All news & events

On 9 December, the Transport Council held debates over a number of Fit for 55 Package, including ReFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR). Ministers took note of the progress made on each file by the Slovenian Presidency and gave guidance for the future negotiations that will be conducted under the French Presidency as of 1st January 2022.

On 30 November, the trilogue negotiations on the European Data Governance Act concluded, paving the way for the final approval by the co-legislators. The political agreement reached by the European Parliament, Council and Commission is now subject to formal approval by the European Parliament and the Council.

As of 1 January 2022, vaccine producers will no longer have to request an authorisation for the export of vaccines outside the EU, as the EU will not extend the COVID-19 vaccines export transparency and authorisation mechanism, set to expire on 31 December 2021. Transparency of exports will continue to be ensured through a new monitoring mechanism.

On 2 December, the European Commission published its annual VAT Gap Report, which measures the overall difference between the expected VAT revenue and the amount actually collected in EU Member States. This year’s study shows that Member States lost an estimated €134 billion in VAT in 2019. This figure represents revenues lost to VAT fraud and evasion, VAT avoidance and optimisation practices, bankruptcies and financial insolvencies, as well as miscalculations and administrative errors.

The European Commission has launched a new Customs Risk Management System (CRMS2) to reinforce the EU’s customs controls, and protect EU citizens and businesses, as well as the EU’s financial interests. The new CRMS2 will officially start operating on 1 January 2022.

On 25 November, the EU Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) held its first meeting online. The meeting gathered experts from the European Commission’s DG Trade, the European Economic and Social Committee, industry, civil society and NGOs. The meeting kicked off its work with electing its Chair and Vice-Chairs, setting administrative arrangements for its internal working, and mapping of key priorities for the current mandate.

On 2 December, the European Commission decided to send reasoned opinions to Austria, Greece, Luxembourg and Spain urging them to correctly transpose and apply Directive 2012/34/EU on the Single European Railway Area. The provisions relate to access to rail infrastructure, including charging, to service facilities and to the regulatory bodies and their functions. The Directive also foresees the conclusion of a contractual agreement between the competent authority and the infrastructure manager.