EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES

HEALTH

  • Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the preparation of the European Council and EU's response to the global resurgence of COVID-19
  • The European Commission joins Romania's efforts in the vaccination communication campaign  - IP/21/6886
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - EU efforts to support the development of COVID-19 treatments and assessment of mRNA technology
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Vaccine price hike
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - COVID-19
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - COVID-19
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - COVID-19

STATE AID

  • Commission approves €64 million Latvian wage subsidy scheme in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.100598) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €10 million Italian scheme to support entertainment agencies and tourist villages in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.100722) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €800,000 Romanian scheme to support sport clubs in the municipality of Sfântu Gheorghe in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.64591) - Midday Express
  • COVID-19 Pandemic: ESA approves prolongation of Norwegian umbrella scheme for local businesses

COMPETITION

  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10437 - EDF / GEIH / SCI OPG Avenue De France)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10551 - Amalfi Invest Opportunities  / La Doria)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10471 - Suez / Schneider Electric / JV)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10484 - PAI Partners/New Tiger)
  • Commission approves the acquisition of Suez by Veolia, subject to conditions (M.9969) - IP/21/6885
  • Commission approves the creation of a joint venture by Three Gorges Corporation and TotalEnergies (M.10536) - Midday Express
  • Commission clears acquisition of Acciai Speciali Terni, Thyssenkrupp Stainless and Thyssenkrupp Stainless Turkey by Acciaieria Arvedi (M.10513) - Midday Express

STATE AID

  • Commission approves €150 million Spanish scheme under Recovery and Resilience Facility to support deployment of passive infrastructure for mobile networks (SA.64394) - IP/21/6891
  • Commission approves €610 million voucher scheme to support access to high-speed broadband services by small and medium enterprises in Italy (SA.57496) - IP/21/6892
  • Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for Germany - (IP/21/6831), for Latvia - (IP/21/6832),  for Bulgaria - (IP/21/6833) and for Sweden - (IP/21/6834)
  • Commission approves Greek support for the construction of Patra-Pyrgos section of Olympia Odos Motorway (SA.60279) - IP/21/6893
  • Commission authorises Belgian €12.7 million scheme to support Walloon airports (SA.63455) - Midday Express
  • Commission authorises French 'bonus-malus' scheme on employers' unemployment insurance contributions (SA.63906) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves broadening of existing Dutch scheme to support technologies and projects reducing greenhouse gas emissions (SA.100461) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2019/216 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards Union tariff rate quota for high quality beef from Paraguay - Outcome of the European Parliament's first reading (Strasbourg, 13-16 December 2021)
  • Draft - Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, as regards the extension of the temporary amendments provided for by Point A of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union, of the one part, and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, providing further liberalisation of agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products
  • Draft - Decision of the EU-PLO Joint Committee on the extension of the temporary amendments provided for by Point A of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union, of the one part, and the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, of the other part, providing further liberalisation of agricultural products, processed agricultural products and fish and fishery products
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2229 of 14 December 2021 initiating an investigation concerning possible circumvention of the countervailing measures imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/776 on imports of certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics originating in People’s Republic of China and Egypt by imports of certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics consigned from Turkey, whether declared as originating in Turkey or not, and making such imports subject to registration
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2230 of 14 December 2021 initiating an investigation concerning possible circumvention of the anti-dumping measures imposed by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/492 on imports of certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics originating in People’s Republic of China and Egypt by imports of certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics consigned from Turkey, whether declared as originating in Turkey or not, and making such imports subject to registration
  • Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2233 of 14 December 2021 approving, on behalf of the European Union, amendments to Annexes 10-A and 10-B to the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore
  • EU promotes World Trade Organization initiatives on Trade and Environment - IP/21/6882
    -     Statement Statement on trade and environmental sustainability
    -     Statement Statement on fossil fuel subsidy reform
    -     Statement on plastics pollution and sustainable plastics trade
  • European Parliament resolution on the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
  • MEPs want the new international procurement instrument to apply more widely

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Minutes of the Council of the European Union (Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research and Space)) of 25-26 November 2021
  • UN Regulation No 100 – Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to specific requirements for the electric power train
  • Workshop on the revision of REACH (Authorisation & Restriction) (Brdo, 9 November 2021) - Information from the Presidency
  • The European Commission appoints a Principal Adviser (Claes Bengtsson) for its department for taxation and customs union - Midday Express

FINANCIAL SERVICES 

  • Digital Finance: new Commission strategy paves the way for modern and streamlined supervisory data reporting - IP/21/6774 & QaA
  • Statement on transfer of competences and duties relating to certain data reporting services providers from NCA's to ESMA

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

  • EU continues strong support to promote sustainable agri-food products in 2022 - IP/21/6839, see the Annual work programme
  • Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - The impact of rising natural gas prices in the agri-food sector
  • Workshop on impacts of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on fisheries and aquaculture in the EU - Part I: Legal aspects - Study for the EP Committee on Fisheries

ENERGY

  • Minutes of the Council of the European Union (TTE - Energy) of 2 and 3 December 2022
  • TEN-E: Council and Parliament reach provisional agreement on new rules for cross-border energy projects
  • Commission proposes new EU framework to decarbonise gas markets, promote hydrogen and reduce methane emissions - IP/21/6682
    - Q&A & Factsheet on the gas markets and hydrogen package
    - Q&A & Factsheet on methane emissions
    - Proposal of the revised gas markets and hydrogen Directive & Annex
    - Proposal of the revised gas markets and hydrogen Regulation & Annex
    - Proposal of the methane emissions Regulation
  • Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - EU support for wind power, greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel dependency

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Aarhus Convention and PRTR Protocol: a) Seventh session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (MoP 7) b) Joint High-level Segment under the Meetings of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention and its Protocol on PRTRs c) Fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on PRTRs (MoPP 4) (Geneva (hybrid), 18 - 22 October 2021) - Information from the Presidency and the Commission
  • Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Urban Matters - The role of European cities in the green transition and in achieving the objectives of the Green Deal (26 November 2021) Information from the Presidency
  • European Green Deal: Commission proposals to remove, recycle and sustainably store carbon - IP/21/6687, Q&A & Factsheet
    - Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles
    - Staff working document on Sustainable Carbon Cycles & on Carbon Farming
    - Technical Guidance Handbook – setting up and implementing result-based carbon farming mechanisms in the EU
    European Green Deal: Commission proposes to boost renovation and decarbonisation of buildings - IP/21/6683, Q&A & Factsheet
    - Proposal for a Directive on the energy performance of buildings & Annexes
  • European Green Deal: Commission proposes to strengthen the protection of the environment through criminal law - IP/21/6744, QaA & FactSheet
    - Proposal for a new Directive on environmental crime
    - Communication accompanying the proposal
    - Guidance on combating environmental crime and related infringements
    - Summary Guide on combating environmental crimes and related infringements
  • Commission presents guide for a fair transition towards climate neutrality - IP/21/6795, QaA & FactSheet
    - Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality
    - Staff Working Document accompanying the proposal for a Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality
  • Opening remarks by Frans Timmermans and Kadri Simson at Press Conference on new European Green Deal proposals for more energy efficiency, increased carbon removals and a framework to decarbonise the gas market
  • Water and drought stress: Commission report shows water management progressing, but at slow speed - see the Report
  • Biodiversity: Commission launches new tools to strengthen EU biodiversity governance - Midday Express
  • Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - European approach to PFAS

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the PAFF Committee
    - section Plant Health of 16-17 December 2021
    - section GMFF and environmental risk of 17 December 2021
  • Bisphenol A: EFSA draft opinion proposes lowering the tolerable daily intake
  • EMA reviewing new data on effectiveness of Lagevrio (molnupiravir) for the treatment of COVID-19

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

  • Minutes of the Council of the European Union (TTE - Telecommunications) of 2 and 3 December 2021
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2228 of 14 December 2021 setting the weighted average of maximum mobile termination rates across the Union and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2082
  • Digital Services Act: a safer online space for users, stricter rules for platforms - See the EP Statement

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • European Parliament legislative resolution of 14 December 2021 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Framework Decision 2002/465/JHA, as regards its alignment with EU rules on the protection of personal data
  • Encouraging move for consumers as Norwegian authority fines dating app Grindr for disregarding GDPR - see Beuc Statement

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Schengen: New rules to make the area without internal border controls more resilient - IP/21/6821, QaA & Communication
  • Commission decides on requests for registration of two new European Citizens' Initiatives - IP/21/6772
  • Commissioners Reynders and Johansson travel to Washington for EU-US Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting  - Midday Express
  • How the EU is tackling gender-based violence - see the EP Statement

FUTURE OF EUROPE

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Statement by President von der Leyen with President Sandu on a support package for Moldova
  • ECB - Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 10 December 2021 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process 
  • EU launches the Digital for Development Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean - IP/21/6835
  • Statement of President Charles Michel following the trilateral meeting with President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

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