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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13645
Contents Publication in full By article 22 / 41
EXTERNAL ACTION / Switzerland

EU and Bern initial draft agreements to strengthen bilateral relations

On Wednesday 21 May in Bern, negotiators from the European Union and Switzerland initialled draft agreements to consolidate and develop the bilateral relations concluded in December (see EUROPE B13550A11), according to a press release.

The agreements that were initialled will extend EU-Swiss cooperation on: - the free movement of persons; - air transport; - the carriage of goods and passengers by rail and road; - mutual recognition in relation to conformity assessment; - trade in...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission intends to remove most barriers in single market over next two years
COMPETITIVENESS: Commission continues its regulatory simplification efforts with a fourth ‘omnibus’ and creates ‘small midcaps’ status
COMPETITIVENESS: industrial policy and simplification on agenda for EU Member States’ industry ministers, Thursday 22 May
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: EU countries to be consulted on how to use public procurement for strategic purposes
COHESION: management of cohesion policy after 2027 must not be centralised, warns Polish Presidency of EU Council
ENERGY: in its conclusions, Polish Presidency of EU Council makes a more cautious reference to Russian fossil fuel phase-out plan
ENERGY: Spain and Portugal call for “renewed political impetus” to strengthen electricity interconnections with Iberian Peninsula
ENERGY: International Energy Agency highlights risk of “painful disruptions” to supply of critical raw materials
HEALTH: EU Member States fail to reach a common position on pharmaceutical package
HEALTH : EU joins Global Coalition on neglected diseases
AGRICULTURE: EU’s agricultural sector loses more than €28 billion a year due to adverse weather conditions, according to EIB
DIGITAL: Christel Schaldemose wants to see a stricter ‘Digital Fairness Act’ to regulate toxic practices of platforms
TELECOMMUNICATIONS: fifty-eight Wi-Fi providers call on European Commission to guarantee free access to 6 GHz band in order to “fulfil Europe’s promise of competitiveness”
TOURISM/CONSUMERS: Package Travel Directive - MEPs work on definition and limitation of advance payments
TRANSPORT: Spain and BEUC unite against unfair hand luggage charges imposed by seven low-cost airlines
TRANSPORT: electric vehicle charging sector adds €15 billion to EU economy in 2024, according to a study by ChargeUp
SEA: European Ocean Pact - modernising fishing fleet is a priority for European Parliament’s EPP Group
MIGRATION: Safe Third Country - NGOs concerned about European Commission’s latest proposals
EXTERNAL ACTION
AFRICA: EU and African Union pledge to strengthen their cooperation with a view to a seventh summit
HUMANITARIAN AID: European Commission is mobilising over €160 million for Yemen, Gaza, Syria and Lebanon
YEMEN: EU calls for renewed momentum in Yemen peace efforts
SWITZERLAND: EU and Bern initial draft agreements to strengthen bilateral relations
TRADE/CLIMATE: EU Member States give green light to ‘omnibus’ simplifying Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
Russian invasion of Ukraine
UKRAINE: just, comprehensive and lasting peace must include liberation of prisoners emphasises Valérie Hayer and Petras Auštrevičius
NORTH KOREA: EU denounces forced labour in country and aid provided to Russia
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
FUTURE OF EU: Slovenian President Nataša Pirc Musar tells European Parliament that “what we are witnessing in Gaza is genocide”
MIDDLE EAST: several political groups in European Parliament welcome review of EU/Israel Association Agreement, but say it has come too late
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY/DEFENCE: agreement in principle by EU Council on ‘SAFE’ instrument for loans to Member States to increase their military spending
FINANCE: European Court of Auditors highlights EU’s shortcomings in developing supplementary pension products
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: adoption of new own resources is a sine qua non of post-2027 MFF, according to Benjamin Haddad
SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: co-legislators agree to strengthen existing rules on consulting and informing employees under European Works Council
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
RULE OF LAW: twenty-six MEPs again call on European Commission to freeze all funding to Hungary
GENDER EQUALITY: Marko Vešligaj’s own-initiative report on EU’s future strategy crystallises ideological tensions between MEPs
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Pramila Patten urges EU to take action against sexual violence in wartime
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Disability Forum publishes a guide to support transposing directive on combating gender-based and domestic violence
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION : European University Association maintains that strengtheningErasmus+ is essential to EU’s competitiveness and leadership
NEWS BRIEFS
ENERGY: Commission consults on requirements for access to data for switching electricity suppliers
ENERGY: Dan Jørgensen talks to Hungarian Minister for European Affairs, Bóka János, about ‘REPowerEU’ roadmap
MEDIA: European Union to support Radio Free Europe with short-term emergency funding
MIDDLE EAST: Kaja Kallas calls for an investigation into Israeli warning shots fired at European diplomats visiting West Bank
CSDP: EU extends its partnership mission in Moldova