Europe Daily News, 03 February 2022

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES 

HEALTH

• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/954 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic amending Regulation (EU) 2021/954 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Proposal for a  Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic
• 14-day notification rate weighted by vaccine uptake, updated 3 February 2022 (colour-blind friendly)
• Data on the daily number of new reported COVID-19 cases and deaths by EU/EEA country
• Data on COVID-19 vaccination in the EU/EEA
• Data for the maps in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU/EEA

ECONOMY

• NextGenerationEU: Commission receives payment request from Greece for €3.6 billion payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• NextGenerationEU: Commission receives payment request from Italy for €21 billion payment under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• NextGenerationEU: Commission makes first payment of €10 billion to Spain under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Commission approves €1.7 billion German measure to recapitalise Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg in the context of the coronavirus pandemic - Midday Express
• Commission approves €22.4 million Italian scheme to support companies holding port concessions affected by the coronavirus pandemic - Midday Express 

COMPETITION

• The General Court annuls the Commission’s decision to reject a complaint lodged by a Polish wholesaler
  (See CPR Nº 22/2022 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-399/19, Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo Vs. Commission (Rejet de plainte)
• The General Court dismisses the action brought against a decision by the Commission to make binding on Gazprom commitments proposed by the latter in order to address competition concerns raised by the former in relation to the national markets for the upstream wholesale supply of gas in the countries of eastern and central Europe (See CPR Nº 21/2022 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-616/18, Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo Vs. Commission (Engagements de Gazprom)
• The General Court dismisses Scania’s action and maintains the fine of €880.52 million imposed by the Commission for Scania’s participation in a cartel between truck manufacturers (See CPR Nº 20/2022 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-799/17, Scania and Others Vs. Commission)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10609 - Eurazeo / PSPIB / FST Hotels)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10567 - ACE / Mosadex / Pharmalot Compounding)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10512 - Lear Corporation / InteriorComfort Systems 9Business of Kongsberg Automotive Group)
• Commission clears acquisition of athenahealth Group by Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman (M.10576) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of sole control of WarnerMedia by Discovery (M.10343) - Midday Express 

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Technical Ad Hoc Trade Contact Group meeting on Union status of goods carried by sea of 10 February 2022
• Agenda for: Technical Ad Hoc Trade Contact Group meeting on Union status of goods carried by air of 08 February 2022
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Technical Committees on Customs Valuation and on Rules of Origin, established under the auspices of the World Customs Organization, with regard to, respectively, the adoption of advisory opinions, commentaries, explanatory note, case studies, studies and similar acts concerning the valuation of imported goods for customs purposes under the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and the adoption of advisory opinions, information and advice and similar acts on the determination of the origin of goods under the Agreement on Rules on Origin
• Trade barriers: Case on measures affecting trade of “Tequila” resolved 
• Map of the state of play of EU trade agreement with third countries
• EU-Canada - Civil society Forum registration form
• Civil society dialogue planning 2022
• WT/DS592 - Indonesia - Export restrictions on raw materials for the production of stainless steel and subsidies for new industries - 2nd EU Written Submission (24.01.2022)
• WTO - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Spirit Drinks
• WTO - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Cosmetics 
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - The Commission’s extension on of the GSP+ status of Pakistan

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• New approach to enable global leadership of EU standards promoting values and a resilient, green and digital Single Market - IP/22/661, QaA, the Proposal and the Report
• Digital contracts: EU rules on digital content and sale of goods enter into application -Midday Express
• Do you have information on uses of eight substances proposed for authorisation - ECHA/NR/22/04

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• EU Taxonomy: Commission presents Complementary Climate Delegated Act to accelerate decarbonisation - IP/22/711, QaA, FactSheet & the Proposal
• ESMA publishes a Supervisory Briefing to ensure convergence across the European Union (EU) in the supervision of firms using tied agent
• EBA publishes technical standards listing advanced economy countries for market risk own funds requirements

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• EU job-search aid worth €3.7 million for 297 dismissed Airbus workers in France - See the EP Statement

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Minutes of the Committee for the Common Organisation of the Agricultural Markets - Animal Products - of 20 January 2022 

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• How green are European cities? Green space key to well-being – but access varies - See EEA Briefing

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: New actions to increase access to cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and care - IP/22/702, see Speech by President von der Leyen & Remarks by Commissioner Kyriakides
• The European Union sets out a framework of trust as a basis for digital health
• Agenda for the meeting of the PAFF Committee, section General Food Law of 14 February 2022

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• European Commission adopts new initiatives for sustainable and smart mobility - Midday Express
• Urban mobility: New guidance on regulating taxis and private hire vehicles for more sustainable, accessible and fair services -  Midday Express
• The EU transport climate objectives can only be met with more sustainable biodiesel - see EBB Statement 

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• EDPB adopts first opinion on certification criteria

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Europol: Commission welcomes political agreement on stronger mandate - IP/22/673
• European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register initiative on European football and sports - IP/22/683

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB - The Governing Council confirmed the decisions taken at its monetary policy meeting last December
• ECB - Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement
• ECB - Euro area bank interest rate statistics: December 2021
• ECB - Correspondent central banking model (CCBM):
  - Procedures for Eurosystem counterparties
  - Summary of legal instruments used in the euro area
• Opening remarks by Paschal Donohoe at the European Parliament's ECON Committee, 2 February 2022 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU's response to terrorism: Council renews terrorist list
• West Africa: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the situation in Mali
• Russia/Ukraine: High Representative Borrell in a joint call with US, NATO and OSCE Chairman-in-Office counterparts
• Second EU-India Maritime Security Dialogue
  
• How the EU is supporting Ukraine - see the EP Statement