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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12504

12 June 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 23 / 36
SOCIAL AFFAIRS / Social
MEPs give go-ahead to classify SARS-CoV-2 as a category 3 biological agent
Brussels, 11/06/2020 (Agence Europe)

Members of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Policy Committee (EMPL) overwhelmingly approved on Thursday 11 June the classification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as a Group 3 biological agent under Directive 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work; not without having obtained guarantees from the Commission, in particular with a view to a possible future revision of the text.

MEPs rejected by 35 votes against, 5 in favour...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission proposes gradual return of third-country tourists to EU from 1 July onwards
BUDGET/ECONOMICS: Member States are working on needs assessment and allocation criteria for European Recovery Plan
TRANSPORT: transformation of automotive industry and support for public transport at heart of Karima Delli’s post-Covid-19 priorities
JUSTICE: Council of Europe calls on member states to draw lessons from pandemic to reform judicial systems
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: ensuring a level playing field with London does not mean a copy and paste of European legislation, stresses Christophe Hansen
CHINA: EU must remain engaged but not naïve in its economic relations with its systemic rival China
EASTERN PARTNERSHIP: Várhelyi and Borrell reach out to partner countries
SOUTH SUDAN: EU alarmed at stalemate in peace agreement and widespread violence
BAHRAIN: EU welcomes release of human rights activist Nabeel Rajab
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: European Parliament Agriculture Committee expresses concern about ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy
COHESION: Council of EU is considering widening scope of Just Transition Fund
INTERNAL MARKET: ministers to be invited to discuss policy priorities in context of European Recovery Plan
DIGITAL: European Commission concerned about delays in 5G technology
TRANSPORT: no agreement in EU Council on latest Croatian draft compromise on cross-border use of vehicles hired without drivers
SEAS: ‘blue economy’ has enormous potential to contribute to green recovery, says Commission
CONSUMERS: Collective Redress Directive, Croatian Presidency of EU Council wants to maintain interinstitutional negotiations of 22 June
INSTITUTIONAL
TAXATION: Conference of Presidents of European Parliament approves creation of subcommittee on taxation issues
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: group chairs reach agreement on special committees
ECONOMY - FINANCE
FINANCE: Commission does not rule out an adaptation of EU rules on Alternative Investment Funds
FINANCE: disappointed by Commission's response to ‘BlackRock’ case, MEP Damien Carême refers matter again to European Ombudsman
FINANCE: Commission consults on three delegated acts concerning non-EU central counterparties
EMU: Croatia is EU country best prepared to join euro area
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: MEPs give go-ahead to classify SARS-CoV-2 as a category 3 biological agent
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
CONSUMERS: Court clarifies concept of “extraordinary circumstances” within meaning of EU rules on air passenger rights
ENERGY: court states European directive on electricity market does not prohibit a government from nominating or dismissing national regulatory authority chairman
BIODIVERSITY: Habitats Directive, Court clarifies territorial scope of strict protection of certain protected species such as wolves
HEALTH: pharmacists can only receive samples of over-the-counter medicines
HEALTH: prohibition of discrimination on grounds of nationality cannot be invoked to challenge a clause limiting the geographical extent of civil liability insurance coverage
NEWS BRIEFS
BANKS: EU Member States adopt their position on easing banking requirements in response to Covid-19 pandemic
HUMAN RIGHTS: Mr Borrell denounces US decisions on possible sanctions against ICC
ECONOMY: terms of reference for feasibility study on EU financial architecture for development are ready
ENERGY: Germany finally adopts its national energy/climate plan
ENVIRONMENT: contribution of climate and environmental policies to EU’s economic recovery in 23 June ministerial debate
FINANCE: New Zealand and Singapore join International Platform on Sustainable Finance
CSDP: Irini operation has already made more than 75 hailings
TRANSPORT: EU's target of halving number of road deaths by 2020 will not be met