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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12473
Contents Publication in full By article 6 / 40
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Digital

European Union in search of innovative solutions to COVID-19

23/04/2020 (Agence Europe) – A three-day hackathon, from 24 April to 26 April, to find innovative solutions to the coronavirus pandemic - this is what the European Commission and its European Innovation Council, in close cooperation with EU Member States, have proposed. Dubbed #EUvsVirus, this event will connect civil society, researchers, partners, and investors throughout Europe so as to develop innovative solutions aiming to fight the coronavirus epidemic. With 12,000 people already signed up, the hackathon will be structured around several categories of problems that require short-term solutions in relation to the vitality and persistence of coronavirus, business continuity, telework and education, social and political cohesion, digital finance, and other challenges. Winning solutions will be offered to end users via a European Innovation Council COVID platform. (SPj)

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: Twenty-Seven approve a framework for development of a European Recovery Fund backed by EU post-2020 budget
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
BUDGET: Commission draft mentions €2 trillion post-pandemic 'recovery plan'
STATE AID: Commission authorises Polish and Maltese schemes to support economy in face of coronavirus
TRANSPORT: Adina Vălean considers that it is up to States to financially support air sector in order to enable passengers to be reimbursed
COMMERCE/AGRICULTURE: COVID-19, 22 WTO members commit to keep agri-food chains open
DIGITAL: European Union in search of innovative solutions to COVID-19
HEALTH: after European Parliament, EU Council approves postponement of rules for medical devices
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
HEALTH: according to Commissioner for Human Rights, lessons of pandemic must be learnt and broad social measures must be included in right to health
INSTITUTIONAL
POLAND: pandemic or not, situation of rule of law in country remains a major concern for Commission and European Parliament
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: Commission is asked to go further with aid to sectors affected by COVID-19 crisis
FISHERIES: European Parliament ready to negotiate with EU Council on aid to Baltic cod fishermen
FISHERIES: MEPs back extension of EU/Mauritania agreement
ENVIRONMENT: NGO coalition urges EU leaders for a green and just economic recovery
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: more than 60 civil society organisations call on EU to make textile industry more sustainable
ENERGY: Gas for Climate presents its recommendations for decarbonising gas
ECONOMY
STATE AID: France and Netherlands provide €12 billion aid to save Air France-KLM
ECB: new measures easing requirements for collateral provided in exchange for liquidity
FINANCE: ESAs consult on their draft technical standards for transparency requirements for sustainable investments
ECONOMY: government deficit and debt at 0.6% and 84.1% of GDP respectively in euro area in 2019
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
CONSUMERS: Court specifies elements that an airline must indicate in online price offer
EMPLOYMENT: Court states that not wanting to hire LGBTI persons can constitute discrimination in employment even outside of a recruitment procedure
ENVIRONMENT: Finland and Austria condemned by EU Court of Justice for unlawful authorisation of springtime hunting of wild birds
MIGRATION: asylum seekers in Röszke transit zone are unlawfully 'detained', according to Advocate General
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: COVID-19, EU plans to set up Humanitarian Air Bridge to facilitate delivery of aid to most vulnerable countries
UKRAINE: Borrell promises first trip to non-Member State will be to Ukraine
AFGHANISTAN: EU calls for immediate ceasefire
LIBYA: Borrell calls for increase in international efforts towards a ceasefire
CULTURE
CULTURE: European Court of Auditors presents mixed assessment of ERDF aid to cultural sites
NEWS BRIEFS
BELARUS: European Parliament approves visa facilitation and readmission agreements with EU
CAMBODIA: EU will apply its tariff sanctions for human rights violations from August onwards
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: COVID-19 forces College of Commissioners to review its operations
FINANCE: AGE Europe, BETTER FINANCE and CFA Institute call for measures to protect savers from financial repression
TAXATION: France also excludes companies registered in tax havens from State Aid programme
IRAN: Borrell denounces US opposition to IMF loan
CIVIL PROTECTION: EU to provide Copernicus satellite maps to Poland in wake of devastating fire
REGIONS: President of Tuscany Region calls on European leaders to focus on next multiannual financial framework
SOCIAL: Cedefop estimates there will be a need for 4 million health professionals by 2030
TRANSPARENCY: European Ombudsman calls on EU institutions to be transparent in response to COVID-19
TRANSPORT: Airports Council International calls on European leaders to implement Commission initiatives
CITY: Ten cities offer to host 5,500 unaccompanied minors