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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12453

25 March 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 21 / 35
EXTERNAL ACTION / Syria
OLAF uncovers fraud in an EU-funded project on respect for Rule of law
Brussels, 24/03/2020 (Agence Europe)

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) announced on Tuesday 24 March that it has completed an investigation into fraud against the EU budget during the implementation of a Rule of law project financed in Syria.

OLAF has recommended to the national authorities of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium to initiate legal proceedings against the project partners in question. 

“The European Union budget finances a wide range of programmes and projects which improve the lives of...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
EMU: Eurogroup paves way for credit lines from euro-area permanent rescue fund
FINANCE: financial education is more important than ever in times of crisis, says industry
STATE AID: COVID-19, Commission validates Luxembourg and Latvian aid for companies
DIGITAL: COVID-19, Commission proposes to involve telecommunications operators
CLIMATE: European Green Deal under pressure from coronavirus
TRANSPORT: Covid-19, industry worries about fate of its workers
RESEARCH: EU needs to tackle current crisis while “preparing for the next one”, say MEPs
HOME AFFAIRS: all Member States, except Ireland, restrict entry of third-country nationals into EU
MIGRATION: Commission and Athens are working on an action plan to respond to a possible spread of Covid-19 in migrant camps
AGRICULTURE: MEP Anne Sander calls for authorisation of 'crisis cartels' during COVID-19 times
FISHERIES: European Commission examining other tools to support sector affected by COVID-19
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: EU brings its support faced with COVID-19 crisis
DEVELOPMENT: COVID-19, EU confirms that it will support most vulnerable countries with €129 million through WHO
HUMAN RIGHTS: Rik Daems calls on member countries to abide by ECHR Convention in dealing with COVID-19
HEALTH: COVID-19, joint purchase of masks is in final phase
HEALTH: global trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals remains robust
HEALTH: European Parliament to prepare report on shortages of medicines
COHESION: Committee of the Regions launches a platform to help local and regional authorities with Covid-19
ECONOMY: COVID-19 pandemic disrupts implementation of ‘European Semester’ budget process
EXTERNAL ACTION
ENLARGEMENT: EU Council gives green light for opening of EU accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia
SYRIA: OLAF uncovers fraud in an EU-funded project on respect for Rule of law
UNITED KINGDOM: wine sector believes trade agreement should allow wine to move frictionlessly and duty-free
UNITED STATES: European Aluminium concerned about outcome of a US anti-dumping investigation on European aluminium alloy sheets
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPETITION: competition rule exemption for liner shipping consortia extended 4 years
FINANCE: taxonomy on sustainable finance, kick-off of drafting of first delegated act
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: Commission still calls for a rapid agreement on EU 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework
HUNGARY: European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee calls on Commission to assess conformity of Hungarian 'state of danger' regime
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: according to Olli Ruutu, 2019 was an important and memorable year for EDA
SECTORAL POLICIES
COHESION: Commission welcomes progress made in partnership strategy between Union and outermost regions
ANIMAL WELFARE: Commission launches public consultation to assess 2012–2015 strategy
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: Commission approves a new geographical indication from Portugal
KOSOVO: France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom and United States call on leaders to focus on fight against Covid-19
WTO: multilateral negotiations on fisheries subsidies continue in writing
CIVIL PROTECTION: EU assistance to Croatia continues, with offers from Lithuania and Montenegro
UNITED KINGDOM: First Minister of Wales calls for extension to post-Brexit transition period