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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12624

17 December 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 16 / 39
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Cohesion
European Parliament approves Interinstitutional Agreement on React-EU initiative by a large majority

16/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Parliament adopted by an overwhelming majority (654 votes to 23, with 17 abstentions), in plenary session on Wednesday 16 December, the Interinstitutional Agreement on the Regulation establishing React-EU, the €47.5 billion emergency support package to help regions cope with the consequences of the coronavirus until 2023. The Regulation will be retroactive and will cover projects from the start of the crisis, from 1 February 2020, and will...

Contents

SECURITY - DEFENCE
DIGITAL: EU determined to strengthen its tools against cyberattacks
CYBERSECURITY: European Commission extends monitoring of resilience of critical infrastructure
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: fiscal positions in euro area countries will continue to be expansionary in 2021
ECONOMY: European Parliament/EU Council reach agreement on European Technical Support Instrument for structural reforms
BANKS: Commission wants to ensure that banking sector is prepared to deal with increase in non-performing loans
BANKS: ECB calls for maximum limitation of dividends and bonuses until September 2021
MONEY LAUNDERING: European Banking Authority evaluates functioning of new colleges of supervisors
FINANCE: European Commission proposes to change weekly position reporting thresholds for trading platforms
STATE AID: European Commission validates Estonian aid for electricity production from renewable sources
STATE AID: green light for support for mobile communications services infrastructure in Land of Brandenburg
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
BUDGET: MEPs resolutely expect implementation of ‘Rule of law’ mechanism
BUDGET: European Parliament approves MFF 2021-2027 worth €1074.3 billion
AGRICULTURE: MEPs endorse rules on two-year transitional period for CAP
HUMAN RIGHTS: Belarusian democratic opposition receives 2020 Sakharov Prize
MOZAMBIQUE: MEPs call on Josep Borrell for more decisive EU action on Cabo Delgado conflict
COHESION: European Parliament approves Interinstitutional Agreement on React-EU initiative by a large majority
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: Covid-19, Ursula von der Leyen suggests starting vaccinations in EU-27 on same day
HOME AFFAIRS : Uruguay removed from European list of non-Member States whose nationals can enter EU 
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: Ursula von der Leyen believes that “a way forward” exists for reaching agreement on post-Brexit relationship
TURKEY: Mr Erdoğan wants to turn a new page in relations between EU and his country
SECTORAL POLICIES
SPACE: EU space programme, European Parliament and EU Council consolidate European strategic autonomy
TRANSPORT: EU Council supports emergency measures to spare road and air transport in event of a no-deal Brexit
AGRICULTURE: farmers “do not need to be convinced” of merits of European Green Deal, according to Ursula von der Leyen
AGRICULTURE: Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council aims at agreement on future CAP in spring 2021
BIODIVERSITY: EU and Global Wildlife Conservation mobilise 34 million euros to conserve species and ecosystems
ENERGY: proposed revision of TEN-E Regulation is not fully convincing to energy regulators and NGOs
CUSTOMS: development of electronic systems provided for in Customs Code is well under way, according to Commission
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: there will be no progress on equality until EU “offers relevant ministers a dedicated discussion forum”, insists Irene Tolleret
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
EUROZONE: depositors and shareholders of Cypriot banks say they have been wronged by failed Cypriot bailout plan
CATALONIA: action brought by Oriol Junqueras against Parliament’s finding that his seat is vacant is deemed inadmissible 
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: launch of European Climate Pact
ECONOMY: continuation of European Parliament/EU Council negotiations on Recovery and Resilience Facility
GENDER EQUALITY: Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland again veto draft EU Council conclusions on gender equality
FINANCE: Member States give green light to agreements with European Parliament on capital market stimulus measures
TAXATION: country by country reporting, possible outcome under Portuguese Presidency
IRAN: informal ministerial meeting of JCPOA members on 21 December
EPP: European People’s Party group in European Parliament could sanction Hungarian Tamás Deutsch 
HEALTH: contracts signed for EU grant of €500 million to COVAX initiative for Covid-19 vaccines
SOCIAL: European Parliament and EU Council reach agreement on European Globalisation Adjustment Fund