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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 11680

2 December 2016
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 34
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Ghana
European Parliament gives approval to conclusion of stepping stone EPA without waiting for conclusion of regional EPA
Brussels, 01/12/2016 (Agence Europe)

Following its rapporteur Christofer Fjellner (EPP, Sweden), the European Parliament approved the conclusion, in Brussels on Thursday 1 December, of the stepping stone economic and partnership agreement (EPA) between Ghana and the EU and its member states.

Parliament gave its consent by 375 votes in favour (220 against and 46 abstentions).  This paves the way for ratification of this progressive and asymmetric trade liberalisation agreement between Ghana and the EU, without waiting for the...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: Member states continue to clash on social question in road haulage sector
TRANSPORT: Commission and Germany agree on road tariffs system that complies with EU law
ENERGY: Progress expected at Council on the proposal for a revised regulation on the security of gas supply
ENERGY: S&D and Greens/EFA groups in the European Parliament determined to increase ambition for clean energy
TELECOMS: First Council debate on the new telecommunications code
COHESION: Commission proposes changes to help disaster areas
ANIMAL HEALTH: Commission takes measures to avoid spread of bird flu
JHA: Timmermans presents measures to help children in migration
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: Member states want to be able to introduce reduced VAT for e-publications
TAXATION: European Commission seems to be doing about-turn on reduced VAT rates on feminine hygiene products
EUROGROUP: Draft 2017 budget and Greek bailout plan on ministers' agenda
FINANCE: 'MiFID II' – methodology to set position limits on raw materials derivatives
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIGRATION: Political agreement in reach at Council on European Fund for Sustainable Development
TRADE: Hour of truth for negotiations ahead of environmental goods agreement
SOUTHERN NEIGHBOURHOOD: Over €220 million to support Egypt, Jordan, Libya and Syria
GEORGIA: Europeans try to reassure Tbilisi on visa liberalisation
NORTH KOREA: EU hails adoption of new sanctions by Security Council
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
JHA: Transatlantic framework on personal data widely approved by European Parliament
BUDGET: European Parliament has not yet said its last word on revision of multi-annual financial framework
BUDGET: European Parliament approves next year's EU budget
TUNISIA: Commitment reaffirmed to democratic transition
GHANA: European Parliament gives approval to conclusion of stepping stone EPA without waiting for conclusion of regional EPA
REGIONS: European Parliament proposes joint requests to solidarity fund
DRC: MEPs urge EU to take sanctions against perpetrators of deadly violence
INSTITUTIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM: At the European Parliament, Michel Barnier reiterates that there will be no negotiations until article 50 is triggered
EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: No increase in October unemployment rate throughout EU
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: Council adopts new regulation on aid and refunds
CENTRAL AFRICA: EU condemns violence in Bria that threatens national reconciliation
COHESION: Cretu not keen on cohesion policy differentiation
COMMISSION: Parliament demands three year cooling off period for former Commissioners
FINANCE: European Parliament votes to postpone application of 'Priips' directive until January 2018
JHA: Green light to visa-free regimes for five Pacific states
UZBEKISTAN: EU hails release of Samandar Kukanov
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Manfred Weber will not be a candidate to succeed Martin Schulz