Europe Daily News, 15 October 2021 | Perspectives & Events

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH

Statement by Commissioner Kyriakides on EU Flu Awareness Week
ECDC supports Member States to increase COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and uptake in the EU/EEA
ECDC - Facilitating COVID-19 vaccination acceptance and uptake in the EU/EEA
ECDC - Salmonellosis outbreak linked to imported sesame-based products
Answer given by to a MEP written question - Ending RT-PCR tests, which are causing numerous errors

STATE AID

Commission approves €45 million Belgian scheme to support companies affected by the coronavirus outbreak (SA.64775) - Midday Express

COMPETITION

Agenda for: Working Party on Competition of 20 October 2021
Summary of Commission Decision of 20 May 2021 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.40324 - European Government Bonds)
- Final Report of the Hearing Officer
- Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive agreements and dominant positions at its meeting on 19 May 2021
Summary of Commission Decision of 28 April 2021 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.40346 - SSA Bonds)
- Final Report of the Hearing Officer
- Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive agreements and dominant positions at its meeting on 26 April 2021
Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10460 - DMK/Uelzena/Niesky/ Milchtrocknung Südhannover)
Commission clears acquisition of joint control of BBG by Bain Capital and CTI (M.10490) - Midday Express
Commission clears joint venture between Galileo and M6 (M.10338) - Midday Express
Austria - Fine against SMS group GmbH for prohibited implementation of a merger
Lithuania - Competition Authority terminates merger review process in cinema market Midday Express
UK - Start of CMA Merger Investigation: anticipated acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. of PPD, Inc.

STATE AID

Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
Commission approves €120 million Spanish scheme to support transformation and modernisation of greenhouses (SA.64328) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

Revised Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputy Members) of 15 October 2021
Revised Agenda for: Export Credits Group of 18 October 2021
Information concerning the entry into force of the Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tunisia, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1811 of 14 October 2021 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of calcium silicon originating in the People’s Republic of China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1812 of 14 October 2021 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain graphite electrode systems originating in the People’s Republic of China
Commission notice concerning the application of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin or the protocols on rules of origin providing for diagonal cumulation between the Contracting Parties to this Convention
Ongoing bilateral and regional negotiations - State of play of the Free trade agreements and other agreeements

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1813 of 14 October 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/436 as regards harmonised standards for aircraft ground support equipment, cranes, mining tools, and other machinery drafted in support of Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/27
The Future of the EU Automotive Sector - Study - EP ITRE Committee
A common charger: better for consumers and the environment - See EP Statement

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Agenda for: Working party on Financial Services and the Banking Union (Financial services) - Sustainable Finance / European Green Bond (full day) - Attachés + experts of 19 October 2021
Opening remark by Ms. Tuominen's is the Vice Chair of ESMA at the annual hearing of the EP ECON Committee, together with the Chairmen of the EBA and EIOPA - See the Annex
EBA repeals its Guidelines on the security of internet payments under the former Payments Services Directive (PSD1)
EBA points to still elevated benchmark rate transition risks

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

Social protection for drivers: European Commission and European Labour Authority join Europe-wide enforcement action

ENERGY

Quarterly market reports confirm globalised nature of gas market imbalance - Wholesale gas prices in Europe already experienced a significant rise in the second quarter of 2021
Presentation by Ms Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General in DG ENER of the revision of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Directives
Presentation by Commissioner Simson on measures to tackle energy price rises
Exchange of views with the Commission on the future of Euratom
Answer given by Commissioner to a MEP written question - Safety of the energy switch to hydrogen

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Synergies / Int. Chemicals) of 20 October 2021
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Third meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Part 1) (Online, 23 August - 3 September 2021) – Statements and written submissions by the EU and its Member States
– Report by the Presidency and the Commission

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1810 of 14 October 2021 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the MRLs for cyprodinil in blueberries, cranberries, currants and gooseberries
Animal welfare: Commission launches wide-ranging public consultation on ambitious review of legislation - Midday Express
EFSA - Salmonellosis outbreak linked to imported sesame-based products

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

Roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union (recast) - see the Report by MEP Angelika Winzig, its Amendments, the IMCO Opinion
MEPs want improved roaming experience and cheaper calls to other EU countries for consumers - see Beuc Statement
Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Broadband

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

EU Anti-Trafficking Day: Commissioner Johansson to participate in online event with focus on trafficking of children - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

Tailoring prudential policy to bank size. The application of proportionality in the US and euro area - In-Depth Analysis - EP ECON Committee

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament on the activities and consultations of the Anti-Torture Coordination Group referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2019/125 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on export authorisation in 2020 pursuant to the Regulation concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
Ukraine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the census and conscription campaign in Crimea
Myanmar: Joint Statement of Support for the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair
United States: HR/VP Josep Borrell met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken

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