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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13823
Contents Publication in full By article 20 / 38
EXTERNAL ACTION / Canada

Launch of negotiations for bilateral digital trade agreement

On Thursday, 5 March, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič and Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu opened negotiations with the aim of reaching a digital trade agreement (DTA) between the EU and Canada. They met in Toronto in the context of the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the two blocs.

This digital agreement, like those already ratified by the EU, is expected to...

Contents

SECTORAL POLICIES
JUSTICE: protection of vulnerable adults - EU Council adopts its negotiating position
JUSTICE: European Ministers reaffirm their support for ICC judges targeted by US sanctions
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: European Justice Ministers approve conclusions on application of Charter of Fundamental Rights
MIGRATION: European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties torn between two reports on Returns Regulation, three days before vote
DIGITAL: European Commission eases transparency obligations for AI model providers in its second ‘Code of Practice’
ENERGY: European Commission prepares groundwork for discussions over competitiveness issues and war in Middle East at European Summit on 19 March
ENERGY: tensions remain high over Druzhba pipeline, as European Commission assesses options for restoring supplies
AGRICULTURE: EU Council and European Parliament reach compromise on written contracts and meat designations
ANIMAL HEALTH: broad public support for end of cages in EU, according to European Commission’s public consultation
FISHERIES: European Commission draws up inconclusive mid-term evaluation of European fisheries fund
SEA: call for true “European Ocean Union”
ENVIRONMENT: European Committee of Regions advocates adoption of restrictive proposal for PFAS that is “as complete as possible”
COHESION: Pyrenees-Mediterranean Euroregion, ARCA, and ACM advocate solid European funding for rural and fishing areas’ future
Interview COMPETITIVENESS: launching enhanced cooperation on 28th regime “would be absurd”, says European Parliament own-initiative rapporteur René Repasi
WAR IN MIDDLE EAST
NATO: transatlantic alliance has strengthened its ballistic missile defence posture
MIDDLE EAST: Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa to hold talks with Middle East leaders on 9 March
CIVIL PROTECTION: eighteen Member States have activated ‘rescEU’ mechanism to repatriate their citizens from Middle East
SECURITY - DEFENCE
DEFENCE: crisis in Middle East makes European air defence production even more urgent, warns Andrius Kubilius
EXTERNAL ACTION
GEORGIA: European Commission suspends visa exemption for Georgian officials and diplomats in response to country’s “democratic backsliding”
CANADA: launch of negotiations for bilateral digital trade agreement
DRC: International Contact Group for the Great Lakes calls for immediate cessation of hostilities in east of country
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
EUROGROUP: macroeconomic developments, digital finance, international role of single currency, and securitisation on agenda of euro area countries
ECOFIN: European supervision of financial players and macroeconomic impact of wars in Ukraine and Middle East on agenda of EU countries
ECONOMY: European Technical Support Instrument to support establishment in 2026 of regional and national partnerships provided for in post-2027 budget
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
GENDER EQUALITY : left of Chamber regretful that approach to EU strategy 2026–2030 is too timid despite favourable reception
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
MIGRATION: Court of Justice interprets EU rules assigning responsibility for asylum application in event of secondary movement of applicant
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Interview WOMEN'S RIGHTS: Marialena Tsirli, Registrar of European Court of Human Rights, describes Court’s importance in defending women’s rights
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Union and United Kingdom reaffirm their collaboration in fight against terrorism
STATE AID: green light for Romanian scheme to increase storage capacity of electricity generated from renewable energy sources
ASIA: European Union welcomes holding of “peaceful and orderly” elections in Nepal
COHESION: European Commission launches a consultation with a view to drawing up a new European strategy for islands
CULTURE: publication of €60 million call for cooperation projects for 2026 under Creative Europe framework
INSTITUTIONAL: Amazon lobbyists should, in principle, regain their permanent European Parliament access badges
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: EU strategy for intergenerational equity - AGE Europe deplores communication without concrete action to combat ageism
ECONOMY: GDP growth of 0.2% in euro area in fourth quarter of 2025
HOUSING: affordable housing - European Commission launches consultation to prepare its future legislation
MEDITERRANEAN: France’s Mariam Diallo appointed Senior Deputy Secretary General of Union for Mediterranean
UN: launch of EU-UN Strategic Committee on Peace and Security