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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12701

20 April 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 14 / 35
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / Finance
‘BlackRock’ case, Commission responds to European Ombudsman’s recommendations
Brussels, 19/04/2021 (Agence Europe)

On Monday 19 April, the European Commission formally responded to the European Ombudsman’s recommendations regarding the contract awarded to BlackRock Investment Management to carry out a study on integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives into EU banking rules (see EUROPE B12609A26).

In its reply, the Commission indicates that it is considering possible amendments to the Financial Regulation which governs the way in which these procedures are conducted, including...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
UKRAINE: Borrell says Russian troops on Ukraine’s borders represent an “evident” risk of escalation
RUSSIA: authorities are responsible for Mr Navalny’s health, recalls Mr Borrell
GEORGIA: Mr Michel welcomes agreement between political parties
MYANMAR: EU sanctions 10 Burmese officials, including Information Minister, and two conglomerates linked to military
ETHIOPIA: faced with deteriorating situation in Tigray, EU is seeking a monitored ceasefire
SAHEL: new integrated EU strategy for Sahel based on mutual accountability of partners
CHINA: Investment Agreement with EU unlikely to be respected by Chinese, says new Polish study
TRADE: EU renews anti-dumping duties on Chinese citric acid and Chinese and Indonesian monosodium glutamate
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: European Commission activates its option to purchase an additional 100 million doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
COHESION: REACT-EU, European Commission approves amendments from three Member States
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
STATE AID: European Commission adopts revised EU guidelines on regional State Aid
TAXATION: Lyudmila Petkova updates MEPs on reform of EU Council’s Code of Conduct Group
BANKS: ECB review reveals €275 billion increase in risk-weighted assets since 2018
FINANCE: ‘BlackRock’ case, Commission responds to European Ombudsman’s recommendations
ECONOMY: European financial architecture for development, revolution will not take place
SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE/FINANCE: EU taxonomy, Commission reviews criteria for forestry and bioenergy
AGRICULTURE: negotiations between EU institutions on CAP reform intensify
ANIMAL HEALTH: EFSA public consultation on animal transport conditions
HEALTH: imminent launch of interinstitutional negotiations on health technology assessments
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF EU: launch of interactive digital platform of Conference on Future of Europe
GENERAL AFFAIRS: Rule of law, Brexit, EU response to Covid-19 and Conference on Future of Europe on ministerial agenda
LOBBYING: CEO exposes pharmaceutical industry’s influence on European Commission on intellectual property rights
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
DEMOCRACY: European Commission consults on draft directive to support electoral participation of mobile European citizens
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
HUMAN RIGHTS: Saudi women’s rights activist Loujain Al-Hathloul receives Council of Europe Václav Havel Prize
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: public consultation on future European police cooperation code
CLIMATE: fifty academics and experts call on EU to set separate target for carbon removals in Climate Law
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: lack of EU legislation on equal treatment is “simply unacceptable”, insists Helena Dalli
EMPLOYMENT: 2020 saw temporary lay-offs at their highest in EU
INDUSTRY: approval, European Commission consults on update of motor vehicle categories
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission to update statistics on the control of products subject to EU law
MOZAMBIQUE: EU plans training mission to help Mozambican authorities fight terrorism
FISHERIES: European Commission prepares measures to reduce by-catch of sensitive species
SOCIAL: labour market still difficult to access for people with disabilities
SPORT: football ‘Super League’ project causes a stir in EU institutions
NEIGHBOURHOOD: EU Council calls for rapid and effective implementation of new Mediterranean agenda