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EU Update – Newsletter June 2020

19/06/2020

The European Commission publishes proposal on a revised MFF and Recovery Plan

On 27 May, as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak and its negative impact on society and the economy, the European Commission published its proposal for a recovery plan, including a dedicated €750 billion recovery fund and a revised €1.1 trillion budget (known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)) for 2021-2027.  The Commission Communication states that “now is the time for our European Union to get back to its feet and move forward together to repair damage from the crisis and prepare a better future for the next generation.” The adoption of the revised MFF is expected for December 2020.

The European Commission’s revised 2020 Work Programme

On 27 May the European Commission published its revised Work Programme for 2020 . While the main priorities that were set at the beginning of the Commission’s mandate remain valid, the Commission now aims to refocus its work following the coronavirus pandemic and prioritise specific workstreams.  

The Annexes to the Work Programme provide a detailed overview of the timelines for the different legislative dossiers, some of which have been revised.  The timeline for the Chemicals Strategy (non-legislative), originally due in Q3 2020, remains unchanged,  perhaps highlighting the importance of the initiative.

Brexit update:

During the transition period which is due to last until 31 December 2020 (unless it is extended), EU law continues to apply to the UK.  The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provides very useful advice for companies on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on their webpage!

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