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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12472

23 April 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 3 / 33
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / State aid
Austria wants more flexible rules in times of COVID-19 crisis - approval of new support schemes
Brussels, 22/04/2020 (Agence Europe)

Austria asked the European Commission, on Tuesday 21 April, to suspend aid rules "for the duration of the fight against the coronavirus pandemic". 

In a letter addressed to Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for Competition Policy, seen by EUROPE, the Austrian Minister of Finance, Gernot Blümel, also called for the following measures: - reduce the administrative burden in order to enable us to help our companies as quickly as possible; - exempt 'anti-crisis subsidies' from the...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
ECONOMY: Twenty-Seven will seek to provide guidance on scope and modalities of a post-COVID-19 pandemic recovery fund
BUDGET: MEPs call on Commission to be bold in linking MFF and recovery plan
STATE AID: Austria wants more flexible rules in times of COVID-19 crisis - approval of new support schemes
SOCIAL: Member States consider setting expiry of SURE instrument for end of 2022
AGRICULTURE: Commission approves private storage aid for milk and meat and ‘crisis cartels’ during COVID-19 pandemic
FISHERIES: EU Council adopts regulation on aid to fishermen in times of crisis
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Commission proposes three billion euros in macro-financial assistance to support ten neighbouring countries
DEVELOPMENT: COVID-19, MEPs call on EU to lead a more robust response to help most vulnerable countries
DIGITAL: EDPB publishes guidelines for mobile tracing applications
HEALTH: mortality rate, ECDC is looking into different counting methods
COHESION: EU Member States adopt second package of flexibility measures for Structural Funds and investment funds
EU COUNCIL: EU Council extends derogation from its operating rules for one month because of COVID-19
INSTITUTIONAL
RULE OF LAW: European Commission invited by Member States to continue rigorous examination of emergency measures
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: Cyprus still has no intention of ending its citizenship by investment programme
TRANSPORT: completion of TEN-T core network is behind schedule and has shortcomings, says European Court of Auditors
EXTERNAL ACTION
MOZAMBIQUE: EU stands ready to support Maputo for lasting reconciliation, peace with its neighbours and reforms
DEVELOPMENT: record level of acute food insecurity in world is alarming in midst of COVID-19 crisis
TRADE: self-sufficiency in production of medical equipment, watch out for backlash!
TRADE: OECD calls on governments to boost confidence in world trade
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: trade unions are concerned about national positions on temporary SURE instrument
SOCIAL: trade unions demand that deadline for transposition of Posting of Workers Directive be maintained
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: transpartisan coalition of about 20 MEPs calls for more ambition in response to COVID-19 crisis
STATE AID: three NGOs launch operation to monitor financing granted to airlines
COMPETITION: Commission clears merger between Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division subject to conditions
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Council of Europe Development Bank approves €300 million in loans for Prague and Rome to combat COVID-19
SOCIAL: Council of Europe Committee of Social Rights offers guidelines on protection of social rights during pandemic
NEWS BRIEFS
INSURANCE: drawing lessons from COVID-19, France is working to create a pandemic insurance policy
EDUCATION: EU mobilises €50 million guarantee for skills development
ENERGY: renewable and decarbonised gas must be a central pillar of post-COVID-19 recovery, says European gas industry
COMPANIES: several CEOs call for coordinated action on COVID-19
GEORGIA: EU denounces illegal installation of border signs along demarcation line
IRAN: EU denounces execution of a murderer who was a minor at time of crime
TRANSPORT: assistance to disabled persons in stations and trains should be provided in times of crisis, EDF recalls