ComuniqEU

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KEITH ZAHRA

COVID-SUPPORT

Commission disburses €14 billion in SURE funds

The European Commission has disbursed €14 billion to nine EU countries in the second instalment of financial support to Member States under the SURE instrument.

As part of today’s operations, Croatia has received €510 million, Cyprus €250 million, Greece €2 billion, Italy an additional €6.5 billion, Latvia €120 million, Lithuania €300 million, Malta €120 million, Slovenia €200 million, and Spain an additional €4 billion.

This support, in the form of loans granted on favourable terms, will assist these Member States in addressing sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve employment. Specifically, they will help cover the costs directly related to the financing of national short-time work schemes, and other similar measures they have put in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic, including for the self-employed.

The SURE instrument can provide up to €100 billion in financial support to all Member States. The Commission has so far proposed to make €90.3 billion in financial support available to 18 Member States. The next disbursements will take place over the course of the months ahead, following the respective bond issuances.

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KEITH ZAHRA

GOVERNANCE European Parliament warns against abuse of power through Covid-restrictions

The European Parliament has warned against “risk of abuse of power” in the light of restrictive measures taken amidst the coronavirus pandemic and called on the European Commission to step up its efforts by taking legal action where necessary.

In the resolution, Parliament stressed that such measures must be necessary, proportional and of a temporary nature when they affect democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights. National governments should “not abuse emergency powers to pass legislation unrelated to the COVID-19 health emergency”.

Furthermore, MEPs called on EU countries to end their “state of emergency”, or at least clearly define the delegation of powers to their executives, and ensure appropriate parliamentary and judicial checks and balances; refrain from unduly restricting the freedom of assembly or banning demonstrations to adopt controversial measures; and refrain from adopting measures that profoundly impact on fundamental rights, at a time where public health concerns do not allow for due democratic debate and safe protest.

The resolution’s rapporteur, Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), said that “this pandemic is turning out to be the worst crisis in the history of the European Union. Nevertheless, the European Parliament is fulfilling its duty towards citizens by fighting for their rights and freedoms, especially where governments are using the pandemic as an excuse to attack EU values. The Commission and the member states must step up their efforts to uphold fundamental rights, democracy and rule of law during this crisis and ensure that governments uphold democratic principles in their measures”.

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KEITH ZAHRA

GENDER EQUALITY

European Institute for Gender Equality finds increased domestic violence during lockdown

In two new studies commissioned by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), researchers identified an increase in domestic violence and exposed overall shaky support systems for victims of gender-based violence.

The EIGE also assessed the measures each EU country took to protect women during the pandemic and shows how governments can amplify the role of people witnessing violence. “Women usually face the most danger from people they know. EIGE’s research shows EU governments recognise this: every single country has introduced special measures to protect women from intimate partner violence during the pandemic.

Yet persistent under-funding of shelters and domestic violence hotlines has resulted in sometimes patchy support,” said Carlien Scheele, EIGE’s Director in the lead up to the international day to eliminate violence against women.

To raise awareness about violence against women and kick-off the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign, important buildings around the world will be lit up in orange. EIGE will light up Europe House in Vilnius on 25 November. In Brussels, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, and the European External Action Service will be lit up the same day. The theme of this year’s campaign is Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!

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KEITH ZAHRA

INTERNAL MARKET

New mechanism to fight barriers to trade in the EU

The European Commission has launched a new complaints system for reporting market access barriers and breaches of Trade and Sustainable Development commitments in the EU’s trade agreements and under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences.

The new complaints system reflects the Commission’s increased efforts to strengthen the enforcement and implementation of trade agreements. It follows the Commission’s appointment in July of its first Chief Trade Enforcement Officer (CTEO) to oversee its tougher action on enforcing trade policy, as well as the Commission’s 15-point Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Action Plan of 2018.

This Plan reflects the consensus of promoting close long-term TSD engagement, on the one hand, and of stepping up monitoring efforts – and more assertive enforcement – on the other hand. Complaints will be channelled through a new centralised Single Entry Point system in DG Trade to allow for a responsive, focussed and structured process.

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KEITH ZAHRA

ECONOMY

Eurozone facing doubledip recession

The euro zone is on track for its first double-dip recession in nearly a decade, according to a Reuters poll of economists which points to a more muted recovery next year despite expectations for 500 billion euros of additional monetary stimulus.

As most of Europe grapples with a resurgence in coronavirus cases, and resorting to new lockdowns and restrictions, forecasters who last month predicted the recovery would continue now expect the euro zone economy to shrink 2.5% this quarter after expanding a record 12.6% in Q3.

That is a dramatic turnaround from expectations of 3.1% quarterly growth as recently as July and compares with 2.1% predicted in last month’s poll.

Over 80% of economists surveyed by Reuters, or 44 of 55, said a double-dip recession was now underway.

“As downside risks continue to materialise and the health situation keeps worsening, it now looks evident the recovery in place in the euro zone economy since May has ended,” according Angel Talavera, head of European economics at Oxford Economics.