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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12204

1 March 2019
Contents Publication in full By article 23 / 42
ECONOMY - FINANCE / Taxation
Digital taxation, Bruno Le Maire is now confident of OECD agreement by end 2019
Brussels, 28/02/2019 (Agence Europe)

Has the proposal for a European digital services tax been buried? That is what French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire seemed to suggest on Thursday, 28 February, on the Public Sénat channel; he now hopes for an international agreement by the end of 2019. 

On 12 March, European finance ministers are expected to resume their discussions on the very watered-down Franco-German proposal for a digital services tax, which would only apply to online advertising (see EUROPE 12152). 

“Let us...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: joint actions on cybersecurity, Member States want to keep control
DEMOCRACY: disinformation, still no breakthrough on the platform side
DIGITAL: European ministers will discuss future of a 'highly digitised' Europe after 2020
SPACE: European Parliament condemns Commission's position on 2021-2027 space programme
TRANSPORT: new proposal to European Parliament to vote on ‘mobility’ package I at next plenary session
TRANSPORT: 50 companies qualified for final of second edition of European Startup Prize for Mobility
JUSTICE: European cooperation network on elections continues preparations to ensure security of May elections
JUSTICE: Virginie Rozière points finger at attitude of several Member States regarding ‘whistleblowers’ Directive
JHA: launch of European Parliament/Council negotiations on new European Border and Coast Guard Agency mandate
MIGRATION: European Commission responds to Budapest's “fiction” on EU migration policies
ENVIRONMENT: drinking water directive, climate strategy 2050 and endocrine disrupters on Council's agenda on 5 March
ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE: European Parliament/Council negotiations on the LIFE programme post-2020 will continue on 11 March
HEALTH:  new rules on medical devices already criticised before being implemented
ENERGY: Council will discuss tyre labelling and long-term climate strategy on Monday 4 March
COHESION: EU must make a 'local shift', toward cities and regions of Europe
EXTERNAL ACTION
TURKEY: EU and Ankara sign an agreement for construction of a railway line between Turkey and Bulgaria
SEA OF AZOV: likely adoption on 14 March of sanctions against eight people involved in arrest of Ukrainian sailors
UKRAINE: West will not abandon Ukraine, promise ministers from nine Member States
WTO: United Kingdom becomes a full member of the Government Procurement Agreement
INSTITUTIONAL
UNITED KINGDOM: UK MEPs endorse Ms May's choice to ultimately request an extension of negotiating deadline on Brexit
EPP: Mr Orbán's membership in European Christian Democratic family discussed ahead of March European summit
COMMISSION: new guidelines for staff members who will actively participate in European election campaign
ECONOMY - FINANCE
TAXATION: digital taxation, Bruno Le Maire is now confident of OECD agreement by end 2019
MONEY LAUNDERING: several objections to Council's list of high-risk third countries regarding money laundering
GREECE: Mr Moscovici encourages Athens to pursue reforms
STATE AID: opening an in-depth investigation into Swedish-Danish support for Øresund fixed rail-road link
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
ROMANIA: improved legislation, but blocked by structural problems, says Dunja Mijatović
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
AUDIOVISUAL: imposing distribution of foreign channels via a pay-TV package may be justified on grounds of public interest, considers Advocate General
ENVIRONMENT: national courts must, if requested, assess conformity with EU law of the choice of location of air quality monitoring stations, according to Advocate General
CONSUMERS: Amazon platform may choose means to ensure effective communication with consumer, according to Advocate General
NEWS BRIEFS
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: despite a US/North Korea summit without progress, EU remains hopeful
AGRICULTURE: EU protects Mexican tequila drink
COHESION: umbrella regulation on common provisions, co-legislators are addressing issue of partnerships
COHESION: EESC opposes reduction in cohesion policy budget proposed by Commission
CYBER SECURITY: ENISA publishes its recommendations for European elections
HUMAN RIGHTS: Eamon Gilmore officially becomes EU Special Representative
COMPANIES: ETUC calls on European Parliament not to give in on worker protection in the face of Council of European Union, regarding cross-border mobility of companies
JUSTICE: agreement between Member States on electronic evidence Directive
PALESTINE: EU and UNRWA sign a new EU aid agreement worth €82 million
FISHERIES: Member States give green light to conclusion of EU/Morocco agreement
CAR: move towards the extension of the EU 'Bêkou' Trust Fund until the end of 2020
CORRIGENDUM
SOCIAL: clarification of the European Labour Authority's selection criteria