COMPETITION
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.9707 — Aperam Alloys Imphy/Tekna Plasma Europe/ImphyTek Powders)
  • Italy - The AGCM and CONI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding
  • Portugal - The Competition Authority Council adopted a non-opposition decision in merger 2/2020 - Bidco I / Prifalesia
  • Croatia - Competition Agency (CCA) assessed the concentration between the undertakings Slovenia Broadband (SBB) and Tele2 as compatible.
  • Croatia - Implementation of remedies in concentration HT/Optima
  • Sweden - A new research report analyses the number of bidders and the level of litigation in Swedish public procurement - See the Report
  • UK - CMA serves initial enforcement order in Takeaway.com / Just Eat merger
  • UK - CMA publishes addendum revising provisional findings on four radio acquisitions by Bauer Media Group
  • UK - CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry into the completed acquisition of GBST Holdings Limited by FNZ (Australia) Bidco Pty Ltd.
  • UK - CMA announced its inquiry into the anticipated merger of Flutter Entertainment plc and The Stars Group Inc.  
  • Boris Johnson: UK will not undercut EU competition rules - However, British PM refuses to sign up to Brussels’ level playing field rules - Politico.eu

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for:Meeting of the Customs Expert Group, Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section, HS/WCO Coordination Sector of 03- 05 March 2020
  • Agenda for: 18th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Data Integration and Harmonization section joint with 96th Customs Code Committee General Legislation and 57th ECCG of 06 February 2020
  • Agenda for: UCC Centralised Clearance Import Functional Specifications Phase 2 of 10 &11 February 2020
  • Notice of the impending inquiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Tube and pipe fittings of iron or steel; The P.R. of China; 29 October 2020)
  • Arbitration panel established on Ukraine’s wood export ban – deadline for submissions
  • Civil Society Dialogue - Interim Report - SIA in support of Association agreement negotiations between the EU and Mercosur - 15 October 2019
  • WTO - Appellate Body issues report regarding Russian measures on imported railway equipment (see the findings and conclusions)

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Commodities of 7 February 2020

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • ESMA launches a Common Supervisory Action with NCAs on MiFID II suitability rules
  • ESMA amends guidelines to further harmonise the enforcement of financial information by national regulators
  • European regulators steps up dark pools campaign - Financial Times

TAXATION

  • Report - VAT scheme for travel agents (evaluation) - Feedback period/ 04.02.2020 - 03.03.2020
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation - VAT) of 14 February 2020

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Horizontal Agricultural Questions (CAP Reform) of 06-07 February 2020
  • Agenda for: Special Committee on Agriculture of 10 February 2020
    - Discussion paper related to Article 60a of the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation
    - Discussion paper related to GAEC9 (Annex III of the Strategic Plans Regulation)
  • Agenda for: Expert Group for Agricultural Markets, in particular concerning aspects falling under the single CMO: Wine & Spirit Drinks of 13 February 2020

ENERGY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Energy of 11 February 2020
  • Answer given by Ms Simon to a MEP written question - Colombian palm oil
  • Answer given by Ms Simon to a MEP written question - Interconnecting the Sines liquefied natural gas terminal with the rest of the EU

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues - Desertification of 19 February 2020
  • Report from the Commission - 2019 report on the statistics on the use of animals for scientific purposes in the Member States of the European Union in 2015-2017
  • Report from the Commission on the implementation of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes in the Member States of the European Union
  • European Union continues to phase-down its use of climate-warming fluorinated gases - See EEA Statement and Report
  • Walking, cycling and public transport in cities remain greener mobility options than electric scooters or car ride-hailing  - See EEA Statement and Report
  • Answer given by Mr Timmermans to a MEP written question - Review of the EU’s climate policy in the light of the Union’s principle of proportionality
  • Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - Recovery of plastics at sea

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCTS SAFETY

  • EMA to support development of vaccines and treatments for novel coronavirus
  • European authorities working to avoid shortages of medicines due to Brexit – See EMA Q&A
  • Speech by Commissioner Kyriakides - Europe's Beating Cancer Plan: Making the Personal Political
  • Speech by President von der Leyen at the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan conference
  • Health Policy Platform webinar on Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan - The next steps in the consultation process (06 February 2020, 14.30-16.00 CET)
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriasdes to a MEP written question - Study in the USA warning of the presence of carcinogenic chemicals in various cereals

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Judgment of the Court of 05 February 2020 in Case C‑341/18, Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid Vs. J. and Others, intervener: C. and H. and Others
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EU) 2016/399 - Schengen Borders Code - Control at the external borders - Third-country nationals - Article 11(1) - Affixing of stamps on travel documents - Exit stamp - Determination of the time of exit from the Schengen area - Signing-on of seamen with ships that are in long-term mooring in a sea port
  • Answer given by Mr Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Upholding legitimate access to information about trusts suspected of harbouring dirty money in the transposition of the Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive in the UK

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Third-party access to vehicle data
  • Focus on virtual currencies in latest Cybercrime Judicial Monitor - Eurojust - 5th Cybercrime Judicial Monitor
  •  Ireland - Data Protection Commission launches Statutory Inquiry into
    - Google’s processing of location data and transparency surrounding that processing
    - MTCH Technology Services Limited (Tinder)
  • UK - ICO celebrates excellence in data protection with third annual award for practitioners

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Commission presents review of EU economic governance and launches debate on its future - See the Q&A, the Communication
  • Speech by Philip R. Lane: The future of the euro
  • Communication During Unconventional Times: The ECB’s Approach - In-Depth Analysis - EP ECOFIN Committee

BREXIT

  • Brexit: European Commission publishes template of Note Verbale regarding application of EU international agreements to the UK during the transition period
  • 5 potential clashes in the next phase of Brexit talks - Michel Barnier and Boris Johnson set out their negotiating stances ahead of the future relationship talks - Politico.eu

EXTERNAL RELATIONS