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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12534

24 July 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 15 / 36
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Taxation
Commission extends VAT and customs duty exemption on imports of medical equipment
Brussels, 23/07/2020 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 23 July, the European Commission decided to extend for three months the temporary exemption from customs duties and VAT for medical devices and protective equipment imported from non-Member States and deemed as essential in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

To justify its decision, the Commission explained that “the number of coronavirus cases in Member States still represents a risk to public health, and shortages of medical devices are still being reported in Member States”.

Contents

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
ECONOMY/BUDGET: The agreement on the MFF is “a pivotal moment” for the EU, says Charles Michel
BUDGET: European Parliament is ready to negotiate adjustments to Recovery Plan and 2021-2027 MFF
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Jordi Solé i Ferrando to fill Oriol Junqueras' vacant seat
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: Commission and UK Government still fail to reach agreement on fisheries and on ‘level playing field’
ALBANIA: EU welcomes adoption of amendments to Electoral Code
CHINA: EU claims principle of 'one country, two systems' has in 2019 been eroded in Hong Kong and respected in Macao
CAUCASUS: Borrell urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to end armed confrontations
TRADE: EU trade defence policy gets “glowing report” from European Court of Auditors
TRADE: dual-use goods, further revision of EU Council's mandate
TRADE: public consultation on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism causes key questions to be asked
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
TRANSPORT: under German Presidency auspices, ministers and stakeholders in aviation sector are trying to orchestrate a way out of crisis
TRANSPORT: Council of EU to adopt conclusions on compliance with hygiene measures in transport
CIVIL PROTECTION: Yemen to benefit from EU humanitarian airlift and 70 million euros in emergency aid
ECONOMY: agreement at Council of the EU on Technical Support Instrument for reforms in Member States
TAXATION: Commission extends VAT and customs duty exemption on imports of medical equipment
STATE AID: European Commission approves €2.6 billion Polish support
BANKS: EBA publishes list of national bank guarantee schemes applied to contend with Covid-19 pandemic
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: EU and Western Balkan countries launch coordination platform on external border management and returns
ENERGY: energy efficiency in EU needs to be significantly improved, according to a report from Commission
ENVIRONMENT: fighting greenwashing, Commission publishes roadmap for future “green claims” regulation
ENVIRONMENT: long-range transboundary pollution, EEA report confirms EU emissions decline in 2018
CLIMATE: Climate Law, EESC supports a 2030 climate target raised to a minimum of 55%
DIGITAL: reported telecommunications incidents in EU remain stable, according to ENISA
DIGITAL: EESC recommends that definition of risk related to artificial intelligence be reviewed
REGIONS: Committee of the Regions is generally satisfied with agreement on post-2020 EU budget
ECONOMY - FINANCE
ECONOMY: signature of Memorandum of Understanding on €1.2 billion EU macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
TAXATION: Commission consults on revision of Energy Taxation Directive
STATE AID: Commission launches public consultation on regional aid guidelines
NEWS BRIEFS
BUDGET: Dalai Lama welcomes budgetary agreement reached at European Council
DEVELOPMENT: Senegal recognised as eligible for debt service moratorium by Paris Club
ENERGY: post-Covid-19 recovery, EU-ASE calls for clearer rules on climate conditionality
GUYANA: EU calls for conclusion of democratic process 
MALI: EU encourages all actors to commit to ECOWAS crisis exit plan
MEDITERRANEAN: meeting of 'Med 7' group at the end of August/start of September to discuss security issues
TRANSPORT: EASA proposes a series of airworthiness standards to ensure operation of unmanned light aircraft
PALESTINE: more than 30 European politicians call for increased financial support for UNRWA