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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12699

16 April 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 35
INSTITUTIONAL / Rule of law
New concerns in Poland after dismissal of Ombudsman for Citizens’ Rights
Brussels, 15/04/2021 (Agence Europe)

The Commission is following “closely” and with “concern” the situation of the Polish Ombudsman for Citizens’ Rights, who was dismissed by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal on Thursday 15 April. “A function that must remain independent”, commented the Commission’s spokesperson on justice issues, Christian Wigand.

The Polish Constitutional Tribunal, controlled by the ruling ‘PiS government’, has decided to dismiss Adam Bodnar from his position as Polish Ombudsman for...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: relevant parliamentary committees approve trade and cooperation agreement negotiated with United Kingdom
OACPS: Jutta Urpilainen and Robert Dussey initialled final text of renewed post-Cotonou partnership
MYANMAR: MEPs call for suspension of tariff preferences to sanction Myanmar's military junta
UKRAINE: Mr Michel deeply concerned about build-up of Russian troops
RUSSIA: presidents of EPP, S&D and Renew Europe groups call for new strategy
SECURITY - DEFENCE
AFGHANISTAN: NATO to begin troop withdrawal by 1 May
UKRAINE: Allies call on Russia to stop provocations
SECTORAL POLICIES
HEALTH: proposal to authorise vaccines adapted to variants more quickly is welcomed in European Parliament Committee
CLIMATE: EU’s 2030 climate target remains stumbling block in negotiations on ‘Climate Act’
CLIMATE/FINANCE: Commission reportedly considering delaying inclusion of gas in EU taxonomy
AGRICULTURE: green architecture of future CAP will be negotiated on 30 April by EU institutions
ANIMAL HEALTH: MEPs call for aid and time to ban cage farming
FOOD SAFETY: EU Member States give green light to reintroduction of processed animal proteins
ECONOMY - FINANCE
ECOFIN: economic recovery, capital markets and financial architecture for development on EU finance ministers agenda
EUROGROUP: digital euro and banking union will be two main topics on EU ministers’ agenda
TAXATION: European Commission continues to work on use of Treaty’s ‘passerelle clause’ on taxation
ECONOMY: European Commission adopts new guidance documents and decisions to facilitate start of InvestEU
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
EXTERNAL ACTION: European Parliament groups support draft own-initiative report on trade and implications of Covid-19
INSTITUTIONAL
PROTOCOL: Member States want to “turn the page” on ‘Sofagate’
RULE OF LAW: new concerns in Poland after dismissal of Ombudsman for Citizens’ Rights
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Commission could opt for Regulation to ensure mutual recognition of parenthood in EU
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
RULE OF LAW: Council of Europe anti-corruption experts warn of risks of pandemic emergency funds
HEALTH: Council of Europe issues its recommendations for preservation of human rights in development of vaccine passports
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
POLAND: Advocate General questions legality of two new chambers of Polish Supreme Court, finding violations in process for appointing judges
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: advocate general recommends “a balance be struck” between EU right to free movement and expression of a national identity
FISHERIES: dismissal of action brought by Netherlands against ban on fishing with electric pulse trawls
JHA: an asylum seeker must be able to plead circumstances arising after adoption of a transfer decision against which he or she is appealing, according to Court of Justice of EU
EU LAW: according to Advocate General Pikamäe, a national regulation which prevents a national court from making a reference for a preliminary ruling to CJEU is unlawful
SOCIAL: for CJEU, national regulation which pursues “legitimate” employment objective with “appropriate” means cannot be contrary to EU law
SPACE: CJEU rules mobile satellite system structured mainly on complementary ground components in EU territory is compatible with EU law
TAXATION: certain services provided by lawyers protecting adults lacking legal capacity may be exempt from VAT, says CJEU
NEWS BRIEFS
YOUTH: European Solidarity Corps post-2020, European Commission launches first call for project proposals
CURRENCY: European Commission reveals winning design to celebrate 35th anniversary of Erasmus programme
RUSSIA: EU stands in solidarity with US over alleged Russian hacking
TERRORISM: EU sanctions Franco-Turkish Mesut Şekerci