Don’t quote, don’t trust, definitely verify, my comments in brackets.
12:04: [Trying to get Marta. Marta! Where are you? Marta’s vid isn’t working.]
Eric: EP granted approval to facility regulation (RF), at the heart of the next generation EU. Lots of money for grants and loans. Recovery and Resilience Facility Regulation, green and digital transitions, yada yada yada. Press releases and Q&As available online.
Tim in brave French. 68 million euro to Croatia for next generation broadband.
12:07, Q&A. [‘Here’s where the fun begins.’]
Katerine. Media freedom & rule of law, about Hungary (naturally). Another voice silenced in Hungary. Watcha think about that?
Eric: yeah, we’ll come back to this question [perhaps at the end of time]. Go to… Audile?
Audile: Myanmar. Accelerating repression. Serious stuff. Watcha think?
Nabila, nice eyewear: yeah, we’ve talked about that. We’ve been clear. Very clear. Gonna keep contact with the authorities. [Aaaand that’s about it.]
Eric: anything else? Kataline about Club Radio.
Katerine: Hungarian radio station, Club Radio, license suspended. Another voice silenced. Watcha gonna do? You’ve talked about media pluralism. So?
Specialist comes up, didn’t catch name: We Have Expressed Our Concerns About Media Pluralism in Hungary. We Are In Contact With Hungarian Authorities. [They picked up the phone once, perhaps by accident.]
12:14 – Male journalist, didn’t catch name, bad hair day, or perhaps it’s just bed hair: So, Hungary. Watcha gonna do? [Didn’t catch all the question.]
Christian in brave French: we don’t have fixed date [for something].
Eric: to Arianna, about media.
Arianna in brave French: Hungary media. Concerning the public broadcaster. MS have broad leeway to decide what ‘public broadcasting’ is [I think]. State aid, not sure what she’s getting at. Yada yada yada. We’re gonna reflect about the rule of law report.
Katherine [I think], who is pumped up for this: What is the Commission doing to access all this? Going on for a long time. Inaction on the Commission’s side. What are you doing? Yes, a lot of discretion but you’ve given the benefit of the doubt to these governments and haven’t been doing anything on your side. Watcha gonna do? HUH?
12:21, Arianna: we are actively accessing the complaints we’ve received. This takes time. We’re accessing. The duration of the assessment of the 1st and 2nd complaints [second, government aid to media], we’re looking into it [dammit].
Katherine: WHAT? Come on! Urgency? Also, second question for Christian.
Arianna: Complex Matters. [Spooky background music.] We Are Looking Into It. State aid aspect of matters.
Katherine: for Christian. You said EC will not hesitate. But the decision on Club Radio is an appeal. We’re already aware there is a problem. Should be transparency, non-discimrinatory, independent. Do you think you should have this in Hungary, huh? Huh? HUH?
Christian: on earlier question, clear position, EC attached great value to… [I missed it]. Rule of Law report recalls, re Poland, from 2016 reform, some competences of media regulatory authority taken away and given to someone else. Public broadcasters have a special responsibility re public money. Club Radio case, been very clear, We Are Looking Into Implications Of This Decision. Subject to EU telecoms rules. We’re in contact with Hungarian authorities. [Look, what do you want us to do? GIVE US A BREAK!]
Journalist in actual French, somewhere in Brussels (can see the grey skies outside): Covid. Human rights. Are you making exceptions [re lockdown]? [I didn’t understand everything]
Eric: [So I didn’t understand the response]
[And here I figured out how to change to the English translation]
Christian: … [the question was in fact about Covid and concerns about violating human rights during lockdown] work is underway. Re measures taken by France. MS making efforts to keep the sanitary conditions under control. We have guidelines re free movement. Joint priority to keep sanitary conditions under control while [minimising] effects on free movement.
Eric: more rule of law questions for Christians.
Polish journalist question, didn’t catch name: Our screens turned black and websites empty b/c of Polish levy on media. So. What’s your comment?
Christian: yeah. We’ve seen the black screens. Our concerns well known, outlined in rule-of-law report. MS fiscal policies can’t affect free, independent, and free media ecosystem. We need to support media [hopefully with cool sound-bytes]. We Follow The Situation Closely.
Eric, whose temperature appears to be rising: Katherine you’re very enthusiastic today [translation: oh no not again].
Katherine: In Warsaw, someone [didn’t catch who] making a symbolic gesture in front of a judge, facing prosecution b/c he allowed presence of media during a case. What does this tell us about the rule of law in Poland and do you think your actions have been effective?
Eric: [do you really think I’m going to answer] We’ve discussed this before, we don’t [react] to every single event. [Hmmm.] Don’t want to transform this media briefing into a discussion on all the things and on what we’re doing. [Double Hmmm.]
Christian: We have an infringement case. Let’s, yeah, let the process take its course. [Stop badgering us!]
Eric: I’m closing the rule of law chapter. [Triple Hmmmm.]
Matthew: [Well I’m gonna re-open that chapter] It’s about Hungary again. Hungry for Hungary. Not so much about rule of law about the fact that the EC is asking Hungary to change the rules re public procurement and being made condition on European aid and Hungarian authorities not complying.
Marta comes in suddenly, a bit confusing: We don’t comment on leaks [?]. No comments on any plans or projects of investments plans, what have you. Will stress once again, regulation very clear, MS have to set up checks and controls to avoid fraud, corruption, any conflicts of interest, etc, that’s what we’re asking the MS to do, and they’ll have to react to any recommendations addressed to them and you can consult them on our website.
Matthew follow-up: EC hasn’t formally request that Hungary modify it’s process for allocating public procurement contracts.
Marta: We’re not gonna comment on ongoing discussions with MS. The rules are very clear.
Eric: think Marta gave an extensive response, can’t add anything. Over to Nicola.
Nicola: [silence]
Eric: Eh? What up? A mic issue. Someone else.
Greek journalist, I think: Cyrpus technical packages. What happen to the [?] case? [No idea what this is about.]
Eric: That sounds like sun and olive oil. [What?]
Specialist, she spoke in English but I didn’t understand the answer. Very technical, I think about food.
Eric: you have a configuration issue. [Don’t we all.] On to Guillermo.
Guillermo: Sputnik vaccine. Do you have any new info about its path to approval? Did the Borrell visit have any effect re the vaccine?
Eric: you should talk to the EMA.
Specialist: EMA has made a request for medical advice. Sputnik V not part of the vaccine strategy. EC and MS can discuss. Must have production capacity in the EU.
Eric: our agreements not with governments, but with companies. [interesting point]
Yannis: Johnson & Johnson, US export ban on vaccines, concerns about delays of vaccine deliveries to MS. Is the Commission on top of this?
Mariam: the US has an exec order on access to vaccines, issued in December, priority access for Americans, and defence production act, but we’re not aware of any export ban as such. For J&J, vaccine deliveries need export authorisation.
José: Is finally the EC going to use the Russian vaccine? Russia considered a big enemy of European democracy?
Eric, who appears to be glowing now: we’re not going to debate this every single day. Sputnik vaccine not part of the European strategy on vaccine. Any vaccines that wants to be distributed in EU must obtain positive assessment of EMA. A different issue that we may consider a vaccine be included in our own strategy, that we invest in the company up front via advance purchasing agreement. [He’s lost me.] We’re not in discussion with Sputnik V producers to produce the vaccine.
Tommaso: Novavax [a vaccine I think]. Next week? In Italy, as you know, statements from regions, I think it’s possible for a state to purchase doses… [eh? Basically, can regions do their own thing.]
12:56 Stephan: Novavax, discussions ongoing. We’re working towards a contract with this company. Before we sign an advance purchase agreement, MS asked whether they want to opt-out. Then MS, during discussions, divide doses between them. MS may, if they wish, have fewer numbers or more of a certain vaccine, so the system gives flexibility for a different distribution system. I hope this clarifies things a little bit. [No irony detected.]
Marco: Italian region of Veneto and other regions, they have announced they’d like to negotiate directly with the vaccine manufacturers. But EC already signed contracts with them. Is this in line with EC strategy? Would you encourage regions to negotiate with manufacturers?
Stephan: Basic strategy to negotiate together and not in parallel. So we’re in agreement for no parallel negotiations. So… no need for parallel or bilateral negotiations, which would run counter to our strategy.
David, with a grey Brussels sky behind him: any progress in increased production capacities, or things just going to go on like this? [what a depressing thought]
Eric: task force just been set up. Work is ongoing. One last question [before my skin melts].
Naomi: Why is von der Leyen not going to give more replies to the MEPs today?
Eric: No, this was foreseen from the beginning. Prez makes introductory speech, but debate closed by Commissioner in charge of the portfolio.
Naomi: But she was down on the roster just a short time ago. Why was that changed?
Eric: Don’t know why the Prez’s name was on the roster. Commissioner in charge. I will close. [BOOZY LUNCH NECESSARY]