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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12891

16 February 2022
Contents Publication in full By article 14 / 28
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Home affairs
Illegal surveillance on public figures via Pegasus software—European Parliament determined to establish a committee of inquiry
Brussels, 15/02/2022 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday, 15 February, MEPs once again expressed not only their anger to the European Commission and the French Presidency of the Council of the EU but also their concerns about practices of using spyware such as the Israeli Pegasus software to illegally surveil journalists, political opponents, judges, or social activists.

On this occasion, they stressed the need for the European Parliament to equip itself with a committee of inquiry tasked with investigating the use of this software in...

Contents

SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: European Commission wants to strengthen cooperation between Member States
NATO: Russia, military spending, EU/NATO cooperation and new strategic concept on ministerial agenda
SECTORAL POLICIES
SPACE: European Commission presents its constellation project to ensure secure connectivity across EU by 2030
SPACE: European Commission and EEAS aim for space traffic management legislation by 2024
ENERGY: revisions of ‘RED II’, European Parliament’s rapporteur proposes to introduce low carbon solutions in scope of directive
AGRICULTURE: EU Member States divided on usefulness of mirror clauses for imported products
JUSTICE: MEPs call for EU rules on ‘golden’ passports
CLIMATE: after a drop due to Covid-19, EU emissions return to pre-pandemic levels
CONSUMERS: package travel, European Commission consults on raising level of consumer protection
EXTERNAL ACTION
AFRICA: preparations intensify for EU-African Union summit on 17-18 February
JAPAN: Ursula von der Leyen discussed situation in Ukraine with Japanese Prime Minister
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
AFRICA: MEPs advocate a genuine partnership between Europe and Africa as a beneficial counterweight to Chinese competition
COLOMBIA: more than ever, Latin America needs Europe and vice versa, says Iván Duque Márquez
HOME AFFAIRS: illegal surveillance on public figures via Pegasus software—European Parliament determined to establish a committee of inquiry
HEALTH: European Parliament finalises proposals to strengthen fight against cancer in Europe
TAXATION: European Parliament calls on European Commission to play its role as coordinator in tax matters
ECONOMY: European Parliament to give green light to sixth macro-financial assistance package for Ukraine
TRANSPORT: European Parliament validates extension of temporary support measures for railway sector
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: Member States stress importance of investing in skills to support green and digital transitions in EU
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: European Parliament is waiting with bated breath for European Commission to trigger ‘Rule of law’ mechanism
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
RULE OF LAW: MEPs concerned about growing pressure on civil society organisations
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: euro area GDP up by 0.3% in Q4 2021
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
MALTA: Commissioner for Human Rights questions Malta on media freedom, protection of migrants and defence of women’s rights
NEWS BRIEFS
PATENTS: intellectual property—European Commission opens call for evidence on new framework for standard-essential patents
ENVIRONMENT/INDUSTRY: AECC calls on European Commission to be clear and ambitious about future ‘Euro 7’ standard
IRAN: Borrell calls for final push in Iran nuclear talks
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Bernd Lange elected head of European Parliament’s Conference of Committee Chairs
TRANSPARENCY: SMS case, Manon Aubry deplores European Parliament’s unwillingness to hold von der Leyen to account