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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12671

5 March 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 29 / 40
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU / Environment
United Kingdom condemned for systematic and persistent violation of EU air quality standards since 2010
Brussels, 04/03/2021 (Agence Europe)

The United Kingdom has consistently and persistently exceeded the EU legal limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) since 2010 in sixteen areas of the country and has failed to fulfil its legal obligation to put in place plans to tackle the problem as soon as possible, in breach of the Ambient Air Quality Directive 2008/50, the EU Court of Justice ruled in a judgment on Thursday 4 March (Case C-664/18).

This is the first decision of the CJEU condemning the United Kingdom since its exit from...

Contents

FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: proposal for directive on pay transparency leaves employers’ and trade union organisations sceptical
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: European Commission rolls out implementation of its European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
EMPLOYMENT: European Commission presents recommendations to support employment in wake of health crisis
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPANIES: latest negotiations in European Parliament on due diligence of companies before vote in plenary session
ECONOMY: MEPs try again to find compromise on European economic governance
STATE AID: €1 billion support for high-efficient cogeneration in Slovakia approved 
COMPETITION: formal investigation into possible anti-competitive conduct of Teva in relation to multiple sclerosis drug
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: Commission states that no discussions are underway for group purchase of Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine 
TRADE: EU plans to extend export authorisation regime for Covid-19 vaccines
ECONOMY: support in European Parliament for Stability Pact freeze extended until end of 2022 
ECONOMY: Valdis Dombrovskis confident of rapid adoption of national recovery plans
STATE AID: green light for €20 billion French guarantee scheme for companies affected by Covid-19 pandemic
KENYA: Covid-19, EU and EIB provide €120 million to support Kenyan SMEs and agriculture
SPACE: ESA and European Commission launch first ‘challenge’ to measure negative impact of Covid-19 pandemic
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: Fabrice Leggeri continues to exclude migrant pushback activities by Frontex Agency
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs call for EU ‘Ambient Air Quality’ legislation to include all air pollutants
AGRICULTURE: Éric Andrieu reports progress in negotiations on common market organisation
AGRICULTURE: MEPs disagree with European Commission’s positive view of market situation
ANIMAL HEALTH: European Commission accepts transitional period of six months for new veterinary certificates
CLIMATE: Greens/EFA group in European Parliament publishes report showing economic viability of reducing emissions by 60% by 2030
CLIMATE/HEALTH: new European climate and health observatory launched
DIGITAL: France enters personal data retention fray
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: European Parliament postpones its decision on the date of the consent vote on the bilateral agreement
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova want to strengthen relations with EU
MYANMAR: EU has frozen part of its development cooperation
WTO: Honduran Dacio Castillo becomes WTO General Council Chair 
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF EU: European Parliament approves interinstitutional declaration laying foundations for Conference on Future of Europe 
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
STATE AID: Court definitively dismisses FC Barcelona’s court action regarding its tax regime
ENVIRONMENT: United Kingdom condemned for systematic and persistent violation of EU air quality standards since 2010
NEWS BRIEFS
EBOLA: EU mobilises €3 million to help Guinea fight virus
EMPLOYMENT: unemployment rate continues to rise in EU, says Eurostat
ENERGY: European Nuclear Safety Regulators approve preliminary report on Ostrovets power plant
ENERGY: Hydrogen Europe and T&E call on European Commission to stimulate deployment of “green” hydrogen and ammonia for maritime transport
UNITED STATES: London and Washington temporarily suspend customs duties in Airbus/Boeing dispute
TAXATION: European Parliament gives green light to opening of negotiations with EU Council on public country by country reporting
TAXATION: MEP Stéphane Bijoux welcomes retention of system of dock dues in France’s outermost regions
GREECE: Athens authorised for second early repayment only to IMF
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission launches consultation on updated recommendations on professional services
DIGITAL: revision of WhatsApp’s terms of use in Irish Data Protection Commission’s sights
FISHERIES: Europêche denounces alarming information on effects of European Parliament amendments on controls