Europe Daily News, 30 January 2026

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12304 - Nippon Steel / Sumitomo / JV)
• Summary of Commission Decision of 8 September 2025 relating to a proceeding under Article 23(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 (Case AT.40966 – Synthetic Turf (Procedure))
  - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions & Final Report of the Hearing Officer
• Commission clears acquisition of Totalmobile by Five Arrows and DBAG (M.12243) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Citrosuco by 4F, VSA and PSPIB (M.12265) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Teck by Anglo American (M.12180) - Midday Express
• Austria - Review of the acquisition of the 20 registered Unimarkt locations by REWE International AG completed: 10 locations subject to conditions, 10 locations approved without conditions
• Cyprus - Notification of concentration concerning the acquisition of the share capital of Project Como Topco Limited by Asyad Logistics LLC, via Asyad Logistics International limited
• France - The Autorité launches a public consultation on conversational agents
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt approved the planned acquisition of Exact Sciences Corporation by Abbott Laboratories in preliminary proceedings
• Italy - Milan-Cortina 2026: the AGCM launches investigation into Harmont & Blaine for ambush marketing
• Norway - The Competition Authority has carried out an unannounced inspection at companies operating within a digital platform market
• Poland - The UOKiK has launched an investigation and ordered searches of the headquarters of the largest electronics wholesalers and one of the manufacturers
• Portugal - Teg and Apollo Funds notify the acquisition of joint control over Molycop
• Portugal - AdC fines the Azores Tourist Information Guides Association for price fixing
• Portugal - AdC clears CUF’s acquisition of the HPA Group subject to conditions and obligations
• The Netherlands - ACM launches investigation into Roblox in connection with risks that minors are facing
• Spain - The CNMC appeals the Balearic Decree on recreational boat rentals for unjustifiably restricting competition
• UK - The CMA is seeking views on the anticipated joint venture between Suzano International B.V and Kimberly-Clark Corporation

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.119003; SA.120313; SA.119775; SA.120017; SA.120071 & SA.120977
• Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into Danish wastewater fee system (SA.37433) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €25.8 million Polish State aid to support the construction of a green economy hub (SA.114923) - Midday Express
• UK - The SAU has accepted a request for a report from DBT concerning the proposed Post Office Remediation Unit and Inquiry and IR35 liability costs subsidy

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - 03 February 2026
• Agenda for: 28th Plenary Meeting of the Customs Laboratories European Network (CLEN) - 17 February 2026
• Minutes of the Committee for Investment Agreements - 17 November 2025
• Report of the 5th Meeting of the Committee on Intellectual Property under the Agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership - 14 January 2026
• GSP (Generalised Scheme of Preferences) statistics by regime and country and product updated on 28 January 2026

WTO

• Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Biocidal products - Cypermethrin
• Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Biocidal products - Cypermethrin
• Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Local space heaters

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• January infringements package: key decisions
• Commission annual report on Single Market and competitiveness calls for joint action in light of unprecedented challenges
• European Commission welcomes IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva to College of Commissioners seminar on competitiveness
• The Commission decides to refer Spain and Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Delegated Directive as regards the adjustments of the size criteria for micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings or groups (Delegated Directive (EU) 2023/2775)
  Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Disproportionate and anti-competitive consequences of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA)

FINANCE

• Agenda for: 1st Plenary meeting of the third mandate of the Platform on Sustainable Finance - 11 February 2026
• Minutes of the 28th meeting of the Committee on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing - 20 November 2025
• EBA launches consultation on amendments to Guidelines on the systemic risk buffer

TAXATION

• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Impact of the proposed Tobacco Tax Directive on Luxembourg: purchasing power parity adjustment and proportionality concerns

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: 103rd Meeting of the Committee for the protection of species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) - 05 February 2025
• Commission decides to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the EU over failure to close and rehabilitate landfills
• Commissioners Lahbib and Roswall exchange with stakeholders on wildfire risk management - Midday Express
• EU-China Water Policy Dialogue to define joint actions for more water resilience - Midday Express
• EU Green Week 2026: Investing in a nature-positive economy

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Agenda for: Inter-committee Coordination Group (ICCG) meeting - 24 April 2026
• Agenda for: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) - Working Group on Cosmetic Ingredients - 25 & 26 February 2026
• Agenda for: Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) - Working Group on Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products - 11 February 2026
• Opinion of Advocate General Andrea Biondi of 29 January 2026 in Case C‑721/24, Vista-Life Pharma SA, Vista-Life Pharma Belgium SCRL Vs. Laboratoires S.M.B. SA, Brussels Reps Pharma SRL
  Re: Preliminary ruling - Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 - Advertised food supplements - Claims relating to the reduction of disease risk - Specific conditions of use

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 05 February 2026
• Minutes of the 8th meeting of the European Data Innovation Board (EDIB) - 18 September 2025
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Communication Committee - Mobile Satellites Services Sub-group - 17 November 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main results of the Foreign Affairs Council - 29 January 2026
• EU and Viet Nam upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership - Joint Statement
• EU allocates €63 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its impact on neighbouring countries
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts the second bilateral assistance measure in support of Armenia - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/232
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain countries establishing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad

EU/MOROCCO

• Main results of the EU-Morocco Association Council - 29 January 2026
  - Joint statement by the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, following the fifteenth EU-Morocco Association Council

EU/TUNISIA

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/238 of 29 January 2026 implementing Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/239 of 29 January 2026 amending Decision 2011/72/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia

EU/SUDAN

• Sudan: Council sanctions seven individuals in view of the dramatic escalation of violence in the country - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/251 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2026 /254

EU/IRAN

• Iran: Council adopts new sanctions over serious human rights violations and Iran’s continued support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/267, Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/262, Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/263 & Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/265
• EU lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist group - Paris and other capitals drop opposition to move following Tehran’s brutal crackdown - Financial Times

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Russian hybrid threats: Council sanctions six individuals over information manipulation activities - See Council Regulation (EU) 2026/271, Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/259 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/260