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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13202

16 June 2023
Contents Publication in full By article 14 / 37
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Home affairs
Spyware, MEPs call on Member States to regulate and justify use of eavesdropping for national security reasons
Brussels, 15/06/2023 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 15 June, MEPs adopted the recommendations of Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld (Renew Europe) on the use of spyware in the EU (see EUROPE B13178A24) by 411 votes to 97, with 37 abstentions. The European Parliament’s board of inquiry, PEGA, named after the Pegasus software, took a position at the beginning of May.

In this non-binding text, MEPs call for a common legal definition of national security justifying this type of eavesdropping and propose authorising the use of spyware...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
BIODIVERSITY: Nature Restoration Law is not buried but vote by MEPs will continue on 27 June
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: MEPs support and strengthen ‘Ecodesign for Sustainable Products’ regulation
DIGITAL: European Commission validates decision of ten Member States to exclude Huawei and ZTE from their 5G networks and is preparing to follow suit
ENERGY: Ursula von der Leyen announces launch in Santiago of two EU-Chile cooperation projects for development of renewable hydrogen
COMPETITIVENESS: ‘net zero industry act’ must take greater account of SMEs, says SMEUnited
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: Christine Lagarde announces a 25bp rise in three key interest rates, with a further increase likely in July
ECONOMY: including Germany, 11 EU countries insist on importance of incorporating “quantitative criteria” into Stability [and Growth] Pact reform
ECOFIN: reform of Stability Pact, VAT and aid to Ukraine on agenda of EU finance ministers
TAXATION: experts recommend harmonising tobacco taxation at European level
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
UKRAINE: European Parliament calls for a comprehensive EU recovery plan for Ukraine
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: European Parliament recommends a 716-seat Chamber for 2024-2029 legislature
CLIMATE: European Parliament supports creation of European Day for victims of global climate crisis
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: MEPs call for concerted EU action to tackle water crisis
HOME AFFAIRS: spyware, MEPs call on Member States to regulate and justify use of eavesdropping for national security reasons
JUSTICE: Swedish Presidency of Council and European Commission support extending European Public Prosecutor’s Office mandate to violations of EU sanctions
JUSTICE: European Parliament approves Ukraine’s accession to Convention on recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in civil and commercial matters
HONG KONG: European Parliament denounces erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, including arrest of press owner and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai
ASIA: European Parliament adopts two resolutions on partnership and cooperation agreements with Thailand and Malaysia
NICARAGUA: European Parliament reiterates its call to directly sanction President Ortega
DEVELOPMENT/ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament calls on EU to redouble efforts to accelerate achievement of UN sustainable development goals
TAXATION: European Parliament adopts report on lessons learned from Pandora Papers
REGIONS: European Parliament calls for more ambitious EU support for outermost regions
INSTITUTIONAL
EU2023ES: reindustrialisation of EU, green transition, greater social and economic justice and unity of EU are priorities of Spanish Presidency of EU Council
EXTERNAL ACTION
SYRIA: international community pledges €9.6 billion to help Syrians in 2023 and beyond
KOSOVO: Josep Borrell announces upcoming organisation of crisis meeting in Brussels to ease tensions in north of country
ACP: to avoid a legal vacuum at end of June, European Commission will propose a new extension of Cotonou Agreement
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: according to Josep Borrell, Member States have already submitted reimbursement requests of over €900 million for munitions sent to Ukraine
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
CONSUMERS: if mortgage contract contains unfair terms, consumer can claim compensation that goes beyond repayment of monthly instalments
FISHERIES: CFP rules require EU Council to set catch limits at sustainable levels, says Advocate General
DIGITAL: personal data in criminal matters, according to advocate general, individual must have remedies against independent supervisory authority
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: occupational exposure to asbestos, Swedish Presidency of EU Council and European Parliament make progress in negotiations on revision of directive
EDUCATION - YOUTH
YOUTH: European Economic and Social Committee in favour of greater political participation and better working conditions for young people
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
CORRUPTION: Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body calls for respect for access to information and invites EU to become a “full member”
NEWS BRIEFS
COHESION: waste management capacity has improved in Malta thanks to EU funding
ENERGY: adoption of delegated acts on renewable hydrogen
RESEARCH: EIT announces launch of Red Kalyna prize for innovative Ukrainian women
HEALTH: European Commission suggests revising certain rules on radio frequencies