login
login

Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13210

28 June 2023
Contents Publication in full By article 7 / 44
SECTORAL POLICIES / Environment
Revision of EU air quality directives, European Parliament’s draft ‘López’ report reinforces proposals for cleaner air
Brussels, 27/06/2023 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday 27 June, members of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee voted in favour of an ambitious revision of the EU’s ambient air quality directives in order to significantly improve air quality in Europe, beyond what the European Commission proposed in October 2022 to bring EU standards more into line with WHO recommendations (see EUROPE B13051A1).

However, the report by Javi López (S&D, Spanish) was adopted by a narrow majority (46 in favour, 41 against and one...

Contents

ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
BANKS: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on finalising introduction in EU of ‘Basel III’ agreement
FINANCE: EU Council and European Parliament reach provisional political agreement on rules for central securities depositories
FINANCE: EU and UK sign protocol to establish a framework for financial services regulatory cooperation
TAXATION: MEP Isabel Benjumea wants to support competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises
COMPETITION: European Commission concerned that merger between Orange and MasMovil could affect competition in several Spanish telecommunications markets
SECTORAL POLICIES
BIODIVERSITY: EU ‘nature restoration’ regulation rejected by European Parliament’s Environment Committee for lack of majority
ENVIRONMENT: revision of EU air quality directives, European Parliament’s draft ‘López’ report reinforces proposals for cleaner air
AGRICULTURE: numerous EU ministers call for extension of derogations on ‘greening’ rules
AGRICULTURE: Janusz Wojciechowski and several EU ministers call for vigilance on EU/Mercosur trade agreement
AGRICULTURE: European Parliament Committee wants to lower pesticide reduction targets
ANIMAL HEALTH: majority of EU Council in favour of ban on fur farming
HEALTH: MEPs adopt their position on fees and charges payable to European Medicines Agency
CLIMATE: Poland once again sets out its opposition to EU’s climate policy
INDUSTRY: EURO 7, at Environment Committee meeting, Alexandr Vondra argues for less ambitious text and longer deadlines
COMPETITIVENESS: EU Council hopes to adopt position on 30 June on critical raw materials act
INDUSTRY: SMEs from seven Member States call for a “realistic industrial policy”
DIGITAL: EU co-legislators are preparing to negotiate issues surrounding certification, fines and deadlines for implementing Digital Identity Wallet
MIGRATION: addressing situations of crisis and force majeure – Swedish Presidency of EU Council expands solidarity measures offered by Member States
HOME AFFAIRS: European Parliament Committee on Petitions advocates integrating Romania and Bulgaria into Schengen area by end of 2023
CONSUMERS: three online travel agencies in Europe commit to reimbursing travellers after 14 days if flights are cancelled
TRANSPORT: MEPs want to develop comprehensive European ports strategy
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
MEDIA: ‘anti-SLAPPs’ directive, MEPs want to extend scope of application and strengthen victim protection
MEDIA: European publishers call for a Media Freedom Act that “lives up to its name”
GENDER EQUALITY: a small majority of MEPs vote in favour of criminalising purchase of sexual services
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: negotiators from European Parliament and Swedish Presidency of EU Council agree on limit values for occupational exposure to asbestos
INSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRACY: Member States bury reform of EU electoral law
EXTERNAL ACTION
MOLDOVA: Nicu Popescu says opening of accession negotiations at end of year is crucial objective for country
TAJIKISTAN: opening of negotiations for an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between EU and Tajikistan
CENTRAL ASIA: EU Council intends to authorise negotiations on a roadmap on deepening ties between EU and Central Asia
NEW ZEALAND: Member States adopt decision to sign trade agreement with Wellington
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: Josep Borrell believes EU must make its security transition
NEWS BRIEFS
TRADE: MEPs approve provisional agreement on anti-coercion tool
TRADE: following review, European Commission maintains safeguard measures on steel and aluminium until 2024
CULTURE: Lukas Dhont, winner of the LUX Audience Award 2023
GENDER EQUALITY: European Court of Human Rights authorises States to retain gender binaries in civil status records
ENERGY: Luxembourg announces its withdrawal from Energy Charter Treaty
SPACE: EU and US discuss opportunities to deepen cooperation
JUSTICE: EU Council appoints five new prosecutors to College of European Public Prosecutor’s Office
MOLDOVA: MEPs give go-ahead to extend suspension of tariff quotas on certain Moldovan products
FISHERIES: European Parliament Committee ratifies final compromise on ‘Control Regulation’
CSDP: EU extends mandates of EUBAM Libya and Rafah missions and of EUPOL COPPS
TRANSPORT: MEPs approve agreement with EU Council on sustainable aviation fuels
TRANSPORT: MEPs approve agreement with EU Council on deployment of intelligent transport systems
TUNISIA: memorandum of understanding will not be signed this week