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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12204

1 March 2019
Contents Publication in full By article 26 / 42
ECONOMY - FINANCE / State aid
Opening an in-depth investigation into Swedish-Danish support for Øresund fixed rail-road link
Brussels, 28/02/2019 (Agence Europe)

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation on Thursday 28 February to assess whether or not the Copenhagen and Stockholm public support measures for the Øresund fixed rail-road link are compatible with EU state aid rules. 

This link, which takes the form of a toll-funded bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel between the Swedish coast and the Danish island of Amager, to connect Copenhagen and Malmö, is backed by the two Scandinavian states. 

Indeed, Denmark and Sweden...

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