Europe Daily News, 14 September 2020

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH

• Minutes - 2nd Drafting group meeting on organisation of health and social care following the COVID-19 pandemic (28 August 2020)
• Coronavirus: Commission starts testing interoperability gateway service for national contact tracing and warning apps - IP/20/1606, Q&A
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Tracking and tracing citizen movements in response to the coronavirus
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - European initiative in support of Plasma Banks
• Adoption of the Council's position on draft amending budget No 8 to the general budget for 2020: Increase of payment appropriations for the Emergency Support Instrument to finance the COVID-19 vaccines strategy and for the impact of the Corona Response Investment Initiative Plus - End of written procedure
• Making best use of big data for public health: publication of the Big Data Steering Group workplan for 2020-21 - see the EMA Statement
• 70th WHO Regional Committee for Europe: the Commission and WHO Europe strengthen partnership and health cooperation 

STATE AID

• Commission approves €1 million Lithuanian scheme to support tour operators repatriating travellers in context of coronavirus outbreak (SA.58476) - Midday Express

INTERNAL MARKET

• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Disruption of medical supply chains in the EU due to COVID-19 and unilateral national measures

ECONOMY

• Addressing COVID-19: Council approves €6.2 billion budget increase for 2020 - Council position of 11 September 2020

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Answer given by Mr Schmit to a MEP written question - SURE
• Answer given by Ms Dalli to a MEP written question - The need for a gender impact assessment on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on gender equality
• Answer given by Ms Dalli to a MEP written question - Gender-based violence in the EU during the Coronavirus pandemic
  

TRANSPORT

• Answer given by Ms Vãlean to a MEP written question - EU rail supply industry during the COVID-19 crisis 

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9933 – Apollo Capital Management/ Chyronhego) 
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9950 – Clearlake Capital Group/TA Associates Management/Ivanti Software) 
• Commission clears acquisition of Végéhub and Yumi by Bonduelle, Unibel and Sparkling Partners (M.9908) - Midday Express
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Administratīvā apgabaltiesa (Latvia) lodged on 9 July 2020 — SIA Visma Enterprise Vs. Konkurences padome (Case C-306/20)
  
• Speech by Margrethe Vestager on "The future of EU merger control"
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt - 19th Annual International Competition Network Conference starts today
• UK - CMA pauses consultation on draft guidance on its powers and procedures in relation to co-operation mechanisms under the EU FDI Regulation

STATE AID

• Commission approves €6.37 million aid for Debrecen airport in Hungary (SA.57109) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Customs Union Working Party of 17 September 2020
• Agenda for: Project Group on UCC INF Special Procedures Business of 22 September 2020
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-subsidy measures applicable to imports of biodiesel originating in the United States of America
• Action brought on 28 July 2020 — Hengshi Egypt Fiberglass Fabrics and Jushi Egypt for Fiberglass Industry Vs. Commission (Case T-480/20)
  Re: annulment of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/776 of 12 June 2020 imposing definitive countervailing duties on imports of certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics originating in the People’s Republic of China and Egypt
• Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union  (Explanatory Note to ‘Note 6’, & 3926 90 97 Other)
• Explanatory Notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union  (7320 90 30 & 7323)
• EU and China sign landmark agreement protecting European Geographical Indications - See the FactSheet

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• CPR Revision Technical Stakeholders’ Conference, 7 September 2020 - agenda, presentations and survey among participants
  
• Conclusions on a deepened Single Market for a strong recovery and a competitive, sustainable Europe
• ECHA - Public Consultations - Cadmium and its inorganic compounds
• ECHA - Public Consultations - Sulphur dioxide

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mobilisation of the EGAF following an application from Spain (EGF/2020/001 ES/Galicia shipbuilding ancillary sectors)
• The platform economy and precarious work - Study for Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
• Policies to Ensure Access to Affordable Housing - Study for Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Expert group on Energy Labelling of 15 September 2020
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Incompatibility of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) with the objectives of the Green Deal and the Paris Agreement
• EU gas groups exposed as pipeline politics threaten Nord Stream 2 - Billions in lending at risk after Navalny poisoning heightens calls for project to be blocked - Financial Times
  

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment of 15 & 17 September 2020
• Roadmap - Sustainable Products Initiative - Environment IIA - Feedback period: 11 September 2020 - Invalid date
• Establishment of a "Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency. Towards Just Transitions" - Approval of entering into negotiations
• Joining the "Call for action: Raising Ambition for Climate Adaptation and Resilience " - Approval of entering into negotiations
• Answer given by Mr Timmermans to a MEP written question - The European Climate Law
• Temporary suspension of the Union Registry for technical maintenance and software upgrade from 18 to 21 September 2020
• New tracking tool maps the reality of industrial pollution in Europe - see the EEB Statement

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Minutes of the 6th follow-up meeting of the Expert Group on the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1926 on MMTIS of 10 July 2020
• Minutes of the 24th Expert Group on the Human Dimenssion of the Single European Sky of 06 April 2020
• Answer given by Ms Vãlean to a MEP written question - Lorry transport
• Answer given by Ms Vãlean to a MEP written question - Enhancing the safety of container shipping – averting disasters – preventing environmental damage
• Statement by Commissioner Adina Vălean on the Commission's intention to extend the airport slot waiver - See the Report

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Decision of the European Systemic Risk Board of 17 August 2020 on the appointment of the Data Protection Officer of the European Systemic Risk Board
• Polish DPA fines Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Digitalisation of justice: Two new studies on digital criminal justice and the use of innovative technology
  

€URO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 11 September 2020
• Remarks by Christine Lagarde at the Annual Meeting of the Council of Governors of the Arab Central Banks and Monetary Authorities
• The influence of OPEC+ on oil prices: a quantitative assessment - ECB Working Paper Series No.2467
• Financing the European Union: New Context, New Responses - Bruegel's Policy Contribution

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) of 16 & 18 September 2020
• List of meetings taking place between 1 and 30 September - Revision 9 
• State of the European Union debate 2020 - Scrutinising the priorities of the EU

BREXIT

• Statement of the UK Coordination Group and the leaders of the political groups of the EP
• Johnson faces mounting resistance to Brexit move - Tony Blair and John Major attack ‘dangerous’ proposal to renege on parts of EU divorce deal - Financial Times
• Japan trade deal commits UK to stricter state aid curbs than in EU talks - Contrasting positions could undermine negotiating stance with Brussels - Financial Times
• UK-Japan trade deal shows need for EU pact - Accord is an important stepping stone for Britain to join TPP - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its member states
• Belarus: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the escalation of violence and intimidation against members of the Coordination Council
• Bahrain/Israel: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the establishment of diplomatic relations
• International Day of Democracy: Joint statement by the HR/VP Josep Borrell and Vice-President Dubravka Šuica
• EU steps up aid for Lebanon – European Commissioner for Crisis Management in Beirut - IP/20/1637
• EU’s neighbourhood ‘engulfed in flames’, warns foreign policy chief - Josep Borrell tells FT that bloc’s leaders will decide sanctions on Belarus officials including Lukashenko later this month - Financial Times