Europe Daily News, 29 July 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12002 - BCI / PSP / Monterey Mushrooms)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12009 - Oakview / Fortress / SPP)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11901 - HIG Capital / Kantar Media)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12031 - Investcorp / PSP / Crosscountry)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11988 - AAS / Sinopec / FPCL / Gulei II JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12046 - EEP / Ara / Stonepeak Tonepeak / JET)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12021 - PIC / Wanhua / Wanhua Petrochemical)
• Belgium - The Competition Authority publishes the decision closing its investigation into Dossche Mills’ proposed acquisition of Ceres’ artisanal bakery activities
• Belgium - The Competition Authority publishes its decision in Case No. MEDE.CC.25-0008: Viabuild / Square Group – Deckx Management Companies
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt has cleared the acquisition of all shares in Wurth Pflanzenschutz GmbH by ZG Raiffeisen eG - (24.07.2025)
• Italy - AGCM has signed a Memorandum of understanding with the Italian Data Protection Authority
• Spain - CNMC expands investigation into Apple over possible pricing agreements in its app store
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the transaction through which Ametek, Inc. intends to take over Faro Technologies, Inc. - (25.07.2025)
• Romania - The Competition Council has conditionally approved the takeover Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A. by Vodafone Romania S.A. and certain assets of the company by Digi Romania S.A.
• UK - The CMA is seeking views on the anticipated acquisition by Accent Wire of DR Baling Wire

STATE AID

• Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into Polish support to MAN Trucks for factory capacity extension (SA.114436)
• Commission approves €300 million Swedish strategic reserve to support security of electricity supply (SA.112968)
• Commission approves €36 million Danish State aid scheme to boost use of sustainable aviation fuel (SA.102732)
• Commission approves €134 million Danish State aid scheme to support industrial decarbonisation (SA.113683) - Midday Express
• Commission finds Czech support for insurance premiums for large agricultural firms incompatible State aid (SA.51501) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Customs Expert Group, Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section, HS/WCO Coordination Sector - 21 to August 2025
• Special Procedures – Title VII UCC - Guidance for MSs and Trade
• Minutes - Second meeting of the Working Group on Medicinal Products under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - 24 July 2025
• Minutes - 271st Meeting of the Customs Code Committee Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Section (Sub-section Combined Nomenclature) - 03 to 05 July 2025 - see CN Codes 2026
• Requests for customs enforcement of intellectual property rights – update of application forms for businesses - Implementing regulation - Feedback period: 24 July 2025 - 21 August 2025
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of yarns of polyamide, originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN codes 5402 31 00 , 5402 45 00 , 5402 51 00 and 5402 61 00)
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/1563 of 22 July 2025 establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) as regards the adoption of a decision to grant a WTO waiver permitting the United States to provide duty-free treatment under the US Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA)
• Decision No 1/2025 of the Trade Committee Established by the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, of the other part of 19 June 2025 modifying Appendices 2, 2A and 5 to Annex II to that Agreement [2025/39]
• “Non-paper” from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain on the new trade protection framework for the European steel industry
• France’s initiative, backed by strong Member State support, paves the way for a much-needed ‘highly effective’ EU trade measure, says EUROFER

EU/US TRADE AGREEMENT

• EU-US trade deal explained
• The United States and European Union reach massive trade deal - See the Fact Sheet
• EU-US tariff agreement: ACEA supports de-escalation, awaits details of the deal
• Cefic statement on the announced deal on tariffs and trade with the United States
• EU-U.S. trade deal: in its balancing act, Commission prevented further damage to the EU but for steel impact remains high as long as 50% tariffs remain in place, says EUROFER
• Germany and France hit out at EU-US deal - Euro slides as investors bet that long-awaited trade agreement will hurt Eurozone economy - Financial Times
• Donald Trump’s EU oil and gas deal is ‘pie in the sky’, energy experts warn - Analysts dismiss plan but executives welcome sign of more support for fossil fuel exports - Financial Times
• EU-US trade deal: The biggest losers and (a few) winners - It’s a one-sided affair with most EU exports subject to a 15 percent U.S. tariff — but the auto, aviation and semiconductor industries have escaped the worst - Politico.eu
• Under-fire EU says trade deal with Trump was best it could do - Critics say Brussels should have taken a tougher line but the bloc’s trade chief maintains that was easier said than done - Politico.eu
• The EU’s ‘fantasy’ $750B energy promise to Trump - Technical issues, limited U.S. supplies and the EU’s minimal control over imports render the pledge infeasible, experts say - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Survey opens on a revised Framework for safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials
• Biocides fees increase with inflation - ECHA/NR/25/23

FINANCE

• The EBA publishes Report on direct provision of banking services from third countries
• EBA announces date and time of the publication of the 2025 EU-wide stress test results (Friday, 1 August 2025 at 18:00 CEST)
• A careless use of innovative compliance products can lead to money laundering and terrorism financing risks, the EBA says in its Opinion
• ESMA prepares for switch toward single volume cap in October 2025

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Over €3 million of EU support for 915 dismissed workers in Germany after partial factory closure
• First EU Anti-Poverty Strategy enters public consultation phase
• Commission starts second-stage talks with social partners on right to disconnect and fair telework

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• European Commission launches a call for evidence on its future climate adaptation plan - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 24 July 2025 - 04 September 2025
• Commission invites feedback on future environmental legislation simplification - Feedback period: 22 July 2025 - 10 September 2025

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

EFSA

• Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Coccus viridis
• Scientific Opinion - Guidance on the use of read‐across for chemical safety assessment in food and feed - Public consultation 
• Updated peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance metalaxyl‐M (amendment of approval conditions)
• Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process Starlinger recoSTAR PET iV+ used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
• Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process EREMA VACUNITE (Erema Vacurema Basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐LeaN) used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Call for evidence: Clean corporate vehicles - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period - 25 July 2025 - 08 September 2025
• Call for evidence: Targeted revision of Regulation (EU) 2021/782 on rail passengers’ rights and obligations - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 28 July 2025 - 22 September 2025
• Europe’s roads and rail unfit for war with Russia, EU transport chief warns - Brussels aims to spend €17bn on upgrading transport networks to be prepared for conflict - Financial Times

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Minutes - 90th meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee - 02 July 2025
• Minutes - 5th Meeting of the Digital Markets Act - Data related obligations sub-group to the High-Level Group for the Digital Markets Act - 20 May 2025
• Towards clear guidance for remote data processing solutions under the CRA - See DigitalEurope Policy Paper

EURO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Commission endorses Croatia's sixth payment request for €835.6 million under the NextGenerationEU
• ECB to adapt collateral framework to address climate-related transition risks
• ECB Consumer Expectations Survey results – June 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Commission paves the way for Moldova to join the Creative Europe programme - Midday Express
• Commission proposes partial suspension of Israel's association to Horizon Europe
• Commissioner Šuica attends the High-Level Conference on the two-state solution for Palestine - Read the Speech