Europe Daily News, 13 October 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12128 - EVH GE / HSBC / Speicherwerke Merbitz)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12167 - LBO France Gestion / EMZ Partners / Heroiks)
• Commission clear acquisition of Banca Sistema by Banca CF+ (M.12102) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of AB Medica's distribution activities for Intuitive's RAS equipment by Intuitive (M.11900) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per la Lombardia (Italy) of 22 July 2025 – Acciaierie d’Italia SpA, in amministrazione straordinaria Vs. Cassa per i servizi energetici e ambientali (CSEA) (Case C-503/25)
  Re: Article 107(3)(c) TFEU; Guidelines on aid for undertakings; Article 2 of Italian Decree-Law No 347 of 2003; high natural gas consumption; Article 21 of Italian Decree-Law No 167of 2017 and Article 1(3) of Ministerial Decree No 541 of 2022
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunale amministrativo regionale per la Lombardia (Italy) of 22 July 2025 – Acciaierie d’Italia SpA, in amministrazione straordinaria Vs. Cassa per i servizi energetici e ambientali (CSEA) (Case C-504/25)
  Re: Article 107(3)(c) TFEU; Guidelines on aid for undertakings; Article 2 of Italian Decree-Law No 347 of 2003; high electricity consumption; Article 3 of Italian Decree-Law No 131 of 2023
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.102520; SA.102527; SA.102516; SA.119780 & SA.112968
• Commission prolongs possibility to grant rescue and restructuring aid under current rules - See the Communication - Midday Express
• Commission finds State aid rules on guarantees still relevant but can be updated - See the Working Document

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)) - 15 October 2025

• Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel; Türkiye; Regulation (EU) 2021/1100; 7.7.2026)

• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2065 of 29 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the OACPS-EU Council of Ministers as regards the adoption of Joint Guidelines for the conduct of the partnership dialogue provided for in Article 3 of the Samoa Agreement

• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2066 of 29 September 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the OACPS-EU Council of Ministers, the Africa-EU Council of Ministers, the Caribbean-EU Council of Ministers, the Pacific-EU Council of Ministers, the OACPS-EU Ambassadorial Level Senior Officials Committee, the Africa-EU Joint Committee, the Caribbean-EU Joint Committee and the Pacific-EU Joint Committee as regards the adoption of their Rules of Procedure

• EU-Ukraine trade: Council agrees to reduce or eliminate customs duties for several agri-food products

• China exports accelerate as Xi Jinping and Donald Trump raise stakes in trade war - Latest figures likely to give Beijing confidence as it steps up negotiations with Washington - Financial Times

• Regulation (EU) 2025/… of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 October 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Meeting of the Antici Group (Simplification: Omnibus III on agriculture & Omnibus V on Defence) - 17 October 2025
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2026 of 9 October 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2387 as regards a reference to the harmonised standard EN 17836:2024 Fertilizers – Description of the forms of the physical unit
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2014/32/EU as regards electric vehicle supply equipment, compressed gas dispensers, and electricity, gas and thermal energy meters - 3-column document
• Council approves its first reading position on to the toy safety regulation
• Dutch government takes control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia - Move by The Hague escalates frictions between western countries and Beijing over access to high-end technology -Financial Times

TAXATION

• Judgment of the Court of 09 October 2025 in Case C‑101/24, Finanzamt Hamburg-Altona Vs. Xyrality GmbH
  Re: Preliminary ruling - Taxation - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Article 28 - Intermediation in the supply of services - Articles 44 and 45 - Place of supply of services - Article 203 - Indication of VAT on an invoice - Electronically supplied services - App store - In-app purchases
• Member States update EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions - Midday Express
• EU strengthens international tax cooperation with Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino
• Taxation: Council approves conclusions on the use of tax incentives to support clean technologies and industry
• Commission receives mandate to start negotiations with Norway on administrative cooperation on direct taxation

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Commission mobilises €50 million in emergency support to farmers in Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Commission Notice – Guidance on the Implementation of the Social Climate Fund
• Commissioner Hoekstra participates in the COP30 preparatory meetings in Brazil** - Midday Express
• Meeting of the Council (Environment) on 21 October 2025
  - Reflecting the environmental agenda in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 - Information from Czechia
  - Resumed fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) to develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution (Geneva, Switzerland, 5 to 14 August 2025) - Information from the Presidency and the Commission
  - Resumed third session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group (SPP OEWG 3.2) and subsequent Intergovernmental Meeting (SPP IM) to consider the establishment of a Science-Policy Panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste and to prevent pollution (Punta del Este, Uruguay 14-20 June 2025) - Information from the Presidency and the Commission
• Council’s position in view of the adoption of the proposal for a Regulation from the European Parliament and of the Council on detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/ 1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004 (2023/0124 (COD)) - early second reading agreement - Letter of the Chair of the EP Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee established under Regulation (EU) No 2024/590 on substances that deplete the ozone layer - 24 September 2025

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Statement by Commissioner Várhelyi on World Mental Health Day 2025

EFSA

• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of L‐isoleucine produced with Escherichia coli CCTCC M 20231916 for all animal species (Kempex Holland B.V.)
• Safety evaluation of the food enzyme thermomycolin from the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain AR‐201
• Surveillance of West Nile virus infections in humans and animals in Europe, monthly report – data submitted up to 3 October 2025
• Country Report of Czechia and  Austria for Chemical Contaminants Occurrence business data collection
• Guidelines for designing and optimising multi‐pest surveys in broadleaf trees
• Country Report of Estonia for Pesticides Residues business data collection
• Country Report of France for Veterinary Medicinal Product Residues business data collection
• Country Report of Norway for Food Consumption business data collection
• Country Report of Austria for Foodborne Outbreaks business data collection

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 13 October 2025
• The Council adopted a decision for the EU and its member states to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime
• Communication from the Commission – Guidelines on measures to ensure a high level of privacy, safety and security for minors online, pursuant to Article 28(4) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065
• Commission scrutinises safeguards for minors on Snapchat, YouTube, Apple App Store and Google Play under the Digital Services Act - Midday Express
• EU expands network of AI Factories, strengthening its ‘AI Continent' ambition
• The way is open to building a EuroHPC World-Class Supercomputer in Ireland
• EU announces AI Factories Antennas across Member States and partner countries

AERA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• The EU's Entry/Exit System progressively starts operations on 12 October 2025
• With start of operation of new EES border control system the EU will strengthen border security and increase efficiency for travellers

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Economic governance: Council approves Germany’s fiscal expenditure path and its flexibility to increase defence spending

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 15 & 17 October 2025
• European Council of 23 October - Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Enlargement & Countries Negotiating Accession to the EU - 14 October 2025
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Albanian Prime Minister Rama
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the opening ceremony of the EU-Western Balkans Investment Forum

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Appeal brought on 26 August 2025 by OT against the judgment of the General Court of 23 July 2025 in Case T-1095/23, OT Vs. Council (Case C-567/25 P)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2023/1767; Regulation (EU) 2023/1765; Decision (CFSP) 2024/847; Regulation (EU) 2024/849. Ukraine; restrictive measures

• Action brought on 13 July 2025 - Tokareva Vs Council (Case T-464/25)
  Re: restrictive measures; Cases T-744/22 and T-269/24; Article 41 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union

• Action brought on 8 July 2025 - Tauber Vs. Council (Case T-449/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2023/891; Regulation (EU) 2023/888; Decision (CFSP) 2025/824 and Regulation (EU) 2025/817; Moldova

• Action brought on 8 July 2025 - Petrov Vs. Council (Case T-491/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2023/891; Regulation (EU) 2023/888; Decision (CFSP) 2025/824 and Regulation (EU) 2025/817; Article 41(1) of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; Moldova

• Action brought on 25 August 2025 - Yamb Vs. Council (Case T-582/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2025/1279; Regulation (EU) 2025/1278; Russia; restrictive measures

• Action brought on 30 July 2025 - Norebo Holding Vs. Council (Case T-518/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2025/966; Regulation (EU) 2025/965; Russia; restrictive measures

EU/MIDDLE EAST

• Action brought on 5 August 2025 - Mhana Vs. Council(Case T-535/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096 and of Regulation (EU) 2025/1094; Syria; restrictive measures
• Action brought on 6 August 2025 - Makhlouf Vs. Council (Case T-546/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096; Regulation (EU) 2025/1094; Syria; restrictive measures
• Action brought on 4 August 2025 - Mayaleh Vs. Council (Case T-551/25)
  Re: annulment of Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096; Regulation (EU) 2025/1094; Syria; Articles 41 and 47 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
• President Costa to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace
• Israel/Palestine: statement by the HR on behalf of the EU on the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict

• Statement by President von der Leyen on the release of hostages and on the agreement ending the war in Gaza