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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13339

31 January 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 9 / 39
EXTERNAL ACTION / Mercosur
European Commission admits that conditions are not ripe for concluding negotiations on EU/Mercosur agreement
Brussels, 30/01/2024 (Agence Europe)

A week ago, the European Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, considered that it was possible to conclude negotiations on the EU/Mercosur trade agreement before the elections. However, this assertion has been called into question: “At present, the Commission’s analysis is that the conditions for concluding the negotiations have not been met”, said European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer on Tuesday 30 January. He added: “The Commission’s executive vice-president, Valdis...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
CLIMATE: towards a target of a 90% reduction in emissions in 2040, European Commission says current efforts are not sufficient
AGRICULTURE: European Commission makes first move on set-aside, while France calls for more measures for farmers
TRANSPORT: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on revised rules for occasional passenger transport sector
ENVIRONMENT: EU Council ready to negotiate with European Parliament on revision of ‘Mercury’ Regulation
HEALTH: Frank Vandenbroucke hopes for rapid agreement on ‘shortages’ aspect of pharmaceutical package
FISHERIES: European Commission proposes negotiating new fisheries protocol with Côte d’Ivoire
TOURISM: European Commission says sector stakeholders have successfully engaged in green and digital transition
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
DEFENCE: support for Ukraine, state of defence preparedness and situations in Sahel and Red Sea on agenda of informal meeting of European defence ministers
EXTERNAL ACTION
MERCOSUR: European Commission admits that conditions are not ripe for concluding negotiations on EU/Mercosur agreement
UNITED STATES: Valdis Dombrovskis criticises absence of agreement on steel and aluminium and on critical minerals with Washington
MIDDLE EAST: Josep Borrell promises UNRWA funding has not been suspended
ASIA/PACIFIC: EU to address geopolitical, economic and climate challenges with its partners in South-East Asia and Indo-Pacific region
HEALTH: new plea from EU Council to keep global health at top of multilateral agenda
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ECONOMY: EU Council agrees on confiscation of profits generated by Russian public assets frozen in EU
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: MEP Tatjana Ždanoka is target of European Parliament investigation into possible spying for Russia
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: Institut Rousseau estimates that additional investment of €360 billion a year is needed to make EU’s climate transition a success
COMPANIES: European Parliament and EU Council reach agreement on finalised version of directive governing corporate due diligence
INSURANCE: ‘Solvency II’ and IRRD – MEPs approve agreement reached with EU Council
FINANCE: ‘Listing Act’ – European Parliament and EU Council negotiators close to agreement
ECB: ECB sets out climate and nature actions alongside studies planned for 2024-2025
STATE AID: European Commission opens in-depth investigation into two Swedish schemes in favour of biogas and biopropane producers
STATE AID: European Commission approves two German aid schemes worth around €1 billion for pig farmers
INSTITUTIONAL
EP2024: with an eye on elections, European Green Party is advocating climate justice, social solidarity and strengthening of democracy
EEAS: EEAS must ensure better interaction with EU delegations, according to European Court of Auditors
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
MIGRATION: Court of Justice clarifies conditions governing right to family reunification for unaccompanied minors who come of age during procedure
AUDIOVISUAL: audiovisual media services – EU Court of Justice interprets time limit on television advertising spots
TAXATION: CJEU says employee using employer’s details to issue fake invoices is liable for amount of tax involved
JUSTICE: right to erasure – according to CJEU, Bulgarian regulations on retaining convicted persons’ data do not comply with EU law
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL: digital platform workers, European Parliament signals disagreement with EU Council’s latest revised mandate
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: asbestos in buildings, European trade unions call on European Commission to keep its promises to protect workers
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: against LGBTQI discrimination, Forbidden Colours calls on EU to use human rights-based approach to regulate AI
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: reform of Schengen Borders Code, negotiations continue between Belgian Presidency of EU Council of the EU and European Parliament
STATE AID: European Commission authorises €550 million Italian aid scheme to replace fossil fuels in industrial processes
COMPETITION: European Commission conducts unannounced inspections in new replacement tyre sector
ENERGY: global gas demand set to rise by 2.5% in 2024, according to IEA
DIGITAL: Belgian Presidency of EU Council attempts to reassure other Member States about compromise reached before vote on AI Act
DIGITAL: tech industry calls on European policymakers to “consider all available technologies to meet 2030 connectivity targets”
CSDP: Peter Kolding’s mandate as head of EUCAP Sahel Mali mission extended
CORRIGENDUM
MIGRATION: Asylum and Migration Pact – confirmation vote planned for February in Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties