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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12666

26 February 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 23 / 38
EXTERNAL ACTION / Trade
Trade in agri-food products between EU and its partners increased by 2% in 2020
Brussels, 25/02/2021 (Agence Europe)

Over the period from January to November 2020, the EU recorded a trade profit of €56.2 billion on agri-food products, according to the latest report published by Eurostat on Thursday 25 February. This means an increase of 2% compared to the same period in 2019.

The UK is the EU’s largest agri-food partner, followed by the US and China. Demand is particularly strong for pork, wheat and baby food from the China, which imported 23.4% more European products than in the previous year.

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
HEALTH: European leaders want to accelerate pace of vaccination in Europe
HEALTH: European leaders reaffirm EU support for COVAX Facility
HOME AFFAIRS : EU27 call for preserving Single Market despite intra-EU travel restrictions
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers cajole European Parliament 
INTERNAL MARKET/INDUSTRY: Single Market Emergency Instrument expected to be a little more detailed in April, Thierry Breton announces
DEVELOPMENT: AU and EU Commissions and WHO intensify campaign to speed up vaccine donations to Africa
DEMOCRACY: Commission wants to extend its monitoring of anti-disinformation measures taken by online platforms until June 2021
ECONOMY - FINANCE
TAXATION: after 5 years of deadlock, white smoke on country-by-country reporting in EU Council
TAXATION: European Parliament wants to send “right signal at right time” regarding digital taxation
TAXATION: no significant breakthrough on FTT in EU Council working group
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION Interview: new regulation on asylum procedures corresponds more closely “to reality of people who arrive”, says Fabienne Keller
TRANSPORT: Single European Sky, MEPs’ final proposals for amendments expected in “three weeks maximum”
ENERGY: wind power growth in Europe still not enough to meet EU climate targets, says WindEurope
ENVIRONMENT: Grace O’Sullivan’s draft report reinforces EU’s 8th Environmental Action Programme
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs express their differences on amending Aarhus Regulation on public access to justice
CLIMATE: European military sector emits 24.8 billion tonnes of CO2 per year, according to study by The Left group in the European Parliament
AGRICULTURE: MEPs call on EU Council to “move” in negotiations on CAP strategic plans
AGRICULTURE: 13 Member States do not want ‘social conditionality’ in future CAP
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: European Commission and London continue to seek solutions for Northern Ireland
IRAN: EU denounces Tehran’s suspension of Additional Protocol
GEORGIA: facing growing political polarisation, EU calls for appeasement
TRADE: MEPs call for clarification on Trade Policy Review 
TRADE: trade in agri-food products between EU and its partners increased by 2% in 2020
MERCOSUR: Argentinian Presidency of Mercosur calls on MEPs to make progress towards ratification of agreement
INSTITUTIONAL
Interview EESC: “I would like to change the image and the reputation of the EESC” says Christa Schweng
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
JUSTICE: Spain fined €15 million for failure to transpose EU rules protecting personal data
MIGRATION: Hungary cannot sanction NGOs that assist asylum seekers who have little chance of receiving protection
SOCIAL: right to parental leave may not be made subject to requirement that parent is working at the birth or adoption of their child
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: an employer may authorise the wearing of “small” religious signs at work, according to Advocate General of the Court
ENVIRONMENT: Advocate General of Court proposes to annul Commission’s refusal to review authorisation of phthalate DEHP
INTERNAL MARKET: EU country may grant partial access to a profession covered by automatic recognition of professional qualifications 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Court of Justice rejects former European Commissioner John Dalli’s second claim for compensation for non-material damage 
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: Parliament Greens/EFA group study points out misuse of agricultural funds in Central and Eastern Europe
ARMENIA: EU calls for calm
CYPRUS: UN announces informal multi-party meeting for end of April
CIVIL PROTECTION: MEPs confirm European Parliament/EU Council agreement strengthening EU’s rapid response to major emergencies
UKRAINE: EU reiterates its condemnation of annexation of Crimea, on occasion of the seventh anniversary
VENEZUELA: EU expels Venezuelan ambassador Claudia Salerno Caldera