Europe Daily News, 19 June 2025

COMPETITION

• In the Google Android case, Advocate General Kokott proposes that the Court of Justice dismiss Google’s appeal and, therefore, that it confirm the new fine of €4.124 billion set by the General Court (See CPR No.72/2025 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-738/22, Google and Alphabet Vs. Commission) - Financial Times
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11800 - BAES / Leonardo / JAIEC / JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of Serena Energia by Actis and GIC (M.12010) - Midday Express
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of the Discar Group by the Louyet Group in the motor vehicle distribution sector
  
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt has intensively examined RTL's proposal to take over the marketing of TV advertising space from RTL2 - Case Report
• UK - The CMA is investigating the completed acquisition by Kpler Holding SA of Spire Global Inc.’s maritime data business

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111450; SA.109228 & SA.104131

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union
  - CN code: 9405 50 00 - Non-electrical lamps and lighting fittings
  - CN code: 1902 20 10 to 1902 20 99 - Stuffed pasta, whether or not cooked or otherwise prepared
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1220 of 16 June 2025 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 2106 90 98)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1221 of 16 June 2025 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 2208 90 69)
• Guidance document on customs formalities in the EU for military goods to be moved or used in the context of military activities (use of the form 302)
• WTO - The sixth review of the trade policies and practices of Colombia takes place on 18 and 20 June 2025 - See the Report by the WTO Secretariat and by the Government of Colombia
• WTO members review six regional trade agreements, discuss transparency issues
• EU weighs UK-style trade deal with US - Brussels is pushing for agreement that could leave some tariffs in place - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Industry) - 3 July 2025

CHEMICAL

• Highlights from June RAC and SEAC meetings - ECHA/NR/25/18
• Next EU-wide REACH enforcement project on safe use of chemicals in workplaces - ECHA/NR/25/17
• ECHA Weekly Newsletter - 18 June 2025
• How to foster a resilient value chain for the EU chemical industry - See the EESC Opinion
• Defining ‘forever chemicals’ is a job for science alone - PFAS are a commercial hit — that should not play a part in how they are categorised - Financial Times

FINANCE

• The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on new rules to make transactions in transferable securities more efficient
• Commission welcomes political agreement increasing efficiency of EU capital markets thanks to shorter settlement cycle for EU securities - Midday Express
• Council agrees its position on a more modern payment service framework in the EU
• ESMA publishes the final report on the active account requirement under EMIR 3
• ESMA consults on the methodology for computing EU Member States’ market capitalisation and market capitalisation ratios
• ESMA appoints Ante Žigman to its Management Board and appoints new Chairs to two standing committees

MONEY LAUNDERING

• Judgment of the Court of 19 June 2025 in Case C-671/23; M Vs. Lietuvos bankas
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering and terrorist financing - Directive (EU) 2015/849 - Article 59 - Concept of “systematic infringement” - Penalties - National legislation or practice allowing a separate fine to be imposed for each infringement found in the course of one and the same control - Compatibility with Union law - Minimum harmonisation - Compliance with the general principles of Union law - Effective penalties, proportionate and dissuasive - Ne bis in idem principle
• Judgment of the Court of 19 June 2025 in Case 19 June 2025 in Case C-509/23; “Laimz” SIA v Izložu un azartspēļu uzraudzības inspekcija
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing - Directive (EU) 2015/849 - Article 3(11)(a) - Person closely associated with a politically exposed person - Definition - Article 45, (1) and (8) - Reporting entities forming part of a group - Sharing of information within that group - Application of decisions taken by another reporting entity forming part of that group - Article 14(1) and (8) - Continuous customer monitoring by reporting entities - Article 11(d) - Enhanced customer due diligence measures for gambling service providers

TAXATION

• Judgment of the Court of 19 June 2025 in Case C-645/23; Hera Comm SpA Vs. Falconeri Srl
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Taxation - Excise duties - Directive 2008/118/EC - Article 1(2) - Additional indirect taxes on products subject to excise duty - Electricity - National legislation imposing an additional excise tax on electricity - No specific purpose - Additional tax in favour of regional and local authorities held to be contrary to Directive 2008/118 by the national courts - Recovery by the final consumer of the tax wrongly paid to the supplier
• Judgment of the Court of 19 June 2025 in Case C-785/23, Direktor na Direktsia “Obzhalvane i danachno-osiguritelna praktika” Sofia pri Tsentralno upravlenie na Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite Vs. Bulgarian posts” EAD, in the presence of : Varhovna administrativna prokuratura
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Taxation - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Exemptions for certain activities in the general interest - Article 132 - Public postal services - Directive 97/67/EC - Article 12 - Universal postal service provider - Concepts of “public postal service” and 'service of public interest

CBAM

• Commission welcomes political agreement to simplify and strengthen the carbon border adjustment mechanism
• Carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM): Council and Parliament strike a deal on its simplification

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 23 June 2025

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Commissioner Hoekstra in Paris to discuss upcoming climate proposal and sustainable aviation - Midday Express

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Liability for Vaccines: AG Medina suggests that the unconditional application of a ten-year expiry period in the case of progressive injuries is contrary to the Charter (See CPR No.73/2025 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-338/24, Sanofi Pasteur)
• The prohibition on advertising for pharmacies in force in Poland is contrary to EU law (See CPR No.71/2025 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-200/24; Commission Vs. Poland)
• Meeting of EPSCO (Health) of 20 June 2025:
  - A continued and urgent call for action at EU level to protect young people from harm caused by novel tobacco and nicotine products, in particular e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches - Information from Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain
  - International limits on the number of children per sperm or egg donor - Information from Sweden, supported by Belgium, Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Romania and Spain
  - The fight against disinformation on health issues - Information from Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Slovenia and Spain 

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Cohesion policy mid-term review: Council agrees positions to better address current and emerging challenges
• Eurogroup and EU economic and financial affairs ministers meet in Luxembourg, on 19 and 20 June
• National recovery plans should add to EU resilience and strategic autonomy
• Parliament approves financial aid package for Egypt

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Decision (EU) 2025/1217 of 22 May 2025 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration
• United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration
• Montenegro and Moldova: MEPs applaud EU membership progress

EU SANCTIONS

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1233 of 17 June 2025 amending for the 347th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida organisations
• EU devises scheme to squeeze more profit from Russian frozen assets - Putting €200 billion of Russian funds in riskier investments would boost payments to Ukraine without touching the underlying capital - Politico.eu