COMPETITION

  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9636 — American Securities/Lindsay Goldberg/AECOM Management Services)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9274 — GlaxoSmithKline/Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Business)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.9667 — BlackRock Group/Raffles/Kellas Group)
  • Commission approves Synthomer's acquisition of Omnova, subject to conditions (M.9502)
  • Commission refers to the Netherlands the assessment of the creation of a joint venture by NS and PON group (M.9545) - Midday Express
  • Belgium - Decision of the Competition College of the BCA in the context of the concentration Dossche Mills / Ceres
  • Germany - Bundeskartellamt publication on “Algorithms and Competition“
  • Ireland - CCPC requires commitment from CVC to secure approval of certain ownership interests in Celtic Rugby DAC
  • Romania - The Competition Council opened an investigation on the Sanitatation market in Mures county
  • Switzerland - Comco probes cartels in optical network-products auction (FR, DE & IT)

STATE AID

  • Judgment of the General Court of 16 January 2020 in Case T‑257/18, Iberpotash, SA, Vs. European Commission
    Re: State aid - Mining sector - Measure consisting (i) in the reduction of financial guarantees for the restoration of mining sites and (ii) in State investment for the restoration of mining sites ensuring a higher level of environmental protection - Decision declaring aid partly incompatible with the internal market and ordering its recovery - Concept of ‘aid’ - Advantage - Transfer of State resources - Selective nature - Legitimate expectations - Legal certainty - Calculation of the amount of the aid
  • Opinion of Advocate General Julianne Kokott of 16 January 2020 in Case C-456/18 P, Hungary against European Commission
    Re: Appeal - State aid - Decision to initiate the procedure laid down in Article 108(2) TFEU - Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 - Article 11(1) - Suspension order - Possibility of challenging the suspension order - Interest in acting despite the lapse of time - Use by the Commission of its discretion when adopting a suspension order - Proportionality - Obligation to state reasons
  • Commission consults stakeholders on prolongation of EU State aid rules applicable to the agriculture, forestry, fishery and aquaculture sectors
  • Commission approves prolongation of Greek bank guarantee scheme - SA.55767 - Midday Express
  • IAG complains to Brussels over Flybe rescue - See also the HM Treasury Statement

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • UCC Centralised Clearance Import Functional Specifications Phase 2
  • Working Documents of the Commission Expert Group on Trade and Sustainable Development of 22 January 2020
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/35 of 15 January 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159 imposing definitive safeguard measures against imports of certain steel products

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the REACH Committee of 04 February 2020
    - Draft - Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH as regards diisocyanates
    - Draft - Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH as regards lead in gunshot in or around wetlands
  • Four new substances added to Candidate List - ECHA/PR/20/02

TAXATION

  • Agenda for: Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) of 04 February 2020
  • Common system of value added tax as regards the special scheme for small enterprises - Text adopted in Plenary Session on 15 January 2020

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

ENERGY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Energy of 21 January 2020

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • Cohesion Policy: European Commission invests in high-speed rail connection in Galicia - Midday Express

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Council position and findings on the application of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - Adoption

FUTURE OF EUROPE & BREXIT

  • Lords examines European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill
  • Withdrawal Agreement Bill 2019-20: House of Lords Constitution Committee report
  • Speech by President von der Leyen at the dinner hosted by Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland
  • Remarks by President von der Leyen at the joint press point with Leo Varadkar, Taoiseach of Ireland
  • Number of members in Parliament’s committees to change after Brexit - See the EP Statement
  • Brexit: MEPs concerned about citizens' rights - See the EP Statement & the Resolution
  • Citizens to be the cornerstone of the Conference on the Future of Europe - See the EP Statement & the Resolution
  • Merkel doubles down on Europe - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Agenda for: Foreign Relations Counsellors of 16 January 2020
  • Drought in southern Africa: EU releases over €22 million in humanitarian aid
  • The King of Jordan underlined the importance of peace in the Middle East during an address to MEPs in Strasbourg
  • Annual report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy - See the EP Resolution
  • Rouhani asks Europe to stick ny nuclear deal - Financial Times