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Image header Agence Europe
Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13837
Contents Publication in full By article 27 / 32
NEWS BRIEFS / Sea

Belgian capital bids to host secretariat of international ocean treaty

26/03/2026 (Agence Europe) – In New York, Belgium is preparing its bid to host the secretariat of the Agreement relating to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), which entered into force on 17 January 2026 (see EUROPE B13788A19). On 1 April, the Belgian Minister for Justice and the North Sea, Annelies Verlinden, will officially present Belgium’s...

Contents

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PLENARY
MIGRATION: reform of ‘Returns’ Regulation – European Parliament adopts its negotiating mandate, based on ‘Bellamy’ report
HOME AFFAIRS: despite a last-ditch attempt by EPP group, European Parliament rejects extension of ePrivacy Directive derogation 
CORRUPTION: directive on combating corruption in EU definitively adopted by European Parliament
UNITED STATES: despite persistent reservations, European Parliament approves trade agreement with United States
DEVELOPMENT: European Parliament calls for greater transparency and control over EU’s Global Gateway initiative
DIGITAL: MEPs confirm ban on artificial intelligence services that allow people to be ‘denuded’ without their consent
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: following a European citizens’ initiative, European Parliament debates an EU-wide ban on conversion practices
BANKS: European Parliament ratifies Interinstitutional Agreement on ‘CMDI’ package to strengthen management of banking crisis in EU
ENVIRONMENT: directive on wastewater treatment – European Parliament debate on striking balance between environmental protection and access to medicines
ENVIRONMENT: European Parliament ratifies new rules to reduce groundwater and surface water pollution
SECTORAL POLICIES
DIGITAL: formal European Commission investigation targets Snapchat over inadequate protection of minors online
DIGITAL: four pornographic content platforms subject to formal investigation by European Commission for insufficient protection of minors
CONSUMERS: 30% of online retailers engaged in deceptive commercial practices during the last ‘Black Friday’ and ‘Cyber Monday’
TRANSPORT/INDUSTRY: experts disagree on development of automotive mobility in EU
COMPETITIVENESS: BusinessEurope issues recommendations to improve European Competitiveness Fund
COHESION: Russian and Belarusian borders – Raffaele Fitto reaffirms that Member States themselves have chosen to reallocate social funds to defence
ENVIRONMENT: ECHA supports EU-wide PFAS restriction with derogations
FISHERIES: Europêche warns of risks of further opening up tuna market under agreement with Indonesia
FISHERIES: Oceana calls for in-depth reform of seafood sector by 2040
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
CUSTOMS: European Parliament and EU Council negotiators agree on the reform of the Union Customs Code
EXTERNAL ACTION
WTO: EU Council adopts its conclusions at start of 14th WTO Ministerial Conference
SECURITY - DEFENCE
NATO: Mark Rutte hails European “leadership” in talks on international coalition to secure Strait of Hormuz
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
SOCIAL: social security – EU countries issued slightly more portable documents for postings in 2024, according to European Commission
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: European Institute for Gender Equality publishes guide to fairer pay in Europe
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
RUSSIA: Court of Justice confirms EU sanctions against five Russian and/or Belarusian oligarchs
NEWS BRIEFS
SPACE: Norway and Iceland officially join EU’s GOVSATCOM and Iris2 satellite programmes
SEA: Belgian capital bids to host secretariat of international ocean treaty
MEXICO: MEPs begin preparatory work to validate the EU-Mexico modernised global agreement
NIGERIA: multilateralism, security and migration – EU and Abuja reaffirm their joint commitments
RELIGIONS: Ireland’s Mairead McGuinness appointed EU special envoy for religious freedom
HEALTH: first human case of avian influenza A(H9N2) imported into European Union
TRANSPORT: EASA and EUROCONTROL publish action plan to ensure safe operations during Global Navigation Satellite System interference events