29.04.2020., Zagreb – U Nacionalnoj i sveucilisnoj knjiznici ministar pomorstva, prometa i infrastrukture, Oleg Butkovic, odrzao je videokonferenciju s ministrima drzava clanica Europske unije. Photo: Marko Prpic/PIXSELL/EU2020HR
04/05/2020
EU AND MEXICO CONCLUDE TRADE AGREEMENT ENABLING DUTY-FREE TRADE FOR GOODS
This week, the European Union and Mexico concluded a new trade agreement that will make nearly all trade in goods between the EU and Mexico duty-free. The deal was concluded after both parties agreed on the last outstanding element of their negotiations concerning the exact scope of the reciprocal opening of public procurement markets and a high level of predictability and transparency in public procurement processes. The text of the free trade agreement will now be finalised and translated into all EU languages, before being sent to the Council and European Parliament for signature.
EU INFRINGEMENT PROCEDURE AGAINST POLAND OVER INDEPENDENCE OF JUDICIARY
The European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Poland, concerning the new law on the judiciary adopted by the Polish government on 20 December 2019, and which entered into force on 14 February. The Commission stated that there are strong legal grounds for the activation of this procedure, all relating to the fact that the law undermines the judicial independence of Polish judges and is, therefore, incompatible with the primacy of EU law. The Polish government now has two months to reply to the Commission’s letter of formal notice.
COMMISSION PROPOSES TARGETED CHANGES TO CRR TO FACILITATE BANK LENDING
The European Commission published a legislative proposal to amend the Capital Requirements Regulation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a Communication on the application of the accounting and prudential frameworks to facilitate bank lending. Overall, the proposal covers changes related to IFRS 9, the non-performing loans prudential backstop, and the leverage ratio. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People, announced he will also soon be launching roundtable discussions bringing together consumer and business groups within the financial sector. The Commission expects the adoption of the legislative proposal by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament by June.
TRANSPORT SECTOR TO BENEFIT FROM ADDITIONAL RELIEF MEASURES AT EU LEVEL
The Commission adopted a package of measures which aim to provide significant relief to the transport sector by solving practical problems, removing administrative burdens, and increasing flexibility in the context of COVID-19. The package includes measures to support the aviation, rail, maritime, inland navigation and road sectors. Among other measures, all transport modes will benefit from a proposal allowing certain certificates and licences to be extended, as current health measures make it difficult for some transport operators and workers to complete certain formalities required under EU law. Additional proposals may follow in the coming weeks.
COMMISSION ISSUES GUIDANCE TO FACILITATE CLINICAL TRIALS DURING THE CRISIS
The European Commission issued guidance on the management of clinical trials during COVID-19, as part of its overall strategy in finding treatments and a vaccine for the virus. With this guidance, the Commission aims to mitigate the disruption of clinical research in Europe by providing recommendations on simple and flexible solutions for the current situation. The recommendations cover, among others, the distribution of medicines to patients in clinical trials and the performance of remote source data verification to ensure that trials can be concluded even with social distancing measures in place.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner Brussels, Kreab