COVID-19: Communications and measures from the EU institutions to tackle the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The European Commission published several communications in order to tackle the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe. Please see the communications below:

• Communication from the Commission about border management measures to protect health and ensure the availability of goods and essential services in the EU. The guidelines recommend the closure of EU external borders for people and the maintenance of free movement of goods within the EU.
• Communication from the Commission about facilitating Air Cargo Operations during COVID-19 outbreak.
• Communication from the Commission, concerning lack of liquidity and short-term export-credit insurance.
• Commission announcement to support the agri-food sector : The Coronavirus response investment initiative plus (CRII+) proposed by the European Commission introduces exceptional flexibility and simplification in the use of the European structural investment funds (ESIF), including the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD).
• Communication from the Commission about amendments to the measures on State aid to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition to the communications, the following regulations have been adopted:

• Implementing regulation 2020/466 providing for a temporary possibility for Member States to perform official controls on the agri-food chain in a simplified manner in view of the ongoing situation linked to disease COVID-19. Please note that the draft of this regulation was published in the newsletter of 30 March 2020.
• REGULATION (EU) 2020/460 establishing the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative. It allows EU funds (regional development, cohesion fund, etc.) to support the financing of capital in SMEs where necessary as a temporary measure.
• COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2020/464 as regards the documents needed for the retroactive recognition of periods for the purpose of conversion, the production of organic products and information to be provided by Member States.

The European Commission has also informed third countries that electronic export certificates and scanned copies would be accepted for imports into the EU. This is a waiving of the requirement to present original paper certificates as a temporary working solution in the context of COVID 19.

Contact: Daniel Pérez Vega, dperezvega@frucom.eu