login
login

Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12669

3 March 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 23 / 37
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / State aid
In-depth investigation into €4.35 billion compensation for early closure of lignite-fired power plants in Germany
Brussels, 02/03/2021 (Agence Europe)

The European Commission announced, on Tuesday 2 March, the opening of an in-depth investigation into the €4.35 billion in compensation that Germany plans to grant to operators for the early closure of lignite-fired power plants in the country.

“Our role is to safeguard competition by making sure that the compensation granted to the operators of the plants for phasing out earlier than foreseen is kept to the minimum necessary. The information currently at our disposal does not allow us...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
Interview AGRICULTURE: Maria do Céu Antunes believes that March will be decisive for an agreement on post-2020 CAP
AGRICULTURE: Austria receives support in EU Council on its critical view of ‘social cross-compliance’ in CAP
JUSTICE: EU states want to strengthen European judicial training
JUSTICE: appointment of European Delegated Prosecutors in European Public Prosecutor’s Office progressing slowly
SPACE: Member States stumble over role of EUSPA in context of developing European ‘New Space’
REGIONS: European Court of Auditors puzzled by Brexit reserve fund
TRANSPORT: seven years after adoption of urban mobility package, EU policy on urban mobility is struggling to take hold in Member States
ENERGY: CO2 emissions from energy sector are on rise again, according to IEA
ENERGY: electric vehicles consume far less raw materials than fossil-fuel vehicles, according to T&E
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
CONSUMERS: EU’s rapid alert system for dangerous products increasingly used in Covid-19 pandemic
ECONOMY: battle to extend freeze on EU fiscal rules until end of 2022 is won, says Pascal Canfin
HEALTH: Commission sees no contradiction between Austro-Danish approach and EU strategy over Covid-19 vaccines
HEALTH: Covid-19, Nigeria, Angola and Cambodia received AstraZeneca vaccines through Covax
EXTERNAL ACTION
TRADE: Member States welcome EU trade policy review
WTO: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala calls for rapid results in fight against Covid-19
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Commission promises a new European framework reflecting all aspects of international Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
DEMOCRACY: Raphaël Glucksmann calls for greater European political will to combat foreign interference
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: European External Action Service calls for extension of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS Missions
CSDP: High Representative proposes that European Peace Facility deal with weapons seized by EUNAVFOR MED IRINI
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF EU: Conference on Future of Europe invited to present conclusions “by spring 2022”
EPP: Fidesz’s membership of European People’s Party and its European Parliament group is back on table 
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: first 226 projects of European Technical Support Instrument for reforms unveiled
STATE AID: in-depth investigation into €4.35 billion compensation for early closure of lignite-fired power plants in Germany
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: negotiations between European Parliament and EU Council on coordination of social security systems continue to stall
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
POLAND: various Polish reforms of Judiciary Council undermine principles of judicial independence and confidence in Rule of law
JUSTICE: Court specifies strict conditions for access to personal data in context of criminal investigations
BANKS: measures taken by private Italian FITD bank deposit guarantee fund do not constitute State Aid, confirms Court of Justice
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Parliament committee to take Commission to court over lack of full visa reciprocity between EU and US
CAMBODIA: EU calls for process of national reconciliation
CHINA: 100 new geographical indications between China and EU have entered into force
CLIMATE: Portuguese EU Council Presidency wishes to adopt conclusions on adapting to climate change in June 
DEVELOPMENT: Lorenzo Natali Prize 2021 is open for applications until 19 April
GEORGIA: according to Mr Michel, national political dialogue has been relaunched
JUSTICE: Eurojust welcomes mandate given to Commission to negotiate cooperation agreements with thirteen third countries
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: ECR Group in European Parliament gains an MEP 
RUSSIA: Navalny case—EU sanctions four senior Russian officials
SOCIAL: European Commission launches public consultation on action plan for social economy