European Council adopts EU's strategic agenda for 2019-2024
The European Council, held on 20 and 21 June in Brussels, adopted the EU's strategic agenda for 2019-2024. EU heads of state and government focused on climate, disinformation, the long-term EU budget and external relations, including Russia and Turkey.
On the appointments for the EU's top jobs they decided to continue their talks at another meeting on 30 June 2019.
More information
EU keeps opening export markets for European firms despite rise in protectionism
On 17 June, the European Commission released a trade report showing the EU's firm response to the global rise of protectionism is producing results and expanding European trade. Since 2014 when the current Commission mandate began, 123 trade barriers have been eliminated, allowing for more than €6 billion extra EU exports in 2018. The latest edition of the Trade and Investment Barriers Report (TIBR) identifies 45 new trade barriers put in place in countries outside the EU in 2018, bringing the total number to a record high of 425 measures in 59 different countries, costing EU businesses billions of euros every year. China and Russia top the overall list, maintaining respectively 37 and 34 problematic trade measures.
More information
European Commission increases support for the EU's beekeeping sector
On 17 June, the European Commission announced it will provide €120 million to the EU's beekeeping sector over the next three years to support its essential role in agriculture and the environment. This represents an increase of €12 million compared to the support provided for the period from 2017 to 2019. The EU is the world’s second largest producer of honey with beekeeping practiced in all EU member states. In 2018, the EU had over 17.5 million hives divided over 600,000 beekeepers.
More information
Guidelines to improve how firms report climate-related information
On 18 June, the European Commission published new guidelines on corporate climate-related information reporting, as part of its Sustainable Finance Action Plan. These guidelines will provide companies with practical recommendations on how to better report the impact their activities have on the climate, as well as the impact of climate change on their business.
More information
Support for Irish beef producers impacted by market uncertainty
On 20 June, EU member states agreed a Commission proposal to make €50 million available to Irish beef farmers, which can be matched by national funds to reach a maximum of €100 million. The establishment of the fund reflects the Commission’s recognition of the particular challenges facing the Irish beef and veal sector due to market uncertainty and an unprecedented and sustained period of low prices. Ireland's beef and veal sector is both large and hugely dependent on exports. Five of every six tonnes of beef produced is exported and almost 50% of these exports are to the United Kingdom. Uncertainty around the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU is putting downward pressure on prices, further deteriorating the situation for the country’s beef producers..
More information
All this week's key European Commission announcements can be found here
|