EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES 

DIGITAL

COMPETITION

STATE AID

  • State aid - Poland (Articles 107 to 109 of the TFEU ) Commission notice pursuant to Article 108(2) TFEU - Withdrawal of notification State aid SA.51987 (2019/C) (ex 2018/N) - Poland - District heating network - Tarnobrzeg, SA.52084 (2019/C) (ex 2018/N) - District heating network - Ropczyce, SA.52238 (2019/C) (ex 2018/N) - District heating network - Lesko, SA.54236 (2019/C) (ex 2019/N) - District heating network - Dębica, and SA.55273 (2019/C) (ex 2019/N) - District heating network - Ustrzyki Dolne
  • Communication from the Commission Sixth Amendment to the Temporary Framework for State aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak and amendment to the Annex to the Communication from the Commission to the Member States on the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU to short-term export-credit insurance 
  • Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for Croatia (SA.64581) - IP/21/6206
  • Commission concludes that the Swedish risk tax on credit institutions does not constitute State aid (SA.56348) - Midday Express 24.11.2021
  • Commission approves €2.5 million Spanish scheme to support purchase of semi-trailers suitable for use on rail (SA.63113) - Midday Express 24.11.2021
  • Commission adopts new annexes to EU Emission Trading System State aid Guidelines, defining applicable efficiency benchmarks and CO2 factors - See the Communication

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) of 25 November 2021
  • Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Full Members) of 29, 30 November, 1, 2 and 3 December 2021
  • Trade and security: Commission highlights work to defend EU interests and values - IP/21/6262, Factsheet & Brochure
    - Report & Working document  on the screening of foreign direct investments into the Union 
    - Report on the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items
  • Joint EU-US stakeholders outreach on Investment Screening - Agenda 02 December 2021

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/2045 of 23 November 2021 amending Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH
  • Chemicals: Commission seeks public views on simplification and digitalisation of labels - Midday Express 24.11.2021 - (Feedback period: 24 November 2021 - 16 February 2022) 
  • Report of the High-Level Roundtable on the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability - Enforcement and compliance of chemicals legislation - 25 November 2021

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • EBA notes significant efforts in IFRS 9 implementation by EU institutions but cautions on some of the observed accounting practices, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • SMSG advice to ESMA on its Consultation Paper on the review of certain aspects of the Short Selling Regulation
  • ESMA publishes its 2020 annual report on the EU market abuse sanctions

TAXATION

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION & SOCIAL POLICY

  • Proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation - Progress Report
  • Draft Council Conclusions on sustainable work over the life course - Preparation for the approval - Statement by the Polish delegation
  • Gender gap at education level is shrinking, but women are still under-represented in research and innovation - IP/21/6217, see the Report
  • Erasmus+: nearly €3.9 billion in 2022 for mobility and cooperation in education, training, youth and sport - IP/21/6180
  • MEPs ask for values-based EU sports model and oppose “breakaway competitions” - See the EP Resolution

ENERGY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Energy of 25 November 2021
  • Public consultation: European Strategy on international energy engagement - Communication - Feedback period: 22 November 2021 - 20 December 2021

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Speech by Frans Timmermans at Parliament Plenary session on the outcome of COP26 in Glasgow

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act) - General approach - Statement by the Luxembourg delegation - Statement by the German delegation
  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act) and amending Directive 2000/31/EC - General approach – Statements
  • Europe's Digital Decade: Commission launches consultation and discussion on EU digital principles - IP/21/2288
  • Digital Markets Act: ending unfair practices of big online platforms - See the EP Statement 
  • EU Parliament committee brings consumer interest forward in Digital Markets Act - See Beuc Reaction

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • Public consultation: Bus and coach drivers - EU rules on driving and rest times - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 23 November 2021 - 15 February 2022

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Stop Violence Against Women: Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative
  • EU proposes blacklisting of transport operators involved in facilitating the smuggling or trafficking of people - IP/21/6187, Memo, Communication & the Proposal
    - Factsheet: EU actions to counter state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants at the EU external border 
    - Factsheet: EU action to blacklist transport operators that engage in trafficking or smuggling people into the EU 
    - Factsheet: Emergency EU support for migration and border management

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Commission launches the €570 million interregional innovation investment instrument - IP/21/6129
  • €11 billion REACT-EU funds allocation now available for 2022 - IP/21/6103
  • European Semester Autumn Package: rebounding stronger from the crisis and making Europe greener and more digital - IP/21/6105 & QaA
    • Alert Mechanism Report 2022 Prepared in accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances
    • Communication from the Commission: Annual Sustainable Growth Survey 2022
    • Communication from the Commission: 2022 Draft Budgetary Plans: Overall Assessment
    • Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area
      - Analysis of the euro area economy (Working Document)
    • Proposal for a Joint Employment Report from the Commission and the Council
    • Communication from the Commission: Enhanced Surveillance Update - Greece, November 2021

FUTURE OF EUROPE

  • 7th revised List of meetings taking place between 1 and 30 November 2021
  • The Council adopted conclusions on resilience and crisis response
  • Report by President Charles Michel to the EP plenary session

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Agenda of the 53rd meeting of the EEA Council of 24 November 2021
  • Commissioner Várhelyi on official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina - Midday Express 23.11.2021
  • Fight against human trafficking: High-level meeting of the UN General Assembly  - Midday Express 23.11.2021
  • Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary on the conclusions of the October European Council and the situation in Belarus and at its border with the EU
  • Judgment of the General Court of 24 November 2021 in Case T‑160/19, European Political Subdivision of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), VS. Council of the European Union, supported by United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Re: CFSP – Restrictive measures taken with a view to combating terrorism – Freezing of funds – List of the persons, groups and entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources – Maintaining the applicant’s name on the list – Factual basis of the decisions to freeze funds – Error of assessment – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Right to effective judicial protection
  • Judgment of the General Court of 24 November 2021 in Case T‑256/19, Bashar Assi, Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: CFSP – Restrictive measures adopted against Syria – Freezing of funds – Errors of assessment – Proportionality – Right to property – Right to pursue an economic activity – Misuse of powers – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Right to a fair trial
  • Judgment of the General Court of 24 November 2021 in Case T‑257/19, Khaldoun Al Zoubi Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures against Syria – Freezing of funds – Errors of assessment
  • Judgment of the General Court of 24 November 2021 in Case T‑258/19, Samer Foz, Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures adopted against Syria – Freezing of funds – Error of assessment – Proportionality - Right to property – Right to pursue an economic activity – Misuse of powers – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Right to a fair trial
  • Judgment of the General Court of 24 November 2021 in Case T‑259/19, Aman Dimashq JSC Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures against Syria - Freezing of funds - Error of assessment - Proportionality – Right to property - Right to pursue an economic activity – Misuse of powers – Obligation to state reasons – Rights of the defence – Right to a fair trial – Right to effective judicial protection

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