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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13510

24 October 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 26 / 34
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / Competition
European Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million for collusion
Brussels, 23/10/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Wednesday 23 October, the European Commission decided to impose fines totalling €48.7 million on České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen, the Czech and Austrian incumbent rail operators, for breaching EU rules on anti-competitive practices.

ČD and ÖBB colluded to prevent a new entrant, RegioJet, from gaining access to used wagons, thereby restricting competition in the rail passenger transport market.

ČD and ÖBB provide rail passenger transport services in Czech Republic...

Contents

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
BUDGET: European Parliament to negotiate 2025 budget with EU Council and Commission without a political position, due to an alliance between EPP and far right
MIGRATION: right- and left-wing parties in European Parliament once again at loggerheads over outsourcing solutions for migration management
INDUSTRY: European Parliament calls for swift action to save European steel sector
CHINA: MEPs set to adopt a resolution denouncing tensions in Taiwan Strait and “distortion” of UN Resolution 2758
UKRAINE/RUSSIA: “killing” of Ukrainian prisoners of war, European Parliament calls for an end to impunity
BETTER REGULATION: MEPs agree on need to reduce administrative burden on businesses while avoiding a weakening of standards
HEALTH: European Parliament calls for a rapid review of rules on medical devices available in EU
ANIMAL HEALTH: European Parliament thinks EU should do more to combat African swine fever
EMPLOYMENT: European Parliament approves new ‘Employment Guidelines 2024’
ENVIRONMENT: MEPs adopt urgency procedure on potential postponement of regulation on imported deforestation
COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE HEARINGS IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Kaja Kallas promises a more strategic, assertive and united foreign and security policy
MIGRATION/HOME AFFAIRS: Magnus Brunner remains silent on ‘return hubs’, but opens door to further action on instrumentalisation of migration
COMPETITIVENESS: Stéphane Séjourné gives details on how he intends to implement EU’s industrial strategy
AGRICULTURE: Christophe Hansen plans to prepare ‘vision for agriculture and food’ in first 100 days as Commissioner
TRANSPORT/TOURISM: Apostolos Tzitzikostas commits to promoting connectivity, competitiveness, employment and sustainability
HUMANITARIAN AID/EQUALITY: Hadja Lahbib pledges to strengthen EU’s humanitarian preparedness and cooperation in response to crises
EXTERNAL ACTION
ALBANIA: Ursula von der Leyen reaffirms full support for Tirana on its path towards European integration
SERBIA: Aleksandar Vučić hosts Greek and Polish leaders for talks on EU membership
WESTERN BALKANS: European Commission approves reform programmes of five of six Western Balkan countries
TUNISIA: migration, European Ombudsman criticises Commission for not publishing a proper human rights assessment before cooperating with Tunisia
SECTORAL POLICIES
TRANSPORT: European Commission and EU Member States disagree on negotiation of aviation agreements with third countries
REGIONS: EU Council has a negotiating mandate on rules to facilitate cross-border solutions
ENERGY: new list of European CB RES cross-border renewable energy projects eligible for financial support has come into force
DIGITAL: European start-ups call for creation of a pan-European legal status to boost their growth and competitiveness
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
STATE AID: European Court of Auditors considers temporary frameworks adopted by EU to deal with crises can be improved
COMPETITION: European Commission fines České dráhy and Österreichische Bundesbahnen €48.7 million for collusion
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
RULE OF LAW: Renew Europe group in European Parliament suggests ways to make ‘conditionality/rule of law’ mechanism “smarter”
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: faced with rising discrimination against Muslims, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights calls for stronger sanctions and legislation
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Ilaria Salis denounces Hungary’s request to waive her parliamentary immunity
NEWS BRIEFS
AGRICULTURE: conclusions of Hungarian Presidency of EU Council on future of Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) are published
STATE AID: green light for Swedish tax exemption schemes for non-food biogas and bio-propane
EMPLOYMENT: European Trade Union Confederation deplores Member States’ delay in transposing directive on adequate minimum wages
YOUTH/SPORT: 71 applications for emergency sport actions for young people affected by humanitarian crises
MEDIA: a report on 50,000 unaccompanied minor migrants who have disappeared in EU wins 2024 edition of Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize