Juncker Plan supports Nordlink interconnector with €100 million EIB investment The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a €100 million financing agreement with TenneT, a leading European electricity transmission system operator, to support the construction of an electricity interconnector between Norway and Germany. The transaction is backed by the Juncker Plan's European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). The interconnector will span 624 kilometres, linking Norway and Germany across the North Sea. It will have a capacity of 1,400 megawatts, significantly improving the diversification and security of supply whilst enhancing electricity market integration in both countries. Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, responsible for the Energy Union, said: "We need forward-looking investments into modern energy infrastructure with adequate interconnections, in particular to integrate renewables into the grid. It is a vital element of our energy security as well as our climate action. This smart combination of renewable power generation – solar and wind in Germany and hydroelectric in Norway – underlines our firm commitment to bring clean power to millions of people." A press release can be found here.  (For more information: Christian Spahr – Tel.: +32 229 50055; Enda McNamara – Tel.: +32 229 64976)   Rule of Law: European Commission takes next step in infringement procedure to protect the independence of the Polish Supreme Court Today, the European Commission decided to send a Reasoned Opinion to Poland regarding the Polish law on the Supreme Court. The new law lowers the retirement age of Supreme Court judges from 70 to 65, which puts 27 out of 72 sitting Supreme Court judges at risk of being forced to retire, including the First President of the Court. The Commission maintains that the Polish law is incompatible with EU law as it undermines the principle of judicial independence, including the irremovability of judges, and thereby Poland fails to fulfil its obligations under Article 19(1) of the Treaty on European Union read in connection with Article 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Commission has carried out a thorough analysis of the response of the Polish authorities to the Letter of Formal Notice sent by the Commission on 2 July 2018. The response of the Polish authorities does not alleviate the Commission's legal concerns. The Commission has therefore moved to the next stage of the infringement procedure. The Polish authorities now have one month to take the necessary measures to comply with this Reasoned Opinion. If the Polish authorities do not take appropriate measures, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the EU. More information is available in a press release in all official languages, here. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: +32 229 56172; Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 229 58602) EU scales up humanitarian assistance to victims of Lombok earthquakes   The European Commission has announced a further €500,000 to step up its emergency response to meet the most pressing needs of those affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck the Indonesian island of Lombok in late July and early August. The latest allocation comes in addition to the initial €150,000 delivered earlier this month, thus bringing the EU's total contribution to €650,000. The EU humanitarian funding complements the response of the Indonesian government and will focus on the most vulnerable groups and the most difficult to reach communities in the affected area. The EU aid will support the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in implementing emergency relief programmes and will directly benefit 80,000 vulnerable people. “We stand by the Indonesian people affected by the recent earthquakes in Lombok. This additional contribution will provide crucial support to those in need and ensure that the most vulnerable among the affected people have enough means to cope through this difficult time”, said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides. At least 390 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured when a series of major earthquakes and numerous aftershocks hit the popular Indonesian resort island over the course of the last two weeks. The tremors ravaged more than 67,000 homes, leaving over 300,000 people displaced. The EU funding is being made available through the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT), which aims to respond to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable in the hours and days after a sudden-onset, large-scale emergency or a new humanitarian crisis. (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela – Tel.: +32 229 65322 ; Esther Osorio –  Tel.: +32 229 62076) Eurostat: Le PIB en hausse de 0,4% tant dans la zone euro que dans l'UE28 Au cours du deuxième trimestre 2018, le PIB corrigé des variations saisonnières a augmenté de 0,4% dans la zone euro (ZE19) ainsi que dans l'UE28 par rapport au trimestre précédent, selon l'estimation rapide publiée par Eurostat, l'office statistique de l'Union européenne. Au cours du premier trimestre 2018, le PIB avait crû également de 0,4% tant dans la zone euro que dans l'UE28. En comparaison avec le même trimestre de l'année précédente, le PIB corrigé des variations saisonnières a enregistré une hausse de 2,2% tant dans la zone euro que dans l'UE28 au deuxième trimestre 2018, après respectivement +2,5% et +2,4% au premier trimestre 2018. Au cours du deuxième trimestre 2018, le PIB des États-Unis a augmenté de 1,0% par rapport au trimestre précédent (après +0,5% au premier trimestre 2018). Par rapport au même trimestre de l'année précédente, le PIB a progressé de 2,8% (après +2,6% au premier trimestre 2018). Un communiqué de presse est disponible en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations:Christian Spahr – Tél.: +32 229 50055; Enda McNamara – Tél.: +32 229 64976)   Eurostat: La production industrielle en baisse de 0,7% dans la zone euro En juin 2018 par rapport à mai 2018, la production industrielle corrigée des variations saisonnières a diminué de 0,7% dans la zone euro (ZE19) et de 0,4% dans l'UE28, selon les estimations d'Eurostat, l'office statistique de l'Union européenne. En mai 2018, la production industrielle avait augmenté de 1,4% dans la zone euro et de 1,3% dans l'UE28. En juin 2018 par rapport à juin 2017, la production industrielle a augmenté de 2,5% dans la zone euro et de 2,6% dans l'UE28. Vous pouvez trouver plus d'informations dans un communiqué de presse en ligne. (Pour plus d'informations: Ricardo Cardoso – Tél.: +32 229 80100; Maud Noyon – Tél.: +32 229 80379; Victoria von Hammerstein - Tél.: +32 229 55040)   Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)