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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13335

25 January 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 21 / 44
INSTITUTIONAL / Budget/rule of law
Unblocking of EU funds for Hungary, Commission struggles to convince MEPs
Brussels, 24/01/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Wednesday 24 January, members of the European Parliament’s Committees on Budget (BUDG) and Budgetary Control (CONT) questioned the European Commissioners for the Budget, Johannes Hahn, for Justice, Didier Reynders, and for Employment, Nicolas Schmit, on the partial unfreezing of European funds granted to Hungary on 13 December (see EUROPE B13313A9).

The European Commission unblocked €10.2 billion in cohesion funds. After an “in-depth” assessment, the Commission found that the...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
TRADE: European Commission opts for a cautious approach to economic security
TRADE: Belgian Presidency of EU Council sets out key priorities for international trade
DEVELOPMENT: Caroline Gennez outlines geopolitical ambitions of Belgian Presidency of EU Council to MEPs
SECTORAL POLICIES
RESEARCH: European Commission wants to strengthen promotion of dual-use technologies and safety of research
RESEARCH: Commission wants to create AI Factories with easier access for European start-ups
DIGITAL: ‘AI Act’ – European Commission prepares to establish future ‘European Artificial Intelligence Office’
PATENTS: MEPs adopt their position on several regulations to modernise patent environment
HOME AFFAIRS: negotiators from Belgian Presidency of EU Council and European Parliament agree on new rules against human trafficking
HOME AFFAIRS/MIGRATION: migration, artificial intelligence and fight against drugs on agenda of informal meeting of EU27 home affairs ministers
AGRICULTURE: European Parliament committee reaches majority position on supervision of new genomic techniques
AGRICULTURE: Member States support reduction in level of protection for wolves in EU
AGRICULTURE: majority of EU Member States opposed to production of ‘cultured meat’
CLIMATE: European certification for carbon removals, with co-legislators agreeing on process, monitoring and accountability provisions and establishment of a quadripartite structure
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: for Alain Maron, there is no question of Belgian Presidency of EU Council “hitting pause button” in pursuing objectives of European Green Deal
ENVIRONMENT: revision of ambient air quality directives, further Parliament and EU Council negotiations required to reach agreement
TRANSPORT: real-world CO2 emissions from internal combustion cars did not drop between 2009 and 2019, according to Court of Auditors of EU
ENERGY: Kadri Simson welcomes ENTSO-E’s launch of very first Offshore Network Development Plans
ENERGY: electricity consumption in EU is not expected to return to 2021 levels until 2026, as global production from low-carbon sources accelerates, according to IEA
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: European Commission proposes to strengthen role of European Works Councils
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: revision of EU’s long-term budget, an agreement with EU27 Member States remains an “absolute priority” for EU Council
BUDGET/RULE OF LAW: unblocking of EU funds for Hungary, Commission struggles to convince MEPs
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Commission expands guidelines for European Commissioners standing for election
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: EU Member States plan ambitious Red Sea mission
DEFENCE: Jiří Šedivý calls on Member States to place orders for 155 mm ammunition
NATO: after Turkey ratifies its accession, Sweden awaits green light from Hungary
SPACE: European Commission, EIB and ESA strengthen cooperation
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
DEMOCRACY: Council of EU adopts its negotiating position on European Ethics Body
DEMOCRACY: ‘Defence of Democracy’, Belgian Presidency of EU Council calls on Member States to debate transparency registers and resilience of electoral processes
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPANIES: MEPs adopt position on sustainability reporting by third-country companies
ECB: thirteen MEPs and economists call on Governing Council to review minimum reserve requirements for commercial banks in euro area
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
JUSTICE: Register of Damage for Ukraine to be fully operational by end of April
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: on International Day of Education, EU reaffirms its commitment to “more just and sustainable societies”
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
BANKS: General Court of EU annuls three decisions on bank contributions to ‘Single Resolution Fund’ for 2021
STATE AID: General Court of EU annuls decision classifying as State aid a German support scheme for electricity production by cogeneration plants
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Ports Alliance against drug trafficking launched in Antwerp
MONEY LAUNDERING: details of European Parliament/EU Council agreement on strengthened anti-money laundering rules
CHILE: MEPs broadly endorse updating of association agreement with Chile
CITIZENSHIP: registration of a European Citizens’ Initiative to ban conversion practices targeting sexual and gender minorities in EU
ECONOMY: progress in EU Council on confiscation of profits from Russian public assets frozen in EU
IRAN: EU strongly condemns protester’s execution
DIGITAL: legislation on cyber resilience, MEPs approve interinstitutional agreement in Parliament committee
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Valérie Hayer is set to succeed Stéphane Séjourné as chair of Renew Europe group
SOCIAL: digital platform workers, Member States to resume talks on 26 January
TRANSPORT: independent automotive service providers call on European Commission to legislate on vehicle data