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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13816
Contents Publication in full By article 31 / 34
NEWS BRIEFS / Social/employment

Quality internships – next negotiations between European Parliament and EU Council will take place on 24 March

25/02/2026 (Agence Europe) – The EU co-legislators responsible for working on the Directive on quality internships will meet again on 24 March for a third political ‘trilogue’ (see EUROPE B13791A23). The second trilogue, held on Tuesday 24 February, failed to tackle the most sensitive points – such as the scope and type of internships covered – as the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, with two opposing mandates on this issue, were not yet ready to make...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
Interview LIBERIA: for European investors, “there is still a lot of potential to be explored”, says EU ambassador Nona Deprez
UNITED KINGDOM: EU and UK sign Competition Cooperation Agreement
MIDDLE EAST: Dubravka Šuica defends her presence at ‘Board of Peace’ meeting before critical MEPs
MEDITERRANEAN: ‘Pact for the Mediterranean’ action plan will be presented at end of March/beginning of April, according to Dubravka Šuica
UKRAINE: European Commission explores a special approach to Ukraine’s accession
TRADE: European Commission reiterates: EU must “remain committed” to terms of agreement with United States
TRADE: price offer for Chinese electric vehicles - European Commission highlights exceptional measure for sector
ICC: while world order becomes more fragile, Judge Rosario Salvatore Aitala recalls close links between International Criminal Court and EU
SECTORAL POLICIES
COHESION: MEPs reject architecture of next cohesion policy budget proposed by European Commission
COHESION: EastInvest Facility, dedicated to EU Member States bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, to be officially launched
COMPETITIVENESS: European Parliament ready to negotiate with EU Council on new flexibilities and benefits for mid-sized companies
COMPETITIVENESS: Stéphanie Yon-Courtin advocates a competition framework that allows for European champions to emerge in key sectors
COMPETITIVENESS: eight Member States once again call for a review of ETS and CBAM arrangements to save EU chemical industry
COMPETITIVENESS: European trade unions concerned about lack of transparency regarding future ‘28th regime’ and worry that labour law will be undermined
HOME AFFAIRS: reform of Europol’s mandate to be discussed at ‘Justice and Home Affairs’ Council, on 5 and 6 March
ENERGY: European Parliament Industry Committee rejects attempted objection to PCI/PMI list of cross-border energy projects
TRANSPORT: air passenger rights – negotiations between EU Council and European Parliament will resume on 23 March
ENVIRONMENT: wrapping and straps used on pallets during transport, exempt from EU’s new 100% reuse requirement
RESEARCH: industry representatives call for clear and structured link between European Competitiveness Fund and Horizon Europe
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: MEPs voice doubts over governance and evaluation of future ‘European Fund’ under MFF 2028–2034
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS: EU Council and European Parliament reach agreement on procedure for selecting seat of future EU Customs Authority
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: MEPs call on Commission to propose European legislation establishing an EU-wide definition of rape based on consent
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: 43 pharmaceutical crime networks dismantled in operation coordinated by Europol
AFRICA: European Investment Bank Group deployed €3.1 billion in 2025
STATE AID: European Commission consults on GBER regulation, which exempts certain State aid measures from prior notification process
WESTERN BALKANS: European Commission wants to integrate Western Balkans into European roaming area
CULTURE: thirteen new heritage sites designated for 2025 European Heritage label
DEVELOPMENT: MEPs approve ‘Ridel-Bentele’ report on the EU’s ‘Global Gateway’ investment strategy
SPACE: satellite-to-smartphone connectivity - Luxembourg company OQ Technology to receive €25 million from InvestEU programme
JUSTICE: revision of Directive on rights of victims – MEPs approve provisional political agreement
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: quality internships – next negotiations between European Parliament and EU Council will take place on 24 March
RESEARCH: MEPs approve renewal of agreement with Lebanon on participation in PRIMA partnership
RESEARCH: MEPs vote for stronger and more inclusive European innovation and technology ecosystems
UKRAINE: European Commission proposes that EU becomes founding member of ‘International Claims Commission’ for Ukraine