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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12464
Contents Publication in full By article 9 / 40
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Competition

European Commission authorises ‘limited cooperation’ between companies for medicines useful during pandemic

The European Commission published on Wednesday 8 April a Communication on a Temporary Framework to provide guidance on antitrust issues related to business cooperation in response to emergency situations related to the current coronavirus pandemic.

The Commission is also issuing a “comfort letter” to Medicines for Europ, formerly the European Generic Medicines Association, on a voluntary cooperation project between pharmaceutical producers to avoid critical drug shortages in hospitals.

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: for Mike Pompeo, Europeans and Americans will have to work together for economic recovery
TRADE: Council ready to negotiate with European Parliament on revision of implementing rules for international trade
WTO: predictions of world trade at half staff, but Mr Azevêdo believes a rapid recovery is possible
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
EMU: Eurogroup reconvened to finalise additional measures to combat pandemic crisis
HEALTH: European Commission postpones presentation of its guidelines on lifting lockdown measures
HEALTH: new joint procurement of masks and investigational therapeutics planned
DIGITAL: Commission wants to avoid mobile applications in breach of EU rules
BUDGET: Member States approve mobilisation of emergency assistance to combat COVID-19
COMPETITION: European Commission authorises ‘limited cooperation’ between companies for medicines useful during pandemic
STATE AID: Greek, Portuguese, Hungarian, Hungarian, Polish, Bulgarian and Danish schemes to help economy in context of Covid-19 given green light
COHESION: Member States give green light to European Commission’s 2nd package of measures
SOCIAL: COVID-19 – green light from EU Council for new provisions of Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived
DEVELOPMENT: COVID-19, together with its Member States, EIB and EBRD, EU pledges over €20 billion in aid to vulnerable countries
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: COVID-19, Commission details offer of support to EU's third country partners
INTERNAL AFFAIRS: Member States urged to extend restrictions on entry into EU until 15 May
INTERNAL MARKET: launch of new 'SMET' working group on implementation of Single Market
RESEARCH: European Ministers support implementation of a priority action plan to tackle health crisis
RESEARCH: Commission responds to criticism from resigning President of the European Research Council
JUSTICE: Eurojust supports several investigations into online fraud exploiting COVID-19 pandemic
SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE: climate law – Guteland calls on Member States to prepare for 2030 emission reduction target to be raised to 55%
AGRICULTURE: EU livestock farmers call on Commission to take urgent action
COHESION: EPP Group in European Parliament calls for a third package of measures to combat COVID-19
WOMEN: chairwoman of European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights warns about increase in domestic violence due to confinement
ENERGY: geothermal industry advocates creation of an internal heat market
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: Commission could propose to raise ceilings of EU’s own resources
RULE OF LAW: European Commission is monitoring emergency measures related to COVID-19, but does not have means to launch infringements
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
POLAND: Warsaw ordered by Court of Justice to immediately suspend disciplinary cases against judges
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: financial body relaxes its collateral requirements for banks during Covid-19 pandemic
FINANCE: European Commission consults on its renewed strategy for sustainable finance
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
RULE OF LAW: Council of Europe 'toolbox' to ensure respect for fundamental democratic values in managing the health crisis
HEALTH: Council of Europe issues recommendations to combat falsified medical products
AUDIOVISUAL: European Audiovisual Observatory identifies measures taken to support sector during pandemic
Op-Ed
FUTURE OF EU: An ambitious EU budget proposal would kill the ‘germ’ of division, by Vasco Cordeiro, President of the CPMR
NEWS BRIEFS
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Stephen Quest transferred to Research Services as of 1st May
TAXATION: bilateral agreements of Member States applying FATCA do not infringe EU law, according to Commission
IRAN: EU extends sanctions for human rights violations by one year
MIGRATION: because of COVID-19, Italy no longer wants to receive boats from NGOs that have rescued migrants in its ports
MIGRATION: Germany is ready to take up to 500 unaccompanied minors from migrant camps in coming weeks
PARLIAMENT: COVID-19, European Parliament will cook 1,000 meals per day for people in need and for health workers
CSDP: EU Council extends mandate of EUAM Iraq