The EU this Week (27-31 August)

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Welcome to the second edition of ‘The EU this Week’.

At a Glance

This week saw a packed programme of committee meetings, workshops and other events that signaled the start of a new parliamentary term.

It seems Brussels is considering giving the British PM Theresa May a standalone Brexit Summit in November, as the October Council Summit deadline for an EU-UK withdrawal agreement approaches and progress on the negotiation seems to be stalling. EU officials are also considering a standalone Brexit meeting in November as this October Council Summit’s agenda seems already filled with migrations, defence and international trade issues. 

Commissioners head left to Genval for a two-day retreat with no real formal program to follow. President Jean-Claude Juncker wants commissioners’ input for his September 12 state of the union speech. The two things on the agenda for sure are: Juncker promised to reveal proposals that would speed up the work being done to strengthen the EU’s coast and border guard; and he said he’d talk about how Brussels will deal with the citizens’ consultation on daylight savings time.

Austria took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on July, in a time of great challenges and upheavals, both on the European continent and beyond. The presidency will focus on security and the fight against illegal migration, securing prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation, and stability in the European neighbourhood. The motto of the Austrian Presidency is ‘A Europe that protects’. In order to achieve this objective, Austria’s approach will be based on enhancing the principle of subsidiarity, meaning the EU is expected to focus on big issues which require a joint solution and take a step back when it comes to smaller issues where member states or regions are in a better position to take decisions.

EU Press Review

Italy forces migrant boats onto EU defence agenda (EU Observer)

Italy is planning to hijack an EU meeting on the Western Balkans to talk about migrant boats instead.

More responsibility on migration issue needed, says Mogherini (Euractiv)

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Thursday (30 August) "there is no consensus on practical solutions" to migration at the moment and urged member states to show more responsibility towards migrants in the Mediterranean.

Italy targets Hungary with EU budget threat on migrants (EU Observer)

Top officials from Italy's ruling Five Star Movement have said EU funds to Hungary should be suspended because it was unwilling to take in migrants.

EU ready for ambitious post-Brexit deal, says Barnier (Euractiv)

The EU is willing to strike an "ambitious" deal with post-Brexit Britain far beyond any agreements the bloc has made with other countries in the past, the European Union's top negotiator reiterated Wednesday (29 August).

EU commissioner goes against Merkel on Balkans borders (EU Observer)

The EU commission has endorsed the idea of a Kosovo-Serbia border change, going against Germany and breaking a former taboo.

EU commission rejects Italy budget threat on migrants (EU Observer)

"The European Union ... operates on the basis of rules, not threats," the commission said, after Italy warned it would not pay into the EU budget if other states did not take migrants.

EU News

European Investment Bank awards €500m to Nokia for 5G development.

The European Investment Bank has granted Nokia 500m euro to step up development of next-generation 5G technology capable of faster speeds, wider coverage and more stable connection. The loan is secured by the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). Vice President Jyrki Katainen, responsible for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness, said, "For Europe to fully embrace and benefit from new technologies, a sustained effort is needed This is where the Investment Plan can play a crucial role and I am delighted that with today's agreement, the Plan is contributing to Nokia's research and development activities in several European countries. advance the development of 5G technology."

Commission awards Italy €9m to support healthcare provision for asylum seekers.

The Commission awarded €9m to the Italian government to help improve access to healthcare in reception facilities for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. The financial assistance is set to reach over 42,000 people in the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Toscana, and Sicily. The Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said, “Italy has been under particular pressure over the past years and the Commission will not relent in supporting the Italian efforts when it comes to managing migration and giving shelter to those in need of protection. The funding will help to address basic healthcare needs by helping to ensure adequate access to medical services when needed. The Commission will continue supporting all Member States under pressure whilst continuing to work towards long-term durable European solutions."

EU calls for applications for an expert group on Business-to-Government data sharing.

The European Commission has announced its intention to set up an Expert Group on access to and re-use of private sector data for public interest purposes, bringing together independent experts to discuss business-to-government (B2G) data-sharing principles and to provide advice on future policy and funding initiatives. You can submit your application online via EU Survey. The deadline for applications is 28 September 2018.

MEPs back opening discussions with EU Ministers for visa waiver for Kosovo.

EP Civil Liberties Committee has given he green light for the opening of negotiations between Parliament and Council on granting Kosovo’s citizens visa-free access to the EU.Kosovars are the only Balkan citizens to still need a visa to go to the EU. If agreed, Kosovars with a biometric passport will be allowed to enter the EU without a visa for 90 days. MEPs backed, with 30 votes to 10 and 2 abstentions. Tanja Fajon (S&D, SI), rapporteur for the draft proposal, said: “Hard work has paid off and another important step concluded in this long process. It is now up to the Council to recognise the progress made, too, and to adopt swiftly their mandate. Kosovo citizens deserve to travel freely to Europe again and to step out of isolated shadows, where they have been left for far too long.”. The decision to start negotiations with the Council will have to be confirmed by plenary in an upcoming session. Once Parliament and Council reach an agreement on the visa waiver, Kosovars will be able to enter the EU without a visa for 90 days in any 180-day period -provided they hold a biometric passport

MEPs approve €34m in EU aid to Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria

The European Parliament (EP) Budget Commission has approved a package of aid worth €34m to support reconstruction in Greece, Poland, Lithuania and Bulgaria following natural disasters in 2017. The fund will be mobilised from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) and will be used to help cover the costs of restoring the network and water management infrastructure. According to the plan, Lithuania will receive €16,918,941; Poland €12,279,244; Bulgaria €2,258,225; Greece €2,535,796. The draft report by rapporteur Janusz Lewandowski (EPP, PL) was approved by 33 votes with none against, and no abstentions. The Council is expected to approve the aid by 4 September. As soon as the European Parliament gives its green light during the September plenary session, the funds will be available within weeks.

EU is giving €411 million to Poland for the reconstruction of the railway network in Łódź.

The Cohesion Fund is investing 411m euros in the renovation of the railway junction of Łódź, the country's third largest city and major economic center. Łódź has two main railway stations, Łódź Fabryczna and Łódź Kaliska, which are not currently directly connected to each other. This is a major obstacle to the development of transport in the region and it makes tedious the daily life of the inhabitants of the city. The Cohesion Fund is financing the construction of an underground line between these two stations, as well as to the Łódź Żabieniec station, west of the city. The project also includes the construction of two stations, Łódź Zielona and Łódź Ogrodowa. "The inhabitants of the city will soon be able to cross the city more quickly and benefit from better interregional connections, with an efficient and environmentally friendly transport system," commented the Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu, "The development of the Rail transport in Łódź will also boost the local economy, trade and tourism. " During the 2007-2013 period, the EU has already invested €242m in the reconstruction of the Łódź railway node and the renovation of the Fabryczna and Widzew railway stations. The current project is expected to be completed by January 2022..

€163m EU funds to improve water infrastructure in Rijek.

The Cohesion Fund has invested €163m to upgrade in the water supply and treatment system of the Rijeka urban area, in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar district, in Western Croatia. Works aim to provide cleaner water to the population of 190,000 inhabitants, replace ageing water supply infrastructure, increase connections to the public sewer system both for homes and businesses, and ensure a better treatment of wastewater. Commissioner for Regional policy Corina Crețu commented, "This is Cohesion Policy at its best, concretely improving everyday life for citizens, with better water supply. I'm very happy for the inhabitants of Rijeka today." The project involves the construction of more than 300 km of water supply and sewer networks and it is expected to be completed in December 2023.

Commission presents additional measures to tackle drought wave in Europe.

The Commission presented a package of additional measures to increase the availability of forage resources for livestock, which is one of the main challenges facing farmers following this year drought. This package complements the measures already announced by the Commission in early August. EU Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan said, "The Commission reacted from the first signals of these extreme weather events and I personally continue to monitor the situation closely. I am in contact with the ministers of the countries concerned to assess needs and measures already in place. Today, we are taking additional measures that should provide even more relief to European farmers who are facing a shortage of food for their animals. I welcome the recent announcements of several Member States ready to take action to support their agricultural sector and I pledge to continue working together to ensure that they make full use of the opportunities available, in particular through the common agricultural policy."

Public Affairs Executives Moves

• Nic Harrison, director of service design and assurance at the UK Government Digital Service (GDS) is to leave his post and return to work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
• Teresa Alvaro, the director of innovation technologies of the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency, has been nominated director of the Digital Italy Agency (AgID).
• Liam Maxwell, UK government’s first national technology adviser, is off to work for Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Katrin Suder is to chair the German government’s new digital council. In this function she will advise the Merkel’s government on how to bring digital transformation to the country

Summit and Meetings

Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers in Vienna.

EU Foreign Affairs ministers meets in Vienna, Austria for an European Council Informal meeting of ministers. The meeting, hosted in the framework of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU, was chaired by EU's High Representative Federica Mogherini and hosted by Austria’s Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl.The foreign ministers discussed the latest developments in the Middle East, the state of affairs in the Western Balkans and transatlantic relations.

College of Commissioners annual seminar.

On August 30, President Juncker and the College of Commissioners met for the College of Commissioner Annual Seminar. For two days, the Juncker team will discuss upcoming challenges and actions, notably with a view to President Juncker's State of the Union address on Wednesday 12 September in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The speech will again this year be accompanied by new proposals, thus immediately translating the President's proposals into action. During the seminar, President Juncker will discuss his main messages with the Commissioners and the Commission's next work program.

Environment Commissioner Vella in the Faroe Islands for high-level event on sustainable ocean governance,

Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries,Karmenu Vella,was in the Faroe Islands for the 23rd North Atlantic Fisheries Ministers Conference (27-28 August). The objective of this annual high-level event is for ministers from northern Atlantic countries to address issues of concern in an informal setting. As part of this year's topic, "sustainable ocean governance", Commissioner Vella presented the European Union's ocean agenda, and in particular the actions undertaken by the EU under the 2016 International ocean governance agenda.

Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis visited Minsk.

Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food safety travelled to Minsk, Belarus to meet with senior officials from the Belarusian government. The Commissioner visited the EU funded project site in Navahrudak and the Lithuanian Centre of Education, Culture and Information in Rymdziuny.

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