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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 12927
Contents Publication in full By article 28 / 39
BREACHES OF EU LAW / Justice

European Commission sends reasoned opinion to Malta on its golden passports

06/04/2022 (Agence Europe) – The European Commission moved to the second stage of its infringement proceeding against Malta on Wednesday 6 April, sending a reasoned opinion regarding the existence of citizenship by investment schemes (“golden passports”) in the country. In March, Valletta announced the suspension of its golden passports for Russian and Belarusian nationals (see EUROPE 12902/10). However, it has not completely stopped the programme, for which the Commission is criticising it. The Commission had sent a letter of formal notice in October 2020 to both Malta and Cyprus regarding these citizenship programmes, which it considers illegal under the European treaties. Cyprus announced the termination of its programme shortly afterwards. Malta now has two months to respond to the Commission. If it is not satisfied with the response, it may refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice. (LM)

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
RUSSIA: Member States continue to discuss EU’s fifth sanctions package
AGRICULTURE: food security, France is working on implementation of FARM initiative
EMPLOYMENT: Commission provides guidance to Member States to accelerate recognition of diplomas and qualifications of refugees from Ukraine
CIVIL PROTECTION: EU is building up strategic stockpile to be better prepared for potential chemical, biological or nuclear threats
TRANSPORT: Commission proposes opening negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova to facilitate transport of goods
ECONOMY: seventeen EU countries request technical support from Commission to reduce dependence on Russian hydrocarbons
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
RUSSIA: MEPs call for additional sanctions
CHINA: MEPs unite for a firm European stance against Beijing
RULE OF LAW: ‘Article 7’ procedures, some in European Parliament call on EU Council to take tougher action against Hungary and Poland
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Parliament gives green light to start interinstitutional negotiations on pay transparency
DIGITAL: European Parliament approves interinstitutional agreement on data governance
CLIMATE: ETS review - European Parliament adopts draft report on ‘market stability reserve’
COHESION: European Parliament calls for swift adoption of 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy partnerships and programmes
SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE: French Presidency of EU Council submits a first draft compromise on revision of Effort Sharing Regulation
AGRICULTURE: European Commission criticises lack of ambition in some CAP strategic plans
FISHERIES: European Fisheries Control Agency elects new Chairperson of Administrative Board
COHESION: European Committee of the Regions and CPMR insist on development of a strategy for islands
EXTERNAL ACTION
HUMANITARIAN AID: EU announces €67 million in additional emergency aid for food crisis in West Africa
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: European Commission unveils transparency rules for sustainable investments
EMU: privacy, one of central issues in preparatory work on digital euro
TAXATION: ETAF warns of increasing anti-abuse regulations at EU level
EDUCATION
EDUCATION: European education ministers want to improve quality of investment, mobility and crisis management in their sector
BREACHES OF EU LAW
ENVIRONMENT: Spain to be referred to Court of Justice of EU for inadequate treatment of urban wastewater
INTERNAL MARKET: recognition of professional qualifications, European Commission refers Portugal to Court of Justice of EU
FISHERIES: Belgium in breach of rules on weighing and recording catches
DIGITAL: ten EU countries singled out for failure to transpose electronic communications code
HEALTH: Portugal referred to EU Court of Justice for incomplete transposition of radiation protection standards
JUSTICE: European Commission sends reasoned opinion to Malta on its golden passports
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
JUSTICE: Court of Justice of EU reaffirms prohibition of general and indiscriminate retention of electronic communications data
EGYPT: EU General Court overturns sanctions against Mubarak family
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: new human resources strategy and communication on climate neutrality by 2030
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: CEFS publishes report on “corporate social responsibility” in sugar sector
PATENTS: patent applications in Europe reach a record high in 2021, according to European Patent Office
SOUTH KOREA: EU imposes anti-dumping duties on South Korean polymers
SPACE: Arianespace signs historic contract with Amazon for 18 Ariane 6 launches
SPACE: space traffic management, industry says pace must be accelerated
MIGRATION : Member States continue work on coordinating reception of refugees from Ukraine in EU
SOCIAL: European Commission launches a call for contributions to develop guidelines for tackling poverty and inequality
TRANSPORT: T&E estimates EU’s 10 most polluting airlines received €683 million in free allowances in 2021