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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13341

2 February 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 5 / 31
EUROPEAN COUNCIL / Mercosur
European leaders continue to be divided over fate of EU-Mercosur agreement
Brussels, 01/02/2024 (Agence Europe)

Several European leaders were questioned about their current view of the discussions on the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement (FTA) at the European summit in Brussels on 1 February, at a time when this unfinalised agreement has become a lightning rod for the anger of farmers, a delegation of whom demonstrated violently outside the European Parliament on the same day (see other news). 

Divisions remain between supporters and detractors of the agreement. For the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro...

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
BUDGET: EU27 agree on an extension of EU budget, including €50 billion in macro-financial aid to Ukraine
UKRAINE: European leaders reiterate their commitment to military support for Ukraine
MIDDLE EAST: Josep Borrell calls for continued support for UNRWA
AGRICULTURE: EU leaders call on European Commission to reduce administrative burden arising from CAP rules
MERCOSUR: European leaders continue to be divided over fate of EU-Mercosur agreement
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
PAYMENTS: MEPs fine-tune their position on revision of EU rules governing payment services
COMPANIES: Germany could refuse to vote in favour of European directive on due diligence
FINANCE: European Parliament-EU Council agreement on ‘Listing Act’ package aiming to facilitate listing small European companies on stock exchange
FINANCE: according to industry professionals, implementing legislation is main challenge for coming years
SECTORAL POLICIES
INTERNAL MARKET: provisional agreement between European Parliament and EU Council on Single Market Emergency Instrument
AGRICULTURE: David Clarinval is not giving up on proposal concerning use of pesticides
AGRICULTURE: European Committee of Regions calls for more effective crisis management tools
RESEARCH: Belgian Presidency of the EU Council focuses its work on making the most of research results
HEALTH: innovation in fight against cancer has increased by more than 70% since 2015, according to EPO
CLIMATE: European Committee of Regions encourages local action to tackle health threats posed by climate change
COMPETITIVENESS: investment in green technologies is still insufficient in EU, according to Cleantech for Europe
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Ukraine, Middle East, Africa and Turkey on agenda of informal meeting of European foreign ministers
MYANMAR: three years after coup, EU condemns human rights violations committed by military regime
WEST AFRICA : EU hopes Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will resume dialogue with ECOWAS
WTO: international business representatives call on WTO to prove its worth at 13th Ministerial Conference
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: digital platform workers, Belgian Presidency of EU Council and European Parliament draw up key principles for triggering presumption of salaried status
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Disability Forum calls on future MEPs to commit to “an inclusive future”
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
COMPETITION: Court of Justice of EU upholds fine imposed on Scania for participating in illegal cartel
INSTITUTIONAL
EP2024: Didier Reynders will not head Belgian liberals’ list for European elections, following Charles Michel’s U-turn
NEWS BRIEFS
ECONOMY: inflation estimated at 2.8% in January, and unemployment at 6.4% in December in euro area
ENERGY: ACER calls for improvements to new gas transmission tariffs proposed for Poland
DIGITAL: three weeks before presentation of future ‘connectivity’ package, Thierry Breton reassures telecoms sector about content of future text
DIGITAL: DSA, MEPs question Commission on lack of independence of authority designated by Hungary as Digital Services Coordinator
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Directive on Copyright and Related Rights, European Audiovisual Observatory highlights lack of transparency in contractual relations
CIVIL PROTECTION: Ukraine, 140,000 tonnes of emergency aid in kind delivered by EU in 2 years
SOCIAL: detection of asbestos in buildings, Commission still intends to present a legislative initiative before end of parliamentary term