings by clarifying procedures and expanding access for stakeholders to the Commission, while he also avoided red tape by seeking synergies with other instruments. He succeeded in strengthening the instrument’s multilateral dimension by delivering on a political declaration which highlights the Union’s commitment to continue pushing for stronger international rules against distortive subsidies, notably via a reform of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures at the WTO.

Under this new instrument, mergers or investments that involve a threshold of €50 million in foreign subsidies or more for companies with a yearly turnover of €500 million must in the future be notified to the European Commission where non-EU entities acquire control over EU entities. The same applies to public procurement procedures exceeding €250 million if foreign subsidies are involved. Mergers, foreign investments and bids could be forbidden or allowed under conditions that mirror EU internal procedures. If a notifiable concentration or bid is not notified, fines may apply. The Commission will also be able to open procedures ex officio, or serve ad hoc notifications if suspicions emerge.

Published on the 30th June 2022

christophe hansen

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La commission de l’environnement, de la santé publique et de la sécurité alimentaire est la plus grande commission du Parlement européen. Elle travaille, entre autres sujets, sur la biodiversité, l’économie circulaire, la santé publique, la sécurité alimentaire, la qualité de l’air et de l’eau, ainsi que l’utilisation de produits chimiques et de pesticides. Je suis particulièrement engagé dans le domaine de la politique environnementale et climatique, ayant par exemple travaillé sur le règlement sur la déforestation.

La commission des affaires économiques et monétaires se concentre sur la réglementation des services financiers, la libre circulation des capitaux et des paiements, la politique fiscale et de concurrence, la surveillance de la Banque centrale européenne et le système financier international. Au sein de la commission, je me concentre sur les obligations vertes européennes.

La commission du commerce international (coordinateur du PPE) travaille sur les relations commerciales de l’Union avec les pays du monde entier ainsi que sur les instruments et outils qui améliorent le marché intérieur de l’Union. Mes priorités sont la création de nouveaux accords commerciaux équitables et durables, tels que l’accord commercial UE-Japon, ainsi que les subventions étrangères.

Der INTA-Ausschuss befasst sich mit Handelsbeziehungen der EU mit Ländern auf der ganzen Welt und mit Instrumenten zur Verbesserung des EU-Binnenmarktes. Meine Schwerpunktbereiche sind die Schaffung neuer, fairer und nachhaltiger Handelsabkommen, wie beispielsweise das Handelsabkommen zwischen der EU und Japan, sowie ausländische Subventionen.

Der ECON-Ausschuss konzentriert sich auf die Regulierung von Finanzdienstleistungen, die Kapital- und Zahlungsverkehrsfreiheit, die Steuer- und Wettbewerbspolitik, die Aufsicht über die Europäische Zentralbank und das internationale Finanzsystem. Mein Arbeitsschwerpunkt in dem Ausschuss sind europäische grüne Anleihen.

Der ENVI-Ausschuss ist der größte Ausschuss im Europäischen Parlament. Seine Prioritäten sind unter anderem biologische Vielfalt, Kreislaufwirtschaft, öffentliche Gesundheit, Lebensmittelsicherheit, Luft- und Wasserqualität, Einsatz von Chemikalien und Pestiziden. Ich engagiere mich insbesondere im Bereich der Umwelt- und Klimapolitik, beispielsweise auf der Verordnung über Entwaldung.

ENVI is hence the largest committee in the European Parliament. Their priorities are, among others, biodiversity, the circular economy, public health, food safety, air and water quality, the use of chemicals and pesticides. I am especially engaged in the area of ​​environmental and climate policy, such as the deforestation regulation.

ECON focuses on the regulation of financial services, the free movement of capital and payments, taxation and competition policies, oversight of the European Central Bank, and the international financial system. My focus in in the committee is the European Green Bonds.

INTA works on trade-relations of the EU with countries all around the globe and on instruments and tools improving the EU’s internal market. My focus areas are the creation of new, fair and sustainable trade agreements, such as the trade agreement between the EU and Japan, as well as foreign subsidies.