Europe Daily News, 16 June 2021

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH

• ECDC supports EU/EEA Member States in rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants
• ECDC begins epidemic monitoring of the EURO 2020/2021 Football Championship
• Overview of the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination strategies and deployment plans in the EU/EEA - ECDC Technical report
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Vaccine supply problems
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - COVID-19 – Delays in vaccine deliveries
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Urgent measures to combat the new COVID-19 variant

STATE AID

• Commission approves €824 million amendment to Swedish scheme to support uncovered fixed costs of companies in context of coronavirus outbreak (SA.63263) – Midday Express

TRAVEL/MOBILITY

• Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/961 of 14 June 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/1475 on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

ECONOMY

• Emerging stronger from the pandemic: acting on the early lessons learnt - IP/21/2989 & Communication
• Looking Through and Past COVID-19: Do Spillovers Matter? - Study for EP ECON Committee
• Recovery and Resilience Plans - An overview - In-Depth Analysis for EP ECON Committee

COMPETITION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competition of 18 June 2021
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10270 - SMO PSA/CDC/Swissterminal/Euro Rhein Ports JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10327 - Elexent/GP JOULE Connect/Elexent DACH JV)
• ‎Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10153 - Orange/Telekom Romania Communications)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10316 - Macquarie/Warrington/Bingo)
• Commission clears acquisition of ten real estate properties located in Germany by PLD and NBIM (M.10221) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition exclusive control of Cerba by EQT (M.10278) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Quilter International by Utmost (M.10272) - Midday Express
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt/Booking.com: Courtesy translation of Press Release No. 099/2021 published by the Bundesgerichtshof (Federal Court of Justice) on 18.05.2021
• Norway - The Norwegian Competition Authority closes its investigation against Orkla, Mondelez and Norgesgruppen
• Spain - CNMC initiates disciplinary proceedings against four banks for possible anti-competitive practices
• UK - The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference for the completed acquisition by Bellis Acquisition Company 3 Limited of Asda Group Limited
• UK - CMA to scrutinise Apple and Google mobile ecosystems
• EU freezes 10 banks out of bond sales over antitrust breaches - Big names involved in past market-rigging scandals barred from lucrative recovery plan - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Banning state aid, safeguarding free competition and the free movement of capital
• Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Spanish Government aid for the airline Plus Ultra

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Minutes for: Project Group on the Import of Cultural Goods of 12 May 2021
• Minutes of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section (“Combined Nomenclature” sector) of 28 April 2021
• Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1706 as regards inclusion of autonomous Union tariff quotas for certain fishery products
• Working document for the ETQG meeting of 16-17 June 2021 - Round 2022-01 - Quotas & Suspensions
• Trade breakthroughs boost renewal of EU-US partnership
• EU-US relations: Factsheet on reforming the WTO
• EU-US launch Trade and Technology Council to lead values-based global digital transformation - IP/21/2990 & FactSheet
• US warns EU against anti-American tech policy - National Security Council complains ahead of Biden’s first presidential trip to Brussels - Financial Times
• EU and US take decisive step to end aircraft dispute - see the Understanding on a cooperative framework for Large Civil Aircraft - See reaction from WTO DG Okonjo-Iweala  
• WTO - Japan initiates WTO dispute complaint against Chinese steel duties
• Draft opinion by MEP Roman Haider (Inta Committee) : A European strategy for critical raw materials – Amendments 1 - 72
• Answer given by Mr Gentiloni  to a MEP written question - Customs controls

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY‎

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Tourism) of 17 June 2021
• Commission to invest €14.7 billion from Horizon Europe for a healthier, greener and more digital Europe - IP/21/2993, see the main work programme of Horizon Europe
• NextGenerationEU: European Commission raises €20 billion in first transaction to support Europe's recovery - IP/21/2982, see Statement by President von der Leyen and Commissioner Hahn
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Foreign subsidies and public procurement 

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Protecting people working through platforms: Commission launches second-stage consultation of social partners - IP/21/2944, Consultation & Working Document 

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Meeting on potential Ecodesign and Energy labelling requirements for mobile phones and tablets of 28 June 2021
• Union for the Mediterranean Ministers sign declaration on clean energy transition
• Making the EU’s energy infrastructure fit for climate-neutrality 

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment of 22 June 2021
• Agenda for: 15th meeting of the IAS Committee of 18 June 2021
• European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register ‘Ban Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorships' initiative - IP/21/2991
• Judgment of the Court of 16 June 2021 in Case T-126/19: Krajowa Izba Gospodarcza Chłodnictwa i Klimatyzacji, (Poland) Vs. European Commission, supported by the European Parliament, and by the Council of the European Union
  Re: Environment - Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 - Fluorinated greenhouse gases - Allocation of allowances for the placing on the market of hydrofluorocarbons - Plea of illegality - Article 16 of and Annexes V and VI to Regulation No 517/2014 - Principle of non-discrimination - Obligation to state reasons
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - Definition of plastic in Directive (EU) 2019/904

HEALTH, FOOD PRODUCT & SAFETY

• Main Results of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 14-15 June 2021
• Council agreement paves way to reinforce European Medicines Agency
• European Medical Device Nomenclature (EMDN) - QaA
• Emerging stronger from the pandemic: acting on the early lessons learnt - IP/21/2989 & Communication
• Commissioner Kyriakides visits Bulgaria and meets with President Radev - Midday Express
• EFSA - Antimicrobial resistance and the food production environment: sources and control options
• EFSA - Glyphosate: EU regulators begin review of renewal assessments

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for : 79th Single Sky Committee of 29 June 2021
• Agenda for: Expert Group on Land Transport Security of 07 July 2021
• EU road charging rules (Eurovignette) - Presidency reaches informal deal with the Parliament

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Surcharge-free roaming – Council agrees its position on continuation and revision of the policy

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Data protection: European Commission launches the process towards adoption of the adequacy decision for the Republic of Korea - IP/21/2964
  
• EU court ruling to bolster GDPR enforcement and help protect consumer data - See Beuc Statement

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Agenda for: Council of the European Union (Economic & Financial Affairs) of 18 June 2021
• Implications for the Euro Area of US Macroeconomic Policies - In-Depth Analysis for EP ECON Committee
• The European Fiscal Board assesses the appropriate fiscal stance for the euro area in 2022 - See the Report
• Targeted consultation on improving transparency and efficiency in secondary markets for non-performing loans (NPLs)

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• 9th revised “List of meetings” taking place between 1 and 30 June 2021

BREXIT

• UK agrees historic trade deal with Australia  
  - 10 key benefits of the UK-Australia free trade agreement
• The UK-Australia trade deal has been painted as both a travesty and a triumph for Britain – it’s neither - see ECR Opinion piece by Sam Lowe
• UK and Australia agree post-Brexit trade deal - Pact marks first big bilateral agreement negotiated by Britain since leaving the EU - Financial Times
• Brexit a ‘one-off’ chance for UK to escape EU red tape, says task force - Opportunity for new regulatory framework to encourage innovation, growth and inward investment - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS, DEVELOPMENT & COOPERATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Development Cooperation of 21 June 2021
• EU-Russia relations: Commission and High Representative propose the way forward - IP/21/3010, Facts & Figures & Joint Communication
• EU-US Summit statement: "Towards a renewed Transatlantic partnership"
• Remarks by President Charles Michel following the EU-Canada summit in Brussels 
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Press statement by EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajčák following the meeting
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell upon arrival