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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12610

27 November 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 2 / 39
INSTITUTIONAL / Eu2021pt
Future Portuguese Presidency of EU Council wants to respond to current challenges while preparing for future
Brussels, 26/11/2020 (Agence Europe)

Portugal’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, Ana Paula Zacarias, unveiled on Thursday 26 November the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will begin on 1 January 2021.

For its fourth Presidency of the EU Council after 1992, 2000 and 2007, Portugal wants to simultaneously tackle the current challenges, following the Covid-19 pandemic, but also to prepare for the future. “We need to focus on two main aspects: the immediate response we need to...

Contents

INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: Hungary and Poland request amendment of agreement on ‘rule of law conditionality’
EU2021PT: future Portuguese Presidency of EU Council wants to respond to current challenges while preparing for future
FUTURE OF EU: Conference on Future of Europe, MEPs reaffirm their initial position on its chairmanship 
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: French authorities recommend transfer of administrative services to Strasbourg
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
INDUSTRY: European Parliament insists on EU’s autonomy with a view to revision of industrial strategy
INTERNAL MARKET: European Parliament calls for stricter product safety rules for digital age
TRADE: MEPs endorse resolution on trade policy review
TRADE: MEPs approve regulation on tariff quotas with Northern Ireland
UNITED STATES: MEPs validate elimination of tariffs on American lobsters
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: MEPs welcome first “ambitious” EU LGBTIQ rights strategy
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Parliament’s report on situation of fundamental rights in EU in 2018 and 2019 approved by small majority
MEDIA: MEPs concerned about deterioration of freedom, pluralism and independence of media in EU
ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament opposes authorisation of carbendazim and extension of other toxic active substances
TAXATION: European Parliament gives go-ahead to temporary VAT exemption for Covid-19 vaccines and test kits
BELARUS: European Parliament condemns “murder” of activist Roman Bondarenko
ETHIOPIA: concerned by serious human rights violations, European Parliament calls for immediate ceasefire
ALGERIA: Parliament denounces situation of journalists and human rights defenders
TURKEY: European Parliament condemns Turkish actions in Varosha
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPETITION: Teva and Cephalon fined €60.5 million for delaying market entry of a cheaper generic drug
EUROGROUP: signature of treaty revising ESM hoped for in January 2021
EXTERNAL ACTION
DEVELOPMENT: draft EU Council conclusions support continued international efforts to alleviate debt burden of African countries
AUSTRALIA: EU and Canberra call for an open and fair trade policy
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: operation Irini could play role in monitoring ceasefire in Libya, according to Admiral Agostini
SECTORAL POLICIES
FISHERIES: interinstitutional agreement expected 3 December on 2021–2027 EMFF fund
BIODIVERSITY: European Court of Auditors - protection of marine environment in EU leaves much to be desired due to lack of action and funding 
SPACE: Josef Aschbacher elected head of European Space Agency
RESEARCH: European ministers surveyed on new investment targets and briefed on Horizon Europe negotiations
HOME AFFAIRS: Schengen area evaluation mechanism is slow and neglects essential issues, acknowledges Commission
JUSTICE: third progress report but still no agreement in EU Council on law applicable to third-party effects of assignments of claims
COHESION: coronavirus, European Commission approves reprogramming for Bulgaria and Italy
ENERGY: European Commission calls for applications for fifth ‘Projects of Common Interest’ list
CLIMATE: Frans Timmermans calls on China to be “at our side” in fight against climate disruption
CLIMATE: seven NGOs call on European Commission to review its roadmap for ‘Effort Sharing Regulation’
NEWS BRIEFS
ENERGY: First European Clean Hydrogen Alliance Forum
FINANCE: Verena Ross, Maria-Luis Albuquerque and Carmine Di Noia shortlisted to lead ESMA
INDUSTRY: ETSC fears risk of weakening motor vehicle safety rules
MIGRATION: more Belarusian nationals applied for asylum in EU in September, says EASO
EUROPEAN PARTIES: EU General Court annuls European Parliament decision requiring ACRE to repay grants awarded in 2017
CORRIGENDUM
WOMEN: number of EU Member States that have not ratified Istanbul Convention is six