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Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser supported an agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020 (MFF) on 22/01/2019, agreements that should be achieved by the European institutions during the second half of 2019. Mikser said that the MFF agreement must not be hurried, however, following the elections to the European Parliament (23-26 / 05/2019) and the provisions of the new Commission in October 2019, there should be a rapid development and negotiation of the MFF. Estonia, in the context of the MFF after 2020, rejects the budget cuts for cohesion policy (the Commission proposes a 24% cut in Cohesion Funds in the EU), calls for harmonization of the level of direct payments between EU Member States, and boosting finance for infrastructure development.

On 22/01/2019, the EP's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee endorsed a report on the proposal for a regulation on minimum requirements for the re-use of waste water for irrigation in agriculture. The main motivation for adopting the plan is the loss of water resources due to unpredictable climatic conditions and drought. 53 MEPs voted in favour of rapporteur Simona Bonafe's proposal (IT, S&D), 1 was against, and 4 abstained. The proposal defines the basic standards for water quality that could then be reused in agriculture for the irrigation of agricultural crops, processed food crops and non-food crops. According to the plans, water from municipal wastewater (purified by reclamation device) will be used. The Commission submitted legislative proposals in May 2018, on the proposal to be voted on at the Plenary Session of the EP on 11-14 / 02/2019. More information is available here.

On 22/01/2019, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) voted in favour by a large majority in the vote that, in the context of updated European consumer legislation, dual quality products in the EU single market should be classified as unfair business practices. 37 MEPs voted in favour, 1 was against and 1 abstained. The mandate to start negotiations with the Council was supported by 36 votes in favour, 1 against, 2 abstentions. The text must now be approved at the Plenary of the EP, followed by a trilogue between the EP, the EC and the EU Council. According to the information available, the plenary vote is not planned for the January session (30-31 / 01/2019) or the February part-session of the EP (11-14 / 02/2019), therefore to be voted on by March 2019 at the earliest. More information is available here.

On 22/01/2019, the EP's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) confirmed the political agreement reached in December 2018 on the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation of the environmental impact of certain plastic products. According to the Directive, it is necessary to reduce the usage of certain disposable plastic products starting in 2021, including cups, single-serving containers, plastic plates, cutlery, or food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene for foodstuffs intended for immediate consumption. More information is available here and here.

On 24/01/2019, the European Commission decided to file a complaint to the European Court of Justice on Hungarian national trade legislation governing trade in agricultural products and food products, which, according to the Commission, is contrary to EU rules. Under Hungarian law, retailers have to apply the same profit margin for agricultural and food products regardless of their country of origin. This is, according to the Commission, in breach of EU law on free movement of goods, as this discourages the sale of imported products in favour of domestic products. In addition, Hungary undermines the free creation of agricultural sales prices and does not ensure fair competition. Hungarian law imposing an obligation to have the same profit margin for all products prevents some importers and retailers of imported goods from offering more attractive retail prices to consumers. More information is available here.