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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12440

6 March 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 32
EXTERNAL ACTION / United kingdom
A start to negotiations between London and EU marked by a fragile level of confidence and “serious” differences of opinion
Brussels, 05/03/2020 (Agence Europe)

The European Union’s chief negotiator for the future relationship with the United Kingdom, Michel Barnier, confirmed to no surprise on Thursday 5 March the existence of respective – for the moment irreconcilable – red lines that could complicate talks on the future relationship between the Twenty-Seven and London.

Speaking at the end of the first round of negotiations, Mr Barnier identified four problem areas where “serious divergences” existed: the guarantee of fair...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE: Member States welcome ‘climate law’ but disagree on 2030 target
CLIMATE: submission of EU's long-term climate strategy to UN is imminent
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: Environment Council wants an optimal Action Plan 2.0 for planet and all stakeholders
ENVIRONMENT: EU ministers call for stronger EU action to combat air pollution
ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament Environment Committee sets out its vision for tackling pharmaceutical pollution
HEALTH: MEPs highlight risk of medicines shortage caused by coronavirus
GENDER EQUALITY: Commission unveils its strategy for 2020-2025 with a focus on equal pay
CIVIL PROTECTION: MEPs call for €1.4 billion to be allocated to RescEU mechanism for 2021-2027 period
JUSTICE: EU Council soon ready to adopt strategic guidelines for future policies
FISHERIES: Commission authorises scientific fishing during ban on cod catches in Baltic Sea
FISHERIES: EU Council endorses EU/Gambia agreement
INTERNAL MARKET: Commission concludes agreement with major short-term property rental platforms
INDUSTRY: latest pressure from business community on eve of industrial and SME strategies
COHESION: Committee of the Regions rapporteur suggests introducing more flexibility in transfers from Cohesion Fund to Just Transition Fund
EXTERNAL ACTION
SYRIA: Mr Borrell supports idea of a no-fly zone, all while recognising EU's lack of power in this area
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Interparliamentary Conference for CFSP/CSDP calls for strengthening of EU’s international role
UNITED KINGDOM: a start to negotiations between London and EU marked by a fragile level of confidence and “serious” differences of opinion
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: High Representative believes EU needs a common strategic culture
CSDP: EUNAVFOR Med Operation Sophia was a 'resounding success', according to Borrell
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: Commission outlines main lines of its initiative on how to better fight tax fraud
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
HUNGARY: Advocate General of the Court rules in favour of Commission in dispute with Budapest over Central European University
MONEY LAUNDERING: Advocate General recommends a fine of €3 million for Romania and €1.5 million for Ireland for failure to comply with anti-money laundering directive
STATE AID: reductions in employee contributions granted to Compagnie des pêches de Saint-Malo are compatible with EU law, in Advocate General’s view
AGRICULTURE: General Court to re-examine dispute over Cypriot HALLOUMI cheese
ENVIRONMENT: Cyprus condemned for breaching EU rules on urban waste water collection
NEWS BRIEFS
FINANCE: five organisations call on Commission to safeguard competitiveness of European financial services
INDIA: EU/India Summit postponed sine die
INDUSTRY: T&E presents recommendations for a successful Battery Alliance
IRAN: EU urges Teheran to cooperate fully with IAEA
NUCLEAR: NATO calls for strengthening NPT
TRANSPORT: Henrik Hololei believes that hydrogen “represents the most promising route to decarbonation”
UKRAINE: EU Council extends freezing of 10 people’s assets in connection with misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds