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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12719

13 May 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 39
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU / State aid
Greece failed to fulfil its obligations to recover unlawful aid paid to farmers
Brussels, 12/05/2021 (Agence Europe)

Greece failed to fulfil obligations to recover unlawful aid paid to Greek farmers as compensation for adverse weather conditions, according to an EU Court of Justice judgment on Wednesday 12 May (case C-11/20).

In 2009, the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA) paid Greek farmers a total of €425 million in compensation for damage caused by adverse weather conditions in 2008. On 7 December 2011, the Commission classified these measures as unlawful State Aid incompatible with the...

Contents

Time off: Ascension Day
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: Commission expects strong rebound of EU economic activity in 2021
FINANCE: European Commission draws a mixed picture of implementation of Mortgage Credit Directive
SECTORAL POLICIES
ENVIRONMENT: EU ‘zero pollution’ action plan for 2030 to move towards a non-toxic environment by 2050
AGRICULTURE: final negotiations on CAP reform on 25-27 May are expected to be tough
JUSTICE: European Commission updates procedures and practitioners recognised by Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings
ENERGY: revision of ‘RED II’ directive—European Commission’s impact assessment report rejected by its Regulatory Scrutiny Board
HEALTH: European Commission opens feedback on review of legislation on medicines for children and rare diseases
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
TOURISM: Member States approve draft conclusions on future of tourism in Europe to 2030
HOME AFFAIRS: digital green certificate – Member States stand firm on price of PCR tests and restrictions that will continue to apply in their territory
HOME AFFAIRS: Member States urged to tighten arrival conditions for travellers from India
ECONOMY: Hungary officially submits its National Recovery Plan
COHESION: REACT-EU, European Commission approves €133.4 million for Bulgaria and Sweden
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
STATE AID: EU General Court annuls decision ordering Amazon to repay €250 million in tax benefits
STATE AID: Luxembourg granted illegal tax advantages to Engie group, says General Court of EU
IRAN: Iranian companies can invoke blocking statute before Member States’ Courts, says Advocate General Hogan
HOME AFFAIRS: ‘ne bis in idem’ principle, which prohibits duplication of proceedings for same acts, can preclude arrest of a person who is subject of an Interpol notice
CITIZENSHIP: Commission must provide a full statement of reasons when it refuses a proposed citizens’ initiative, notes EU General Court
STATE AID: Greece failed to fulfil its obligations to recover unlawful aid paid to farmers
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: everything must be done to prevent a broader conflict, warns Borrell
UNITED KINGDOM: UK imported more goods from outside EU than from EU market in first quarter of 2021
INSTITUTIONAL
PARLIAMENTARY PLENARY: European recovery plan, lifting patents on Covid-19 vaccines, conflict of interest involving Mr Babiš, and data protection on MEPs’ agenda
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: return of plenary sessions to Strasbourg in June hoped
CITIZENSHIP: MEPs join in debate on ending cage farming
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EYCS: transformation of higher education, support for youth, and preservation of cultural heritage on EU ministers’ agenda
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
DEMOCRACY: “Democracy is in distress”, warns Secretary General of Council of Europe in “2021 Report”
NEWS BRIEFS
BIODIVERSITY: wolf to become fully protected species in Slovakia from 1 June
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: appointment of new Deputy Director-General in competition department
ENERGY: TEN-E revision, Zdzisław Krasnodębski sets out first draft of compromise amendments
SPACE: logo of future EU Space Agency revealed
WOMEN: European Parliament Committee calls for removal of all barriers impeding full access to sexual and reproductive health rights in EU
NORTH MACEDONIA: interim Bulgarian government to maintain vote on opening accession negotiations
SEAS: several NGOs call for end to destructive and unselective fishing gear by 2027
NATO: signing of an agreement on legal status of NATO Liaison Office in Vienna
REGIONS: European Committee of Regions launches a new network of former members to raise its profile
UNITED KINGDOM: Paris intends to establish a link between Fisheries situation and financial services at next EU Summit
SOCIAL: European Labour Authority seeks legal advice on setting up mediation procedure
CALENDAR
Main activities of European Institutions: until 21 May 2021
CALENDAR EXTRA
Other events: until 21 May 2021