login
login

Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12675

11 March 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 7 / 39
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Media
Vera Jourova proposes expanding Commission’s “toolbox” for enforcing press freedom in EU
Brussels, 10/03/2021 (Agence Europe)

The Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova, took part, on Wednesday 10 March, in the European Parliament’s debate on the repeated attempts by the Polish, Hungarian (see EUROPE B12658A18), and Slovenian (see EUROPE B12672A6) governments to “muzzle free media”.

Faced with a clearly concerned assembly, Ms Jourova stressed the need to provide the Commission with more resources.

Recalling that the Commission’s competences remain...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
HUMANITARIAN AID: Commission proposes to recalibrate European and international aid to meet unprecedented humanitarian needs
ETHIOPIA/HORN OF AFRICA: Tigray, draft Council conclusions urge Ethiopian government to cooperate with UN and humanitarian actors
UNITED KINGDOM: new controversy between EU and London after Charles Michel’s criticism of British export restrictions on Covid-19 vaccines
TRADE: French MPs concerned about progress on EU/Mercosur agreement
CHINA: EPP group in European Parliament promotes strategy of ‘cooperation, competition and confrontation’ with Beijing
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
FUTURE OF EU: Conference on the future of Europe will kick off on 9 May
MEDIA: Vera Jourova proposes expanding Commission’s “toolbox” for enforcing press freedom in EU
CLIMATE/TRADE: MEPs adopt report on Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
SOCIAL: MEPs want more ambition in Action Plan for implementation of European Pillar of Social Rights
COMPANIES: MEPs unite in support of mandatory due diligence for companies
SYRIA: in front of MEPs, Mr Borrell acknowledges EU’s powerlessness
TAXATION: European Parliament adopts its opinion on exchange of information on revenues from digital platforms
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: EU Council Legal Service validates legal basis chosen for draft directive on minimum wages 
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: European Commission announces 4 million additional doses of BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine by the end of March
STATE AID: Covid-19, Italy authorised to pay €511 million for rail passenger transport providers
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: EU Interior Ministers will focus on return of irregular migrants
JUSTICE: data retention, fundamental rights and judicial training on EU ministers’ agenda
DIGITAL: EU data protection bodies suggest improvements to data governance act
TRANSPORT: Portuguese Presidency of EU Council hopes to finally reach an agreement on Connecting Europe Facility
TRANSPORT: nine Member States call on European Commission to set a deadline for sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission publishes its third report on persistent organic pollutants
CLIMATE: coalition of national climate advisory bodies calls on EU to establish ‘European Climate Change Council’
AGRICULTURE: EU ministers to discuss measures to combat plant pests
AGRICULTURE: ‘Innovation Awards for Women Farmers 2021’ won by Spanish and Italian women
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: Greenpeace urges ECB to stop “favouring” fossil industries
EUROGROUP: evolution of budget support in response to Covid-19 pandemic and international role of euro on agenda 
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: European Commission reorganises its Directorate-General GROW
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: College appoints a new Director-General for DG DIGIT and a new Deputy Secretary-General
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
MIGRATION: Council of Europe Committee for Prevention of Torture calls for reform of detention system for migrants in Malta
TURKEY: Dunja Mijatović calls on Ankara to suspend implementation of Law on Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
NEWS BRIEFS
MYANMAR: several MEPs call for support for democratic actors
COMPETITION: European Commission’s response to EDF’s reorganisation “does not satisfy us”, says its CEO
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: permanent representatives give green light to draft texts on Romani communities and ageing at EU Council meeting
ENVIRONMENT: Member States give green light for conclusions on EU sustainable chemicals strategy 
UNITED STATES: suspension of tariffs in Airbus/Boeing dispute enters into force
FINANCE: France wants harmonisation between European and American taxonomies on sustainable finance
TAXATION: Commission consults on a further revision of Directive on Administrative Cooperation
LIBYA: EU welcomes appointment of a national unity government
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: extension of special committees