Europe Daily News, 04 April 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11473 - Van Mossel Automotive / Mercedes-Benz CPH)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11509 - MSI / BAM / Portland Natural Gas Transmission System)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11484 - Blackstone / Invernergy IRH / CDPQ / Invernergy Renewables)
• Commission clears acquisition of Teck's Canadian coal business and assets by Glencore (M.11392) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Kohler Energy by Platinum Equity Group (M.11426) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Fertiglobe by ADNOC (M.11443) - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Uber’s business conduct and impact on competition in the EU market
• Poland - The UOKiK issued more than 1,000 decisions in the field of competition and consumer protection and imposed more than PLN 612 million in penalties
• UK - CMA - Consultation outcome on the "New energy network merger" Guidance
• UK - CMA - Pharma deal could reduce choice and lead to higher prices for HRT treatments
• UK - The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by Spreadex Limited of the B2C business of Sporting Index Limited
• UK - The CMA has referred the anticipated JV between Vodafone Group Plc and CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd. concerning Vodafone Ltd. and Hutchison 3G UK Ltd. for an in-depth investigation

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111915, SA.111080 & SA.106923
• EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 185/23/COL of 13 December 2023 on certain State aid granted under the Catapult-scheme

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Monthly information on imports from Moldova and Ukraine and from all third countries of agricultural products subject to Tariff Rate Quotas
• TTC Ministerial - 'Transatlantic Initiative on Sustainable Trade' work programme see " Annex 1" updated on 04 April 2024
• Joint Report of the 5th meeting of the CETA Committee on Geographical Indications - September 2023
• Commission protects EU industry from PET plastic dumping for next five years - See Regulation (EU) 2024/1040
• WTO - Australia and China announce mutually agreed solution in dispute over wine duties - WT/DS602/8
• EU launches 2 probes into China solar manufacturers - Brussels says subsidies distort European market in ‘strategically important’ sector - Financial Times
• Trade groups hit at incoming UK Brexit border charge - Levy will lead to higher food prices and affect small importers the most, businesses warn - Financial Times

FINANCE

• ESMA publishes outcome of first year of the DLT Pilot Regime
• EU banks are robust, but signs of credit quality deterioration are becoming apparent, the EBA’s Risk Dashboard shows

ENERGY

• Commissioner Simson in Australia to enhance energy cooperation
• Energy efficient products: Commission moves to improve quality of information to consumers and companies
  

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Final version - Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste
• Final version - Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the energy performance of buildings (recast)
• Final version - Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on reporting of environmental data from industrial installations, establishing an Industrial Emissions Portal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 166/2006
  
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/873 of 30 January 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/331 as regards transitional Union-wide rules for harmonised free allocation of emission allowances
• EU forests – new EU Framework for Forest Monitoring and Strategic Plans - Opinion by the European Economic and Social Committee
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Additional measures for the protection of particularly exposed and vulnerable habitats of specific animal species such as the black olm
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Adverse environmental impact of wind turbines
• The Road to Green 9: Meet the next generation of climate and environmental campaigners

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Final version - Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EC) No 80/2009, (EU) No 996/2010 and (EU) No 165/2014 as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of road transport and aviation
• Final version - Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2009/12/EC, 2009/33/EC and (EU) 2022/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 96/67/EC as regards certain reporting requirements in the fields of road transport and aviation

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Final version - Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on asset recovery and confiscation
• European Citizens' Panel to discuss Tackling Hatred in Society - IP/24/1805
• Europol presents first ever report mapping criminal networks across the EU

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB - Complementary cost-benefit assessment on the Integrated Reporting Framework - April 2024
  - Additional analytical value and operational aspects
  - Closer alignment with FINREP solo
• ECB - The Eurosystem Integrated Reporting Framework ‒ an overview
• As interest rates surge: flighty deposits and lending - ECB Working Paper Series No.2923
• Fiscal and monetary policy: debating optimal interactions - See ECB's blog

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Enlargement and Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU - 08 and  09 April 2024

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 5n of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Provision of services)
• Consolidated version of the FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus