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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12690

1 April 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 31
EXTERNAL ACTION / G7
Trade ministers call for overhaul of global trading system
Brussels, 31/03/2021 (Agence Europe)

The UK hosted the first meeting of G7 Trade Ministers by videoconference, chaired by UK Trade Minister Liz Truss. EU Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis and the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, also joined the meeting.

Participants committed to working together to reform the global trading system, to support free and fair trade. 

For Mr Dombrovskis, the key message for his G7 interlocutors was: “Free, fair and inclusive trade is...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: distribution of 10 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine divides Member States 
ALBANIA: Covid-19, EU disburses €90 million in macro-financial assistance 
SOCIAL: European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, European Commission proposes €4.5 million for Estonia
INSTITUTIONAL
POLAND: Polish judges’ disciplinary regime challenged again at EU Court of Justice
FUTURE OF EU: European Parliament and Committee of Regions want to strengthen role of regions in Conference on Future of Europe
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
G20: Europeans ready to extend suspension of debt service for vulnerable countries until end of 2021 
BANKS: share of underperforming bank loans increased at end of 2020, notes European Banking Authority
FINANCE: European Commission called to account by 73 MEPs over its contracts with ‘Big Four’
STATE AID: green light for 17 million euros in aid for reconstruction of infrastructure related to 2024 Paris Olympic Games
SECTORAL POLICIES
HEALTH: European Commission consults on impact of a revision of general pharmaceutical legislation
TRANSPORT: European Parliament drafts its recommendations on EU’s new approach to road safety
ENERGY: almost 120 MEPs and various organisations call for no extension of scope of Renewable Energy Directive
CLIMATE/FINANCE: EU taxonomy, European renewable energy industry concerned about hydrogen provisions
REGIONS: Committee of Regions signs action plan to combat climate change
AGRICULTURE: European Commission report shows stable growth in agri-food trade in 2020
AGRICULTURE: European Commission launches public consultation on reform of product promotion policy
GMO: more than 160 organisations urge Frans Timmermans not to deregulate new GMOs
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
TRADE: a Council of Europe Recommendation calls for measures against trade in equipment used for torture or execution
EXTERNAL ACTION
G7: trade ministers call for overhaul of global trading system
GEORGIA: political parties reject new EU agreement proposal
NEAR EAST: legislative elections, EU has still not received permission from Israel to enter Palestinian territories
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: Member States appoint a new Deputy Director for Europol
BANKS: Single Resolution Board guidance on bail-in of international debt securities
CLIMATE: member States’ recovery plans not yet ‘green’ enough, says CAN Europe
COMPETITION: withdrawal of European Commission’s decision to make commitments offered by Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros and Sky binding
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Permanent Representations of 27 Member States call on Turkey to return to Istanbul Convention
DEMOCRACY: European Commission consults in order to revise Regulation governing funding of European political parties
EMPLOYMENT: gap in hourly labour costs remains very large between Member States
TAXATION: European Commission consults on tobacco taxation review
INDUSTRY: car manufacturers say they are prepared to have more ambitious emission targets under certain conditions
PAYMENTS: European Commission launches public consultation on instant payments