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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13340

1 February 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 13 / 41
SECTORAL POLICIES / Digital
Artificial intelligence – Germany announces support for agreement on AI Act, allaying some fears text would be blocked at Member State level
Brussels, 31/01/2024 (Agence Europe)

The threat of Member States blocking the text on artificial intelligence lessened considerably on Tuesday 30 January after the German Minister for Digital Affairs, Volker Wissing, announced that Berlin would support the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on 8 December (see EUROPE B13311A17).

“The wrangling over Germany’s position on the AI Act ended today with an acceptable compromise”, he said. He added: “The negotiated compromise lays the...

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
BUDGET: revision of 2021-2027 financial framework, EU27 once again called upon to reach agreement on multiannual assistance for Ukraine
UKRAINE: European leaders to discuss EU military support for Kyiv
MIDDLE EAST: European leaders to discuss security and humanitarian situation and two-state solution
AGRICULTURE: European farmers to protest on sidelines of European Council meeting
FUTURE OF EU: Charles Michel invites his counterparts to informal dinner
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: target of sending one million rounds to Ukraine in one year will not be reached
TRADE: EU to introduce safeguards on Ukrainian chicken, eggs and sugar
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: European Commission proposes partial derogation from set-aside obligations in 2024
AGRICULTURE: EU Council and European Parliament seal agreement on draft directive labelling honey, jams and juices
HOME AFFAIRS: regarding voluntary search for child sexual abuse material online, MEPs confirm a one-year extension of exemption from legislation on confidentiality of communications
HOME AFFAIRS: MEPs adopt their mandate on strengthening fight against corruption in EU
HEALTH: European Commission presents recommendation on cancer prevention through vaccination
DIGITAL: artificial intelligence – Germany announces support for agreement on AI Act, allaying some fears text would be blocked at Member State level
DIGITAL: European Commission adopts first European cybersecurity certification scheme
RESEARCH: five EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities receive positive evaluations
CLIMATE/ENERGY: in face of far-right populism in EU, Jacques Delors Institute advocates reinforced green transition with approach based on trust and dialogue
ENERGY: European Commission launches two calls for evidence to increase public and private investment in energy efficiency
ENERGY: EU’s dependence on fossil fuels increased slightly in 2022
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: Belgian Presidency of EU Council, European Commission and European social partners renew commitment to strengthening social dialogue
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: EU hopes to maintain EU-US Trade and Technology Council
UNITED KINGDOM: Commission proposes to amend 'Windsor Framework' rules on use of tariff quotas to facilitate import of third country products into Northern Ireland
HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission announces €117 million in emergency aid for Chad and Sudan
SECURITY - DEFENCE
MIDDLE EAST: Josep Borrell confident Aspides mission will be launched by 19 February
SAHEL: EUCAP Sahel Niger mission to leave country by June
DEFENCE: according to Thierry Breton, around twenty manufacturers will be selected as part of ASAP in weeks to come
INSTITUTIONAL
EP2024: Mateusz Morawiecki says he is “open” to idea of Fidesz joining ECR group at the European Parliament
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: after opening an investigation into Tatjana Ždanoka, other MEPs could be carrying out espionage activities for Russia, according to Latvian MEPs
TRIBUTE: Ursula von der Leyen and Alexander De Croo urge EU27 to draw on legacy of Jacques Delors to tackle today’s common challenges
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: funding, inclusion, digitalisation and innovative teaching at heart of recommendations of Commission for Future of School Education
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENVIRONMENT: General Court upholds ban on marketing of products made from oxo-degradable plastic
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: European Commission protects ‘Sel de Camargue’ name
HUMANITARIAN AID: EU mobilises €19 million in emergency aid for Myanmar
HUMANITARIAN AID: public consultation to evaluate EU humanitarian action 2017-2022
ECONOMY: stagnation of GDP in euro area in fourth quarter of 2023
ENERGY: more than sixty business leaders urge European Commission to publish its action plan for heat pumps as soon as possible
ENERGY: ACER will decide in mid-March on regulators’ request for six-month extension for agreeing methodology for calculating cross-zonal capacity in Hansa region
COMPANIES: European Commission appoints an EU Envoy for small and medium-sized enterprises
ENVIRONMENT: tests reveal presence of dangerous chemical pollutants in high-level European representatives
JAPAN: EU and Japan strengthen strategic partnership on economic security and supply chains
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Pétros Kókkalis joins Greens/EFA group in European Parliament
RESEARCH: research and education sectors would like Commission to better integrate their needs into evaluation and drafting of legislation