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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12615

4 December 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 5 / 38
INSTITUTIONAL / Eu2021pt
Incoming EU Council Presidency hopes for progressive standardisation of institutional work at European level
Brussels, 03/12/2020 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 3 December, Nuno Brito, the Portuguese ambassador to the European Union, expressed his hope for a gradual “normalisation” of work within the European institutional machinery during the first half of 2021, with a resumption of physical meetings as the uptake of the Covid-19 vaccination becomes more widespread.

At an event organised by the European Policy Centre think tank to present the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council for the first half of 2021,...

Contents

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Commission wants to ensure that digital advances do not further undermine EU’s democratic achievements
MEDIA: Commission promises to launch series of actions for media and audiovisual sector from beginning of 2021
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: digital platforms, EU ministers are rather against creation of a new worker status
SOCIAL: division in EU Council over proposal for a directive on minimum wages in EU 
INSTITUTIONAL
EU2021PT: incoming EU Council Presidency hopes for progressive standardisation of institutional work at European level
TRIBUTE: EU leaders pay tribute to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, father of European Council
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: European Commission and Athens define outline of new camp to replace ‘Moria’.
HOME AFFAIRS: Renew Europe group in European Parliament wants to give Europol right of initiative
JUSTICE: Commission’s toolbox on digitalisation of judicial systems was rather well received in European Parliament
CLIMATE: ETS revision, key element in negotiations between Member States on increase in 2030 climate target
ENERGY: German EU Council Presidency wants to finalise conclusions on hydrogen
DIGITAL: cybersecurity, continuation of interinstitutional negotiations on competence centre 
DIGITAL: data governance at centre of meeting of EU telecoms ministers
DIGITAL: Commission consults on modernisation of Broadband Cost Reduction Directive
DIGITAL: Internet of Things, EU Council sets out cybersecurity and privacy as key principles
COHESION: European Parliament and Council of the EU strengthen pre-financing of Interreg programme after 2020
CONSUMERS: new EU Agenda 2021–2025 on 7 December ministerial videoconference agenda
EXTERNAL ACTION
ACP: new round of negotiations for post-Cotonou Agreement and new threat of non-ratification by European Parliament
MOZAMBIQUE: MEPs call for EU support for government and population in face of violence in north of country
TRADE: French senators hold Valdis Dombrovskis to account on EU trade deals
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: ESMA to make more general recommendations in January 2021 following Wirecard affair
BANKS: European Banking Authority reactivates its guidelines on moratoria on loan repayments 
BREACHES OF EU LAW
POLAND: Commission has further questions on ‘muzzle’ law on disciplinary sanctions against judges
BIODIVERSITY: Poland taken to Court for insufficient protection of forest species and habitats
ENVIRONMENT: air quality, Commission takes Greece and Bulgaria to European Court of Justice
TAXATION: United Kingdom before Court of Justice for non-compliance with EU rules on marked fuel
JUSTICE: Ireland referred to court for failure to transpose rules on rights of suspects and prisoners
JUSTICE: Ireland and Romania urged to transpose PIF Directive on protection of EU’s financial interests
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
RULE OF LAW: Article 7 procedure initiated by European Parliament against Hungary is well founded, according to Advocate General
STATE AID: Advocate General proposes that General Court re-examine Belgian practice of excess profits
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
POLAND: Dunja Mijatović firmly denounces stigmatisation of LGBTI people
MIGRATION: Council of Europe report calls on Croatia to strengthen investigations and sanctions in cases of trafficking in human beings
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: green light for €20 million Greek voucher scheme for student broadband internet access
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Council of EU advocates mainstreaming fight against antisemitism in all areas of Union action
ENERGY: Commission does not rule out exit from Energy Charter Treaty
INDUSTRY: still no interinstitutional agreement on real-world emissions testing
SOCIAL: coordination of social security systems, German EU Council Presidency still hopes to have an interinstitutional agreement
VENEZUELA: European Parliament will not observe 6 December parliamentary elections