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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12459

2 April 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 12 / 37
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Health
Virus that causes COVID-19 identified in environment prior to infection

01/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – Dutch scientists detected the presence of the Sars-CoV-2 virus responsible for the coronavirus outbreak in one city’s sewage before any cases of infection were reported, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday 1 April. Sewage monitoring is already a well-established method for detecting poliovirus and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, they mentioned. (SPj)

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
EMPLOYMENT: outlines of European SURE unemployment reinsurance instrument
COHESION: Commission to present new measures to combat Covid-19
RESEARCH: COVID-19, EU is developing a mechanism to control test kits
DIGITAL: researchers have developed a code to trace contacts of COVID-19 patients
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: European Commission approves use of negotiated procedure for purchase of emergency medical equipment
YOUTH: Commission publishes Q&A on Erasmus and Solidarity Corps in COVID-19 times
TRANSPORT: airlines must refund cancelled tickets, says Adina Vălean
ENERGY: over thirty organisations call on EU to put Green Deal at heart of economic recovery measures
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: COVID-19, international cooperation at heart of Ministerial videoconferences on 3 and 8 April
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: parliamentary assembly plans day of debates and votes on COVID-19 pandemic during June session
JUSTICE: impact of coronavirus on functioning of judicial systems on agenda of informal meeting of ministers for 6 April
HEALTH: virus that causes COVID-19 identified in environment prior to infection
INSTITUTIONAL
RULE OF LAW: Conference of Presidents of European Parliament invited to place Hungarian emergency law on agenda of next plenary session
PARLIAMENT: SPD MEPs set out vision for European response to crisis that goes beyond national egoism
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
PAYMENTS: banking industry unveils its vision of a “forward-looking European payments market”
BANKS: Single Resolution Board sets out its expectations for banks’ resolution planning
ROMANIA: imminent initiation of excessive deficit procedure
TAXATION: Commission proposes to continue to authorise Italy to grant VAT exemption to its small businesses until 2024
SECURITY - DEFENCE
NATO: cooperation against Covid-19, missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and political dimension of Alliance on agenda of ministerial meeting
EXTERNAL ACTION
KOSOVO: EU welcomes decision to remove tariffs on Serbian and Bosnian products
NORTH KOREA: six European countries condemn latest missile launches
UNITED STATES: for Washington, many European trade barriers are one of causes of US trade deficit
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: Croatian EU Council Presidency presents first draft conclusions on strengthening financial investigations
JUSTICE: Commission opens consultation on General Data Protection Regulation
TRANSPORT: eight Member States request suspension of work on the first ‘mobility package’
AGRICULTURE: Commission requests a study on sugar supply chain after end of quotas
CLIMATE: carbon border adjustment mechanism is not justified, according to Carbon Market Watch
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: improving resource efficiency in Europe requires targets and monitoring, says EEA
ENERGY: oil and gas industry can cost-effectively reduce methane leakage, says IEA
ENERGY: revision of TEN-E must be in line with Paris Agreement, insists E3G
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
HUMAN RIGHTS: significant progress in execution of judgments of European Court of Human Rights, but challenges remain
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: delegated act of Commission on reduction of payments and flexibility between pillars
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Marc Becquet new Director of Office for Infrastructure and Logistics in Brussels
JUSTICE: dismantling of a global child abuse ring with support of Europol
PARLIAMENT: Frans Timmermans will be heard by European Parliament Committee on Environment on 21 April
RUSSIA: EU denounces inclusion of Crimea in list of territories where land ownership is reserved for Russians
VENEZUELA: EU studies very carefully US proposals for way out of political crisis