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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12158

13 December 2018
Contents Publication in full By article 11 / 40
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Sakharov prize
European Parliament presents its 2018 prize in absentia to Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
Brussels, 12/12/2018 (Agence Europe)

On Wednesday 12 December, the Parliament awarded its 2018 Sakharov Prize to Oleg Sentsov, who was represented by his cousin and lawyer (see EUROPE 12125). 

The Ukrainian filmmaker was sentenced to 20 years in prison, officially for "terrorism", for opposing the illegal annexation of Crimea. He is imprisoned beyond the Arctic Circle in Russia. 

Mr Sentsov represents “determination and commitment to human rights and dignity, democracy and respect for the rule of law”, summarised...

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
UNITED KINGDOM: Twenty-seven willing to help Ms. May avoid a Brexit without agreement, but without reopening negotiations
EMU: Eurozone Summit will endorse modest progress made by Eurogroup
BUDGET: Twenty-eight will have a long debate with a view to preparing an agreement in 2019 on EU budget for 2021-2027
INTERNAL MARKET: Member States will debate future of single market in March 2019
MIGRATION: no progress expected at European Council on asylum package, even on least controversial texts
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: leaders to discuss Russia's actions in Ukraine once again
DIGITAL: European Council keeps an eye on fight against misinformation
CLIMATE: strategy 2050, European Council will announce political guidelines for first quarter of 2019
FUTURE OF THE EU: citizen consultations, progress report identifies major trends, despite varying results
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
FUTURE OF THE EU: Nicos Anastasiades reminds EU that solidarity is not a one-way street
SAKHAROV PRIZE: European Parliament presents its 2018 prize in absentia to Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov
BUDGET: formal adoption of 2019 EU budget, which responds to MEPs' priorities
TERRORISM: disrupted by attack in Strasbourg, European Parliament validates recommendations of its special committee
JAPAN: MEPs vote in favour of “world's most important trade agreement” 
TAXATION: European Parliament outraged by Council's deadlock on taxation of digital sector
TRANSPORT: European Parliament is ready to negotiate with Council on 2021-2027 budget of Connecting Europe Facility
RESEARCH: MEPs adopt their position on Horizon Europe programme
INDUSTRY: European Defence Fund, European Parliament ready for negotiations with Council
DEFENCE: MEPs support a strong EU defence policy
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: European Parliament calls for end of unanimity for foreign policy decisions
UKRAINE: European Parliament condemns “deliberate” Russian aggression in Sea of Azov
HUMAN RIGHTS: European Parliament supports a universal sanctions regime on human rights violations
JHA: European Parliament ready to negotiate with Council on new rules for short-stay visas in EU
INSTITUTIONAL
RULE OF LAW: Article 7 procedure against Poland, set to continue after a further hearing on rule of law
SECTORAL POLICIES
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: plastic products polluting oceans, Council is reluctant to accept targets for reducing plastic cigarette butts
DIGITAL: much bargaining to come on copyright reform aimed at reaching an agreement
ENERGY: European Parliament and Council agree on functions of Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators
CLIMATE: reduction of CO2 from heavy goods vehicles, Presidency hopes for a political agreement on 20 December at Environment Council
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: new Commission measures to combat VAT fraud in e-commerce sector
FINANCE: Commission sets new transparency requirements for systematic internalisers
EXTERNAL ACTION
WTO: the multilateral organisation sounds the alarm about the rise of protectionism in the world
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
COMPETITION: Court of First Instance partially annuls Commission's decision condemning Servier for anti-competitive practices
EGYPT: Tribunal confirms freezing of Mr Mubarak's assets in 2017 and 2018
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: unauthorised sampling constitutes an infringement of rights of music producers, according to Advocate General
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AIDS: green light for 20-year extension of concession granted to AIA to operate Athens Airport
CITIZENSHIP: expected inter-institutional agreement on reform of European Citizens' Initiative
SPACE: industry becoming impatient with slow pace of negotiations on space programme
PARLIAMENT: MEP Stefano Maullu joins ECR group in European Parliament
FISHERIES: Member States shall approve agreement between institutions on Western Waters management plan
FOOD SAFETY: transparency of EFSA evaluations, BEUC satisfied with European Parliament vote, with two caveats