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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12458

1 April 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 39
SECURITY - DEFENCE / Csdp
Official launch of operation Irini on 1 April
Brussels, 31/03/2020 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday 31 March, the EU Council adopted by written procedure the decision launching the EunavforMed Irini (from the Greek word "peace") operation from 1 April. It will be fully operational in the coming weeks.

Ministers agreed to launch this mission on 17 February (see EUROPE B12427A4) and Member States' ambassadors reached agreement on 26 March (see EUROPE B12455A24).

Irini's core task will be the implementation of the UN arms embargo to and from Libya. It will have aerial, satellite...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
COHESION: Covid-19, imminent presentation of second emergency initiative mobilising EU structural funds
BUDGET: Commission could propose to mobilise EU emergency aid for COVID-19
STATE AID: COVID-19, green light for aid to aviation sector in France and to companies in Estonia, Denmark and Ireland
PARLIAMENT: EPP Group in European Parliament prepares its response to COVID-19 pandemic
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission publishes practical guidance to ensure continuity of waste shipments during Covid-19 epidemic
FISHERIES: COVID-19, Commission to propose exceptional measures for fishermen
FOOD: Member States granted flexibility regarding controls on animals and plants
HEALTH: no treatment has yet been shown to be effective against COVID-19, notes European Medicines Agency
HEALTH: new European Commission recommendations on health systems resilience
TRANSPORT: in face of air sector’s difficulties, passenger rights are being neglected
TRANSPORT: European Commission invited to support rail sector affected by COVID-19 pandemic
INDUSTRY: European Parliament Committee makes a series of recommendations in light of Covid-19
G20: world's major financial institutions are fine-tuning their G20 Action Plan in response to COVID-19 pandemic
RESEARCH: EU to fund a new research project to enable faster diagnosis of COVID-19
SOCIAL: trade unions believe that companies should refrain from paying dividends during health crisis
SOCIAL: COVID-19, EDF sounds alarm about residential and psychiatric institutions
RUSSIA: Ukraine calls for sanctions to be maintained even during pandemic
TURKEY: Sánchez Amor and Lagodinsky call on EU to include Ankara in fight against COVID-19
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: official launch of operation Irini on 1 April
NATO: Mr Stoltenberg announces appointment of group of experts
EXTERNAL ACTION
NEIGHBOURHOOD: EU announces nearly EUR 240 million in support of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries
UNITED KINGDOM: first videoconference meeting of Joint Committee on implementation of withdrawal agreement
TRADE: cement industry in favour of a carbon border mechanism
INSTITUTIONAL
RULE OF LAW: granting of full powers to Viktor Orbán in response to COVID-19 triggers new crisis in EU
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: ‘FATCA’ act, US Treasury ignores EU Council’s concerns about ‘accidental Americans’
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: Sari Haukka shortlisted for post of interim Administrative Director of European Public Prosecutor's Office
AGRICULTURE: Commission offers flexibility to fruit and vegetable sector in event of phytosanitary damage
AGRICULTURE: 250 million euros for school fruit, vegetables and milk in 2020-2021
CLIMATE: European Commission launches public consultation on raising EU's climate target for 2030
CLIMATE: Japanese climate plan of unchanged 2030 target disappoints NGOs
NEWS BRIEFS
CULTURE: European Heritage Label awarded to 10 new sites
HUMAN RIGHTS: launch of a free online training course on ECHR Convention
ECONOMY: inflation estimated to be down to 0.7% in euro area in March
ENERGY: new EU rules on external power supplies come into force
ENERGY: European Ombudsman extends deadline for Commission's enquiry into 4th PCI list
NAGORNO-KARABAKH: EU warns that it does not recognise presidential and parliamentary elections
IRAN: E3 announces first transaction under Instex
RESEARCH: 450 million euros allocated to 185 winning researchers of ERC Advanced Grant 2020
YEMEN: EU condemns continuation of hostilities despite calls for ceasefire