login
login

Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12639

20 January 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 34
EXTERNAL ACTION / Trade
Malaysia takes EU to WTO over biofuel restrictions
Brussels, 19/01/2021 (Agence Europe)

Malaysia requested consultations with the European Union within the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday 19 January regarding restrictions on the use of palm oil for biofuels by the EU.

The country considers that the measures of the European Directive on renewable energies are not compatible with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. 

The EU has decided that palm-oil-based biofuel will not count towards its 2030...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: EU sets target of 70% of adult population vaccinated against Covid-19 by summer 
ECONOMY: importance of integrating reforms into national recovery plans once more stressed at EU Council
STATE AID: Covid-19, Member States consulted on adaptation of Temporary Framework for State aid
STATE AID: green light for €300 million in Austrian support for event organisers
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
EMU: European Commission’s ideas for strengthening international role of single currency
FINANCE: AFME calls for hybrid financial instrument to recapitalise companies
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
HEALTH: vaccines, online publication of CureVac contract does not meet MEPs’ demands for transparency
MIGRATION: European Parliament and European Commission condemn situation of migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina
RUSSIA: MEPs united in their condemnation of arrest of Alexei Navalny
VENEZUELA: EPP group in European Parliament of opinion that National Assembly elected in 2015 must remain legitimate interlocutor of EU
TRADE: MEPs unite to defend report on compliance with trade rules
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission says it wants to act to strengthen single market for services
FISHERIES: MEPs call for overfishing to end and marine protected areas to be extended
TRANSPORT: broad consensus in European Parliament on revision of guidelines for trans-European transport network
FINANCE: European Parliament gives green light to agreement on replacement of critical benchmarks that are set to disappear
ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament gives go-ahead for EU approval of improved Bonn Agreement on pollution from ships in North Sea
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
RUSSIA: Bellingcat website announces new revelations at Council of Europe hearing on poisoning of Mr Navalny
EXTERNAL ACTION
CENTRAL AFRICA: European Union and African Union call for final results of presidential election to be respected
TRADE: Malaysia takes EU to WTO over biofuel restrictions
SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor's Office, EU Council also asked to justify its choice for nomination of Belgian prosecutor
FOOD SAFETY: second public consultation of European Commission on ‘Sustainable Use of Pesticides’ Directive
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission promised PAN Europe to act to prevent European exports of banned pesticides in EU
CLIMATE: EU fails to meet its commitments on climate finance, says ACT Alliance EU
SECURITY - DEFENCE
WEAPONS: EU Council establishes European approach on end-user certificates
CSDP: EU Military Committee recommends developing methodology for participation of non-Member States in EU missions and operations
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: coordination of social security systems, European co-legislators could resume negotiations in February
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
CITIZENSHIP: MEPs and NGOs regret Commission's response to Citizens’ Initiative for ‘Diversity in Europe’
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission consults before preparing its Schengen area reform
AGRICULTURE: Samuel Masse, new European Council of Young Farmers president
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: appointment of two new Directors and a Principal Advisor
COURT OF AUDITORS: Marek Opioła officially appointed 
INDUSTRY: vehicle safety, European Commission launches consultation on emergency lane keeping systems
UNITED KINGDOM: Michel Barnier to become special adviser to Mrs von der Leyen on implementation of EU/UK agreement
SOCIAL: European trade unions call for EU directive to end gender pay gap