Europe Daily News, 19 August 2024

COMPETITION

• Action brought on 5 July 2024 – UniCredit and UniCredit Bank Vs. Commission (Case T-336/24)
  Re: annulment of the Commission Decision No. C(2024) 3287 of 8 May 2024 - objections to disclosure of information - UniCredit S.p.A and UniCredit Bank AG - Decision 2011/695/EU - hearing officer - Case AT.40324 – European Government Bonds
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11612 - ABN Amro / HAL)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11659 - BNPP Cardif / Neuflize Vie)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11585 - EPR / Uniper Group (Trading Assets A))
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11626 - Jumbo / Vermaat / La Place)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11631 - Harng Central Department Store / Globus Holding)
• Commission clears acquisition of VWS by Triton (M.11555) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Etix by Infranity and Eurazeo (M.11618) - Midday Express 16/08
• Commission clears acquisition of I-Tracing by Eurazeo and Oakley Capital (M.11627) - Midday Express 16/08
• The Commission published its decision approving the acquisition of the joint control of fashion retail platform Yoox Net-A-Porter Group by Farfetch and Richemont - See Case M.10926
• Ireland - CCPC opens full investigation into proposed sale of Inishowen Independent publisher to Formpress Publishing
• Lithuania - The Competition Council changes its sanctioning practice for unreported business transactions
• Lithuania - The Competition Council suspects that Iglu Tech, a manufacturer of heat pumps, has restricted competition among its distributors by fixing the resale prices of its products
• ‘Fortnite’ returns to iPhone and Android in EU after antitrust fight - Hit game developer Epic launches mobile app store after Brussels regulations force ‘gatekeepers’ to open up - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.113826; SA.113524; SA.114179 & SA.112284
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager to a MEP written question - State aids for the construction of the new Alcochete airport

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Action brought on 3 July 2024 - Lam Khang Vs. Commission (Case T-334/24)
  Re: Annulment of Regulation (EU) 2024/1268 - countervailing duties - Regulation (EU) 2022/433 - stainless steel cold-rolled flat products from Indonesia, Taiwan, Türkiye and Vietnam
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2163 of 14 August 2024 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of biodiesel originating in the People's Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2137 of 2 August 2024 correcting and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1475 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain seamless pipes and tubes of stainless steel originating in the People's Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council (published on 05 August)
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2144 of 22 July 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EPA Committee established under the interim agreement with a view to an Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Central Africa Party, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Protocol concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2136 of 31 July 2024 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (3824 99 92)
• Decision No 1/2024 of the Joint Committee Established by the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 16 May 2024 amending the Decision of the Joint Committee No 1/2023
• Decision No 2/2024 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community of 16 May 2024 adding a newly adopted Union act to Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Trade measures against companies operating in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus
• China initiates WTO dispute complaint regarding EU subsidy duties on electric vehicles

FINANCE

• ESMA recognises CDS Clearing and Depository Services as Tier 1 CCP following MoU with the British Columbia Securities Commission
• ESAs’ Joint Board of Appeal allows the appeal lodged by NOVIS and remits the case to EIOPA

ENERGY

• Declaration on the legal consequences of the judgment of the Court of Justice in Komstroy and common understanding on the non-applicability of Article 26 of the Energy Charter Treaty as a basis for intra-EU arbitration proceedings

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Minutes of: Joint meeting with the Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination Group - 25 June 2024
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič to a MEP written question - EU regulation banning trade in seal products
• Degraded ecosystems to be restored across Europe as Nature Restoration Law enters into force

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Action brought on 31 May 2024 – Syndicat National des Artistes Tatoueurs et des professionnels du tatouage and Auville Vs.Commission (Case T-294/24)
  Re: Regulation (EU) 2020/2081 - Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 - REACH - substances in tattoo inks or permanent make-up
• EFSA - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus
• EFSA - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance 1‐methylcyclopropene
• EFSA - Emerging chemical risks in food and feed

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission sends request for information to Meta under the Digital Services Act - Midday Express 16/08

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2161 of 14 August 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 1352/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Yemen
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2162 of 14 August 2024 implementing Decision 2014/932/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Yemen
• Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner Janez Lenarčič on 2024 World Humanitarian Day

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Action brought on 8 July 2024 - Albot Vs. Council (Case T-343/24)
  Re: declaring Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 and Regulation (EU) 2023/888 unlawful and inapplicable to the applicant; annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1242 and of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1243
• Action brought on 8 July 2024 - Petrov Vs. Council (Case T-344/24)
  Re: declaring Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 and Regulation (EU) 2023/888 unlawful and inapplicable to the applicant; annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1242 and of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1243
• Action brought on 9 July 2024 - Corşicova Vs. Council (Case T-345/24)
  Re: declaring Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 and Regulation (EU) 2023/888 unlawful and inapplicable to the applicant; annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1242 and of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1243
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2113 of 26 July 2024 implementing Article 8a(1) of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine (published on 05 August)
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2116 of 26 July 2024 implementing Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine (published on 05 August)
• Russian oligarch files $16B claim against Luxembourg over frozen assets - Mikhail Fridman was removed from the EU’s sanctions list after a legal challenge - Politico.eu