Europe Daily News, 17 September 2021

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10206 - Mayr-Melnhof Karton/ International Paper (Poland))
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10445 - Seventh Cinven Fund/Restaurant Brands Iberia)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10426 - Lone Star/Green-City Immobilier)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10457 - Carlyle/Schaltbau)
• Commission clears acquisition of AS Graanul by Apollo Management (M.10414) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Hoist by Advent and Eurazeo (M.10368) - Midday Express
• Cyprus - Notification of concentration concerning the acquisition by Tencent Holdings Limited of part of the share capital of 1C Entertainment Spolka Akcyjna, through Proxima Beta Europe B.V.
• Cyprus - Notification of concentration concerning the acquisition by Archer Daniels Midland Europe B.V. of share capital of Victoria Group D.O.O. and Sojaprotein D.O.O.
• Cyprus - Notification of concentration concerning the acquisition by Faerch A/S of the share capital of M.C.P. Performance Plastic Ltd.
• Denmark - Clothing retailer pays a fine of DKK 3,700,000 (€ 497,560) for exchanging information about prices with a competitor
• Greece - Dawn Raids of the Hellenic Competition Commission in the sectors of import/manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade of school bags, kids’ lunch bags and pencil cases
• Slovak Republic - AMO SR initiated an administartive proceeding in the matter of a merger of undertakings Dilasso Holding 9 S.à r.l., Sandra Baumeister, Martin Baumeister, BOS GmbH & Co. KG and BOS Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
• Slovak Republic - AMO approved the merger of undertakings Ringier AG and Ringier Axel Springer Media AG
• Slovak Republic - AMO approved the merger of undertakings KKCG Technologies, s.r.o., and Aricoma Group, a.s.
• Slovak Republic - AMO approved the merger of undertakings GEOSAN INVESTIČNÍ, a.s., and VÁHOSTAV - SK, a.s.
  
• The Netherlands - ACM clears operation of three new train services by Dutch railway company Arriva
• UK - CMA has referred the acquisition by Sony Music Entertainment of AWAL and Kobalt Neighbouring rights businesses from Kobalt Music Group Limited for an in-depth investigation
• UK - CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry in the acquisition by Pennon Group plc of Bristol Water Holdings UK Limited

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections or the measure does not constitute aid
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 26th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Data Integration & Harmonization section - joint with Trade Contact Group (TCG) of 12 October 2021
• Agenda for: 41st meeting of the Customs Expert Group - General Customs Legislation section of 20 September 2021
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Anti-dumping proceeding concerning certain iron or steel fasteners
• High-level group to start reflection on future of EU Customs Union - Midday Express
• DDG Paugam: WTO rules no barrier to ambitious environmental policies
• WTO, WHO, WIPO to hold virtual workshop on innovation and access to COVID-19 technologies
• International organizations, vaccine manufacturers agree to intensify cooperation to deliver COVID-19 vaccines
• WTO, WIPO launch book on competition policy and IP in today’s global economy
• WTO celebrates UN resolution recognizing 7 October as World Cotton Day
• WTO - The 5th review of the trade policies and practices of Argentina takes place on 15 and 17 September 2021
  - Report by the WTO Secretariat & - Report by the Government of Argentina.
• WTO - DDG Ellard stresses need to reduce trade barriers for environmental goods and services

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Better Regulation) of 213 September 2021
• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Motor Vehicles) of 24 September 2021
• Opinion of Advocate General Tanchev of 16 September 2021 in Case C‑177/20, ‘Grossmania’ Mezőgazdasági Termelő és Szolgáltató Kft Vs. Vas Megyei Kormányhivatal
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Principles of EU law - Primacy - Direct effect - Conflict between EU law and national law - Infringement of EU law established by the Court of Justice in a preliminary ruling as well as in an infringement action - Obligations and rights of national administrative authorities and courts - Non‑application of the national law to cases which are similar, but not identical, to those at issue in that preliminary ruling - Administrative decision becoming final in the absence of a challenge before the courts - Disapplication or withdrawal of such a decision due to it being contrary to EU law - Kühne & Heitz (C‑453/00) line of case-law

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Opinion of Advocate General Kokott of 16 September 2021 in Case C‑302/20, Mr A. Vs. Autorité des marchés financiers (Financial Markets Authority, France)
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Single market for financial services - Functionality and integrity of capital markets – Inside information and insider dealing - Directive 2003/6/EC (market abuse directive) - Prohibition on disclosing inside information – Directive 2003/124/EC - Article 1(1) - Definition of inside information - Requirements of precision and ability to influence prices - Market rumour - Disclosure by a journalist to another person about the forthcoming publication of an article relaying a market rumour - Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (market abuse regulation) - Article 21 - Disclosure of inside information for the purpose of journalism - Article 10 - Disclosure of inside information in the normal exercise of an employment or a profession
  
• Financial industry urges Brussels to extend access to UK clearing houses - Financial Times - see the ISDA Letter to Commissioner Mairead McGuiness,
• Fund managers retain only 41% of the total cost paid by retail investors - See Efama Market Insights | Issue #6 

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Expert Group for monitoring and evaluating the CAP of 17 September 2021
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Expert Group for Agricultural Markets, Animal Products of 23 September 2021
• Presidency Report on the informal meeting of the EU Forest Director Generals - Maribor, Slovenia, 7. - 10. 9. 2021
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Promotion of agricultural and food products. EU Commission’s obstacles to projects associated with meat
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Seed multinational Verisem in Chinese hands: survival of Italian agriculture at risk
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Prices paid to agricultural and livestock farmers in the food chain
• Mediterranean and Black Seas: Commission proposes fishing opportunities for 2022 - IP/21/4743  

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: 7th meeting of the CEG on Strategic Coordination for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive  - TG Seabed of 20-21 September 2021
• Submission to the UNFCCC by Slovenia and the European Commission on behalf of the European Union and its Member States - Adaptation Communication of the EU - Approval
• Fight against marine pollution: #EUBeachCleanup campaign 2021 - Midday Express

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Pharmaceuticals and Medical devices of 21 September 2021
• European Health Emergency preparedness and Response Authority (HERA): Getting ready for future health emergencies - IP/21/4672, QaA & FactSheet
  - Communication on Introducing the European Health Emergency preparedness and Response Authority, the next step towards completing the European Health Union & Annex
  - Proposal for a Council Regulation on a framework of urgent measures related to medical countermeasures in the event of a public health emergency at Union level
  - Commission Decision establishing the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• €7 billion for key infrastructure projects: missing links and green transport - Midday Express
• Sustainable urban transport takes centre stage for European Mobility Week - Midday Express
• EVP Timmermans holds High-Level Climate Change Dialogue with Turkey - Midday Express
• EVP Timmermans in Antigua and Barbuda, Chair of the Association of Small Island States and Caricom, for climate talks - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €231 million in pre-financing to Slovenia - IP/21/4769, QaA, FactSheet, see the Decision & Working Document
• NextGenerationEU: European Commission endorses Malta's €316.4 million recovery and resilience plan - IP/21/4705, QaA, FactSheet, see the Decision & Working Document
• REACT-EU: €4.7 billion to support jobs, skills and people most in need in Italy - IP/21/4731
• Minutes of the 8th Meeting of the Expert Group 'Support to Circular Financing' of 16 April 2021
• Estimated damages to EU budget in ongoing EPPO investigations: almost €4.5 billion

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• 7th revised "List of meetings" taking place between 1 and 30 September 2021
• Speech by President Charles Michel following his meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel
• Conference on the Future of Europe: citizens in the spotlight - IP/21/4745

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Joint Communication: "The EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific" - See IP/21/4704, QaA & the FactSheet
• EU at UNGA 76: working together to address global challenges - IP/21/4767, see FactSheet 1 & FactSheet 2
• Commissioner Lenarčič visits Haiti as EU Humanitarian Air Bridge flight reaches the country - IP/21/4765
• Security accord (See AUKUS agreement) delivers blow to Brussels - Financial Times