COVID-19: EU response
12/02: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Sassoli and Portuguese Prime Minister Costa on the Recovery and Resilience Facility – European Commission
11/02: EU recovery package: Council adopts Recovery and Resilience Facility – Council of the EU
The Council adopted a regulation establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which lies at the heart of the EU’s recovery plan. It will make €672.5 billion in grants and loans available for public investment and reforms in the 27 member states to help them address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, to foster the green and digital transitions and to build resilient and inclusive societies.
11/02: Remarks by Commissioner Gentiloni at the press conference on the Winter 2021 Economic Forecast – European Commission
10/02: MEPs call on ECB to prepare for looming economic difficulties – European Parliament
MEPs urge the European Central Bank to consider different policy measures to those currently in place to stimulate the EU economy, which faces darkening prospects.
10/02: Questions and answers: The Recovery and Resilience Facility – European Commission
04/02: Covid-19 recovery: how the main EU instrument will work – European Parliament
The €672.5 billion Recovery and Resilience Facility is the key tool in the EU's Covid-19 recovery plan to support reforms in response to the crisis.
Copyright enforcement
11/02: Participants in the virtual conference on "The Intellectual Property Metamorphosis in the Age of Digital Transition" – 2021 Portugal EU
With four panels and numerous participants, the aim of the encounter was to debate the topics directly related to industrial property.
EU Digital Services Act (DSA) & Digital Markets Act (DMA)
10/02: Regulate social media platforms to defend democracy, MEPs say – European Parliament
In a debate with Secretary of State for European Affairs Ana Paula Zacarias from the Portuguese Presidency of the Council, and Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, almost all speakers criticised the vast power of social media platforms and their worrying impact on politics and freedom of speech.
/02: Proposal for a Regulation on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act) – EAO Newsletter
The European Commission published the eagerly-awaited Proposal for a Regulation on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act) (DMA). The DMA builds upon the Platform-to-Business Regulation 2019 and its purpose is to target very large online platforms which act as gatekeepers between business users and end users, and which have a major impact and substantial control on the access to certain digital markets.
/02: Proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act, DSA) – EAO Newsletter
The European Commission published the much-anticipated Proposal for a Regulation on a Single Market For Digital Services (Digital Services Act, DSA). The proposed DSA introduces a harmonised set of new rules for digital services, including social media, online market places, and other online platforms that operate in the European Union.
Streaming Platforms
15/02: EU Filmmakers Call on Global Streamers to Commit to Fair Negotiating Conditions On Remuneration – FERA
As global streamers are on the rise in the European audiovisual online distribution and production markets, European filmmakers look forward to new opportunities for creative endeavors. The ongoing implementation of key European Directives touching to media regulation (AVMS Directive 2018/1808) and authors’ rights (Copyright Directive 2019/790) should ensure that these collaborations develop in fair and sustainable conditions for European audiovisual creation.
Bulgaria
/02: Local media law harmonised with the Audiovisual Media Services Directive - EAO Newsletter
On 22 December 2020, a new Act for amendment and supplement to Закон за радиото и телевизията (the Radio and Television Act - RTA) was promulgated in Държавен вестник (State Gazette) and entered into force on the same day. By way of this Act, Bulgaria has transposed Directive (EU) 2018/1808 (AVMSD/Directive) shortly after the infringement procedure opened by the Commission against Bulgaria and other countries.
Romania
01/02: EIB Group and Deutsche Leasing Romania strengthen support for business impacted by COVID-19 – European Commission
The first cooperation between the EIB Group and Deutsche Leasing Romania will help to strengthen investment by Romanian companies active in sectors affected by COVID-19.
Recent studies
The European Authors’ Society - Launch of Rebuilding Europe – EYxGESAC study – February 2021
Events:
19 February: G7 leaders' videoconference
24 – 25 February: CULT Meeting
25 February: Video conference of the members of the European Council
8 – 11 March: European Parliament Plenary
