Main news from Brussels this week
date: 11/10/2019
European Commission calls on EU government to decide on EU budget 2021-2027
On 9 October, the European Commission called on EU Heads of State or Government to provide political guidance and new impetus to the negotiations, so as to reach an agreement before the end of this year on a fair, balanced and modern long-term EU budget for the period 2021-2027. The Commission published a Communication to the European Council which outlines the main points that need consideration.
Positive assessment of EU budget management
In its latest report about the management of the EU budget, the European Court of Auditors – the independent auditor of EU spending – confirmed that the Juncker Commission had significantly improved the way it administered the EU budget. The auditors gave the EU annual accounts a clean bill of health for a 12th year in a row and a qualified opinion on the 2018 payments for a third consecutive year. This is a recognition of concerted efforts by the Juncker Commission to make sure that every euro from the EU budget is spent in line with the rules and generates added value for citizens.
EU-wide Crisis Protocol on fighting terrorism online
On 7 October, the European Commission, member states and online service providers, including Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, JustPaste.it and Snap, committed to an EU Crisis Protocol – a rapid response tool to contain the viral spread of terrorist and violent extremist content online. Within the framework the Crisis Protocol, the parties will work together on a voluntary basis, while ensuring strong data protection and respect for fundamental rights.
European Commission levels the playing field for EU steel producers
On 10 October, the European Commission imposed anti-dumping duties on steel road wheels from China. These provisional duties ranging from 50.3% to 66.4% will be in place for a period of six months pending the final outcome of the investigation. In addition, the Commission initiated an investigation on imports of hot-rolled stainless steel sheets and coils from China and Indonesia. An anti-dumping investigation on the same products from Indonesia, and Taiwan is already under way since August. This segment of the EU steel market was worth an estimated €800 million in 2018 with the EU industry directly employing 3,600 people, mostly in Germany, France, Spain, Czechia, Italy, Romania and Poland.