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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12016

8 May 2018
Contents Publication in full By article 12 / 27
EXTERNAL ACTION / Australia/new zealand
EU Council to examine negotiating directives for free trade agreements with view to their adoption on 22 May
Brussels, 07/05/2018 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday 8 May, the ambassadors of the EU member states (Coreper) are to examine and are expected to ratify the draft negotiating directives for the EU-Australia and EU-New Zealand free trade agreements, with a view to their formal adoption by the EU trade ministers on 22 May.

These draft negotiating directives were presented to the Council by the European Commission on 15 September 2017 (see EUROPE 11862). 

"We are quite close to an agreement, but there are a few difficulties...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: New compromise proposal at Council on confidentiality of communications
COHESION: European Parliament research services calculate reduction of just over 12.5% for Cohesion Policy budget for 2021-2027
ENVIRONMENT: Still too much water pollution from agricultural nitrates in EU, says European Commission
ENVIRONMENT: Commission could tackle pollution by disposable plastic products end May
INDUSTRY: 'Machinery' and 'product liability' directives still foster innovation, Commission says
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: According to internal document, Commission appears to be shifting towards re-nationalisation of European Social Fund
INSTITUTIONAL
GENERAL AFFAIRS: Post-2020 EU budget, rule of law in Poland and Brexit on agenda of ministerial meeting
SECURITY - DEFENCE
PESCO: New projects to be adopted by end of year, says Mogherini
DEFENCE: France hopes to see project of common European intervention force started
CSDP: Mogherini hopes decision on new Atalanta headquarters will be made between end of May and early June
EXTERNAL ACTION
RUSSIA: EU criticises arrest of hundreds of protesters
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND: EU Council to examine negotiating directives for free trade agreements with view to their adoption on 22 May
MERCOSUR: Cecilia Malmström still believes in EU-Mercosur trade agreement before end of 2018 despite Brazilian stumbling block
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPETITION: Conditional green light to acquisition of Ilva by ArcelorMittal
COMPETITION: Conditional green light to acquisition of Rockwell Collins by UTC
BANKS: Greek banks satisfied with their results in the 2018 stress tests
NEWS BRIEFS
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Federica Mogherini to present Peace Facility by mid-June
URBAN AGENDA: European cities launch campaign to strengthen dialogue with citizens
COLOMBIA: EEAS hails resumption of peace negotiations with ELN
DEVELOPMENT: Delegation of MEPs in Uganda, country facing crisis of refugees from South Sudan
ENVIRONMENT: CO2 from heavy-duty vehicles - T&E supports -24% target by 2025 requested by carriers and major brands
JUSTICE: Snapchat signs up to Code of Conduct on tackling online hate speech
KOSOVO: American Jack Smith appointed new Specialist Prosecutor of Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor’s Office
CHAD: EU calls for real political dialogue after enactment of new constitution
TRANSPORT: European seaports call on Council and Parliament to support Commission proposal for CEF
TURKEY: Fresh attempt to reach agreement at Council on financing details for facility for refugees
CORRIGENDUM
TRANSPORT: Clarification regarding unfair competition by third country airlines