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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12491

21 May 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 17 / 42
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Social
For European Commission, classifying Covid-19 as a group 4 biological agent could have consequences on development of a vaccine
Brussels, 20/05/2020 (Agence Europe)

Stefan Olsson, Director for Employment in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, told the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) that a classification of Sars-CoV-2 as a group 4 biological agent could have an impact on the development of a vaccine.

During the exchanges, the overwhelming majority of MEPs from all political groups criticised the decision taken by national comitology experts (see EUROPE...

Contents

ASCENSION DAY: our offices are closed on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 May. EUROPE 12492 will be dated 26 May 2020
SECTORAL POLICIES
BIODIVERSITY: mandatory restoration of 30% of terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030 at heart of EU strategy proposed by Commission
FOOD: Commission proposes a 50% reduction on use of chemical pesticides in its 'Farm to Fork' strategy
AGRICULTURE: European Parliament committee supports Covid-19 emergency aid from second pillar of CAP
COHESION: European Parliament Regional Development Committee pushes for cohesion to be focus of European Recovery Plan
TRANSPORT: road charges - Croatian Presidency of EU Council proposes that only those states that wish to do so should abandon ‘EURO’ emissions classes
CUSTOMS: Paolo Gentiloni announces postponement of package of new customs initiatives until autumn
JUSTICE: Member States validate appointment of Richard Sonnenschein as Acting Administrative Director of European Public Prosecutor's Office
JUSTICE: Council of Bars and Law Societies calls on EU and Member States to facilitate reactivation of judicial systems
EQUALITY: S&D, Greens/EFA and Renew Europe condemn Hungarian Parliament’s vote banning legal recognition of transgender and intersex people
DIGITAL: General Data Protection Regulation is two years old
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: socio-economic policy recommendations addressed to Member States take into account Covid-19 crisis
GREECE: European Commission paves way for new tranche of aid to alleviate Greek debt servicing
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
TOURISM: faced with continuing uncertainties and divergences, bilateral agreements could be key to recovery of tourism in EU this summer
YOUTH: EU Council banking on digital technologies as crisis ends
TRANSPORT: temporary measures regarding port infrastructure charges and certificate extensions adopted permanently
SOCIAL: for European Commission, classifying Covid-19 as a group 4 biological agent could have consequences on development of a vaccine
STATE AID: Commission endorses five national support schemes for companies in context of pandemic
CITIZENSHIP: Commission proposes adjusting some deadlines for European citizens’ initiatives due to Covid-19 pandemic
FINANCE: ESMA calls for transparency regarding effects of Covid-19 pandemic in half-yearly financial reports
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: mood swings between London and Brussels 10 days before new round of talks
TRADE: trade treaties must not impede access to Covid-19 treatment for poorest countries, warns Parliament
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENERGY: EU General Court rules that Gazprom’s actions against EU rules revising Gas Directive are inadmissible
INSTITUTIONAL
RULE OF LAW: European Parliament Civil Liberties Committee chairman calls on EU Council to take next step in procedure against Poland
PARLIAMENT: European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs blocks allocation of an own-initiative report to ID group
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
HEALTH: Commissioner for Human Rights says member states must “shed light” on pandemic deaths in long-term care facilities
HEALTH: Stella Kyriakides announces unprecedented budget for European Commission's future 'Health' programme at Assembly of Council of Europe
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Parliament postpones vote of resolution on state of Schengen zone
BELARUS: according to Mr Várhelyi, Covid-19 crisis brought country closer to EU
CLIMATE: EU Council discussions on ‘climate law’ to resume on 25 May
TRADE: trade in goods figures are in the red
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: appointment of two new Directors-General and transfer of one Deputy Director
HUMAN RIGHTS: MEPs and Sakharov Prize winners call for release of prisoners of conscience and human rights activists
ECONOMY: euro area inflation at 0.3% in April
ENERGY: Commission will publish results of its assessment on use of forest biomass by end of 2020
ENERGY: Luxembourg Government adopts its Energy/Climate Plan
COMPANIES: Member States give green light to written procedure for adoption of deadline extension for general meetings of ‘European companies’
TAXATION: member States give green light to conclusions on revision of Administrative Cooperation Directive
RESEARCH: Commission will fund around 30 research projects on cyber security for a total of €49 million
HEALTH: ban on mentholated cigarettes now applicable throughout EU
CALENDAR
Main activities of European Institutions: from 25/05 to 31/05/2020
CALENDAR EXTRA
Other Events: until 31 May 2020