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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13822
Contents Publication in full By article 35 / 44
NEWS BRIEFS / Climate

EU Council validates 2040 climate target

05/03/2026 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 5 March, the EU Council formally validated the agreement on the introduction of a binding interim climate target for 2040 in the ‘European Climate Law’ (see EUROPE B13770A1). This is a target of a 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 levels, including the use of international carbon credits, which can contribute to 5% of these net emissions, from 2036. In other words, at least 85% of emission reductions will have to...

Contents

WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
MIDDLE EAST: EU and GCC foreign ministers call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve crisis
MIGRATION: “no significant outward migration” from Middle East, assures Magnus Brunner, who is counting on ‘Asylum Pact’ to deal with this eventuality
ENERGY: no “immediate” risk to security of oil and gas supplies, repeats European Commission
EU2026CY: informal ministerial meetings scheduled for March in Cyprus disrupted
CIVIL PROTECTION: ten EU countries activate the ‘rescEU’ mechanism to facilitate repatriation of their citizens from Middle East
SECTORAL POLICIES
MIGRATION: strategy on return of irregular migrants struggling to take shape at EU Council
HOME AFFAIRS: ability of Europol to access Member States databases debated by Home Affairs Ministers
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office was investigating fraud worth €67 billion at end of last year, according to its 2025 annual report
CONSUMERS: 2025, a record year for hazard alerts on products entering EU
ENERGY: Renew Europe group in European Parliament calls for real strategy for deployment of small modular reactors in Europe
AGRICULTURE: EU Council and European Parliament agree on ban of term ‘steak’ for plant-based products
AGRICULTURE: MEPs call for increase in post-2028-2034 CAP budget
DIGITAL: EU27 refines position in third draft proposal on revision of AI Act
COMPETITIVENESS: nature conservation, ‘digital’, defence - Helsinki proposes simplification amendments for 40 European regulations
COMPETITIVENESS: China Chamber of Commerce to EU severely criticises proposed Industrial Accelerator Act
COMPETITIVENESS: Industrial Accelerator Act has loopholes, according to T&E and UNIFE
RESEARCH: European Committee of Regions calls for a regionally-focused Startup strategy to boost Europe’s competitiveness
INSTITUTIONAL
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: EPP group in European Parliament “has chosen Donald Trump’s camp, not Europe’s”, deplores vice-president of S&D Group
BUDGET: MEPs adopt their guidelines for 2027, last year of current Multiannual Financial Framework
BUDGET: European Committee of Regions estimates that next long-term budget should amount to 1.27% of EU’s gross national income
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY: European Commission presents its 2026-2030 strategy, placing cyber-violence, health and economic equality at heart of its priorities
SOCIETY: European Commission adopts its first Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness to give young people a greater say in future decisions
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL/EMPLOYMENT: European rules on coordination of social security schemes - Cyprus counting on key meetings on 9 and 10 March to move towards agreement
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
ECONOMY: European Fisal Board warns against “mechanical” application of Stability and Growth Pact
ECB: Frankfurt institute experts fear effects of growing use of stablecoins on monetary policy in euro area
ECB: “path to payment sovereignty runs through competitiveness, not protection”, European ‘ECRI’ institute declares
SECURITY - DEFENCE - SPACE
SPACE: CEPS puts forward five measures to make European space sector more competitive
EXTERNAL ACTION
MIDDLE EAST: MEPs from S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and The Left groups call for increased vigilance on situation in Palestine
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
BIODIVERSITY: Portugal again condemned for violating Habitats Directive
SOCIAL/MIGRATION: Court of Justice clarifies conditions for granting social assistance to third-country nationals established in EU
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: Secretary General of Council of Europe calls for security framework for Europe where Strasbourg-based organisation would play key role
HEALTH: Council of Europe adopts new ‘Strategic Plan for Human Rights in Biomedicine and Health’
NEWS BRIEFS
STATE AID: green light for Spanish scheme to support investments in electric vehicle value chain
AGRICULTURE: EU Council adopts rules to combat unfair cross-border trading practices
CLIMATE: EU Council validates 2040 climate target
COMPETITIVENESS: Christophe Grudler appointed European Parliament lead rapporteur on Industrial Accelerator Act
COMPETITIVENESS: European Container Glass Federation welcomes industrial acceleration plan, but wants urgent action on energy prices
INTERNAL MARKET: European Commission asks about territorial supply constraints
JUSTICE: European Public Prosecutor’s Office launches an operation against a VAT fraud ring involving more than €103 million in luxury car trade
MERCOSUR: EU Council approves trade agreement’s safeguard clause
DIGITAL: European Commission wants to bring together experts in “frontier AI”
DIGITAL: European committee for protection of minors online begins its work
SWITZERLAND: EU and Switzerland sign agreement on transferring air passenger data
TRANSPORT: EU Council adopts its negotiating position on road pricing structure for heavy-duty vehicles with trailers