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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13636
Contents Publication in full By article 25 / 43
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / Economy/defence

Rapid agreement in EU Council on ‘SAFE’ instrument depends on outcome of EU/UK summit

The Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is maintaining its objective of reaching a political agreement “by the end of May” by a qualified majority of Member States on the ‘SAFE’ budget instrument, which will provide up to €150 billion in loans to countries which want to increase their military spending (see EUROPE B13631A3).

There are “very few outstanding issues”, said a senior diplomat on Thursday 8 May, confident that a political agreement could be...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: European Commission puts pressure on Washington by detailing potential consequences of its trade countermeasures
UKRAINE: EU to provide €1 billion for Ukraine’s defence industry
MIDDLE EAST: Europeans “frustrated” at not being able to change situation in Gaza, but divided on measures to be taken
HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission’s services feel uneasy faced with humanitarian crisis in Gaza
INDIA/PAKISTAN: EU is following growing tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad “with great concern”
SYRIA: EU calls for end to violence
ALBANIA: EU accession negotiations – Tirana assured of opening third cluster of acquis communautaire
VATICAN CITY: EU leaders ready to work with Leo XIV to promote “peace and human dignity”
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
TRADE: European Parliament adopts its position on regulation on screening foreign direct investments
UKRAINE: European Parliament approves Kyiv’s exemption from steel safeguard for another three years
UKRAINE: European Parliament calls on EU to punish those responsible for deportation of children
ENERGY: European Parliament ready to start negotiations with EU Council on extension of gas storage regulation
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: like EU Council, European Parliament approves proposal on CO2 emissions from motor vehicles without amendment
ENVIRONMENT: Parliament approves amendment to ‘Habitats’ Directive enabling lowering of level of wolf protection in Europe
JUSTICE: caught between EU law and island needs, Malta’s “golden passports” stir controversy in European Parliament
COHESION: MEPs call for decentralised decision-making for cohesion policy
DIGITAL: MEPs divided over how to deal with TikTok’s retrieval of European data
TANZANIA: European Parliament calls for immediate release of political opponent Tundu Lissu
TIBET: European Parliament condemns elimination of religious traditions and heritage in Tibet
SECTORAL POLICIES
AGRICULTURE: European Commission plans to adopt its proposal on post-2027 CAP in July
ENERGY: Polish Presidency of EU Council will have to consider how to incorporate into its conclusions measures putting an end to Russian imports
DIGITAL: according to Cisco, European organisations suffer from “alarming gaps” in their preparedness against cyber attacks
HEALTH: “perpetual inequality of access to medicines in the EU requires rapid action”, says EFPIA
TRANSPORT: Community of European Railway Companies welcomes European Parliament’s position on multiannual financial framework
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY/DEFENCE: rapid agreement in EU Council on ‘SAFE’ instrument depends on outcome of EU/UK summit
EUROGROUP: banking union, ESM annual meeting and digital euro on ministerial agenda
COMPETITION: European Commission launches public consultation on review of merger guidelines and adapting them to new global challenges
FINANCE: Listing Act - European Securities and Markets Authority issues new technical recommendations
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: European Parliament’s political groups postpone deciding whether to create committee of inquiry to look into European Commission’s funding of NGOs
BUDGET: European Commission plans to present a proposal for new own resources, said Piotr Serafin
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: e-declaration for posted workers – Member States not yet able to take a position to enter into negotiations with European Parliament
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: ‘European Diploma’ – EU Member States find common ground towards creation of label
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENVIRONMENT: Slovenia fined for breaching EU legislation on landfilling of waste
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: fines imposed on three EU countries for failure to transpose directives protecting copyright and related rights in digital environment
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
YOUTH: Council of Europe recommends taking greater account of young people in rural areas
TURKEY: following its meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Council of Europe reiterates its call for his release
NEWS BRIEFS
CLIMATE: April 2025 is second warmest April on record, according to Copernicus
ECONOMY: EU to pay Ukraine €1 billion instalment as part of preferential loans granted by G7 countries in 2025
COMPANIES: EFRAG submits its Endorsement Advice on ‘IFRS 18’ on financial statements to European Commission
SPACE: ESA and Indian Space Research Organisation to cooperate on human space exploration
GREENLAND: allegations of spying activities by United States – US representative summoned to Copenhagen
DIGITAL: Commission prepares its future communication on EU’s external digital policy
SUDAN: EU condemns drone strikes by foreign-backed paramilitaries