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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13511

25 October 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 19 / 34
COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE HEARINGS IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT / Digital
Henna Virkkunen promises to pursue digital policy focused on competitiveness and development of AI
Brussels, 24/10/2024 (Agence Europe)

In her written answers to questions from European Parliament committees, published on Wednesday 23 October, Finland’s Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner-designate for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, gives a glimpse of her plans for artificial intelligence, the regulation of tech giants and the future of European telecommunications.

Europe as an “AI continent”. The former MEP considers the major challenges facing her portfolio, with a particular focus on the development...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
COMPETITIVENESS: EU leaders expected to seal “new agreement for European competitiveness” in Budapest
DIGITAL: EU fines LinkedIn €310 million for breach of ‘GDPR’ regulation
TRANSPORT: multimodal passenger rights, many Member States want deletion of service quality standards
TRANSPORT: driving licence directive, European Parliament/EU Council negotiations begin
ENVIRONMENT: a new report from European Commission shows that state of Europe’s soils is deteriorating further
EXTERNAL ACTION
LEBANON: international community to mobilise $1 billion to tackle humanitarian crisis and support Lebanese army
HUMAN RIGHTS: Sakharov Prize awarded once again to Venezuela’s political opposition
WESTERN BALKANS: for EESC, EU enlargement cannot be done correctly without investing in cooperation with civil society
Russian invasion of Ukraine
RUSSIA: EU “deeply alarmed” by sending of North Korean troops to support Russia against Ukraine
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
CHINA: European Parliament calls on EU to support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organisations
AZERBAIJAN: MEPs condemn violations of freedom of expression in Baku
EMPLOYMENT: skills shortages, Parliament insists on need to better train future generations and provide lifelong access to training as an individual right
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: law on abortion in Poland may “constitute a violation of right to family and private life” according to ECHR, says Helena Dalli
DEMOCRACY: Commission and MEPs see online hate speech as threat to future of European values
TRANSPORT: European Parliament agrees that investment is needed in rail sector
SEA: MEPs are divided on how to extend marine protected areas within EU
COMMISSIONERS-DESIGNATE HEARINGS IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
COMPETITIVENESS/CLIMATE/COMPETITION: EU’s competitiveness and decarbonisation objectives must go hand in hand, says Teresa Ribera
BUDGET: post-2027 multiannual financial framework must help to make European Commission “an Investment Commission”, says Piotr Serafin
DIGITAL: Henna Virkkunen promises to pursue digital policy focused on competitiveness and development of AI
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: Roxana Mînzatu promises to take action to strengthen skills in EU, combat poverty and complete outstanding files
DEFENCE/SPACE: Andrius Kubilius stresses inseparable nature of European defence policy and industry
TRADE: Maroš Šefčovič stresses EU’s economic security ahead of his hearing at European Parliament
FISHERIES: Costas Kadis pledges, as next Commissioner, to “address shortcomings” of Common Fisheries Policy
HEALTH: Europe must be well equipped to respond to future health threats, says Olivér Várhelyi
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN AGENCIES: 39 out of 43 EU agencies managed their finances well in 2023, according to EU Court of Auditors
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: Hungarian Council Presidency laments European Parliament’s refusal to make progress on series of ‘social’ files
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
COMPETITION: European Commission’s appeal against annulment of fine imposed on Intel for abuse of dominant position dismissed
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: Romania authorised to pay €400 million to compensate farmers hit by drought
CONSUMERS: Europe’s independent retailers welcome European Commission’s action against Temu platform
ECONOMY: EU macrofinancial assistance for Ukraine in 2025 will be less than €35 billion with commitment of United States
EDUCATION: Eurydice network now has an interactive tool for greater visibility of European academic calendars
ENERGY/INDUSTRY: €20 billion of additional investment is needed to decarbonise glass container sector
MERCOSUR: Céline Imart and François-Xavier Bellamy call for guarantees on EU/Mercosur agreement
MIDDLE EAST: Josep Borrell calls for emergency humanitarian access to Northern Gaza