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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12804

5 October 2021
Contents Publication in full By article 11 / 30
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19 / Trade
WTO members still unable to agree on lifting Covid-19 patents
Brussels, 04/10/2021 (Agence Europe)

After a meeting of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on 4 October, no progress is expected to be made at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on whether to lift patents on Covid-19 vaccines. 

A year ago, South Africa and India requested the removal of intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines. After numerous meetings and small group consultations at the WTO, member countries are still unable to reconcile their positions on the subject. 

Contents

ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY/ENERGY: Eurogroup discusses ways to counter soaring energy prices at EU level
TAXATION: Pandora Papers revelations raise questions about relevance of EU’s ‘black’ list of tax havens
COMPETITION: consultation on commitments offered by T-Mobile CZ, CETIN and O2 CZ on Czech telecom market 
EXTERNAL ACTION
WESTERN BALKANS: summit to reaffirm region’s European perspective and importance of partnership
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: in Brdo, Heads of State or Government will hold a strategic discussion on EU’s place in world
SAUDI ARABIA: signing of a cooperation agreement between EEAS and Ministry of Foreign Affairs
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Borrell calls for closer cooperation with European Union
AFGHANISTAN : EU Humanitarian Air Bridge delivers vital medical and nutritional aid to Kabul
GEORGIA: EU calls for addressing of major shortcomings in first round of local elections
TRADE: trade in goods to grow more than expected in 2021, says WTO
EU RESPONSE TO COVID-19
TRADE: WTO members still unable to agree on lifting Covid-19 patents
ECONOMY: European Commission gives green light to Finnish Recovery Plan
COHESION: REACT-EU, European Commission approves €2 billion in aid for four Member States
SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: ‘Fit for 55’ package, rising energy prices, COP26 and forest strategy on agenda of EU Environment Ministers’ meeting
ENVIRONMENT: EU 2014-2020 forestry strategy has had limited impact on biodiversity and climate, says European Court of Auditors
AGRICULTURE: EU agriculture ministers to discuss CAP Strategic Plans on 11 October
AGRICULTURE: European wine and spirits sector launches U-Label platform
RESEARCH: investment in R&I, EU-27 call for “right balance” between “ambitious agenda” and “realistic agenda”
TRANSPORT: vehicle safety, European Commission consults to revise roadworthiness package
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
DEMOCRACY: Commission plans to present directive and recommendations to combat EU-wide SLAPPs
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: employment levels in EU have almost returned to pre-Coronavirus pandemic levels
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: Union for Mediterranean member states agree to step up efforts to tackle climate and environmental emergencies
ENERGY: NGOs launch citizens’ initiative to ban fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship in EU
INDUSTRY: ‘machinery’ directive, industry publishes priorities for future regulation
MEDIA: Greek subsidiary of Euronews could shut down operations in December
DIGITAL: digital giants say they are “deeply concerned about the direction of the DSA proposal”
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Dacian Cioloș resigns as chair of Renew Europe group
UNITED KINGDOM: Commission reiterates its intention to find solutions to problems faced by Northern Ireland
SOCIAL: European Labour Authority formalises move to Bratislava
Kiosk
Kiosk: No. 045