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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13569

31 January 2025
Contents Publication in full By article 23 / 33
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE / Defence
European defence funds - Commission adopts 5th annual work programme
Brussels, 30/01/2025 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 30 January, the European Commission adopted the fifth annual work programme under the European Defence Fund (EDF), which allocates more than €1 billion to collaborative research and development projects in the field of defence.

The work programme launches 9 competitive calls for proposals (7 thematic, 2 non-thematic) and 2 specific grant agreements in support of the ‘Alliance for Medical Defence Countermeasures’, covering a total of 31 topics. These will include projects...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: at their meeting in Warsaw, EU home affairs ministers have still not managed to give substance to concept of ‘return hubs’
MIGRATION: in Warsaw, EU27 home affairs ministers continue discussions on early application of ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’
HOME AFFAIRS: EU home affairs ministers set out expectations for new internal security strategy for EU
HOME AFFAIRS: Germany’s interior minister criticises CDU–AfD alliance on migration and border controls
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY : European Commission prepares Action Plan to protect European automotive sector
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: fuel producers are asking Europe’s political decision-makers to recognise their sector as essential and strategic
AGRICULTURE : EU/Mercosur agreement, European Commission always puts farmers “at top of its priorities”, says Maroš Šefčovič
ENERGY: European Commission allocates €1.2 billion to 41 cross-border energy infrastructure projects
ENERGY: renewable energy sector welcomes European Commission’s ‘Competitiveness Compass’
ENVIRONMENT : negotiations between EU Council and European Parliament on regulation on prevention of losses of plastic pellets have begun
JUSTICE: to meet Commission’s objective of increasing competitiveness, Michael McGrath is banking on “independent and effective legal systems”
DIGITAL : Polish Presidency of EU Council believes European technological leap forward is possible, provided “massive investment” happens soon
DIGITAL : large group of associations, companies and developers denounce European Commission’s inaction in face of abuses by gatekeepers
HEALTH: EuroHealthNet calls for EU measures to reduce consumption of ultra-processed food
HEALTH: medicine shortages persisted in EU in 2024, according to PGEU
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECB: monetary institute continues to lower its main key rates
EIB: reduction in environmental reporting is compatible with ‘European Green Deal’ objectives, says Nadia Calviño
ECONOMY: ‘Reform and Growth Facility’ for Moldova - MEPs want to increase proportion of grants and pre-financing
EXTERNAL ACTION
DRC: “This is a matter of credibility of the EU” - diplomat Johan Borgstam calls for coherent European response to Rwanda
TERRORISM: EU extends autonomous sanctions linked to terrorism
UNRWA: 30 MEPs call on António Guterres to end UN agency operations
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ENERGY: European Commission denies any link between discussions on ending transit agreement and peace agreement in Ukraine
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
DEFENCE: European defence funds - Commission adopts 5th annual work programme
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
DEMOCRACY: transparency of interest representation activities—MEPs open debate before draft report is presented
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
CONSUMERS: Court of Justice criticises Italian legislation governing unfair commercial practices
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
GEORGIA: Georgian delegation withdraws from Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly who had called for new elections
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly supports convention for protection of profession of lawyer but warns about spyware
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN COMMISSION : Elisabetta Belloni appointed diplomatic advisor to Ursula von der Leyen
NEWS BRIEFS
ECONOMY: euro area GDP stagnated in Q4 2024
ENVIRONMENT : second European Parliament/EU Council negotiating session on revision of Food and Textile Waste Directive scheduled for 18 February
SPACE: ESA’s first lunar lander to be built by consortium led by Thales Alenia Space
TAXATION: María José Garde re-elected Chair of Code of Conduct Group at EU Council
CSDP: EU extends its EUMA Armenia mission by two years