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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13791
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 28
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS / State aid

In-depth EU investigation into arbitration award ordering Bulgaria to pay compensation to ACF

On Wednesday 21 January, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation into an arbitration award ordering Bulgaria to pay ACF Renewable Energy Limited €61.04 million in compensation following changes to a support scheme for renewable energies.

Bulgaria introduced this system in 2011, then modified it in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

In 2012, ACF, a Maltese company, invested in the Bulgarian renewable energy sector by purchasing a solar photovoltaic plant that benefited from the...

Contents

EUROPEAN COUNCIL
SECURITY/UNITED STATES: EU27 will attempt to develop a joint response to Donald Trump’s contradictory messages on Greenland
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
MERCOSUR: European Parliament votes to refer matter to EU Court of Justice, thereby freezing ratification process for agreement
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: European Parliament calls for firm response to any form of coercion against Member States
CSDP: European Parliament denounces unpredictability of US foreign policy
INDIA: free trade agreement represents opportunity to diversify EU’s trade relations for European Parliament
VENEZUELA: Kaja Kallas ready to work with all Venezuelans, including Delcy Rodriguez
TRANSPORT: European Parliament adopts its position at second reading on air passenger rights
SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: with Digital Networks Act, European Commission definitively abandons introduction of “network fees”
DIGITAL: revision of Cybersecurity Act already drawing criticism from China and Huawei
JUSTICE: asset recovery, restitution of cultural property and alternatives to detention on agenda of informal meeting of EU Justice ministers
AGRICULTURE/TRADE: Austria calls for immediate suspension of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for fertilisers
AGRICULTURE: European farmers welcome European Parliament vote to refer EU/Mercosur agreement to Court of Justice
FISHERIES: EU does not renew its fisheries agreement with Senegal
EXTERNAL ACTION
UNITED STATES: negotiators in European Parliament freeze negotiations on implementation in EU of bilateral trade agreement of July 2025
TRADE: trade policy uncertainty weighs on European investment, worries Eurochambres
HUMANITARIAN AID: Commission announces €1.9 billion budget for 2026
UNRWA: Hadja Lahbib condemns Israel’s demolition of UNRWA building in East Jerusalem
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
TAXATION: revision of tobacco taxation directives - Cyprus Presidency of EU Council proposes lowering minimum excise duty rate
FINANCE/CLIMATE: European Commission appoints 28 members and 16 observers to third Platform on Sustainable Finance
STATE AID: in-depth EU investigation into arbitration award ordering Bulgaria to pay compensation to ACF
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: EU anti-racism strategy (2026-2030) - European Network Against Racism regrets Commission’s insufficient response
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: European Commission approves Italian aid worth €18.2 million for dairy sector
EMPLOYMENT: European directive on quality internships - next political negotiations to take place 24 February
JUSTICE: EPPO orders new arrest in Poland in case of alleged misappropriation of food intended for most deprived people
DIGITAL: NGOs hit by US sanctions criticise European Commission for inaction
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Frenchman Laurent Castillo leaves Christian Democrats to join PfE Group
FISHERIES: Europêche welcomes EESC opinion on constant fisheries budget for period 2028-2034
UKRAINE: Mark Rutte calls on military chiefs of Allied countries to urge their leaders to do more for Ukraine