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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12194

15 February 2019
Contents Publication in full By article 29 / 38
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU / Taxation
Belgian system of surplus profits does not constitute unlawful aid, the Court considers
Brussels, 14/02/2019 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 14 February, the Court of First Instance of the European Union annulled the European Commission's decision from January 2016 considering as illegal State aid the Belgian tax regime linked to the surplus profits enjoyed by 55 multinational companies between 2005 and 2015 (joint cases T-131/16 and T-263/16 - see EUROPE 11465). 

In 2016, Belgium and Magnetrol International challenged the Commission's decision before the Court of First Instance. They also criticised the...

Contents

SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL AFFAIRS: European Parliament and Council of Ministers reach an agreement on European Labour Authority
SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: EU co-legislators adopt flexible approach on intermediation platforms
DIGITAL: Member States and MEPs will decide quickly on Interinstitutional Agreement on Copyright
PATENTS: European Parliament and the Council introduce the possibility of building up a stock of generics 6 months before the expiry of the supplementary protection certificate
FISHERIES: Netherlands has two and a half years to end electric fishing licences
AGRICULTURE: EU Member States divided on capping and degression of aid
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs highlight environmental and climate targets for post-2020 CAP
JHA: Mandatory or optional presence of fingerprints on future identity cards remains last point to be settled between European Parliament and Council
COHESION: European Parliament restores regional classification level for 2021-2027 ERDF and CF regulation
TRANSPORT: European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents will decide on 7 March on follow-up to ‘mobility’ package I
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
WEAPONS: European Parliament calls for European mediation to save INF
TRADE: MEPs broadly support establishment of European mechanism for screening investments in EU
ANIMAL HEALTH: MEPs urge Member States to better protect animals during transport
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: having been well thought out, urgent action is needed to achieve SDGs, say MEPs
GENDER EQUALITY: unprecedented European Parliament resolution calling for better consideration of rights of intersex people
SAUDI ARABIA: parliament calls for release of human rights defenders
CHECHNYA: European Parliament urges to put an end to climate of impunity for those responsible for acts of violence against human rights defenders
PAYMENTS: European Parliament seals agreement on ending “roaming” charges for cross-border payments in euros
TAXATION:  European Parliament divided over transition to qualified majority voting in Council on tax issues
INTERNAL MARKET: European Parliament endorses interinstitutional agreement strengthening mutual recognition of non-harmonised goods
INSURANCE: European Parliament confirms its position on revision of ‘Motor Insurance’ Directive
TRANSPORT: European Parliament confirms at first reading its position on market rules for coach transport
TRANSPORT: European Parliament gives green light for interinstitutional agreement on interoperability of electronic toll systems
ENERGY: European Parliament approves technical amendment to Energy Efficiency Directive due to Brexit
HEALTH: European Parliament completes its first reading on health technology assessment
SECURITY - DEFENCE
KOSOVO: NATO is expected to take decisions in the spring on its cooperation with Kosovo
NATO: Mr Stoltenberg reiterates once again need for complementarity between EU and NATO
NATO: Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Austria will establish a regional Special Operations Component Command
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
TAXATION: Belgian system of surplus profits does not constitute unlawful aid, the Court considers
INSTITUTIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM: British will leave EU on 29 March even without ratification of withdrawal agreement ordered, according to Steve Barclay
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: euro area GDP and employment up by 0.2% and 0.3% in fourth quarter of 2018 respectively
NEWS BRIEFS
ENERGY: public consultation on role of euro in energy transactions
TAXATION: Lithuania authorised to apply reverse charge VAT mechanism on hard disks
JUSTICE: Commission recalls that all candidates for post of Head of European Public Prosecutor's Office must be treated “fairly”
DIGITAL: European Parliament/Council agreement on 2021-2027 Digital Europe programme
EP2019: Laurent de Sutter and Rosita Allinckx appointed as list leaders for Belgian electoral wing of 'European Spring'
TRANSPORT: Transport & Environment welcomes interinstitutional agreement on aerodynamic cabs
TRANSPORT: maritime operators satisfied with interinstitutional agreement on establishment of European Maritime Single Window environment