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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12504

12 June 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 9 / 36
EXTERNAL ACTION / Bahrain
EU welcomes release of human rights activist Nabeel Rajab
Brussels, 11/06/2020 (Agence Europe)

The Chairs of the European Parliament’s Sub-committee on Human Rights, Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium), and of the Delegation for relations with the Arabian Peninsula, Hannah Neumann (Greens/EFA, Germany), and the spokesperson for the European External Action Service (EEAS), welcomed the release of Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab on Wednesday 10 June.

Sentenced to five years in prison for criticising on social networks the Saudi bombings in Yemen (see EUROPE B11967A20), his...

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