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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12626

19 December 2020
Contents Publication in full By article 33 / 37
NEWS BRIEFS / Space
Vega failure, board of inquiry advises strengthening inspections and tests

18/12/2020 (Agence Europe) – According to a report by the Independent Inquiry Commission (IIC) set up by Arianespace and the European Space Agency (ESA), published on Friday 18 December, the failure of the latest Vega launcher mission (see EUROPE B12604A26) was due to a sloppy installation process: poor routing and incorrectly connected cables for the electromechanical actuators in the launcher’s fourth stage. This incorrect connection reportedly inverted the pilot controls, resulting...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
ECONOMY: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on Recovery and Resilience Facility
HEALTH: Covid-19, new draft recommendation by EU Council on use and recognition of antigenic tests
HEALTH: vaccines, European Commission insists on importance of respecting confidentiality clause
COHESION: CRII initiatives have mobilised €18 billion, according to European Commission
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: European Commission publishes recommendations on CAP national strategic plans
JUSTICE: European Parliament/EU Council agreements on 2021-2027 ‘Justice’ and ‘Rights and Values’ programmes
TRANSPORT: after three years of negotiations, EU Council adopts its position on revision of Eurovignette Directive
TRANSPORT: European Commission will present third part of NAIADES programme for inland navigation in first quarter of 2021
ENVIRONMENT/CLIMATE: Member States informed of European Parliament/EU Council political agreement on LIFE 2021–2027 programme
ENVIRONMENT: NEC air pollution directive, only two EU countries meet their obligations, says EEB
CLIMATE/ENERGY: European Parliament Committee on Industry sets out its vision for future EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
CONSUMERS: Expedia and Booking.com comply with European law for transparency of their offers
ENERGY: hydrogen IPCEI should focus exclusively on hydrogen from renewable sources, stress five Member States
ENERGY: potential for cross-border renewable energy projects in Europe remains under-exploited, according to EEA
ENERGY: all EU countries need to build capacity for cross-zonal electricity trade, says ACER
MIGRATION: GUE/NGL Group in European Parliament denounces practice of refoulement of migrants at EU’s external borders
CUSTOMS: counterfeit goods worth €760 intercepted in EU in 2019
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: EU Council agrees on European Peace Facility 2021-2027
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS/DEVELOPMENT: EU Member States endorse European Parliament/EU Council political agreement on NDICI single financial instrument
ENLARGEMENT: EU Member States still disagree on reference to historical disputes
CAUCASUS: EU calls for respect for ceasefire and for lasting settlement of conflict
HUMAN RIGHTS: European Commission publishes Guidance Note on implementation of sanctions related to serious human rights violations
TRADE: European Commission launches gender-balanced recruitment for commercial arbitrators
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
UNITED KINGDOM: negotiations to reach an agreement on post-Brexit relationship down to “final hours”
TRANSPORT: European Parliament approves measures to ensure that road and air connections are maintained in event of no-deal Brexit
BUDGET: 2021 EU budget adopted and promulgated by European Parliament
SOCIAL: European Parliament wants European pillar of social rights to be integrated into European treaties
EGYPT: European Parliament deplores intensification of repression of fundamental and human rights defenders
HOME AFFAIRS: European Parliament support for new EU Internal Security Strategy
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: European Commission gives positive assessment of work of Finance Watch and BETTER FINANCE
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ANIMAL HEALTH: member States may impose stunning at ritual slaughter, says Court 
ECB: Slovenia has infringed principle of inviolability of EU archives
NEWS BRIEFS
SPACE: Vega failure, board of inquiry advises strengthening inspections and tests
HOME AFFAIRS: Dunja Mijatović calls for amendments to French law on global security
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: new co-operation agreement between Council of Europe and OECD
FINANCE: Hong Kong Monetary Authority joins International Platform on Sustainable Finance
RUSSIA: EU calls for abolition of new legislation on ‘foreign agents’