Main news from Brussels this week
date: 14/06/2019
European Commission calls on leaders to set out a roadmap towards an autumn agreement on the EU budget 2021-2027
On 13 June, the European Commission urged the leaders of member states national governments to advance the negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget 2021-2027 so that an agreement can be reached by autumn. The Commission published a Communication in which it identified the main issues that still need to be addressed. Failure to achieve agreement on time will affect students, farmers and researchers, as well as everybody else who benefits from the EU budget.
EU and US reach an agreement on imports of hormone-free beef
On 14 June, the European Commission informed member states of the outcome of a review of the existing import quota for hormone-free beef into the EU. Based on a Council's mandate, the Commission reached an agreement in principle with the United States and other major supplying countries that 35,000 tonnes of this quota will be allocated to the U.S., phased over a 7 years period, with the remaining amount available for all other exporters.
New rules and guarantees in criminal proceedings across the EU
On 11 June, the directive on special safeguards for children started to apply. This is the last in a set of six EU directives which guarantee procedural rights for people across the EU and ensure their fundamental rights of fair and equal treatment. A separate directive – on access to legal aid – entered in force on 5 May.
Online platforms make progress against disinformation, but more needed
Google, Facebook and Twitter have achieved further progress in introducing measures against the spread of disinformation but they need to provide more information to help identify the malign actors and the target member states. The assessment is based on information from their latest monthly reports under the self-regulatory Code of Practice on Disinformation which the big tech companies as well as the trade associations representing online platforms, the advertising industry, and advertisers signed in 2018.
Non-performing loans in the EU continue to decline
Non-performing loans (NPLs) have continued to decline towards pre-crisis levels, according to the European Commission fourth progress report on their reduction, released on 12 June. The ratio of NPLs in EU banks has come down by more than half since 2014, declining to 3.3% in the third quarter of 2018 and down by 1.1 percentage points year-on-year.
Merger between Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp banned
On 11 June, the European Commission prohibited under the EU Merger Regulation the creation of a joint venture by Tata Steel and ThyssenKrupp. The merger would have reduced competition and increased prices for different types of steel. The parties did not offer adequate remedies to address these concerns.
EU releases additional €3.5 million to tackle Ebola epidemic
On 13 June, the EU announced further emergency funding of €3.5 million to fight the deadly Ebola virus in Africa. An outbreak continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo and for the first time this week cases were registered in neighbouring Uganda as well, €2.5 million of the new package will be for Uganda and €1 million for South Sudan. The aid package will strengthen rapid detection and reaction to Ebola cases. This funding is in addition to €17 million EU funding since 2018 for Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and for prevention and preparedness actions in Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi.
Smart digital tachographs in trucks on EU roads as from 15 June 2019
As of 15 June, trucks and buses registered for the first time in the EU countries must have a smart digital tachograph. The tachograph is the tool which records the activities of drivers. The feature of the new, modern device will significantlyimprove the enforcement of EU rules on driving and resting times.
All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here