Europe Daily News, 09 October 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12068 - Philips / Ambulanzzentrum Des Uke / JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12063 - Sunstone / Platinum Globe / Digitalbridge / Skyline JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12179 - Temasek / Brookfield / Luminace)
• Commission clears acquisition of Kereis by Advent (M.12045) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Bavarian Nordic by Nordic Capital and Permira (M.12123) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of the Essential Home Business of Reckitt by Advent (M.12091) - Midday Express
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of joint control over Doktr by Proximus, AG Insurance and Nationaal Hulpfonds
• Cyprus - Notification of a concentration concerning the acquisition of the share capital of Explomin Imports-Exports Limited by K. Kythreotis Holdings Public Limited and Extraco Explosives and Chemical Products, Commercial Industrial and Technical Societe Anonyme, via Efexter Limited
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt has initiated proceedings against Whaleco Technology Limited (Temu), based in Dublin, Ireland
• France - Organic food retail sector: the Autorité de la concurrence clears the takeover of 7 Bio&Co stores by Marcel & Fils, subject to the sale of one of these stores to a competitor
• Portugal - Oxy Capital, Rubrikesvoaçante and Túlipesvoaçante notify the acquisition of joint control directly and indirectly over Costa Almeida and António Costa AlmeidaPortugal - AdC adopted a non-opposition decision in concentration operation 73/2025 - Portobello / Dualparts II
• Romania - The Competition Council has authorized the transaction whereby Alpha Medical S.R.L. intends to acquire Sante International S.A. and Intermedica International S.A.
• Slovakia - The PMÚ imposed a fine for failure to submit the requested information within the specified deadline
• Slovakia - The PMÚ Council confirmed decisions on abuse of dominant position by bus station operators
• Spain - The CNMC investigates possible anti-competitive practices in the public road passenger transport sector
• UK - The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by SMFL LCI Helicopters Ltd (SMFLH) of Macquarie Rotorcraft Ltd (MRL)

STATE AID

• Judgment of the Court of 09 October 2025 in Joined Cases C‑416/24 and C‑417/24, On Air Media Professionals SRL (C‑416/24) Vs. Agenţia pentru Întreprinderi Mici şi MijlociiIaşi, and Different Media SRL (C‑417/24) Vs. Ministerul Antreprenoriatului şi Turismului – Agenţia pentru Întreprinderi Mici şi Mijlocii, Atragere de Investiţii şi Promovare a Exportului Iaşi
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - State aid - Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 - Exemption of certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market - Translation error in the Romanian version of that regulation - Legal effects of the regulation correcting that error - Possibility of recovery of aid granted before the correction in accordance with the conditions set out in the version of the regulation containing the translation error - Protection of legitimate expectations - Legal certainty
  
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.105337 & SA.118542
• ESA adopts new State aid guidelines linked to the Clean Industrial Deal

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Customs 2027 Programme - 38th meeting Prohibitions & Restrictions Expert Group -18 November 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - 14 October 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Market Access Advisory Committee - 15 October 2025
• Minutes of: Meeting of the Market Access Advisory Committee - 17 September 2025
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2013 of 8 October 2025 making imports of terephthalic acid originating in the Republic of Korea and Mexico subject to registration
• Recommendation on the draft Council decision concerning the withdrawal of the European Union from the International Rubber Study Group (IRSG)
• Greenland's Prime Minister stresses importance of trade relations with EU - Speech by Jens-Frederik Nielsen Prime minister of Greenland at the EP plenary
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Commission action to address the impact of US tariffs on European agri-food products
• New trade measure is major leap forward to save EU steel and hundreds of thousands of jobs; now fast-track adoption is crucial, says EUROFER
• UK-EU reset leaves sour taste for South African citrus exporters - Importers of citrus fruit seek exemption from EU rules that would apply under Brexit deal - Politico.eu
• EU warns UK must improve NI border checks before veterinary deal is signed - Officials say London must comply before it can start serious talks on a sweeping agrifood agreement - Financial Times
• US demands EU dismantle green regulations in threat to trade deal - Washington wants American companies to be exempted from rules such as having to draw up climate transition plans - Financial Times
• China unveils sweeping rare-earth export controls to protect ‘national security’ - Rules come ahead of expected meeting this month between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Council agrees position on modernised rules for measuring instruments to support green and digital transition
  - Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament as adopted at the Coreper meeting on 8 October 2025
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - Competitiveness challenges in the agri-food sector

CHEMICAL

• European Commission consults on its "proposal for a regulation" on European Chemicals Agency - Feedback period: 07 October 2025 - 02 December 2025

FINANCE

• EU pressure builds on Belgium to allow use of Russia’s frozen assets - Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever insists other capitals should cover financial and legal risks of €140bn loan -Financial Times

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Parliament ready to start talks about simplifying EU agriculture laws - See the EP Resolution
• MEPs back changes to strengthen farmers’ position in the food supply chain - See the EP Resolution

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Safeguarding jobs in the face of artificial intelligence
• MEPs approved EU aid (€3 million) for 915 former Goodyear employees in Hanau and Fulda, Germany - See the EP Resolution
• MEPs approved EU aid (€900,000) for 417 laid-off workers following the closure of chip manufacturer BelGaN - See the EP Resolution
• ESA asks Norway to fully implement EEA rules on posting of workers

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Climate Change Committee - 24 October 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Biodiversity) - 13 October 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Biodiversity) - 14 October 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (WPIEI Desertification) - 14 October 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (UNECE and other regional issues) - 15 October 2025
• Minutes of: Meeting of the Committee on the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition - 02 September 2025
• Commission provides new guidance to Member States on implementing Social Climate Fund and fulfilling Social Climate Plans
• EU Ecolabel hits record numbers, offering new opportunities for businesses and more sustainable choices for consumers - Midday Express
• Europeans risk cold showers in EU red tape snafu - Materials needed for enamelling of hot water tanks is excluded from bloc’s list of authorised substances - Financial Times

DEFORESTATION

• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Information on the EU Deforestation Regulation’s benchmarking system
• Companies warn EU anti-deforestation law delays are endangering forests, and other climate and nature news
• Potential delay of the EU Deforestation Regulation - Joint letter

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Judgment of the Court of 09 October 2025 in 09 October 2025 in Case C‑315/24, Nestlé Sverige AB Vs. Miljönämnden i Helsingborgs kommun
  Re: Preliminary ruling - Food safety - Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 - Provision of food information to consumers - Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/128 - Foods for special medical purposes - Specific information requirements - Mandatory nutrition declaration - Article 5(2)(g) - Additional mandatory particulars - Article 6(2) - Prohibition on repeating on the labelling the information contained in the mandatory nutrition declaration

DATA PRIVACY, DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2050 of 1 July 2025 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down the technical conditions and procedures under which providers of very large online platforms and of very large online search engines are to share data with vetted researchers
• Commission and EDPB gather feedback on draft guidelines on interplay between DMA and GDPR - see the Joint Guidelines
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Protecting European minors from reported cases of online grooming and sexual exploitation on digital game platform Roblox
• Meta and Apple close to settling EU cases - US Big Tech groups in final stages of agreeing deal with Brussels to avoid series of escalating fines - Financial Times
• EU tech chief urges ‘stay calm’ in face of US pressure on digital rules - Henna Virkkunen cites “different personal styles” amid criticism of her leadership on digital rulebook - Politico.eu

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• ESA asks Norway to comply with EFTA Court judgement on EEA rules for air-traffic management
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - Need for control of Turkish Airlines by the DG for Competition
• A role for renewable fuels: European ethanol producers reply to EU public consultation on Revision of CO2 emission standards for cars and vans

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Failure of a Member State to fulfil its obligations: Greece is ordered to pay financial penalties for failing to comply with a 2014 judgment of the Court of Justice (See CPR No.131/ 2025 - Judgment of the Court in Case C-368/24, Commission Vs. Greece (Enforcement of the judgment C-600/12 on the Zakynthos landfill)

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP ECON Committee - 13 October 2025
• A resilient EU budget supporting Europe's priorities in 2024
• Faster and safer instant euro payments become a reality

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Statement by President von der Leyen on the announcement of an agreement on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages
• EU Political and Security Committee – African Union Peace and Security Council: 16th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting on Peace and Security in Africa
• European Commission and World Bank Group deepen partnership for infrastructure and jobs at the Global Gateway Forum
  - Team Europe reaches €300 billion target for Global Gateway investments ahead of time - Keynote speech by President von der Leyen
  - Statement by President von der Leyen with Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group
• Answer given by HR/VP Kallas to a MEP written question - The EU must condemn the holding of a conference of the Organisation of Turkic States in the occupied territories and any attempt to upgrade the pseudo-state