Gender equality at a snail’s pace – EUbusiness Week newsletter 846 – EUbusiness.com

EUbusiness Week 846 top stories: EU on the right path to a circular economy; EU to screen foreign direct investment from April; EU and Qatar sign first Gulf aviation agreement; Brussels accepts Disney, Sony commitments on pay-TV; MEPs vote to end biannual clock change in Europe; European water quality set for EU upgrade

Publisher’s Note

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the EU’s 2019 report on equality between women and men reveals progress in improving the lives of women, with the EU employment rate for women at an all-time high. However, there remains a pension gap, a healthcare gap, salaries are on average 16% lower than for men, and only 6.3 per cent of CEO positions in major publicly listed companies are held by women. Progress, but as EC first vice-president Frans Timmermans put it, at a snail’s pace.
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Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU on the right path to a circular economy

The European Union is making good progress on the road to a climate-neutral, competitive circular economy, the Commission declared Monday as it published a report on implementation of its ‘Circular Economy Action Plan’.
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2. EU to screen foreign direct investment from April

A set of new rules to scrutinise foreign direct investments on the grounds of security or public order will come into force from April, following their Council green light.
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3. EU and Qatar sign first Gulf aviation agreement

The Commission and the State of Qatar initialled Monday an aviation agreement – the first such agreement between the EU and a Gulf state, upgrading the rules and standards for flights between Qatar and the EU.
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4. Brussels accepts Disney, Sony commitments on pay-TV

The Commission has accepted commitments by Disney, Sony Pictures, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros and Sky regarding concerns over film licensing contracts for pay-TV with Sky UK.
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5. MEPs vote to end biannual clock change in Europe

The last Sunday in March 2021 could mark the end of seasonal changes of time in the EU, following a vote Monday by the European Parliament’s Transport Committee to end biannual clock changes.
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6. European water quality set for EU upgrade

The Council adopted its position Tuesday on a proposal to revise the drinking water directive, a result of the first successful European citizens’ initiative, launched to ensure that water remains a public service and a public good.
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EUROPEAN LAW

Glyphosate: the EU’s top Court has annulled decisions by the EU food agency to refuse access to studies on the toxicity and carcinogenicity of the pesticide glyphosate, which the World Health Organisation has linked to cancer.
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Latest news from the European Court of Justice
EU law firms
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Inside the EU Institutions

Council Watch

Money laundering: list of high risk countries returned to Commission – Civil protection: disasters support – Sustainable finance transparency rules – Railway safety and connectivity with UK if no-deal Brexit – Safe and clean drinking water – Western Waters fisheries – FDI screening – Syria sanctions – Central Arctic agreement against unregulated fishing – EU-Morocco fisheries – cleaner, safer, quieter tyres – Unpaid road tolls – Misappropriation of Ukrainian state funds – Payments in the EU
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Commission Watch

Mergers probe: E.ON proposed acquisition of Innogy – State aid: tax treatment of Huhtamaki in Luxembourg – Antitrust: Disney, Warner, Sony – Nitrates: Greece – Ireland: package travel – Hydroelectric power concessions: 8 Member States – Italy: air pollution – Cyprus: waste water – Spain: hot water metering – sustainable investment disclosure – Africa-Europe Alliance – Infringements – EU Budget 2021-2027
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Parliament Watch

Women must have an equal share in politics, say MEPs and national MPs – External action: more funds for human rights, development and climate change – Could switching between summer and winter time end in 2021?
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EU diary

11 Mar: EU-India conference on advanced biofuels
11-14 Mar: European Parliament plenary session
11 Mar: Eurogroup
12 Mar: Economic and Financial Affairs Council
12 Mar: Building resilience to natural disasters conference
13-14 Mar: Land parcel identification system workshop
14 Mar: Revitalising small retail sector
15 Mar: Employment, Social Policy, Health, Consumer Council
The Week Ahead
Long-term diary