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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13663
Contents Publication in full By article 10 / 42
SECTORAL POLICIES / Health

European ministers will discuss critical medicines and prevention of tobacco and alcohol consumption

The European ministers responsible for health are meeting in Luxembourg on Friday 20 June to discuss the legislative proposal on critical medicines (Critical Medicines Act - CMA) and measures to prevent consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. 

The CMA aims to support the production and improve the availability of critical medicines in the EU, in the face of severe shortages affecting antibiotics, insulin and painkillers in particular (see EUROPE 13654/12). The Polish Presidency of the EU Council has prepared a note (https://aeur.eu/f/hf6 ) for the debate. 

The EU Council will also adopt conclusions (https://aeur.eu/f/hf7 ) on promoting and protecting the mental health of children and adolescents in the digital age.

The ministers will discuss effective political and legal measures at EU level to prevent and reduce the consumption of tobacco, related products and alcohol (https://aeur.eu/f/hf8 ). 

A number of other issues are on the agenda, including the pharmaceutical package, international limits on the number of children per sperm or egg donor (Sweden: https://aeur.eu/f/hf5 ), the fight against health disinformation (France: https://aeur.eu/f/hf4 ), and the protection of young people from new tobacco and nicotine products (Belgium: https://aeur.eu/f/hf3 ). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)

Contents

SOCIAL AFFAIRS
SOCIAL interview: we need to “prioritise targeted and simple rules” to ensure EU’s competitiveness, according to Danish Minister for Employment, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: quality traineeships - EU Member States reach agreement on significantly scaled back text
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: Polish Presidency of EU Council rules out new negotiations with European Parliament under its mandate regarding coordination of social security schemes
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
EUROGROUP: opening of procedure for renewing Presidency of Finance Ministers of euro area countries
EMU: Eurogroup recommends Bulgaria’s entry into euro area at beginning of 2026
ECONOMY: European Stability Mechanism recorded a record profit of €1.8 billion in 2024
INSTITUTIONAL
DEMOCRACY: European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents approves creation of working group to investigate NGO funding
BUDGET: opposition to national plans, simplification, weight of European Parliament—EPP adopts its position on post-2027 multiannual financial framework
EU2025DK: Denmark officially presents priorities of its Presidency of EU Council
SECTORAL POLICIES
HEALTH: European ministers will discuss critical medicines and prevention of tobacco and alcohol consumption
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: EU Council adopts its position on postponement of ‘batteries’ regulation
AGRICULTURE : EU Council adopts its negotiating position with European Parliament on ‘wine package’
AGRICULTURE : Copa-Cogeca launches unprecedented petition to defend CAP budget post-2027
AGRICULTURE : young farmers in EU ask that funding for them increase to €30 billion
COHESION: EU Court of Auditors’ suggestions for making post-2027 cohesion policy more effective
RESEARCH : EU Council adopts programme of European Atomic Energy Community and political agenda of European Research Area
TRANSPORT: transition to zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles is progressing rapidly, despite certain difficulties, according to European Commission
TRANSPORT/SPACE: EASA and IATA publish comprehensive plan to mitigate risk of interference with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)
CLIMATE: in Bonn, European Union supports pragmatic and collective financial mobilisation
ENERGY: European industry players call for hydrogen infrastructure strategy to be included in future network package
EXTERNAL ACTION
ISRAEL: experts and around a hundred NGOs and trade unions call for measures to be taken in connection with Association Agreement
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
DEFENCE: despite progress on spending, major gaps remain in defence, according to study by Bruegel and Kiel Institute
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
ENERGY: European Parliament supports development and modernisation of European electricity networks
ANIMAL HEALTH: MEPs tighten rules on welfare and traceability of dogs and cats
ENVIRONMENT: EPP calls for beekeepers to be protected from competition from third countries in order to reverse decline in pollinators
GEORGIA: European Parliament calls for immediate and unconditional release of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli
IRAN: European Parliament calls for targeted measures in response to detention of EU nationals
INDUSTRY: European Parliament insists authorisation procedures for industrial projects need to be expedited
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ENERGY: ENTSO-E welcomes new procedure for calculating net electricity transfer capacity at borders of Ukraine and Moldova
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: Commissioner for Human Rights calls on Germany to respect freedom of expression and demonstration in context of conflict in Gaza
MIGRATION: Council of Europe and UNHCR call on European states to continue and step up protection of refugees
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
INTERNAL MARKET/DIGITAL: Poland condemned by Court of Justice of EU for prohibiting advertising for pharmacies
COMPETITION: EU Court of Justice asked to uphold €4.12 billion fine imposed on Google for abuse of dominant position
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY / DIGITAL: EU Member States propose measures to combat discrimination, prejudice and gender-based violence in digital age
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS : access to citizenship - European University Institute highlights gender equality in Europe but is concerned about revocation provisions
NEWS BRIEFS
BELARUS: EESC strengthens its support for Belarusian democratic opposition
TRADE: EU trade ministers to hold extraordinary meeting on 14 July
ECONOMY: euro area inflation at 2.9% in May
ENERGY: publication of implementing regulation on rules governing non-tariff criteria for renewable energy auctions
ENERGY: share of renewable energies in EU’s net electricity production fell in first quarter of 2025
CIVIL PROTECTION: flights have been organised from Jordan and Egypt through EU’s civil protection mechanism to repatriate European citizens
RESEARCH: European Patent Office rewards young inventors of year