Europe Daily News, 28 April 2020

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

STATE AID

• Commission approves €16.6 billion Polish repayable advance scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak - IP/20/760
• Commission approves €4 million Belgian scheme to support coronavirus related research and development project - IP/20/735

HEALTH

• Coronavirus: Commission issues guidance to mitigate clinical trial disruption in the EU - IP/20/759

TRADE

• European Commission informs WTO on new set of coronavirus measures

AGRICULTURE FISHERIES

• Statement of the Commission relating to Regulation (EU) 2020/560 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 508/2014 and (EU) No 1379/2013 as regards specific measures to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in the fishery and aquaculture sector
• Faced with rapid market breakdown due to the COVID-19 crisis, EU wine growers and their cooperatives ask the European Commission to take urgent action - See Copa-Cogeca Statement

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• EU ministers must find a fair solution for consumers and business for cancelled travel – imposed vouchers are not acceptable - see Beuc Statement

ECONOMY & BUDGET

• MEPs call for concrete details and novel tools to address the economic crisis

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9785 – EFL/DBK/Hama Polska)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9614 – OBB-TS/LTE)
• Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Federal Trade Commission to examine past acquisitions by large technology companies – Is DG Competition also planning to review such acquisitions?
• UK - CMA has launched its consultation in the anticipated acquisition by Danone S.A. of Harrogate Water Brands Limited
• UK - CMA clears merger of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts

STATE AID

• Commission endorses extension of Belgian seafarer scheme for maritime transport (SA.56475) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• DG Taxud - Report on tariff quota imports; Report on critical tariff quota imports & Report on critical state change of 21 April 2020
• Second round of post-Brexit trade talks makes limited progress
• WTO issues new report on treatment of medical products in regional trade agreements

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commissioner Breton's introductory speech at the videoconference with the ministers of tourism
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - International competition in the shipbuilding industry
• The EU’s Public Procurement Framework. How is the EU’s Public Procurement Framework contributing to the achievement of the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Circular Economy Strategy? - Briefing – EP IMCO Committee

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• ESMA publishes templates for quarterly non-equity systematic internaliser data

TAXATION

• Answer given by Mr Gentiloni to a MEP written question - Impact of plastic tax and sugar tax on employment and European competitiveness –

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Safety of nuclear installations in the European Union

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Cross-sector call for Nutri-Score on all foods in EU - see Beuc Statement & Joint Letter

DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Safeguarding the interests of the EU and shaping the world’s future through the development and deployment of 5G technology
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Deployment of 5G mobile networks and system security risks

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• SAFEMASS Study of the risks and regulatory issues of specific cases of MASS 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Almost 14 000 unaccompanied minors among asylum seekers registered in the EU in 2019 - Stat/71/2020
• EU granted protection to almost 300 000 asylum seekers in 2019 - Stat/70/2020
  

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Thematic Digest on EU Economic Governance during the pandemic - Briefing – EP ECON Committee
• The economy and coronavirus - Weekly Picks 27/04/2020 - Briefing – EP ECON Committee
• April 2020 euro area bank lending survey -ECB

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Press release by President Michel on the EU-G5 Sahel video conference, 28 April 2020
• Stop cooperation with and funding to the Libyan coastguard, MEPs ask
• Correspondence: UK Letter from the Paymaster General to the European Commission and the European External Action Service: 27 April 2020