EU Copyright Directive
14/11: EU Council poised to insist on mandatory upload filters – MEP Julia Reda
The closed-door trilogue efforts to finalise the EU Copyright Directive continue. The Presidency of the Council, currently held by Austria, has now circulated among the EU member state governments a new proposal for a compromise between the differing drafts currently on the table for the controversial Articles 11 and 13.
Competition
06/11: Mergers: Commission approves Disney's acquisition of parts of Fox, subject to conditions – European Commission
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the proposed acquisition of parts of Fox by Disney, both US based global media companies. The decision is conditional on full compliance with commitments offered by Disney.
09/11: Antitrust: Commission seeks feedback on commitments offered by Disney in pay-TV investigation – European Commission
The European Commission is inviting comments from interested parties on commitments offered by Disney to address competition concerns relating to contractual clauses preventing the cross-border provision of pay-TV.
Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
06/11: Less hate speech and more European content on video streaming services: Council adopts new EU rules – Council of the European Union
As a result of updates by the EU to its rules for audiovisual media services, traditional television and new services such as on-demand broadcasting will compete on a level playing field. Video sharing platforms will also for the first time be subject to rules ensuring that viewers, and in particular minors, will be better protected from violent or harmful content or hate speech.
EU Budget
14/11: Long-term EU budget : MEPs lay down funding priorities for post-2020 budget – European Parliament
In a vote on Wednesday, MEPs confirmed their position on the next EU long-term budget, including a precise breakdown of the amounts for each EU programme.
European Elections
08/11: Manfred Weber elected as EPP candidate for the President of the European Commission - EPP Group
The Congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) today elected Manfred WEBER as the EPP’s candidate for President of the European Commission, ahead of the May 2019 European Parliament elections.
07/11: Progressives unite behind Frans Timmermans – S&D Group
After Frans Timmermans was endorsed as the PES Common Candidate by fellow Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič, the president of the S&D Group Udo Bullmann hosted an exchange with Frans Timmermans at the S&D Group meeting yesterday, with the participation of Maros Šefčovič and PES president Sergei Stanishev. The meeting was a clear sign that progressives are up and ready for the 2019 campaign.
Lux Film Prize
14/11: Winner of the Lux Film Prize: “This is about a woman who wants to save the world” (video) – European Parliament
Woman at War has won this year’s Lux Film Prize. In an interview, director Benedikt Erlingsson talked about climate change and the challenges it poses to democracy.
Events
27 November: Trilogue - EU Copyright Directive
27-30 November: EUIPO Working Group Meetings, Warsaw
3-4 December: Trilogue - EU Copyright Directive
14 December: UNIC Paris Meeting
