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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12539

31 July 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 27 / 29
NEWS BRIEFS / Taxation
EU Council formally adopts revised directive on excise duties on alcohol

30/07/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 29 July, the EU Council formally adopted, by written procedure, the new rules on excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages (see EUROPE B12513A33). The revised directive aims to improve the business environment and reduce costs for small alcohol producers, while taking into account health considerations. After being blocked by Romania (see EUROPE B12257A1), then by Bulgaria and the Czech Republic (see EUROPE B12366A2), unanimous agreement was...

Contents

BEACONS
BEACONS: In support of an EU ‘Zero Racism’ pact (4/4)
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CYBER SECURITY: EU punishes cyber attackers for first time ever
CSDP: EU launches its civilian consultative mission in CAR and extends mandate of EUTM CAR
NATO: for Mr Stoltenberg, redeployment announcements highlight US commitment to European security
EXTERNAL ACTION
TURKEY: EU condemns launch of latest exploratory activities by Turkey in Cyprus exclusive economic zone
INSTITUTIONAL
BETTER REGULATION: European Court of Auditors welcomes Commission's record on better regulation
BUDGET: Dacian Cioloş calls on EU Council to “accelerate work” on link between budget and respect for Rule of law
RULE OF LAW: European Union called on not to turn a blind eye to deterioration of media pluralism in Hungary
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: now is the time to prepare for Covid-19 and seasonal flu
HEALTH: EU struggling to coordinate its pandemic response
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: work continues in EU Council on law applicable to effectiveness of assignments of claims
COHESION: Mrs Ferreira and Mr Schmit call on Member States to make use of resources of REACT-EU as soon as possible
COHESION: European Commission launches public consultation on Interregional Investment and Innovation Initiative
EDUCATION: European Commission selects 5 new centres of professional excellence
FOOD: ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy attacked by ECR Group in European Parliament and by US as barrier to innovation in agriculture
CLIMATE: NGO Counter Balance is concerned that EIB may continue to finance fossil fuels “through the back door”
ENERGY: wind energy covered 17% of total electricity demand in Europe in first half of 2020, according to WindEurope
ECONOMY - FINANCE
TAXATION: European Commission maintains that FATCA requirements for “accidental Americans” are compatible with Payment Accounts Directive
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: EIB to help Madrid develop first “social impact bonds”
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: Commission approves new protected designation of origin for Romania
MONEY LAUNDERING: public consultation on Commission’s Action Plan extended until 26 August
COMPETITION: green light for proposed acquisition by Uniqa of AXA’s operations in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia
NORTH KOREA: EU extends autonomous targeted sanctions for one year
EMPLOYMENT: EU and euro area unemployment up in June
ENVIRONMENT: registrations for 2023 ‘European Green Capital’ and 2022 ‘Green Leaf’ are open
SPACE: Pedro Duque officially presents his candidacy to head ESA
TAXATION: EU Council formally adopts revised directive on excise duties on alcohol
KOSOVO: Tomáš Szunyog named as new EU Special Representative
SOCIAL: countdown for transposition of Posted Workers Directive at national level is over