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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13331

19 January 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 1 / 39
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Rule of law
European Parliament confirms its intention to take European Commission to court over its decision to release €10.2 billion to Hungary
Strasbourg, 18/01/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 18 January in Strasbourg, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (345 votes in favour, 104 against - mainly from the ECR and ID groups - and 29 abstentions) a resolution denouncing the Commission’s behaviour towards Hungary, which was able to benefit from the release of €10 billion in December despite ongoing breaches of the Rule of law, as many MEPs pointed out on 17 January during a debate with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (see EUROPE...

Contents

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
RULE OF LAW: European Parliament confirms its intention to take European Commission to court over its decision to release €10.2 billion to Hungary
MIDDLE EAST: European Parliament calls for permanent ceasefire in Gaza, subject to conditions
SUDAN: European Parliament calls on EU to sanction those responsible for human rights violations
TAJIKISTAN: MEPs condemn government crackdown on independent media
CHINA: European Parliament calls for end to persecution of Falun Gong followers and other minorities
BUDGET: European Parliament urges Commission to step up its vigilance against irregularities in use of European funds
SOCIAL: MEPs want to give more power to European Labour Authority to combat abuses, especially concerning exploitation of workers from third countries
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Parliament urges EU Council to strengthen legislation against hate speech and hate crime in Europe
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: in its report for 2022 and 2023, European Parliament sounds alarm on media freedom and rights of vulnerable groups
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Parliament puts equity at heart of green transition and advocates gendered approach in combating poverty and energy crisis
ENERGY: strong support from European Parliament for development of geothermal energy in EU
FISHERIES: MEPs criticise plan to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas
ENVIRONMENT: microplastic pollution, Mr Sinkevicius tries to reassure MEPs worried about white tide off Galician coast
FOOD SAFETY: nutritional and health claims, European Parliament recommends rapidly filling gaps for plants and online food sales
SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on reducing CO2 emissions from heavy-duty vehicles
CLIMATE: in its latest report, European Scientific Advisory Board calls for immediate action to make EU climate-neutral
HOME AFFAIRS: voluntary search for online child sexual abuse material, European Parliament’s rapporteur proposes limiting new derogation proposed by European Commission to one year
DIGITAL: DSA, European Commission asks 17 digital giants to explain measures implemented to give researchers access to data
DIGITAL: according to EDPB, data protection officers still lack resources and knowledge to ensure GDPR is being applied
RESEARCH: ERC announces that 102 winners will receive European support of up to €150,000 to test commercial and social potential of their research
AGRICULTURE: avian flu – €46.7 million in EU funds for Italian farmers
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
MONEY LAUNDERING: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on strengthened rules
COMPANIES: due diligence directive – no consolidated text yet and, despite agreement, technical discussions continue
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: rules on coordination of social security regimes, Belgian Presidency of EU Council is receiving some support for its plan to carry out a limited revision
INSTITUTIONAL
EP2024: reducing regulatory burden, defending farmers and hardening its stance on immigration, EPP fine-tuning its priorities for elections
BUDGET: Viktor Orbán calls for annual EU financial support for Ukraine outside EU budget
BUDGET: European Commission borrows €2.2 billion via a new EU Issuance Service
DEMOCRACY: continuing discussions on EU Council’s position on European Ethics Body
FUTURE OF EU: Emmanuel Macron in favour of new “Eurobonds” to stimulate investment in “big priorities for the future”
Russian invasion of Ukraine
NATO: for Admiral Rob Bauer, we should not expect a miracle on Ukrainian battlefield in 2024
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
TRANSPORT: flight MH17 disaster, EU Court of Justice says confidentiality of air safety information is justified
SOCIAL: Court recognises right to financial compensation for employee who was unable to take paid annual leave before resigning
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: assistant remuneration fraud, General Court dismisses Eva Kaili’s appeal against European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s request to lift parliamentary immunity
NEWS BRIEFS
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: EU calls for utmost restraint in Iran/Pakistan tensions
ENVIRONMENT: public consultation on greater water reuse in agriculture in EU
WOMEN: Croatian women’s rights activist wins Council of Europe Wallenberg Prize
INTERNAL MARKET: Commission opens a call for evidence on recognition of professional qualifications of health practitioners in EU
NATO: alliance announces biggest exercise in decades
EP2024: Nicolas Schmit will head European Socialists’ list of candidates