EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH & RESEARCH

  • Coronavirus: almost 1,500 innovators have responded to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's Crisis Response Initiative

STATE AID

  • Commission expands Temporary Framework to further support micro, small and start-up companies and incentivise private investments – IP/20/1221
  • Commission authorises €207 million French wage subsidy scheme to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.57754) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €160 million Dutch scheme to compensate companies that offer special transport services which suffered due to coronavirus outbreak (SA.57554) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €200 million Slovenian scheme to compensate large companies for damages suffered due to coronavirus outbreak (SA.57459) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €80 million Croatian loan guarantee scheme for companies in the maritime, transport, travel and infrastructure sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak (SA.57711) - Midday Express

AGRICULTURE

  • Coronavirus: Commission offers additional €10 million to promote sales of crisis-hit agri-food products (see proposal 1 & 2)- Midday Express

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • Decision No 1/2020 of the Community/Switzerland Inland Transport Committee of 19 June 2020 aligning Decision No 2/2019 with the dates of transposition, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, of Directives (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2016/798 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - On the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak – the travel and tourism industry
  • Answer given by Ms Vălean to a MEP written question - Coronavirus emergency: stopping of freight transport at the Italian-Austrian border — request for immediate action by the European Commission 

ECONOMY

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/891 of 26 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 447/2014 as regards specific provisions to align the provisions for the implementation of cross-border cooperation programmes financed under the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) with specific measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

COMPETITION

  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9796 – Uniqa/Axa (Insurance, asset management and pensions – Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia))
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9790 – Blackstone/KP1)
  • Summary of Commission Decision of 27 September 2017 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.39824 - Trucks)
    - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions given at its meeting of 18 September 2017 and of 25 September 2017
    - Final Report of the Hearing Officer
  • Summary  of Commission Decision of 11 December 2018 declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market and the functioning of the EEA Agreement (Case M.8909 - KME/MKM)
    - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on mergers
    - Final Report of the Hearing Officer
  • Commission clears acquisition of Imperial's European inland waterways transport business by HGK (M.9853) - Midday Express
  • Public version of decision in Case M.9316 - PEAB / YIT's Pavingand Mineral Aggregates Business published 
  • Public version of decision in Case M.9582 - Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy / Senvion (European Onshore Wind Turbine Service) / RIA Blades published 
  • Public version of decision in Case M.9450 - PPG / TIL / JV published 
  • EFTA: ESA fines Telenor EUR 112 million for anticompetitive practices
  • UK - COVID-19: CMA and General Pharmaceutical Council joint letter on pricing during the pandemic - 

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Export Credits Group of 02 July 2020
  • GSP: extension of the transition period for the application of the REX system to 31 December 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic for Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Philippines -
  • On 29 June, the European Commission released a new, improved version of the Customs Decisions system (CDS)
  • Notice concerning the date of entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (01 August 2020)
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/893 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/894 of 29 June 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products
  • WTO Dispute Settlement Body establishes panels on trade restrictions for EU exports of electronic products and frozen fries
  • WTO report on G20 shows moves to facilitate imports even as trade restrictions remain widespread
  • DDG Wolff: WTO acceding governments reconfirm value of multilateral trading system
  • “Time to rethink – Stop the EU-Mercosur agreement!” - 265 civil society organisations call on the Federal Governments and the EU Commission and EU-Parliament to reject this agreement!

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • EU awards €5 million to blockchain solutions for social innovations
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Introduction of a universal charger in the EU
  • The Legal Framework for E-commerce in the Internal Market - Briefing for the EP IMCO Committee
  • Opinion of the EP INTA Committee on A New Industrial Strategy for Europe

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Financial Services Committee of 03 July 2020 
  • Banking Union: Wirecard - Briefing for the EP ECON Committee
  • Recriminations fly between EU and UK over financial services - Talks over market access rights for City of London after Brexit make little headway – Financial Times

TAXATION

  • Convention on the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustment of profits of associated enterprises (Arbitration Convention) - List of independent persons of standing
  • Answer given by Mr Gentiloni to a MEP written question - VAT exemption on expensive medicines

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

  • Agenda of the Joint meeting of the Agricultural Product Quality Policy Committee, Wine Committee and Committee for Spirit Drinks - please add dossier for CMO of 16 July 2020
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Horizontal Agricultural Questions (CAP Reform) of 03 July 2020 
  • Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee for Common organisation of Agricultural Markets – Wine of 23 June 2020
  • Draft - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX authorising agreements and decisions on market stabilisation measures in the wine sector   
  • Commissioner Sinkevičius starts discussions on fishing opportunities for 2021 at Agrifish Council

ENERGY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Energy of 29 July 2020 
  • ACER to decide which products to use in single day-ahead coupling  
  • Speeches by EVP Timmermans, Commissioner Ferreira and Commissioner Simson at the Just Transition Platform Launch Event 
  • MEPs want to boost energy storage in the EU to help spur decarbonisation 

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment of 01 July 2020 
  • Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues: Global of 01 July 2020. UNECE Aarhus of 02 July 2020 and Int. Chemicals / Synergies of 07 July 2020 
  • MEPs call on EU Commission to step up action against dangerous chemicals
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Change in legislation and implementation of directives on the natural environment
  • EU met air pollution limits for four key pollutants, including ammonia, in 2018

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET & INFORMATION SOCIETY

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Huawei data flows under fire in German court case - A former manager sued the Chinese firm for breaching GDPR, opening a Pandora’s box on data flowing to China – Politico.eu 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Commission launches public consultation on a New Consumer Agenda
  • Deal on digitalisation of access to justice will benefit citizens - see the EP Statement

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Bank contagion in general equilibrium - ECB Working Paper Series No.2432
  • German finance minister moves to resolve court stand-off with ECB - Olaf Scholz says documents released by the bank show it considered effects of bond-buying programme - Financial Times 
  • Merkel offers olive branch to ‘frugal four’ over EU crisis fund - Chancellor and Emmanuel Macron bolster Franco-German push to agree post-pandemic recovery measures - Financial Times  
  • The EU needs a €5tn tech and green investment plan - If Europe is to remain globally relevant, a game-changing approach is required - Financial Times 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Venezuela: eleven officials added to sanctions list 
  • Russia: Council renews economic sanctions over Ukrainian crisis for six more months until 31 January 2021 - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/907
  • Fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Deputy level of 30 June 2020
  • EU-Republic of Korea leaders' videoconference: cooperation, solidarity and sustainability at the heart of a joint response to the coronavirus pandemic - see the Joint Press Release, the Remarks and Statement by President von der Leyen and President Michel
  • A Comprehensive EU Strategy for Africa - Briefing for the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs

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