(AGENPARL) – mar 25 luglio 2023 [https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/notiftemplate/img/espressobanner.jpg]
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[Daily News 25 / 07 / 2023](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_23_4002)
Commission pays a further €1.5 billion in Macro-financial Assistance to Ukraine The Commission has today paid a sixth tranche of €1.5 billion under the[Macro-financial Assistance (MFA) “Plus”](https://economy-finance.ec.europa.eu/international-economic-relations/candidate-and-neighbouring-countries/neighbouring-countries-eu/neighbourhood-countries/ukraine_en) package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. With this instrument, the EU seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023. With today’s payment, Ukraine has received €10.5 billion this year under the MFA “Plus”.
This support will help Ukraine to continue paying wages and pensions, and keep essential public services running, such as hospitals, schools, and housing for relocated people. It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.
Today’s payment comes after the Commission found on 25 July that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress towards implementing the agreed policy conditions and complied with reporting requirements, which aim to ensure the transparent and efficient use of the funds. This finding will also unlock the payment of two further tranches worth €1.5 billion each, in August and September this year. Ukraine has notably achieved important progress to enhance financial stability, strengthen the rule of law, improve its gas system, encourage energy efficiency andpromote a better business climate.
President Ursula von der Leyen said: “Today weunlocked another €4.5 billion for Ukraine, to be paid over the next three months. As Ukraine faces the consequences of Russia’s brutal war of aggression, we continue to provide the country with steadfast financial support. And we will continue for as long as it takes. We have proposed up to €50 billion between next year and 2027, to finance transformative reforms and investments in Ukraine.”
Overall, since the start of the war, the support to Ukraine and Ukrainians amounts to €76 billion. This includes financial, humanitarian, emergency budget and military support to Ukraine from the EU, Member States and the European financial institutions, as well as resources made available to help Member States cater for needs of Ukrainians fleeing the war. More information is available in [this factsheet](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/FS_22_3862).
Furthermore, on 20 June, the Commission [proposed](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3355) to set up a dedicated Facility providing coherent, predictable and flexible support to Ukraine for the period 2024-2027, for an overall amount of up to €50 billion.
Enhancing EU resilience: a step forward to identify critical entities for key sectors
Today, the Commission has adopted a list of essential services in the eleven sectors covered by the [Critical Entities Resilience Directive](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2022/2557/oj) (CER), which entered into force on 16 January 2023. Critical entities provide essential services in upholding key societal functions, supporting the economy, ensuring public health and safety, and preserving the environment.
Based on this list, Member States will have to identify the critical entities for the sectors set out in the CER Directive by 17 July 2026. They will use this list of essential services to carry out risk assessments and to then identify the critical entities. Once identified, the critical entities will have to take measures to enhance their resilience.
More information is available in our press release [online](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3992).
European Green Deal: Energy Efficiency Directive, FuelEU Maritime Regulation and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation adopted, helping make the EU ‘Fit for 55′
The Commission welcomes the final approval today of the revised [Energy Efficiency Directive](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1581), [FuelEU Maritime Regulation](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1813), [Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR)](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_1867), as part of the ‘Fit for 55′ package of legislation to reduce EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This legislation was presented by the Commission in July 2021 to deliver the [European Green Deal](https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en).
With its increased ambition, the revised law on Energy Efficiency will reduce energy use this decade and beyond, and put the EU on a cost-efficient pathway to become climate-neutral by 2050. The proposed targets were revised upwards by the Commission after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and it will now also support the EU’s efforts to end Russian fossil fuel imports, as set out in the [REPowerEU Plan](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_3131).
Under the revised legislation, the EU will have to reduce final energy consumption by 11.7% by 2030, compared to 2020. The European Parliament and Member States agreed to almost double the annual energy savings obligation at national level. This will drive energy savings in critical sectors such as buildings, industry and transport. The updated Directive also puts a stronger focus on alleviating energy poverty and empowering consumers.
Regarding maritime greenhouse gas emissions, the new FuelEU Maritime regulation will ensure that the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used by the shipping sector gradually decreases over time, by 2% in 2025 to as much as 80% by 2050. For that purpose, the regulation incentivises the uptake of so-called renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), that have a high decarbonisation potential, and excludes fossil fuels from the regulation’s certification process.
Finally, the EU will deploy more recharging and refuelling stations for alternative fuels in the coming years enabling the transport sector to significantly reduce its carbon footprint following today’s adoption the Regulation on Alternative Fuel Infrastructure. Under this regulation, from 2025 onwards, fast recharging stations for cars, vans and heavy-duty vehicles will need to be installed every 60 km along the EU’s main transport corridors.
Following the formal approval of both co-legislators, these new legislations can now enter into force the twentieth day upon publication in the EU’s official journal. More information on the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive is available [here](https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/european-green-deal-energy-efficiency-directive-adopted-helping-make-eu-fit-55-2023-07-24_en).
Commission acts to accelerate phasing out of animal testing in response to a European Citizens’ Initiative
Today, the Commission is responding to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Save Cruelty-free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing’. The [response](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/communication-commission-european-citizens-initiative-eci-save-cruelty-free-cosmetics-commit-europe_en) provides a comprehensive overview of the EU’s legislative and policy framework relevant to the use of animals for testing purposes. It also proposes additional actions to further reduce animal testing.
The Commission welcomes the initiative and acknowledges that animal welfare remains a strong concern for European citizens. It highlights the leading role of the EU in phasing out the use of animals in testing and improving animal welfare in general. This is especially reflected in the full ban of animal testing for cosmetics, which has been in place in the EU since 2013.
In addition, the Commission will launch a new roadmap with a set of legislative and non-legislative actions to further reduce animal testing, with the aim to move to an animal-free regulatory system under chemicals legislation (e.g. REACH, Biocidal Product Regulation, Plant Protection Products Regulation and human and veterinary medicines) and continue strongly supporting alternatives to animal testing.
In relation to the modernisation of science, the Commission will continue its strong support to research for the development of alternatives to animal testing and explore the possibility to coordinate the activities of Member States in this field.
A [press release](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_3993), a [Q&A](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_23_3995) and a [factsheet](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/factsheet-summarising-commissions-response-european-citizens-initiative-save-cruelty-free-cosmetics_en) are available online.
Espace Schengen: Chypre rejoint le système d’information Schengen
Aujourd’hui, Chypre rejoint le [système d’information Schengen](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-information-system_en) (SIS), le plus grand système de partage d’informations pour la sécurité et la gestion des frontières en Europe.
La connexion de Chypre au SIS permet aux services répressifs de recevoir et d’échanger avec tous les participants au SIS des informations en temps réel sur les personnes recherchées ou disparues, les ressortissants de pays tiers n’ayant aucun droit de séjour légal dans l’Union et les objets perdus ou volés (par exemple, voitures, armes à feu, bateaux et documents d’identité). Chypre a également mis en place un [bureau SIRENE](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/schengen-information-system/sirene-cooperation_en) spécifique, qui est chargé de coordonner l’échange d’informations et la coopération en ce qui concerne les signalements SIS. Il fera partie d’un réseau de bureaux SIRENE nationaux soutenant le fonctionnement du SIS.
Le 7 mars 2023, [le SIS mis à jour est entré en service.](https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1505) Il est renforcé afin d’y inclure de nouvelles catégories de signalements, d’éléments biométriques tels que les empreintes palmaires, les empreintes digitales et les enregistrements ADN des personnes disparues, ainsi que des outils supplémentaires pour lutter contre la criminalité et le terrorisme. À ce jour, le SIS renouvelé est opérationnel dans 31 pays européens (27 États membres de l’UE et les pays associés à l’espace Schengen).
Agriculture: The Commission approves a new geographical indication from Bulgaria – ‘???????????????????? / Bulgarsko kiselo ml?ako’ – Bulgaria
‘????????? ?????? ????? / Bulgarsko kiselo mlyako’ is a soured milk product made from raw milk obtained from sheep, cows, buffalos, goats or a mixture thereof produced in Bulgaria, and a symbiotic starter from the bacteria Lactobacillicus delbrueckii ssp.bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus not subjected to genetic modification. It is characterised by a specific fresh, lactic acid flavour and aroma, which is due to 34 types of aromatic substances (acetaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, diacetyl, acetoin, etc.) resulting from the fermentation of the milk by the combined action of the two bacteria.
They transform lactose into lactic acid and small amounts of acetaldehyde and diacetyl, which are among the main flavour and aromatic components of the product. Scientists believe that the flavour and aroma are due to the formation of volatile and non-volatile acids and carbonyl compounds during fermentation. The harmonious combination of these substances gives the product its typical flavour and aroma.
This new denomination will be added to the list of 1,641 agricultural products already protected. The list of all protected geographical indications can be found in the [eAmbrosia](https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/food-safety-and-quality/certification/quality-labels/geographical-indications-register/) database. More information is available online at [Quality Schemes](http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/schemes/index_en.htm) and on our [GIView](https://www.tmdn.org/giview/) portal.
[Liste des points prévus](https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/documents-register/search?query=eyJjYXRlZ29yeU9iamVjdHMiOltdLCJjYXRlZ29yaWVzIjpbXSwidHlwZU9iamVjdHMiOltdLCJ0eXBlcyI6W10sImRlcGFydG1lbnRPYmplY3RzIjpbXSwiZGVwYXJ0bWVudHMiOltdLCJsYW5ndWFnZSI6ImVuIiwia2V5d29yZHNTZWFyY2hUeXBlIjoiQUxMIiwidGFyZ2V0IjoiVElUTEVfQU5EX0NPTlRFTlQiLCJzb3J0QnkiOiJET0NVTUVOVF9EQVRFX0RFU0MiLCJpc1JlZ3VsYXIiOnRydWUsImtleXdvcmRzIjoibGlzdGUgZGVzIHBvaW50cyBwcsOpdnVzIiwicmVmZXJlbmNlIjoiIiwicGFnZSI6MX0%3D) à l’ordre du jour des prochaines réunions de la Commission
Veuillez noter que ces informations sont données sous réserve de modifications.
[Prochains événements](https://ec.europa.eu/info/events_fr) de la Commission européenne
[Eurostat](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/main/news/news-articles): communiqués de presse
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