| | | This week's European news |
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| Letter n°1044 of Tuesday 14th November 2023 |
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| Agenda | Other issues | Contact |
| ■ Foundation :
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| | | Launch of the Schuman Network | | On 9th November the Foundation launched the Schuman Network, an initiative aimed at promoting debate and reflection by think tanks on European issues. Seven think tanks from Germany, Croatia, Greece, Poland and Romania have already joined the network, which is open to others, with the aim of bringing together a wide selection of contributions on the future of Europe. Read more |
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| | | European recovery plans: figures and priorities | | In response to the economic and social consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Union has set up a €672.5 billion recovery fund. On 9 November, the Council approved amended plans for Denmark, Lithuania, Austria and Sweden. The Foundation offers you an interactive map of the plans, country by country, to find out the amounts involved and the timetables. Read more |
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| | | Presentation of the results of the EurHope campaign | | On 10 November in Madrid, Make.org and the Young European Federalists presented the results of the EurHope campaign, with which the Foundation is associated as a partner. Stefanie Buzmaniuk, Development Research Director, took part in the event. Read more |
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| | | Prague Summit | | As part of the Prague European Summit, an annual conference on European issues, Eric Maurice, head of the Brussels office, will be taking part in a round-table discussion on Europe and the new geopolitical order following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 15 November. Read more |
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| ■ Commission :
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| | | Recommendations regarding enlargement | | On 8 November, the Commission published its annual reports on the progress made by the candidate countries for accession to the European Union. It recommended opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as with Bosnia-Herzegovina as soon as certain measures have been adopted. It also recommended granting candidate country status to Georgia. It is up to the European Council to decide whether to implement these recommendations. On the same day, the Commission presented its growth plan to accelerate economic convergence in the countries of the Western Balkans. Read more - Other link - Other link |
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| ■ Parliament :
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| | | Adoption of data legislation | | On 9 November, MEPs adopted the Data Act, which aims to improve access to and use of digital data. The legislation regulates the sharing of data generated by connected devices, giving users greater control over their information, tightens up business secrecy to prevent technology leaks, and defines the exceptional circumstances in which public authorities may access data. Read more - Other link |
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| | | New own resources | | On 9 November, MEPs approved a Commission proposal to create three new own resources for the European budget: revenue from emissions trading, resources generated by the border carbon adjustment mechanism, and a temporary statistical own resource based on corporate profits. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Reducing vehicle emissions | | On 9 November, MEPs adopted the proposed Euro 7 regulation on pollutant emissions from motor vehicles. They approved the emission levels proposed by the Commission for passenger cars and proposed stricter rules for heavy goods vehicles and buses. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Council :
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| | | Meeting of the Economy and Finance Ministers | | On 9 November, the Economics and Finance ministers discussed the reform of the European Union's economic governance. They also exchanged views on the economic impact of the sanctions against Russia and the implementation of the recovery plan. The day before, the eurozone ministers discussed the macroeconomic context and the economic competitiveness of the eurozone. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Meeting of space ministers | | On 6 and 7 November, the ministers meeting in Seville pledged to strengthen European space cooperation with a view to enhancing Europe's strategic sovereignty and stimulating the ecological and digital transitions. At an interministerial summit of the European Space Agency (ESA), they launched a call for projects for a vehicle capable of making round trips to the International Space Station by 2028, and agreed to increase funding for Ariane 6. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Trilogues :
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| | | Agreement on the 2024 budget, and on instant payments | | On 11 November, the Council and Parliament reached agreement on the European Union's budget for 2024. The agreement sets the budget at €189.4 billion in commitment appropriations, up from €182.7 billion in 2023. On 7 November, the two institutions reached agreement on the proposal to harmonise instant payments in euros. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Agreement on the Nature Restoration Act | | On 9 November, the Council and Parliament reached agreement on the nature restoration regulation, which sets targets (20% of land areas and 20% of sea areas) by 2030. For ecosystems in poor condition, Member States will have to restore 30% of them by 2030, 60% by 2040 and 90% by 2050. The agreement must now be definitively adopted by the Parliament and the Council. Read more - Other link |
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| | | Agreement on digital identity and a framework for political advertising | | On 8 November, Parliament and the Council reached an agreement on the European Digital Identity (eID) wallet project. Member States will have to provide their citizens with free digital portfolios containing their various identity documents. On 7 November they reached agreement on the proposed regulation on political advertising. The aim is to make election campaigns more transparent and less vulnerable to interference. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Diplomacy :
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| | | Sanctions relating to Turkish drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean | | On 9 November, the Council renewed for one year the sanctions against Turkish individuals and entities responsible for unauthorised hydrocarbon drilling activities in the territorial waters of Cyprus. The measures comprise an asset freeze and a ban on travel within the EU, as well as a ban on financing the sanctions from within the EU. Read more |
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| | | Meeting of the G7 Foreign Affairs Ministers | | On 7 and 8 November, the foreign ministers of the G7 countries meeting in Tokyo condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel and called for respect for international law in the context of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They reiterated their support for Ukraine, pledging to continue their energy assistance as winter approaches. Read more |
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| ■ Court of Justice :
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| | | The Advocate General recommends annulling a judgment on Apple's tax rulings | | On 9 November, the Advocate General of the Court of Justice (CJEU) ruled that the Court should annul a judgment on tax rulings adopted by Ireland in favour of Apple. The ruling handed down in 2020 annulled a Commission decision requiring Apple to repay €13 billion to Ireland following a tax rebate that had been deemed by the Commission to constitute illegal state aid. The Advocate General considers that the Court of First Instance made several errors of law. The CJEU must now decide whether to follow this opinion and refer the case back to the General Court for a second ruling. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Court of Auditors :
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| | | Reforming economic governance | | On 8 November, the European Court of Auditors published an analysis of the proposed reform of European economic governance. It considers that the proposed reforms are a step in the right direction, but have certain limitations. The system of national adjustment plans could lead the Commission to unequal treatment, while the new budgetary framework would not simplify macroeconomic monitoring, which was one of the Commission's objectives. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ European Agencies :
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| | | First images of the Euclid telescope | | On 7 November, the European Space Agency (ESA) published the first images from the Euclid space telescope, launched last July. The colour images will be used to study how dark matter and energy formed the universe and to create the most complete 3D map of it. Read more |
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| ■ France :
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| | | Appeal for glaciers and the poles | | On 10 November in Paris, the One Planet-Polar Summit underlined the urgent need for global action against the melting of the ice caps fuelled by the continuing increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The declaration calls for global cooperation, in-depth scientific research, the integration of the effects of the cryosphere into decision-making and increased education on these issues. Read more |
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| | | Summit on the removal of terrorist and violent extremist content online | | On 11 November, leaders from governments, online service providers, civil society and Christchurch Appeal partners gathered in Paris to address the challenges posed by terrorist and violent extremist content online. Leaders outlined actions to manage the risks associated with advanced AI capabilities, combat radicalisation and improve crisis response protocols in an evolving digital landscape. Read more |
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| ■ Italy :
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| | | Agreement with Albania regarding immigration | | On 5 November, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed a memorandum of understanding with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on immigration management. Two migrant management centres under Italian jurisdiction may be set up on Albanian soil to check migrants before they arrive on Italian soil. Read more |
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| ■ Poland :
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| | | Delivery of an air defence system by MBDA | | On 7 November, a strategic cooperation agreement was signed between MBDA, the European air defence company, and the Polish armaments group PGZ. The agreement provides for the supply to Poland of a new air defence system. Read more |
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| | | Opposition agreement for a government coalition | | The parties of the Civic Coalition, which together won the largest number of seats in the 15 October elections, signed an agreement on 10 November to form a coalition government led by Donald Tusk. Parliament convened on 13 November. Szymon Holownia (Polska 2050) was elected president of the lower house (Sejm) by 265 votes. In the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska (PO) was elected president by 66 votes. Despite this, Polish President Andrzej Duda, has tasked outgoing Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (PiS), to form a new government despite not having a majority. Read more |
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| ■ Portugal :
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| ■ Slovakia :
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| | | Meeting of the Nuclear Alliance | | The Nuclear Alliance, bringing together 15 Member States and Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, met on 7 November on the fringes of the European Nuclear Forum in Bratislava. It called for continued efforts in the field of energy transition, insisting on increased funding for nuclear energy and the development of a skilled nuclear workforce. An alliance on nuclear research was also launched, with the aim of developing the first model of a small modular reactor (SMR). Read more - Other link - Other link |
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| ■ United Kingdom :
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| | | Reshuffle: David Cameron appointed Foreign Secretary | | British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sacked Home Secretary Suella Braverman on 13 November over her criticism of the police during demonstrations in support of the humanitarian situation in Gaza. She has been replaced by Foreign Secretary James Clervely. Former Prime Minister David Cameron was called into government as Foreign Secretary. Read more |
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| ■ Ukraine :
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| | | Visits to Kyiv by the Lithuanian Defence Minister and French MPs | | On 10 November, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Lithuanian Defence Minister Arvydas Anušauskas. They discussed measures to strengthen Ukraine's defence capabilities with Lithuanian support, in particular air defence. On the same day, the President's Deputy Chief of Staff, Ihor Zhovkva, met a delegation of French MPs led by Pieyre-Alexandre Anglade, Chairman of the European Affairs Committee. Read more - Other link |
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| ■ Council of Europe :
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| | | World Democracy Forum | | From 6 to 8 November, the World Democracy Forum organised by the Council of Europe was held in Strasbourg. Parliamentarians and national leaders were able to discuss the challenges of global democracy with representatives of civil society and non-governmental organisations. At the closing ceremony, the Council of Europe awarded the prize for democratic innovation to three projects. Read more |
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| ■ IMF :
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| | | Europe's economic outlook | | In its Regional Economic Outlook published on 8 November, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Europe will see growth of 1.3% in 2023 and 1.5% in 2024, against a backdrop of slowing inflation. Read more |
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| ■ Studies/Reports :
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| | | Report on the agricultural economy | | According to a report published by the Commission on 9 November, the average income of farmers has been rising since 2013, in virtually all agricultural sectors. Income inequalities persist, particularly between farms in northern Europe, which are often larger and more profitable, and farms in southern Europe, which are often smaller. Finally, the report stresses that inequalities can also be explained by the gender, age and level of education of farmers. Read more |
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| | | A new vision of justice and peace | | On 10 November, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (COMECE) called on the European Union to propose a renewed vision of justice and peace in the light of events in Ukraine, Armenia and the Middle East. Read more |
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| ■ Culture :
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| | | Another history of the world | | The Musée des civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée in Marseille is presenting an exhibition entitled "Another history of the world" until 11 March 2024. Covering the history of the world from the thirteenth to the twenty-first century, the exhibition abandons any Western perspective to offer a different reading grid and reflect the history of non-European civilisations. Read more |
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| | | Chagall in Barcelona | | Until 24 March 2024, Barcelona's Palau Martorell is hosting the exhibition "Marc Chagall. The Colour of Dreams", comprising more than 150 works by the painter, at least 25 of which have never before been exhibited in Spain. The exhibition covers various aspects of Chagall's life, including spirituality, literature and the circus. Read more |
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| | | Turner in Munich | | The Lenbachhaus Museum in Munich is devoting an exhibition to the British painter Joseph Mallord William Turner, entitled "Three Horizons", until 10 March 2024. A precursor of Impressionism, Turner is particularly famous for his watercolour landscapes and his taste for modernity. Read more |
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| | | "itinéraires abstraits" in Le Havre | | The Musée d'Art Moderne in Le Havre is presenting an exhibition entitled "Itinéraires abstraits" until 31 March 2024. The exhibition offers a journey through one of the 20th century's abstract works, reflecting questions about non-figuration and the aesthetic sensations of abstraction. Read more |
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| | | Rubens in Rome | | Until 18 February 2024, the Galleria Borghese is presenting the exhibition "Pygmalion's Touch. Rubens and sculpture in Rome". This exhibition explores how the artist Peter Paul Rubens, of the Flemish Baroque school, contributed to a new conception of antiquity and Greek mythology at the turn of the 17th century. Read more |
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| | | Christo and Jeanne-Claude in London | | Until 22 January 2024, the Saatchi Gallery in London is presenting "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Boundless". Highlighting the sentimental and artistic collaboration between the visionary couple, this ground-breaking exhibition revisits the artists' cult installations from around the world. Read more |
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| | | Gdansk International Piano Competition | | The Fifth International Baltic Piano Competition in Gdansk is being held from 19 to 26 November at the Stanislaw Moniuszko Academy of Music. On the programme: auditions culminating in a prize-giving ceremony, symphonic concerts and a concert by the prize-winners. Read more |
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| | | Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) (Brussels) | | |
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| | | General Affairs Council (Brussels) | | |
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| | | EU-ACP Interministerial Meeting (Samoa) | | |
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| | | Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Brussels) |
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| | The Letter n°1044 | | PDF | | in English -- Edition of Tuesday 14th November 2023 |
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| The Letter's Editorial Team : Stefanie Buzmaniuk, Helen Levy ; Louis Brand, Mila Shay, Romane Wanner, Loup Panteix; Dayna Osafo, Carole-Louise Ashby N° ISSN: 2729-6482 A question, a suggestion ? Contact us! [email protected] | Editors-in-chief: Eric Maurice: Publishing Director: Pascale Joannin: |
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