“The finish line is in sight” for the free trade agreement between the EU and the South American bloc of Mercosur states, EU Commission President von der Leyen suggested yesterday. Today she could sign the controversial agreement in Montevideo.
As then, four more presidents have moved into Berlaymont without signing.
Though, resistance is difficult. The economic part of the agreement could be separated and implemented as an EU competence decision by a majority in the EU Parliament and Council. This means that national parliaments do not have to ratify it as well. Macron then needs a lot of allies to fight that at the EU level.
The reaction of the French farmers is not long in coming. They want to resort to civil disobedience – more here. You can find out what people expect from the market elsewhere and the background to von der Leyen’s South American tour here.
Correction: An earlier version stated that the EU-Mercosur would be ‘probably the largest free trade agreement’ in the world. However, this is controversial.
EU-Politics
The EU Defense Commissioner gives an overview of the security policy agenda. EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wants to present concrete plans for the continent’s military preparedness, he said on Thursday (5 December). The controversial funding issue will also be part of the Defense White Paper. You can find more information here.
A panoramic view of Europe
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Slovakia: MEPs split on EU-Mercosur deal.the EU-Mercosur agreement, which divides the EU states and institutions, is also causing dissension among Slovak MEPs. Some warn of negative consequences for farmers and an influx of poor quality food. You can find the article on the subject here.
Macron blamed left and right for the fall of the government. France will appoint a new prime minister ”in the coming days,” President Emmanuel Macron said. He ruled himself out of retirement before 2027 and blamed the “chaos” and the collapse of the government on the far right and left. Read more.
Runoff election in Romania: The future remains uncertain. On Sunday, Romanians will vote in the final round of presidential elections between right-wing populist, pro-Russian Călin Georgescu and pro-European Elena Lasconi.As a woman, she has a chance to become the country’s first female president. Click here for the full article here.
Traffic light plans for faster EU asylum reform are about to come to fruition. The federal government has repeatedly touted EU asylum reform as a solution to the struggle with irregular migration. But the EU is likely to block the high-profile plans for faster implementation, including fast-track procedures, as Euractiv has learned. You can find more information here.
energy & Environment
First wolves, now bears: EVP aims for further adjustments to the protection status. The European People’s Party wants to review the protection status of bears and other species. The downgrading of the wolf has already been approved at the initiative of the conservatives and now opens up possibilities for further progress. You can find all the details <a title="https://euractiv.us15.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ec8c3035cd2e0ab2e3760549e&id=ed8ee6cc6c&e=c5547.
the law against greenwashing: Brussels begins late negotiations. MEPs voted for tripartite negotiations with national governments on the directive on environmental statements. It is intended to prevent companies from making unfounded claims about the sustainability of their products. More about this here.
Digital
UK competition authority approves merger of network operators. Britain’s competition regulator approved the €18 billion merger of mobile operators Vodafone and Three on Thursday (December 5), according to a press release. This could set a precedent for EU network operators. Click here for the full article here.
TikTok receives data retention directives for national elections. The EU Commission ordered tiktok to keep data and evidence related to national elections. Local authorities had asked about the platform’s role in the Romanian elections. Read more.
Agriculture & Health
EU groups insist on a secret rejection of smoke-free areas. Since the rejection of the smoke-free motion, MPs have started blaming each other. The Social Democrats accuse the conservatives and the right of holding “hostage” efforts to prevent public smoking. Read more.
The WHO investigates an unknown disease in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. World Health Organization (WHO) officials are in the Democratic Republic of congo (DRC) to determine the nature of an unknown disease. 79 people have died since the end of October and the disease continues to spread in the country. More details can be found <a title
Economy & Transport
ECB President Lagarde confirms ”buy America” strategy for Trump presidency. ECB President Christine Lagarde defended her “Buy American” proposal in dealing with Donald Trump. The purchase of more American gas and military equipment is compatible with promoting European energy production and the defense industry. Read more.
Engine burn out: Italy’s Salvini warns of economic suicide. Italy’s deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini criticized the EU’s plan to de facto ban the sale of cars with internal combustion engines by 2035. He described this as economic suicide that would onyl help China. You can find the article on the subject here.
Program of work
- EU: The Telecommunications composition of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meets to discuss the future digital infrastructure, the Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) and much more;
- Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attends the Mercosur summit in Uruguay.
How is the EU enhancing data privacy and cybersecurity in relation to social media platforms?
N has issued directives to TikTok regarding data retention for national elections, emphasizing obligations to ensure data integrity and user privacy during the electoral process. More details can be found here.
EU’s digital sovereignty: New measures on tech dependency. The European Commission is set to unveil new strategies aimed at reducing the EU’s dependency on non-European technologies,focusing on key areas such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. For further facts, click here.
Cybersecurity in focus as EU plans new initiative. The European Union is ramping up efforts to bolster cybersecurity resilience among member states, launching an initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration between national governments and private sector cybersecurity firms. click here for more.
Health
EU to assess new health technologies for faster approval. The European Medicines Agency is planning to streamline the approval process for innovative health technologies, aiming to improve access to essential medicines across the continent. for more details, visit here.
Vaccination campaigns ramp up amid concerns over new variants. As new COVID-19 variants emerge, EU nations are intensifying vaccination campaigns, focusing on boosting uptake among vulnerable populations. Learn more here.
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