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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12008

25 April 2018
Contents Publication in full By article 7 / 35
SECTORAL POLICIES / Environment
Commission delays possible referrals until May of some of nine countries persistently breaching air quality norms
Brussels, 24/04/2018 (Agence Europe)

Contrary to expectations (see EUROPE 12000, 11992), no decision will be taken on Thursday 26 April on possible legal action against some of the nine member states put under the spotlight for their persistent failure to comply with the air quality standards set out in EU law.

The European Commission has decided to postpone the entire monthly package of infringement procedures until the month of May because of a very heavy workload, it was learned from a high-ranking official on Tuesday 24...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
JHA: Interinstitutional agreement likely on ETIAS travel authorisation system in EU
MIGRATION: Council discussions on reform of right of asylum in EU focus on states in times of crisis
MIGRATION: Asylum application procedure and EU list of 'safe' countries of origin put to a vote in Parliament
DIGITAL: New Bulgarian compromise proposal at Council of EU on cyber security
DIGITAL: Commission to publish its final proposals on single digital market
BIODIVERSITY: Andrieu calls on member states to back ban on bee-killing neonicotinoids on 27 April
ENVIRONMENT: Commission delays possible referrals until May of some of nine countries persistently breaching air quality norms
AGRICULTURE: EU subsidising most heavily polluting livestock farms, says Greenpeace
FISHERIES: EU transposes swordfish recovery plan
FISHERIES: Imported and EU fisheries products must be treated equally, says Parliament
COHESION: Cretu against specific fund for island regions after 2020
ENERGY: EESC formulates recommendations to tackle electricity interconnection shortcomings in EU
JUSTICE: Whistleblowers' directive is greeted positively overall but certain reservations are expressed
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
EUROGROUP: Fourth monitoring mission and finalisation of Greek aid plan on ministerial agenda
FINANCE: With Brexit approaching, Parliament's reflection on harmonised framework for equivalency decisions with third countries is relaunched
COMPETITION: In-depth investigation launched into planned acquisition of Shazam by Apple
COMPETITION: Altice fined €124.5 million for acquiring PT Portugal before being authorised to do so
ECONOMY: Eurozone government debt down to 86.7% of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2017
EXTERNAL ACTION
SYRIA: Staffan de Mistura says EU and UN cannot do miracles alone
SYRIA: EU, UN and NGOs call for more humanitarian aid to Syria and region
TUNISIA: Tunis obtains additional 30,000 tonnes in duty free export of olive oil to EU
ALBANIA: Tusk says it will not be easy to obtain opening of EU accession negotiations
TRADE: European Parliament prepares proposals to make EU trade policy fairer and more effective
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: Extensive EU-OSHA awareness campaign on carcinogenic and mutagenic substances in workplace
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
JHA: Court clarifies conditions for obtaining subsidiary protection in EU for torture victims
BANKS: Merging positions of executive director of a bank and chairman of its board of directors is illegal, says General Court
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
RULE OF LAW: Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe wants framework for declaring state of emergency
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: Irish tax on sugary drinks approved
ARMENIA: Following Sargsyan's resignation, EU underlines need to resolve crisis swiftly and peacefully
BREXIT: MEPs support transfer of European Banking Authority to Paris on 30 March 2019
TRADE: Committee of Regions invited to hold observer status at consultative group on EU trade policy
FINANCE: MEPs set their expectations for sustainable finance
MONGOLIA: Positive assessment of first steps in EU-Mongolia partnership and cooperation agreement
UK: European Parliament insists on registration of European citizens free of charge and as easily as possible after Brexit
TERORISM: EU offers aid to Toronto after city suffers deadly car ramming attack