EU priority is reform, not Brexit - EUbusiness Week newsletter 786 - EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 786 top stories: Barnier urges transparency and trust in Brexit talks; MEPs demand EU sanctions against Hungary; MEPs greenlight online films and TV while abroad; Brussels relaxes state aid rules for regional airports; EU probes Aspen price hikes for cancer drugs; Commission issues guidance on raw ivory export ban

Publisher’s Note

There was much talk this week of the beginning of a fightback against the populists in Europe. New French president Macron expressed hope in the reconstruction of Europe, focusing on a less bureaucratic, more protective Europe, as well as a more integrated eurozone.

MEPs debating Brexit echoed a desire for a reformed EU which would respond speedily to citizensâ�� concerns and make the benefits of European integration more visible. And Council president Tusk told them the EU’s priority now is a positive agenda for the Union of 27, not Brexit.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. Barnier urges transparency and trust in Brexit talks

Speaking to a European Parliament plenary session which underlined the EU’s united approach, chief negotiator Michel Barnier called for transparency and trust in the upcoming Brexit talks with the UK.
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2. MEPs demand EU sanctions against Hungary

The human rights situation in Hungary justifies the triggering of an ‘Article 7’ procedure which may result in sanctions for Hungary, the European Parliament said in a resolution on Wednesday.
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3. MEPs greenlight online films and TV while abroad

The Parliament has given the green light to new rules enabling EU citizens with subscriptions for online films and TV series to access this content while temporarily in another EU country.
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4. Brussels relaxes state aid rules for regional airports

The Commission has approved new state aid rules that exempt certain public support measures for ports, airports, culture and outermost EU regions from prior Commission scrutiny.
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5. EU probes Aspen price hikes for cancer drugs

The Commission opened Monday a formal investigation into concerns that Aspen Pharma has engaged in excessive pricing concerning five life-saving cancer medicines.
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6. Commission issues guidance on raw ivory export ban

The EU executive moved Tuesday to end the export of old raw ivory as of 1 July with the adoption of new guidance on the European Union’s rules governing ivory trade.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Free trade deals: the Commission cannot conclude trade deals without the approval of national parliaments, when they contain investment dispute systems that supersede national courts, the EU’s top court ruled on Tuesday.
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May 2017 infringements package: key decisions
Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Security and defence – Macron-Tusk meeting – Egypt sanctions – Tusk on Article 50 – EEA Council – Money market fund rules – new prospectus rules – indigenous peoples – Venezuela
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Commission Watch

Neighbourhood Policy Review – Charter of fundamental rights – Altice PT Portugal acquisition – Facebook WhatsApp fine – state aid to airports – May infringements: Italy landfill, motorway concessions, car type approval; Hungary asylum law; Austria free movement of students – Sri Lanka market access – U.S. aviation security cooperation – Eurostat: inflation, construction, GDP, trade – interoperability of information systems – relocation and resettlement – trade in raw ivory – Benin, Mozambique off EU Air Safety List
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Parliament Watch

Brexit and free movement – peace-building in Syria – relocation of refugees – Persecution of gay men in Chechnya – Middle East peace – audiovisual media rules to protect children – human rights – streaming without borders – GM maize and cotton imports – fundamental rights in Hungary – cutting food waste – effects of globalisation
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EU diary

22 May: Eurogroup
22-23 May: Education, Youth, Culture & Sport Council
22-23 May: European Nuclear Energy Forum plenary meeting
23 May: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
23 May: 2017 European Union Prize for Literature awards
24 May: Seminar on 10 years of REACH litigation
18 May: Justice and Home Affairs Council
18 May: European financial integration – EC-ECB conference
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary