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On Wednesday, MEPs called for democratic oversight of tech giants to safeguard freedom of expression.
In a debate with Secretary of State for European Affairs Ana Paula Zacarias from the Portuguese Presidency of the Council, and Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, almost all speakers criticised the vast power of social media platforms and their worrying impact on politics and freedom of speech.
Citing various decisions taken by the platforms to censor content or accounts, a large majority in the chamber highlighted the lack of clear rules governing such decisions and the lack of transparency of big tech practices. They urged the Commission to address the issue in the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, and as part of the Democracy Action Plan.
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Ministers are outlining the priorities of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.
Portugal holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of June 2021. The first set of hearings takes place between 25 and 28 January. A second set of hearings will take place the following week. This press release will be updated regularly.
Foreign Affairs
On 26 January,
Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva outlined a range of external action priorities to the Foreign Affairs Committee. He spoke of the importance of reviving the transatlantic dialogue between the EU and the new Biden administration, promoting stronger ties between the EU and the Asia-Pacific region, notably India, as well as intensifying EU cooperation with Africa and the African Union, for example when it comes to finalising a new Post-Cotonou Partnership Agreement.
The European Union has to cooperate with other countries on their vaccination processes because the bloc “will not be safe” as long as its neighbours “are sick”, Portugal’s Secretary of State for European Affairs Ana Paula Zacarias told a European Parliament plenary session on the “EU global strategy for COVID-19 vaccination”.
“No country will be able to defeat this pandemic alone. We need solidarity, we need to talk to other countries about COVAX,” said Zacarias in reference to the initiative that foresees the purchase of two billion vaccines by the end of 2021, to be used later in low and middle-income countries. There also needs to be discussions about “strengthening the WHO, about technical cooperation, and we need to work with European team spirit,” she added.
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PRAGUE
China is organising a “last minute” high-level summit with heads of Central and Eastern European states under the so-called 17+1 format, which should take place “at least online” in February, EURACTIV.cz’s media partner
Hospodářské noviny reported. Read more.
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EU PRESIDENCY
Breton: Jab certificates not enough to ensure free movement. COVID-19 vaccination certificates are “important but not sufficient” to ensure the resumption of free movement within the EU during the pandemic, EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton said on Tuesday (19 January), adding instead that rapid tests should also be introduced. Read the full interview here.
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EU INSTITUTIONS