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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13370

14 March 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 30 / 43
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY / Home affairs
MEPs approve new rules on freezing and confiscating assets of criminal organisations

13/03/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 13 March, the European Parliament approved the new directive on the freezing and confiscation of criminal assets by 598 votes to 19 with 7 abstentions, following an agreement reached with the EU Council in December (see EUROPE B13312A11). It should speed up recovery procedures and improve victims’ rights. It covers a wider range of crimes (trafficking in human beings, drugs or firearms, sexual exploitation of children, money laundering or...

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: Member States agree on Ukraine component of ‘European Peace Facility’
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: European Council to call for strengthening European defence technological and industrial base
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: European Council should call for “an immediate humanitarian pause” in Gaza
GREAT LAKES: European Commission releases €70 million for humanitarian projects
HAITI: European Commission releases €20 million in emergency humanitarian aid
TRADE: Generalised Scheme of Preferences, Belgian Presidency of Council hopes for an agreement with the European Parliament on Thursday 14 March
INSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRACY: interinstitutional agreement on EU Ethics Body suspended pending EU Council decision
FUTURE OF EU: Member States to be asked their opinion on reform of EU’s common policies
SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: European Parliament/EU Council agreement on exchange of road traffic offence information
AGRICULTURE: European Commission proposes to relax certain rules in favour of farmers
CLIMATE: Belgian Presidency of EU Council asks Environment Ministers about 2040 climate target
MIGRATION: Member States approve their mandate on mechanism for suspending visa-free regimes for short stays
ENERGY: existing commitments could reduce methane emissions by 50% by 2030, according to International Energy Agency
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
TRADE: European Parliament approves suspension of tariffs on imports from Ukraine and Moldova until June 2025
AGRICULTURE/TRADE: European Parliament again calls for an EU embargo on Russian agricultural products
JUSTICE: European Parliament mobilised to ensure safe return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia
FUTURE OF EU: Petteri Orpo calls for European strategy to prepare for hybrid crises
ARMENIA: European Parliament supports closer ties between Yerevan and EU
MEDIA: MEPs endorse political agreement with EU Council on Media Freedom Act
COMPANIES: due diligence, right and extreme right in European Parliament speak out in turn against directive
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: reduction of food and textile waste – MEPs adopt position ahead of negotiations with EU Council on Waste Directive
PATENTS: European Parliament adopts Adrián Vázquez Lázara’s report on compulsory licences
INTERNAL MARKET: European Parliament adopts its position on Directive creating a European statute for associations
CUSTOMS: European Parliament supports strengthening role of customs authorities
TRANSPORT: European Parliament validates agreement with EU Council on revised rules for occasional passenger transport sector
CONSUMERS: European Parliament overwhelmingly approves report on toy safety in EU
CONSUMERS: European Parliament extends alternative dispute resolution to air passenger rights
DIGITAL: European Parliament welcomes progress represented by agreement on legislation on artificial intelligence
MIGRATION: European Parliament approves new rules on work and residence permit in EU
HOME AFFAIRS: MEPs approve new rules on freezing and confiscating assets of criminal organisations
INDUSTRY: ‘Euro 7’, European Parliament validates interinstitutional agreement
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPANIES: European Parliament and EU Council agree on expanding use of digital tools and processes in EU company law
ECB: new operational framework, ECB to continue to provide liquidity but wants to encourage banks to seek market-based funding solutions
TAXATION: capital gains tax rates vary widely from one country to another in Europe, according to Tax Foundation
BREACHES OF EU LAW
ENVIRONMENT: European Commission refers Ireland, Cyprus, Greece and Italy to Court of Justice of EU for breaches of environmental law
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Economic and Social Committee delegation presents 10 action points for gender equality
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: around thirty organisations call on European Commission to present its water management initiative
ENERGY: ACER improves methodology for identifying regional crisis scenarios in electricity sector
ENERGY: 150 citizens to discuss energy efficiency in second round of debates organised by European Commission
ENVIRONMENT: review of Environment Action Programme, Green Deal objectives are still achievable if actions defined are “fully” implemented
INTERNAL MARKET/TRADE: EU Council approves provisional agreement on regulation banning products made using forced labour
NATO: Klaus Iohannis announces bid for position of Secretary-General
RUSSIA: Parliament will not observe presidential election