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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12704

23 April 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 37
EXTERNAL ACTION / Russia
EU and NATO express solidarity with Czech Republic
Brussels, 22/04/2021 (Agence Europe)

The European Union and the North Atlantic Council highlighted their solidarity with the Czech Republic on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 April.

Tensions with Russia are high after Prague announced the involvement of Russian intelligence in the explosion of an arms depot on its soil in 2014 (see EUROPE B12701A2).

The Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats, identified as agents of the Russian intelligence services SVR and GRU, and in retaliation Russia expelled 20 Czech diplomats.

In a...

Contents

EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
HEALTH: European Commission waives purchase of optional 100 million doses of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine
HEALTH: work on regulation on “serious cross-border health threats” starts in European Parliament’s committee
HOME AFFAIRS: agreement by Member States on technical specifications of future digital green certificate
ECONOMY: Portugal, first Member State to officially submit its recovery plan
WTO: EU remains firmly opposed to TRIPS waiver for Covid-19 vaccines
COHESION: REACT-EU, European Commission approves modification of operational programmes for France and Denmark
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: country-by-country reporting, everyone draws their red lines before second round of European Parliament/EU Council negotiations
ECB: monetary institute maintains intensified pace of repurchases as part of PEPP operation
FINANCE: MEPs give green light to appointment of Natasha Cazenave as ESMA Executive Director
ECONOMY: explosion of public deficit and debt in 2020 in eurozone and EU
SECTORAL POLICIES
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs compromise on revision of Aarhus regulation to improve public access to environmental justice
BIODIVERSITY: EU’s primary forests are at risk and need to be mapped, says Joint Research Centre report
AGRICULTURE: EU ministers to discuss trade and future ‘green architecture’ of CAP on Monday 26 April
CLIMATE: EU welcomes new US 2030 climate target
CLIMATE/FINANCE: ‘Platform on Sustainable Finance’ calls for a review of how EU Taxonomy criteria are established and use of expert advice
CLIMATE: EU co-legislators’ ‘Climate Law’ agreement gets mixed reception
TRANSPORT: Commission adopts ‘U-space’ package for safer and more secure operation of drones
SPACE: European Commission and ESA reach provisional agreement on FFPA
JUSTICE: Malta again singled out for “golden passports”
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED KINGDOM: European Parliament to vote on Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 27 April
PALESTINE: Mr Shtayyeh calls on EU to put pressure on Israel to hold elections
RUSSIA: EU and NATO express solidarity with Czech Republic
SYRIA: EU welcomes suspension of Damascus’ voting rights in OPCW
SAHEL: Josep Borrell visits Sahel to emphasise importance of region for EU and to attend funeral of Idriss Déby
SOUTH SUDAN: EU announces €43 million in humanitarian aid for vulnerable South Sudanese populations
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: minimum wage, MEPs welcome Mr Radtke and Ms Jongerius’ draft report
SOCIAL: Porto Social Summit, Portuguese Presidency of EU Council plans physical event in restrictive format
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
CONSUMERS: CJEU rules diversion of flight to nearby airport does not entitle passengers to lump-sum compensation
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
RUSSIA: Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe calls on Committee of Ministers to act for release of Alexei Navalny
TURKEY: Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe calls on Turkey to abandon undemocratic practices
SOCIAL: investing in social rights will mitigate effects of Covid-19 pandemic, say Council of Europe experts
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: climate change adaptation and water management on agenda of informal meeting of EU Member State ministers
CLIMATE/SPACE: Copernicus data indicates climate significantly worsened in Europe in 2020
NATO: Alliance summit to be held on 14 June
FISHERIES: Susan Steele new Executive Director of Vigo agency
TRANSPORT: airports and airlines call on EU leaders to prioritise Digital Green Certificate
CITIES: European Commission and European Committee of Regions launch Chamber of National Ambassadors of Covenant of Mayors