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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12451

21 March 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 16 / 42
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Cohesion
Covid-19, CoR President calls for European health emergency mechanism for cities and regions
Brussels, 20/03/2020 (Agence Europe)

The President of the Committee of the Regions, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a statement issued on Friday 20 March, called for the establishment of a €10 billion European health mechanism to help cities and regions.

For Mr Tzitzikostas, the measures announced by the European Commission are certainly "a step in the right direction", welcoming the news of the relaxation of the Stability and Growth Pact and European state aid rules (see EUROPE B12446A2). However, according to him, "the Union...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
ECONOMY: European Commission fully opens budget floodgates to deal with COVID-19 pandemic
INTERNAL MARKET: Covid-19, Ministers take stock of obstacles in Single Market
BUDGET: OLAF launches investigation into fake Covid-19 products
FINANCE: ESMA clarifies expectations regarding ‘MiFID II’ requirement on recording of telephone conversations due to Covid-19
FINANCE: COVID-19, ESMA postpones monitoring of compliance with tick-size regime for systematic internalisers to June
CUSTOMS: CLECAT calls for a reduction of customs formalities to ensure circulation of goods during pandemic
TRADE: medical protective equipment can now be exported without authorisation to EFTA countries
UN: António Guterres calls for a multilateral, massive, exceptional and coordinated response to contain Covid-19
ASEAN: EU and ASEAN to strengthen cooperation in fight against Covid-19
MIGRATION: UN High Commissioner for Refugees calls on countries not to sacrifice right to asylum
CIVIL PROTECTION: repatriation of European citizens continues with EU-facilitated flights from Belgium, Germany, and Latvia
CLIMATE: COVID-19 crisis calls for long-term paradigm shift and just transition, says EEA
ANIMAL HEALTH: NGOs call for an end to transport of farm animals to non-Member States during COVID-19 period
AGRICULTURE: COVID-19, EU Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers to videoconference on Wednesday 25 March
FISHERIES: COVID-19, maximum amount of de minimis aid increases from 30 000 to 120 000 euros per company
COHESION: Covid-19, CoR President calls for European health emergency mechanism for cities and regions
WOMEN: Covid-19, Greens/EFA group in European Parliament calls for action to prevent lockdown from increasing domestic violence
TRANSPORT: EU Council wants exemption from airport slots regulation to be effective until 24 October 2020
DEMOCRACY: a report points to 'infodemic' surrounding COVID-19 pandemic
INSTITUTIONAL: decision-making in times of crisis, EU Council is moving towards a relaxation of its written procedure
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: COVID-19, emergency measures taken do not require activation of derogation from ECHR
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: COVID-19, measures taken must not expose persons deprived of their liberty
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: COVID-19 on agenda of European foreign ministers’ videoconference
SOCIAL: Covid-19, Ministers take stock of national employment measures
SOCIAL: social services are at risk of being left behind because of COVID-19, according to EASPD
DIGITAL: COVID-19, Breton discusses how to keep internet running smoothly with Google and YouTube CEOs
INDUSTRY: ACEA calls for additional support measures specifically for automotive sector as a result of Covid-19
JUSTICE: coronavirus further delays formation of College of European Prosecutors of European Public Prosecutor's Office
HOME AFFAIRS: Belgium sets up checks for its borders, in particular those with Netherlands
PARLIAMENT: COVID-19, GUE/NGL Group in European Parliament proposes a distribution of €2000 to all citizens guaranteed by ECB
SERBIA: Borrell calls for cooperation and solidarity
UNITED KINGDOM: British negotiator David Frost also self-isolates after exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms
SECTORAL POLICIES
ENERGY: Commission details its strategy to reduce methane emissions
ECONOMY - FINANCE
STATE AID: Commission approves Danish public financing of Fehmarn Belt fixed rail-road link
EXTERNAL ACTION
IRAN: EU can do nothing against US sanctions
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
EMPLOYMENT: Court clarifies concept of successive fixed-term employment relationships
MIGRATION: Hungary cannot refuse to examine a migrant's asylum application because he or she has arrived from a country where he or she is not persecuted
NEWS BRIEFS
AZERBAIJAN: Ms Kaljurand and Mr McAllister welcome release of journalist Afgan Mukhtarli
INDIA: EU condemns executions of four criminals
UNRWA: Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of UN agency
CORRIGENDUM
ENVIRONMENT: Member States give green light to European Parliament/Council agreement on reuse of waste water for agricultural irrigation
CALENDAR
Main activities of European Institutions: from 23/03 to 29/03/2020