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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13439

26 June 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 1 / 35
Russian invasion of Ukraine
ENLARGEMENT: Ukraine officially opens EU accession negotiations
Luxembourg, 25/06/2024 (Agence Europe)

On Tuesday 25 June, Ukraine officially opened its EU accession negotiations in Luxembourg, a move welcomed by many European affairs ministers, as well as the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, who described the day as “historic”.

Ukraine applied to join the EU in February 2022, a few days after the Russian invasion, and was granted candidate status in June 2022. In December 2023, EU leaders decided to open accession negotiations with the country.

Contents

Russian invasion of Ukraine
ENLARGEMENT: Ukraine officially opens EU accession negotiations
DEFENCE: EU and Ukraine due to sign security commitments on Thursday
MIGRATION: EU Council extends temporary protection granted to 4.2 million Ukrainians in EU until March 2026
EXTERNAL ACTION
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: EU is organising its action at United Nations around five main priorities
EEA: green light from EU Council for agreements on financial mechanisms of EEA and Norway for 2021-2028
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS: lobbying on behalf of third countries, Member States support directive, but with safeguards for protection of freedoms
RULE OF LAW : Spain’s two main political parties reach agreement in Brussels on strengthening judicial system’s independence
INSTITUTIONAL
FUTURE OF EU: Belgian Presidency of Council explores four strands of a possible reform of EU
RULE OF LAW: EU Member States highlight continuing concerns about rule of law in Hungary
EP2024: Christian Democrat, Socialist and Liberal negotiators agree on nominations for three senior EU posts
EP2024: Iratxe García Pérez re-elected President of S&D Group in European Parliament
EP2024: Valérie Hayer re-elected as leader of Renew Europe group in European Parliament
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPETITION: European Commission still concerned Microsoft may have abused its dominant position with marketing practices for Teams
STATE AID: European Commission approves extension of a €14.3 billion support measure for businesses in southern Italy
ECB: asset portfolios, ECB and Eurosystem defending their efforts in favour of climate, could adopt measures for companies
SECTORAL POLICIES
HOME AFFAIRS: critical infrastructures, EU Council approves a recommendation on better coordination between Member States in event of disruptions
DIGITAL: Apple delays arrival of its new AI services in Europe and blames DMA
AGRICULTURE: Belgian minister David Clarinval is not giving up hope of reaching a compromise on new genomic techniques
ANIMAL HEALTH: European ministers criticise certain elements in proposal on animal welfare
ENVIRONMENT: emissions of main atmospheric pollutants falling throughout EU, according to European Environment Agency
CLIMATE/ENERGY: Climate Action Network Europe urges rapid submission of NECPs before 30 June deadline
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COUNCIL OF EUROPE: former Swiss President Alain Berset elected Secretary General of Council of Europe
GEORGIA: Venice Commission denounces Georgia’s amendments to Election Code and Rules of Procedure of Parliament
WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Council of Europe’s Vigdis prize awarded to Greek NGO
HUNGARIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
TOURISM/CONSUMPTION: Hungarian Presidency of EU Council wants to focus on digitalisation
CUSTOMS: Hungarian Presidency of Council of EU wants to simplify customs procedures
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: European Digital Education Hub draws up roadmap for developing micro-credentials in higher education
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
ENVIRONMENT/PUBLIC HEALTH: Ilva steelworks must close down if emissions present serious danger to environment and public health, rules Court of Justice of the European Union
NEWS BRIEFS
TRADE: EU Council adopts decision for greater transparency in investor-State disputes
DEMOCRACY: International Federation of Journalists welcomes release of whistleblower Julian Assange
ECONOMY: green light for new revision of Finnish recovery plan
ENVIRONMENT: Greenpeace calls for a “clear agreement“ from governments meeting at UN to discuss first ‘Ocean COP’
FINANCE/BANKING: Eurogroup details work underway to deepen capital markets union and banking union
IRAN: EU sanctions an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps organisation
MIGRATION: EU and Serbia sign agreement strengthening cooperation between Belgrade and Frontex agency