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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13315

16 December 2023
Contents Publication in full By article 13 / 29
EXTERNAL ACTION / Switzerland
Switzerland and European Commission prepare to negotiate on package of bilateral agreements
Brussels, 15/12/2023 (Agence Europe)

On Friday 15 December, the European Commission welcomed the progress made on the “common understanding” of their new sectoral approach by package of bilateral agreements (see EUROPE B13298A22), which should serve as a framework for negotiations between Switzerland and the European Commission, which is negotiating on behalf of the EU.

The document no longer provides for an institutional framework agreement, but a set of institutional modules that would be included in the agreements...

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
BUDGET: revision of EU’s long-term budget, EU27 will attempt to reach an agreement in late January or early February 2024
MIDDLE EAST: Charles Michel calls for EU to bring “a voice that has an impact on this conflict”
DEFENCE: European leaders call for stronger European security and defence
MIGRATION: European leaders satisfied with various measures taken to better manage migration
TURKEY: leaders postpone their discussion on EU/Turkey relations to a forthcoming summit
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
MEDIA: after tough discussions on surveillance of journalists, European Parliament and EU Council reach a provisional agreement on ‘Media Freedom Act’
INSTITUTIONAL
POLAND: Donald Tusk announces his country’s return to heart of EU
SECTORAL POLICIES
ENVIRONMENT: EU Council should be able to adopt its position on ‘Packaging and Packaging Waste’ regulation on 18 December
ENERGY: Energy Council, European ministers to seek agreement on extending emergency measures adopted to tackle energy crisis
ENERGY: ACER calls for effective monitoring of gas supply in context of ENTSOG’s publication on outlook for winter 2023-2024
INDUSTRY: start of European Parliament/EU Council negotiations on recasting of European Euro 7 environmental standard rules
TRANSPORT: European Parliament warns of risk of Chinese investment in non-maritime transport infrastructure
EXTERNAL ACTION
SWITZERLAND: Switzerland and European Commission prepare to negotiate on package of bilateral agreements
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: reform of Stability Pact, Italy in favour of a face-to-face meeting of Ecofin Council
STATE AID: European Commission approves Belgian scheme worth €50 million to support battery and electrolyser production in Wallonia
TAXATION: European Data Protection Supervisor recommends clarifying confidentiality rules in tax agreement with Norway
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: European Commission establishes a Large-scale Partnership with energy industry to boost skills development
Russian invasion of Ukraine
AGRICULTURE: Janusz Wojciechowski raises idea of a “safeguard instrument” against poultry imports from Ukraine
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Court of Justice of EU dismisses MEPs’ appeal against ban on displaying national flags in European Parliament Chamber
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
MIGRATION: Council of Europe calls on Italy to take action to better protect rights of migrants, asylum seekers, women and LGBTI people
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: Schengen area, Spain wants to do everything possible to obtain a positive decision on entry of Bulgaria and Romania before end of year
STATE AID: European Commission approves a €140 million Portuguese scheme to support production of hydrogen and biomethane
BANKS: European Banking Authority’s roadmap for implementation in EU of rules finalising ‘Basel III’ agreement
DIGITAL: ‘Digital Europe’, European Commission earmarks a budget of €762.7 million for digital transition and cybersecurity in 2024
FISHERIES: European Fisheries Control Agency takes part in a training course in Morocco
UNITED KINGDOM: launch of EU/UK Cyber Dialogue
TRANSPORT: TEN-T network, European Parliament-EU Council agreement in sight
TRANSPORT: Moldova receives €41.2 million from EIB to improve Solidarity Lanes
Op-Ed
OP-ED: Seeking to improve payment behaviour, proposed Late Payment rules risk harming companies, say Markus J. Beyrer (BusinessEurope) and Ben Butters (Eurochambres)