Europe Daily News, 19 December 2025

EUROPEAN COUNCIL - 18 DECEMBER 2025

• European Council conclusions, 18 December 2025
• EU institutions define priorities for 2026: A Joint Declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2026 was signed today by the European Parliament, Council and Commission
• European Council conclusions on the Middle East, European defence and security, next multiannual financial framework, enlargement and reforms, migration and other items
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the European Council press conference
• Doorstep by President von der Leyen ahead of the European Council
• Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the European

EU/UKRAINE

• European Council, 18 December 2025, Ukraine
• EU agrees €90bn loan to Ukraine after frozen Russian asset plan fails - Financial Times
• EU agrees to €90B Ukraine loan — but VDL and Merz suffer defeat as assets plan fails - Ultimately, funding to Kyiv is secured, but not the way most of the EU wanted - Politico.eu

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12230 - EIM / PDVH)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12229 - JIP / Mitsubishi Logisnext)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12192 - Stonepeak / Repsol / Outpost Solar Sellco)
• Withdrawal of notification of a concentration (Case M.11992 - MEF / Retelit / Telecom Italia Sparkle)
• Commission clears acquisition of Haemato by Phoenix (M.12170) - Midday Express
• Commission approves Vandemoortele's acquisition of Délifrance, subject to conditions (M.11974)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Shandong Wind Power Company and Grampet (M.12170) - Midday Express
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt has approved the merger between Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (Santa Clara, USA) and CyberArk Software Ltd. (Petach Tikva, Israel) following a thorough review.
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt has approved the takeover of PSI Software SE, Berlin, by Warburg Pincus, LLC, New York (USA), as well as the conclusion of an investment and framework agreement between Warburg Pincus, PSI, and E.ON SE, Essen, under merger contr

STATE AID

• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/2522 of 23 January 2025 on State aid SA.38330 (2019/C) (ex 2016/FC) that Poland implemented for PCC MCAA Sp. z o. o.
• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/2630 of 16 December 2025 on the application of Article 106(2) of the TFEU to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest and repealing Decision

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of benzyl alcohol originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of sodium benzoate originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of new mobile cranes originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice amending the notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of pea protein originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2581 of 18 December 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2144 making imports of pea protein originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2589 of 18 December 2025 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and definitively collecting the provisional duty imposed on imports of choline chloride originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Safeguarding the European ferroalloy sector
• EU delays Mercosur signing as 25-year curse drags on - Italy forcing a further postponement to the beleaguered trade deal leaves it open to being torpedoed by the European Parliament - Politico.eu & Financial Times
• British steel still can’t escape Brexit taxes - A combination of new tariffs from Washington and Brussels has left the sector teetering on the edge. And now it’s facing a new set of fees - Politico.eu

CBAM

• Agenda for: Ad Hoc Working Party on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (AHWP CBAM) - 12 January 2026

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Council adopts measures to incentivise and simplify defence investments in the EU
• Council adopts partial mandate on the Single market and customs programme regulation

CHEMICALS

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2573 of 18 December 2025 amending Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 as regards the test methods, to adapt them to technical progress

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Council signs off simplification of Common Agricultural Policy

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 08 January 2026

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Deforestation: Council signs off targeted revision to simplify and postpone the regulation
• Final steps taken to ensure smooth entry into application of the EU Deforestation Regulation - Midday Express

DATA PRIVACY

• Commission renews decisions to allow for the free and safe flow of personal data with the UK

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Asylum policy: Council and European Parliament agree on EU list of safe countries of origin
• Statement by the European Commission on International Migrants Day