EU legislators reached a political agreement on Thursday on the €5bn Brexit Adjustment Reserve, paving the way for a first payment by December, EP Press service reported. With a budget of €5bn (in 2018 prices - €5.4bn in current prices), the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) will focus on countries and sectors worst affected by the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. A first instalment of €1.6bn in pre-financing will be available by December 2021. Two other pre-financing tranches of €1.6bn will be paid at the beginning of 2022 and 2023. The remaining €1bn will be paid in 2025.

The European Council, chaired by Portugal, has reached an agreement with the European Parliament on new road charging rules for trucks to transition from time-based to distance-based charging, reducing CO2 emissions.

Parliament is updating the rules on how the European Ombudsman works to provide a broader mandate for inquiries into poor administration at EU level, EP Press service reported on Tuesday. MEPs are expected to adopt a modernised statute that strengthens the office of the European Ombudsman during the plenary session on 23-24 June. Parliament negotiators reached an agreement on the rules with the Council and the Commission in May 2021 following a couple of years of political deadlock.

In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 626 votes in favour, 16 against and 36 abstentions, MEPs strongly condemn the “Ryanair hijacking” as an act of ‘state terrorism’, and call for journalist Raman Pratasevich and Sofia Sapega, as well as all other political prisoners in Belarus, to be immediately and unconditionally released, EP Press service reported.

In a resolution adopted on Thursday MEPs called for imposing tighter EU cybersecurity standards for connected devices, apps and operating systems, the EP press service reported. According to Parliament, connected products and associated services, including supply chains, should be made secure-by-design, resilient to cyber incidents, and quickly patched if vulnerabilities are discovered.

In a resolution adopted on Thursday with 506 votes in favour, 150 against and 28 abstentions, Parliament warned it may sue the Commission for failing to strictly impose the rule of law across the Union, the EP press service reported. Furthermore, MEPs instruct EP President David Sassoli to call on the Commission, within two weeks at the latest, to “fulfil its obligations” or risk going to court.

To accelerate global vaccine rollout, MEPs demand the temporary lifting of intellectual property rights protection for Covid-19 vaccines, EP Press service reported on Thursday. In a resolution adopted with 355 votes in favour, 263 against and 71 abstentions, Parliament proposes negotiations start for a temporary waiver of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on patents to improve global access to affordable Covid-19-related medical products and to address global production constraints and supply shortages.

As nature is declining globally, Parliament adopted today a resolution aimed at addressing the current biodiversity crisis in Europe and the rest of the world, the EP press service reported. The resolution called “EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030: Bringing nature back into our lives” was adopted with 515 to 90 votes and 86 abstentions.

European Parliament adopted today its position regarding the €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve aimed at supporting countries and sectors worst affected by UK withdrawal, the EP press service reported. Talks with the Council will start immediately and MEPs intend to reach a political agreement on 17 June so that funds will be available quickly.

MEPs completed today the legislative work on the EU digital COVID Certificate package to facilitate travel within the EU and contribute to the economic recovery, EP Press service reported on Wednesday. Plenary passed the new EU digital COVID Certificate Regulations with 546 votes to 93 and 51 abstentions (EU citizens) and with 553 to 91 and 46 abstentions (third country nationals).