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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13223

15 July 2023
Contents Publication in full By article 5 / 36
INSTITUTIONAL / European parliament
Unsuccessful Spanish attempt to have EU Council decide on composition of European Parliament
Brussels, 14/07/2023 (Agence Europe)

On Friday 14 July, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union submitted an unsuccessful proposal to the Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (Coreper) to determine the composition of the European Parliament for the 2024-2029 term.

Based on the European Parliament’s initial proposal for a chamber of 716 seats (see EUROPE B13202A11), this Spanish compromise proposal included giving France two extra seats (81 seats instead of 79) as well as one extra seat for Belgium (22...

Contents

BEACONS
Beacons: a rotating Council Presidency on an ejector seat
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ECONOMY: European finance ministers ready to continue EU’s unwavering macro-financial assistance to Ukraine
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET : proposal for new own resources package, European finance ministers express number of reservations
EUROPEAN COMMISSION : despite criticism, European Commission is maintaining appointment of American Fiona Scott Morton as chief economist at DG Competition
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: unsuccessful Spanish attempt to have EU Council decide on composition of European Parliament
EU LAW: European Commission launched 551 infringement proceedings in 2022, 35 of which resulted in action being brought before CJEU
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS: European finance ministers welcome reform, but have a number of questions
TAXATION: MEPs criticise European Commission for “overstepping constitutional bounds” of directive imposing country-by-country reporting
TAXATION: European Commission refers Luxembourg to Court of Justice for incorrect transposition of anti-avoidance directive
MONEY LAUNDERING: supervision is not always proportionate to perceived levels of money laundering and terrorist financing risk, nor is it always effective, according to EBA
COMPETITION: European Commission refers Estonia to Court of Justice of European Union for failure to transpose ECN+ Directive
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: in Madrid, European ministers reaffirm importance of social dialogue in supporting necessary transitions in labour market
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: Commission to take Italy to EU Court of Justice for failing to pay some foreign lecturers working at Italian universities
EXTERNAL ACTION
LATIN AMERICA: EU/CELAC summit will mark a new departure in relations between partners who share same values
UNITED STATES: EU requests WTO compliance proceedings in dispute with Washington over Spanish olives
UNITED NATIONS: EU and UN reaffirm importance of their cooperation
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: European Commission adopts €330 million support package
FISHERIES: draft European Parliament report calls for better implementation of eel rules
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission proposes to further limit use of mercury
CLIMATE/ENERGY: Commission allocates €3.6 billion from emissions trading revenues to clean technology projects
ENERGY: to support development of renewable hydrogen, eight federations and NGOs are calling for creation of an independent European network
INTERNAL MARKET: EU refers Malta and Cyprus to CJEU for failing to comply with recognition of professional qualifications
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission refers Hungary to CJEU for failure to respect freedom of establishment of companies in European Union
INTERNAL MARKET: EU refers Poland to CJEU over its restrictions on pharmacies’ promotional activities
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission refers Sweden to Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to transpose firearms directive
STATE AID: Commission approves €74 million Czech scheme to promote rail freight transport
CLIMATE: EU-CELAC summit, European Investment Bank will provide €800 million for projects in Argentina, Brazil and Chile
COMPETITION: European Commission gives green light to acquisition of Neoenergia Transmissora by Iberdrola and GIC
COMPETITION: European Commission approves Astara’s acquisition of Nissan Austria and Nissan Poland
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: Charles Michel appoints new spokesperson
CONSUMERS: EU limits exposure to carcinogen formaldehyde in consumer products
UNITED STATES: agreement on critical minerals with Washington, EU Council is due to adopt negotiating mandate on 20 July
FINANCE/CLIMATE: European Commission to include mining and extraction in EU taxonomy
INDIA: Council gives green light for negotiations with New Delhi on a memorandum of understanding on semiconductors
DRC: EU condemns murder of Chérubin Okende
SYRIA: sanctions, EU extends humanitarian exemption for six months