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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13484

18 September 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 4 / 27
PRESENTATION OF THE ‘VON DER LEYEN II’ COMMISSION / Digital
Finland’s Henna Virkkunen appointed European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty
Brussels, 17/09/2024 (Agence Europe)

Her profile and CV made her the most likely candidate for a digital portfolio (see EUROPE B13475A12), and so it is: Henna Virkkunen, the candidate proposed by Finland, has been appointed by the President of the European Commission as “Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy”.

In a role similar to the former portfolios held by Margrethe Vestager and Thierry Breton, the Finnish Commissioner will be responsible for digital issues and “cutting-edge...

Contents

PRESENTATION OF THE ‘VON DER LEYEN II’ COMMISSION
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Ursula von der Leyen unveils her proposed team for College of Commissioners
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: pro-European political groups in European Parliament promise to hold rigorous hearings of candidate European Commissioners
COMPETITIVENESS: Stéphane Séjourné chosen to oversee industrial strategy and boost competitiveness
DIGITAL: Finland’s Henna Virkkunen appointed European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: ‘People, Skills and Preparedness’, title of new portfolio entrusted to Romania’s Roxana Mînzatu has European trade unions worried
DEVELOPMENT: Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner-designate for International Partnerships, intends to “focus on EU’s economic security”
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
COMPETITIVENESS: European Parliament welcomes Mario Draghi’s report, but is divided on its key recommendations
UKRAINE: MEPs divided on how to achieve peace
ENERGY: MEPs call for more to be done to reduce energy prices and EU’s dependence on Russian gas
DIGITAL: MEPs divided on implementing DSA
HOME AFFAIRS/MIGRATION: terrorist attack in Solingen prompts MEPs to call for greater efficiency in returns, without criminalising migrants
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: faced with an upsurge in hate speech, concern remains and call for action continues to resonate in European Parliament
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: Member States once again stress urgent need to increase return of illegal immigrants in EU
HEALTH: European Commission recommends strengthening measures on smoke-free environments
TRANSPORT: Member States prepare for negotiations with European Parliament on revision of Driving Licence Directive
ENERGY: COP29, European Commission wants to initiate discussions in favour of global commitment to energy storage
AGRICULTURE: EU Member States working on draft conclusions relating to post-2027 CAP
ENVIRONMENT: use of PFAS in textiles contravenes circular economy, according to report by European Environment Agency
ENVIRONMENT: ClientEarth and 14 NGOs take Ineos to court again over planned “largest in Europe” ethylene production plant in port of Antwerp
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ECONOMY: Hungary is putting brakes on EU Member States’ efforts to implement decision by G7 countries to grant a new loan to Ukraine
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
STATE AID: Poland is authorised to pay €1.2 billion in aid to support investment in strategic sectors
TAXATION: international convention on taxation of multinational enterprises will be signed on Thursday 19 September
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION/RESEARCH: European diploma, EU higher education ministers want to preserve educational diversity and avoid two-tier system
NEWS BRIEFS
EMPLOYMENT: Estelle Ceulemans calls on EU to support workers at Audi plant in Brussels
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Esteban González Pons to sit on European ethics body
CSDP: successful towing of MV SOUNION, under protection of EUNAVFOR ASPIDES
SOCIAL: timber, transport and tourism workers in Strasbourg call for new initiative on work in subcontracting chains