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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12470

21 April 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 34
EXTERNAL ACTION / Foreign affairs
Libya, Turkey, Afghanistan and Ukraine on Council’s agenda
Brussels, 20/04/2020 (Agence Europe)

The Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the European Union will meet on Wednesday 22 April, by videoconference, for a more traditional Council than the two previous ones.

Thus, while the meetings of 23 March (see EUROPE B12452A8) and 3 April (see EUROPE B12461A4) were devoted to COVID-19, this Council will focus on “foreign policy priorities”, explained a senior diplomat on Monday 20 April.

Libya. Ministers are expected to return to the situation in Libya, where fighting...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
ECONOMY: clash of views on nature of Recovery Fund designed to kick-start European economy
BUDGET: on 23 April, Commission is expected to present its ideas on revised MFF 2021-2027 to EU leaders
STATE AID: European commission approves French, Hungarian and Portuguese schemes to support economies in context of Coronavirus
COHESION: Mr Dombrovskis rejects any transitional solution between two Multiannual Financial Frameworks
CIVIL PROTECTION: COVID-19, EU stands in solidarity with Greece to prevent spread of virus in refugee camps on islands
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: COVID-19, Josep Borrell deplores a flagrant lack of leadership in the world
HEALTH: driven by industry, EU opts for regulatory flexibility
HEALTH: Germany will cover cost of European patients hospitalised in country
HEALTH: EU, which has so far called for cuts in unnecessary spending, now recognises “systemic weaknesses”
CLIMATE: four more Member States support call for a green recovery
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: MEPs call for fresh money to help wine sector overcome crisis caused by COVID-19
AGRICULTURE: EU’s Geographical Indications represent a treasure trove worth €75 billion
AGRICULTURE: EU agricultural production holding up well despite coronavirus crisis, says European Commission
ENERGY: Baltic States and Finland are making progress in establishing a common regional gas market
TRANSPORT: MEP Ismail Ertug and ETF union call on EU to 'use' the current crisis 'to rethink the future of the sector'
GENDER EQUALITY: EIGE raises awareness of gender implications of COVID-19 pandemic
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Libya, Turkey, Afghanistan and Ukraine on Council’s agenda
TRADE: European exports are expected to fall by around €285 billion
BUSINESS/ HEALTH: WTO and WHO call for international solidarity in fight against pandemic
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
BANKS: creation of a European ‘bad bank’ is not currently under consideration, says Commission
INSURANCE: COVID-19, EIOPA makes new recommendations to national supervisors for pension sector
INSTITUTIONAL
HUNGARY: new wave of protests against emergency measures decreed by government of Viktor Orbán
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
WOMEN: implementation of Istanbul Convention must be strengthened “in the context of the current public emergency”
HEALTH: PACE Health Committee calls on member states to contribute to WHO COVID-19 fund and calls for its medium-term reform
NEWS BRIEFS
ENERGY: France finally submits its national energy/climate plan
ENERGY: Austria officially closes its last coal-fired power station
COMPANIES: 90% of European SMEs are impacted by pandemic, according to SMEunited
HONG KONG: EU promises to closely monitor situation of pro-democracy activists arrested in recent days
INTERNAL MARKET: ‘E-commerce’ doing best in European Union according to Eurostat
INTERNAL MARKET: Regulation on mutual recognition enters into force
DIGITAL: public consultation on artificial intelligence extended to June 14
RESEARCH: European Commission postpones closing date for registration for its pan-European hackathon to 24 April
TRANSPORT: public transport authorities intend to contribute to recovery of European economy
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