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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13439

26 June 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 7 / 35
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES / Rule of law
Spain’s two main political parties reach agreement in Brussels on strengthening judicial system’s independence
Brussels, 25/06/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday, 25 June, Spanish [political] parties PSOE (socialist) and PP (right-wing) signed an agreement to renew the General Council of the Judiciary [CGPJ] and strengthen the independence of judges after more than 5 years of deadlock (see EUROPE B13337A23).

The agreement was sealed in Brussels following a meeting with Minister Félix Bolaños, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová, and the PP’s Deputy Secretary for Institutional...

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
ENLARGEMENT: Ukraine officially opens EU accession negotiations
DEFENCE: EU and Ukraine due to sign security commitments on Thursday
MIGRATION: EU Council extends temporary protection granted to 4.2 million Ukrainians in EU until March 2026
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: EU is organising its action at United Nations around five main priorities
EEA: green light from EU Council for agreements on financial mechanisms of EEA and Norway for 2021-2028
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: lobbying on behalf of third countries, Member States support directive, but with safeguards for protection of freedoms
RULE OF LAW : Spain’s two main political parties reach agreement in Brussels on strengthening judicial system’s independence
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF EU: Belgian Presidency of Council explores four strands of a possible reform of EU
RULE OF LAW: EU Member States highlight continuing concerns about rule of law in Hungary
EP2024: Christian Democrat, Socialist and Liberal negotiators agree on nominations for three senior EU posts
EP2024: Iratxe García Pérez re-elected President of S&D Group in European Parliament
EP2024: Valérie Hayer re-elected as leader of Renew Europe group in European Parliament
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPETITION: European Commission still concerned Microsoft may have abused its dominant position with marketing practices for Teams
STATE AID: European Commission approves extension of a €14.3 billion support measure for businesses in southern Italy
ECB: asset portfolios, ECB and Eurosystem defending their efforts in favour of climate, could adopt measures for companies
SECTORAL POLICIES
HOME AFFAIRS: critical infrastructures, EU Council approves a recommendation on better coordination between Member States in event of disruptions
DIGITAL: Apple delays arrival of its new AI services in Europe and blames DMA
AGRICULTURE: Belgian minister David Clarinval is not giving up hope of reaching a compromise on new genomic techniques
ANIMAL HEALTH: European ministers criticise certain elements in proposal on animal welfare
ENVIRONMENT: emissions of main atmospheric pollutants falling throughout EU, according to European Environment Agency
CLIMATE/ENERGY: Climate Action Network Europe urges rapid submission of NECPs before 30 June deadline
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: former Swiss President Alain Berset elected Secretary General of Council of Europe
GEORGIA: Venice Commission denounces Georgia’s amendments to Election Code and Rules of Procedure of Parliament
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Council of Europe’s Vigdis prize awarded to Greek NGO
HUNGARIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
TOURISM/CONSUMPTION: Hungarian Presidency of EU Council wants to focus on digitalisation
CUSTOMS: Hungarian Presidency of Council of EU wants to simplify customs procedures
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: European Digital Education Hub draws up roadmap for developing micro-credentials in higher education
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENVIRONMENT/PUBLIC HEALTH: Ilva steelworks must close down if emissions present serious danger to environment and public health, rules Court of Justice of the European Union
NEWS BRIEFS
TRADE: EU Council adopts decision for greater transparency in investor-State disputes
DEMOCRACY: International Federation of Journalists welcomes release of whistleblower Julian Assange
ECONOMY: green light for new revision of Finnish recovery plan
ENVIRONMENT: Greenpeace calls for a “clear agreement“ from governments meeting at UN to discuss first ‘Ocean COP’
FINANCE/BANKING: Eurogroup details work underway to deepen capital markets union and banking union
IRAN: EU sanctions an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps organisation
MIGRATION: EU and Serbia sign agreement strengthening cooperation between Belgrade and Frontex agency