Europe Daily News, 18 June 2020

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH

• Von der Leyen on European Vaccine Strategy: Making the world safe from the coronavirus   
• Presentations - Webinar on “COVID-19 and the Kidney in collaboration with ERKNet (8 June 2020)
• Answer given by Mr Lenarčič to a MEP written question - Use of the European Medical Corps to provide the Lombard health service with assistance in tackling the COVID-19 epidemic

STATE AID

• Commission approves €40 million Croatian guarantee scheme to support SMEs active in the field of culture and creative industries affected by coronavirus outbreak (SA.57595) - Midday Express

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Coronavirus: EU funding for the transport of medical goods, medical teams and patients - IP/20/1118
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Food stockpiling during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Economic operators and consumer protection following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

EDUCATION & CULTURE

• Countering the COVID-19 crisis in education and training: Council adopts conclusions
• European Commission launches a public consultation on a new Digital Education Action Plan - IP/20/1066 
• Answer given by Ms Gabriel to a MEP written question - Impact of Covid-19 on education in Europe
• Answer given by Ms Gabriel to a MEP written question - The Erasmus programme: students experiencing severe financial pressure due to the COVID-19 outbreak 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Coronavirus: EU supports Central African Republic with €54 million to limit socio-economic risks - IP/20/1074
• Answer given by Mr Borrell to a MEP written question - The EU’s response to COVID-19 in Latin America
• Answer given by Mr Lenarčič to a MEP written question - Health security and the prevention of the spread of Covid-19 in Africa
• Answer given by Ms Urpilainen to a MEP written question - Support for non-governmental organisations for the co-financing of development cooperation projects tackling the Covid-19 outbreak

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9838 – Altor Fund Manager/Eleda/JVAB)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration  (Case M.9666 – Deutsche Asphalt/KEMNA BAU Andrae/Heideasphalt)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9331 – Danaher/GE Healthcare Life Sciences Biopharma)
• Commission opens in-depth investigation into the proposed merger of PSA and FCA (M.9730) - IP/20/1117 - Financial Times 
• Commission clears acquisition of certain assets of Auto Wichert by Volkswagen Group Retail Deutschland (M.9839) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of joint control over a joint venture by Atresmedia and Telefónica (M.9743) - Midday Express
• Commission clears the acquisition of sole control over Schülke & Mayr by EQT (M.9850) - Midday Express
• Commission clears joint acquisition of Medgaz by Naturgy, Sonatrach and BlackRock Group (M.9851) - Midday Express
• Full text of Commission decision to conditionally approve acquisition of GE Healthcare Life Sciences' Biopharma Business by Danaher
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt identifies problems relating to online user reviews
• Italy - Investigation of Autostrade per l'Italia SpA for lack of information and failure to adjust tolls on certain sections of the network
• UK - BEIS consults on undertakings in relation to Gardner Aerospace/ Impcross merger following public interest intervention
• UK - CMA gives notice of the proposal to accept final undertakings and is inviting comments on the proposed draft undertakings by 5pm on 3 July 2020 (JD Sports Fashion plc / Footasylum plc)

STATE AID

• EFTA Surveillance Authority - State aid – Decision to raise no objections
• Statement by Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager on adoption of White Paper on foreign subsidies in the Single Market  
• Commission approves €9.6 million Slovak support to Hornonitrianske bane Prievidza for closing coal mines (SA.56844) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 20th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Data Integration and Harmonization section - joint with Trade Contact Group of 22 & 25 June 2020 
• Agenda & Working Documents for: Economic Tariff Questions Group of 18 & 19 June 2020  
• Minutes of the 32nd Customs Expert Group Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section (HS/WCO Coordination Sector) held in Brussels from 3rd to 5th March
• Trade Barriers Report: EU continues to open up markets outside Europe in midst of rising protectionism - IP/20/1116, Factsheet, List of barriers covered in the report & Case study
• Use of tariff quotas until 16 June 2020,  Report on critical tariff quota imports and on critical state change  
• Answer given by Mr Hogan to a MEP written question - What is the Commission doing to ensure that trade with Colombia is conducted under conditions respecting human rights, including the right to join a trade union?
• Draft report Implementation of the common commercial policy – annual report 2018 - EP INTA Committee - Amendments 1 - 309
• WTO - Turkey launches safeguard investigation on polyethylene terephthalate chips 
• Elizabeth Morgan | ACP-EU post-Cotonou negotiations: Towards the finish line 
• Vietnam targets China manufacturers after EU trade green light - High hopes for textile and apparel exports as Hanoi gives pact unanimous backing - Financial Times
• Brussels toughens efforts to level the playing field with China - Pandemic adds to urgency as EU adopts harder-headed approach to commercial dealings with Beijing - Financial Times 
• UK wants to join Pacific trade pact as trade deal with Canada approaches its end

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Better Regulation) of 23 June 2020 
• ECHA’s committees recommend restricting a subgroup of PFAS 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• EBA publishes final revised technical standards to enhance quality and consistency of information for passport notifications
• EBA extends deadline for the application of its Guidelines on payment moratoria to 30 September
• EBA publishes its first peer review of the stress tests and the resilience of deposit guarantee schemes (DGSs) 
• EBA makes changes to its Q&A tool 
• ESMA publishes example of an annual financial report in ESEF format

TAXATION

• Aviation tax – Document from the Netherlands delegation
• ECOFIN Report to the European Council on tax issues
• Council conclusions on the progress achieved on tax issues during the Croatian Presidency 

ENERGY

•  In focus: National energy and climate plans - More than 10 years ago, the EU was the first economy in the world to set legally-binding targets for addressing climate change.  

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Poland rejects EU using emissions scheme to fund recovery - Move would unfairly penalise country heavily dependent on coal, says deputy PM – Financial Times 

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Meeting documents - 17th Meeting of the eHealth Network (3 June 2020) 
• EFSA - Review of the existing maximum residue levels for meptyldinocap (DE‐126) according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005
• EFSA - Review of the existing maximum residue levels for flubendiamide according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005  
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion on Welfare of pigs at slaughter 
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion on Assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of Pediococcus pentosaceus DSM 16244 as a feed additive for all animal species 
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion on Safety and efficacy of FSF10000 and FLF1000 (3‐phytase) as a feed additive for turkeys for fattening or reared for breeding, pigs for fattening and minor porcine species
• EFSA - Reasoned Opinion Setting of import tolerances for oxathiapiprolin in various crops
• EFSA - Safety and efficacy of OptiPhos® PLUS (6 phytase) for laying hens, turkeys for breeding, chickens for breeding, minor poultry species for egg production purposes and breeding  

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Trans-European transport network: Coreper approves agreement with Parliament on faster permit-granting procedures
• Cohesion policy: Commission approves €83 million investment to improve Lisbon's metro connection - Midday Express

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Financial investigations: Council calls for further improvements in the fight against serious and organised crime
• European Citizens' Initiative: Council greenlights temporary extension of deadlines
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary – ‘We need to talk about racism – openly and honestly'
• MEPs condemn racism and police violence in debate on George Floyd’s death
• Discrimination: Commissioner Dalli opens the EU conference on fighting against anti-Muslim discrimination

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• A Global Economy Version of QUEST: Simulation Properties - Discussion Paper 126 - June 2020
• Wide variation of consumption per capita across EU Member States

BREXIT

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary on the preparations for the European Council of 19 June 2020, and the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom
• EU-UK debate: MEPs will not back a deal at any cost

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• The Council approved conclusions on security and defence in the context of the EU Global Strategy
• Eastern Partnership: Strong display of joint commitment as President von der Leyen participates in video conference along with leaders from the EU and eastern neighbourhood - Midday Express