EU Insight 27 November, 2020

Brussels, 27 November 2020

COMMISSION ESTABLISHES FRAMEWORK FOR GOVERNANCE OF COMMON EU DATA SPACES

The Commission presented the Data Governance Act, which is the first deliverable of the European Strategy for Data that lays the foundation for a Single Market for Data. In particular, the proposal establishes trustworthy mechanisms to facilitate and promote voluntary data sharing among businesses, citizens, and public bodies, as well as across sectors and domains. With the Act, the Commission aims to offer an alternative, European approach to the data handling practices of BigTech firms. The proposal, which will now be subject to amendments by the Council and European Parliament, is open for stakeholder feedback until 20 January 2021.

EC PRESENTS STRATEGY AIMING AT AFFORDABLE, ACCCESSIBLE AND SAFE MEDICINES FOR ALL

The European Commission unveiled the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe, comprising a mix of legislative and non-legislative actions to ensure the resilience of the EU pharmaceutical system. The strategy’s key actions involve a proposal for an EU Health Emergency Response Authority in 2021 and a revision of the basic pharmaceutical legislation in 2022. The Commission also aims to initiate a structured dialogue between authorities and pharmaceutical manufacturers over supply chain’s vulnerabilities and future policy options on pricing, payment, and procurement policies. Finally, the strategy intends to create robust digital infrastructure, including a proposal for a European Health Data Space next year.

BLACK SMOKE FOR THE EU BUDGET, DESPITE PARLIAMENT’S CALL FOR A QUICK SOLUTION

During this week plenary, the European Parliament called on the Council to find a way out of the impasse around the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), with several group leaders suggesting that Hungary and Poland should take the EU to Court on the matter. Meanwhile, the Polish and Hungarian Prime Ministers released a joint declaration confirming their veto to the current deal, while proposing a speedy adoption of the EU budget and a postponement of the discussions over the rule of law, which they believe should be subordinated to a Treaty change. Discussions among EU leaders will continue during the summit of 10-11 December.

STILL NO EU-UK DEAL AS NEGOTIATIONS SET TO CONTINUE IN LONDON

Despite a continuing lack of progress on EU-UK negotiations, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier resiled from his threat to abandon talks, telling EU ambassadors he would travel to London this evening to try to break the impasse. EU officials remain relatively downbeat, and in line with comments earlier this week by Commission President von der Leyen, they are unsure if the UK side will compromise sufficiently for a deal to materialise. Meanwhile, UK chief negotiator David Frost reaffirmed he would work hard to reach an agreement, despite ongoing divergences on level-playing field, governance, and fisheries.

ACTION PLAN ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TO STRENGTHEN EU’S RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY

This week, the Commission published a new Action Plan on Intellectual Property, which aims to decrease fragmentation and improve the protection of intellectual property at EU level. The vision is to boost sharing of intellectual property to increase technological uptake in industry, to combat counterfeiting and improve enforcement of intellectual property rights, and to foster a global level-playing field. The Commission also aims to help SMEs to integrate intellectual property in their business strategy, to make the most of their inventions and innovation potential. The publication followed on from the Council of Ministers having invited the Commission to present proposals for intellectual property policy on 10 November.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

• 30 November: Video conference of the Eurogroup. On the agenda: Draft budgetary plans, Banking Union, ESM Treaty.
• 30 November: Video conference of education ministers. On the agenda: European Education Area, Erasmus+.
• 30 November: Video conference of the members of the EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Council. On the agenda: State of relations between the EU and Kosovo.
• 30 November: Video conference of youth ministers. On the agenda: Youth mobility.
• 1 December: Video conference of EU-ASEAN foreign ministers. On the agenda: Future of EU-ASEAN relations.
• 1 December: Video conference of cultural and audiovisual ministers. On the agenda: Supporting cultural and creative sectors through the crisis.
• 1 December: Video conference of economics and finance ministers. On the agenda: Administrative cooperation in the field of taxation, Banking Union, CMU.
• 1 December: Video conference of sport ministers. On the agenda: International sporting events.
• 2 December: Video conference of health ministers. On the agenda: COVID-19, pharmaceutical strategy for Europe.
• 2 December: Video conference of justice ministers. On the agenda: Fight against terrorist, rule of law, assignment of claims, European Public Prosecutor.
• 3 December: Video conference of employment and social policy ministers.

Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner Brussels, Kreab

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Kreab • Tel: +32 2 737 6900 • karl.isaksson@kreab.com • www.kreab.com/brussels • Twitter: @KreabEU.