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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13334

24 January 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 13 / 37
SECTORAL POLICIES / Energy
MEPs question Belgian Presidency of EU Council on definitive phase-out of Russian fossil fuels
Brussels, 23/01/2024 (Agence Europe)

Invited to address the European Parliament’s Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) Committee on the priorities of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE B13320A9), the Belgian Minister for Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten, once again emphasised the importance of developing electricity networks and answered specific questions from MEPs on the rise of hydrogen in the EU and the end of Russian fossil fuel imports.

For the Minister, the priority for the coming years is to “build a...

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
AGRICULTURE: several EU Member States insist on need to limit imports of certain Ukrainian agricultural products
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: EU Member States ask to be involved in strategic dialogue on future of Common Agricultural Policy
AGRICULTURE: MEP Christophe Clergeau calls for “a robust method for analysing plants” derived from new genomic techniques
ENVIRONMENT: EU equips itself with minimum hygiene standards for materials in contact with drinking water
HEALTH: European Commission proposes measures to improve availability of in vitro diagnostics
COMPETITIVENESS: European Parliament and Council make slow progress in negotiations for a ‘Net-Zero Industry Act’
INDUSTRY: Flemish Minister for Economy and Labour makes competitiveness of EU businesses a priority of Belgian Presidency of Council
MIGRATION: migratory flows to EU – Ylva Johansson defends results of memorandum of understanding signed with Tunisia
JUSTICE: Laura Kövesi highlights growing effectiveness of European Public Prosecutor’s Office and calls for reforms to strengthen it as a matter of urgency
JUSTICE: MEPs want to simplify transfer of criminal proceedings between EU Member States
TRANSPORT: Georges Gilkinet presented ambitious timetable for Belgian Presidency
RESEARCH: Iliana Ivanova reaffirms her commitment to an increase in budget for research and innovation
ENERGY: MEPs question Belgian Presidency of EU Council on definitive phase-out of Russian fossil fuels
ENERGY: MEPs give green light to back provisional agreements on gas package regulation and directive
ENERGY: several organisations call on European Commission to publish its action plan for heat pumps
EXTERNAL ACTION
TRADE: Valdis Dombrovskis calls for greater EU coordination on economic security
WTO: reforming WTO a priority for EU27
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Europeans urge Bosnian authorities to stay course of reform
EGYPT: new cooperation partnership could be signed in coming weeks
SAHEL: humility and Realpolitik should guide EU’s future strategy in Sahel, say experts heard by MEPs
SECURITY - DEFENCE
SPACE: Thierry Breton says that 2024 is a crucial year for EU space policy
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
MONEY LAUNDERING: bids from nine European cities to host seat of future ‘AMLA’ under consideration
TAXATION: MEPs adopt position on new withholding tax procedure
COMPETITION: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into planned acquisition of ITA by Lufthansa and Italian State
ECONOMY: deficit at 2.8% of GDP and public debt at 89.9% in euro area in third quarter of 2023
ECB: a staff union survey shows negative criticism of Christine Lagarde’s actions
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: several MEPs call on Belgian Presidency of EU Council to defend European Parliament’s position on digital platform workers
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
RULE OF LAW: European Parliament committee reports worrying trends in Slovakia, Greece, and France in particular
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: MEPs stress importance of holistic approach to LGBTQI equality
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Dunja Mijatović calls for “regaining lost ground” on human rights
NEWS BRIEFS
CAUCASUS: European foreign ministers call on Azerbaijan to resume peace talks
ECONOMY: Paolo Gentiloni calls ‘InvestEU’ programme a “European success story”
INDUSTRY: EU Council and European Parliament reach agreement on better labelling of fertilisers
JUSTICE: criminalising breaches of EU sanctions, MEPs give green light to European Parliament/EU Council agreement
NATO: Atlantic Alliance signs new contracts for additional $1.2 billion worth of artillery munitions
RESEARCH: MEPs endorse political agreement to extend ‘PRIMA’ partnership
HEALTH: EU Council ratifies revision of EMA’s fee system