EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE

HEALTH

  • EMA starts evaluating use of COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty in children aged 5 to 11
  • EMA - New manufacturing sites and new formulation approved for COVID-19 vaccine from BioNTech/Pfizer
  • ECDC - COVID-19 surveillance guidance - Transition from COVID-19 emergency surveillance to routine surveillance of respiratory pathogens
  • ECDC - Data on the daily number of new reported COVID-19 cases and deaths by EU/EEA country
  • ECDC - Data on COVID-19 vaccination in the EU/EEA

STATE AID

  • Commission approves €17.7 million Belgian scheme to further support the tourist accommodation sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak (SA.100118) - Midday Express

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

COMPETITION

  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10379 - HDT Automotive Solutions/Veritas)
  • Summary of Commission Decision of 21 December 2020 declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market and the functioning of the EEA Agreement (Case M.9730 - FCA/PSA)
    - Final Report of the Hearing Officer
    - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on mergers
  • Commission clears acquisition of joint control over Medical Solutions by CDPQ and Centerbridge (M.10486) - Midday Express
  • Cyprus - Notification of a concentration regarding the acquisition of the cephalosporin antibiotics business of GlaxoSmithKline plc by Sandoz AG - 14/10/2021
  • Romania - The Competition Council carries out a survey to analyse the impact on competition of procedures issued by local public administrations for the authorization of marketing activity in public areas
  • UK - Start of CMA Merger Investigation: Anticipated acquisition by Scape Living Plc of certain assets of GCP Student Living Plc
  • UK - The CMA has announced its intention to launch a market study into music streaming
  • UK - Ministers launch probe into Meggitt takeover plan - Financial Times

STATE AID

  • Brussels signals extension of looser Covid-era state aid rules - EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager says bloc seeking to extend deadline ‘one last time’ - Financial Times

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1820 of 18 October 2021 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/325 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of high tenacity yarns of polyesters originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1821 of 18 October 2021 accepting a request for new exporting producer treatment with regard to the definitive anti-dumping measures imposed on imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People’s Republic of China and amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1198
  • EU-US Trade and Technology Council: Commission launches consultation platform for stakeholder’s involvement to shape transatlantic cooperation
  • Responses by the European Union to Questions from the Panel to the Third Parties - WT/DS597 - United States - Origin Marking Requirements - Complaint by Hong Kong
  • Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Impact on the Portuguese textile industry of tariff preferences granted to Pakistan
  • EP INTA Hearing on "Investment Policy and Investment Protection Reform" of 26 October 2021 - See the Programme
  • WTO - Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures - Subsidies - New and full notification pursuant to article XVI:1 of the GATT 1994 and article 25 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures - European Union - Hungary Addendum

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1827 of 18 October 2021 on standards for postal services and the improvement of quality of service in support of Directive 97/67/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • Commission collects views on making liability rules fit for the digital age, Artificial Intelligence and circular economy - Consultation period - 18 October 2021 - 10 January 2022
  • DG Growth - Q&A on the 2018 evaluation of the SME Definition (Recommendation 2003/361/EC) - 04 October 2021
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (Tourism) of 20 October 2021
  • ECHA - Highlights from October BPC meeting of 05-14 October 2021

FINANCIAL SERVICES

TAXATION

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

  • Agenda for: Tripartite Social Summit of 20 October 2021
  • Report by MEP Nikolaj Villumsen with recommendations to the Commission on protecting workers from asbestos - See the Amendments

ENERGY

  • The impact of rising energy prices and possible measures at national and EU level - Exchange of views
  • European gas prices surge as traders see no sign of Gazprom raising supply - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (UNECE CLRTAP) of 25 October 2021
  • Report by MEP Maria Spyraki on an EU strategy to reduce methane emissions  - See the Amendments 001-007 and 008-012

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices of 20 October 2021
  • Minutes of the Administrative Cooperation (ADCO) meeting of the Expert Group on Toy Safety of 01 June 2021
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Assessment of the control measures of the category A diseases of Animal Health
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme d‐psicose 3‐epimerase from the GM Corynebacterium glutamicum strain FIS002
  • EFSA - Conclusion on Pesticides - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance Spodoptera exigua multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (SeMNPV)
  • EFSA - conclusion on Pesticides - Peer review of the efficacy as a fungicide of the active substances paraffin oils (CAS 64742‐46‐7 chain lengths C–C, CAS 72623‐86‐0 chain lengths C–C and CAS 97862‐82‐3 chain lengths C–C)
  • ECDC - Response plan to control and manage the threat of multi-and extensively drug-resistant gonorrhoea in Europe

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Correct transposition of the Directive on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Digital Single Market and ban on geoblocking
  • Enisa - EU National Telecom Authorities analyse Security Supervision and Latest Security Threats

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Cybersecurity: Council adopts conclusions on exploring the potential of a joint cyber unit
  • Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on cyber issues of 20 October 2021
  • EDPB launches first coordinated action
  • Ireland - Data Protection Commission (DPC) had the decision to impose an administrative fine on Twitter International Company confirmed in the Dublin Circuit Court

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations with Japan for the amendment of the Agreement between the European Union and Japan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters - Text as adopted by the Council
  • Rule of law: President von der Leyen says the Commission will act to protect EU citizens' rights and common values- See Speech by President von der Leyen
  • Brussels vows to punish Poland for challenging supremacy of EU law - Warsaw could face legal contest, withholding of funds or be stripped of bloc membership rights - Financial Times
  • Poland PM says financial penalties dangerous to EU existence - Financial Times

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Commission relaunches the review of EU economic governance - IP/21/5321 & QaA, see the Communication
  • The challenge of capturing climate risks in the banking regulatory framework: is there a need for a macroprudential response? - ECB Macro-Prudential Bulletin
  • Towards a green capital markets union: developing sustainable, integrated and resilient European capital markets - ECB Macro-Prudential Bulletin
  • Towards a macroprudential stress test and growth-at-risk perspective for climate-related risk - ECB Macro-Prudential Bulletin
  • Travelling down the green brick road: a status quo assessment of the EU taxonomy - ECB Macro-Prudential Bulletin
  • A theoretical case for incorporating climate risk into the prudential framework - ECB Macro-Prudential Bulletin
  • The transmission of euro area monetary policy to financially euroised countries - ECB Working Paper Series - No.2611

FUTURE OF EUROPE

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Main Results of the Foreign Affairs Council of 18 October 2021
    - Bosnia & Herzegovina: Council approves conclusions on EUFOR Operation Althea
    - ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaeda: sanctions regime prolonged until 31 October 2022 - see Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1825
    - The Council adopted a decision regarding restrictive measures in view of the situation in Burundi - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1826
    - The Council adopted a decision and a regulation amending the current restrictive measures against the Central African Republic and in view of its situation - See Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1819 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/1823
  • Moldova: EU highlights the need for continued implementation of the reform agenda - IP/21/5368 & Report

 

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