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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13598

13 March 2025
Contents Publication in full By article 2 / 41
EXTERNAL ACTION / South africa
EU expected to solidify its partnership with Pretoria at summit on 13 March
Brussels, 12/03/2025 (Agence Europe)

On Thursday 13 March in Cape Town, the European Union and South Africa will hold their first bilateral summit since November 2018 (see EUROPE B12138A13). The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, will meet the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, for discussions focusing on bilateral cooperation, regional stability and global geopolitical issues.

Ukraine, the Middle East conflict and support for...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: EU to impose first series of tariffs on US products on 1 April
SOUTH AFRICA: EU expected to solidify its partnership with Pretoria at summit on 13 March
SYRIA: EU condemns “horrific crimes” committed against civilians
INSTITUTIONAL
BETTER REGULATION: Member States united behind ‘Omnibus Simplification Package’
BUDGET: breakdown of European programmes takes shape in structure of post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework
SECTORAL POLICIES
COMPETITIVENESS: Member States welcome main lines of ‘Clean Industrial Deal’
CONSUMERS: European ministers approve Commission’s initiative to combat abuses of e-commerce
CONSUMERS: Salvatore De Meo insists on use of DSA to resolve problems linked to e-commerce
DIGITAL: EU boosts its artificial intelligence development capacity through new AI factories
AGRICULTURE Interview: MEP Herbert Dorfmann “strongly opposed” to notion of replacing agricultural budget after 2027 with single national fund
ENERGY: European Commission publishes proposals for simplifying approval process for capacity mechanisms
ENERGY: joint purchase of gas - European Commission opens second “medium-term” call for tenders
ENERGY: EU and United States to set up high-level working group to speed up technical cooperation
ENERGY: leaders of 77 European decarbonisation projects sign grant agreements for total of €4.2 billion
HEALTH: critical medicines - EU organisations call for harmonisation of stockpiling policies
MIGRATION: ‘European Council on Refugees and Exiles’ says new Return Regulation raises real questions about respect for fundamental rights
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: European leaders welcome proposed ceasefire
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
UKRAINE: EU and its Member States are now Ukraine’s main strategic allies, says European Parliament
DEFENCE: European Parliament calls on EU to ensure its own security
SYRIA: European Parliament calls on EU to support political transition
MIDDLE EAST: MEPs criticise EU’s response to humanitarian situation in Gaza
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: European Commission’s Automotive Action Plan is not ambitious enough for some MEPs, inadequate for others
SOCIAL: Union of Skills - MEPs call for binding measures to avoid creating an “empty shell”
ECONOMY/SOCIAL: European Parliament is in favour of creating financial mechanisms at EU level to invest in “European public goods”, including defence capabilities
HOME AFFAIRS: European Parliament approves draft agreement on ‘PNR’ data between EU and Canada
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: adoption of 2026 calendar for European Parliament plenary sessions
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
FINANCE: PensionsEurope wants to boost membership in funded pension plans
BREACHES OF EU LAW
TAXATION: European Commission takes Spain to court over its discriminatory treatment of non-resident taxpayers
ENERGY: European Commission urges Hungary not to weaken Union's position on intra-EU arbitration under ECT
ENERGY/CLIMATE: European Commission asks five Member States to present their updated Energy-Climate Plans
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: Council of EU extends mandate of EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and reinforces its missions
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers is assessing approaches to regulating advertising and media in EU
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Monica Semedo’s rights of defence in proceedings accusing her of psychological harassment were infringed, rules General Court of EU
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
UKRAINE: Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers calls on Russia to respect human rights in Crimea
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture warns of overcrowding and violence in prisons in Guadeloupe and French Guiana
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Commission making further €30 million available to support protection of public spaces
STATE AID: green light for fourth amendment to French regional aid map
EUROPEAN COUNCIL: first draft of conclusions to be submitted to EU27 on 20 and 21 March
ENERGY: Eurostat publishes new edition of its interactive publication presenting energy-related data in EU
INDUSTRY: European strategic dialogue on chemicals sector to launch on 25 March
PHILIPPINES: EU deploys its first election observation mission to country for mid-term elections on 12 May