November 10, 2021

Europe Daily News, 10 November 2021

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EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES

HEALTH

  • Coronavirus: Commission approves contract with Valneva to secure a new potential vaccine - IP/21/5784
  • EMA starts evaluating use of COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax in children aged 6 to 11

STATE AID

  • Commission approves €4.5 billion Italian scheme to support companies and the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak (SA.100091 and SA.100155) - IP/21/5881
  • Commission approves €245 million Italian scheme to support the textile, fashion and accessories sector in the context of the coronavirus outbreak (SA.100204) - Midday Express

ECONOMY

  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour productivity growth by Paloma Lopez-GarciaBéla Szörfi - Economic Bulletin Issue 7, 2021

TRAVEL

  • Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/1945 of 9 November 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction

COMPETITION

  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10018 - ifm electronic/Endress+ Hauser Group Services/Automation24/Process+Lab Devices Online)
  • The General Court largely dismisses Google’s action against the decision of the Commission finding that Google abused its dominant position by favouring its own comparison shopping service over competing comparison shopping services - The General Court upholds the fine of €2.42 billion imposed on Google (See CPR No.197/21 - Judgment in Case T-612/17 - Google and Alphabet Vs. Commission (Google Shopping)) - see also Beuc reaction
  • Antitrust: General Court confirms the Commission Google Search case - Midday Express
  • Commission approves acquisition of joint control of 20-20 and Compusoft by Genstar Capital and TA Associates (M.10385)  - Midday Express
  • Commission clears acquisition of CeramTec by CPP Investments and BC Partners (M.10478) - Midday Express
  • France - The General Rapporteur of the Autorité de la concurrence indicates that unannounced inspections have been carried out in the food retail sector

STATE AID

  • Judgment of the General Court of 10 November 2021 in Case T-678/20, Solar Electric and Others Vs. European Commission
    Re: State aid - Market for electricity produced from renewable energy sources, including photovoltaic energy - Obligation under French law to purchase electricity at a price higher than the market price - Rejection of a complaint - Articles 12(1) and 24(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 - Scope
  • Commission Decision (EU) 2021/1943 of 14 June 2021 on the State aid SA.33797 (2013/C) (ex 2013/NN, ex 2011/CP) implemented by Slovakia for NCHZ

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union of 12 November 2021
  • Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) of 17 November 2021
  • Agenda for: Council of the European Union (Foreign Affairs/Trade) of 11 November 2021
  • Council Decision (EU) 2021/1939 of 9 November 2021 on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU within the Trade Committee established by the Trade Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, of the other part, as regards modifications to Appendices 2, 2A and 5 to Annex II to that Agreement
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1934 of 30 July 2021 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 as regards certain provisions relating to the origin of goods
  • Decision No 1/2021 of the Specialised Committee established by Article 8(1)(r) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, of 28 September 2021 as regards the extension of the period referred to in Article 540(3) during which DNA profiles and dactyloscopic data can be exchanged with the United Kingdom
  • Impact of trade chapters of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreements with six partners: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia - Summary of the Staff Working Document
  • Brussels considers Brexit options to deal with UK threats Premium content - EU faces calls from some member states to tear up trade agreement - Financial Times
  • EU has ‘no option’ but to retaliate if UK suspends N. Ireland protocol - Leo Varadkar says Ireland making contingency preparations in case London acts unilaterally - Financial Times
  • Everything you need to know about the EU’s proposal for Northern Ireland trade - European Commission plans seek to address UK concerns about post-Brexit trade in N. Ireland - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Industry) of 15 November 2021
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Internal Market) of 11 November 2021
  • Draft - Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... amending Directive 2009/81/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council in respect of the thresholds for supply, service and works contracts
  • Judgment of the General Court of 10 November 2021 in Case T‑661/19, Sasol Germany GmbH, SI Group – Béthune, BASF SE, Vs. European Commission, supported by Federal Republic of Germany and by European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
    Re: REACH - Substances of very high concern - Establishment of a list of identified substances with a view to their eventual inclusion in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 - Decision identifying the substance 4-tert-butylphenol as a substance meeting the criteria for inclusion in the list - Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 - Weight of evidence approach - Manifest error of assessment - Proportionality

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • The General Court confirms that the sign representing the crest of the football club AC Milan cannot be registered internationally as a trade mark designating the Union for stationery and office supplies (See CPR Nº 198/2021 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-353/20, AC Milan Vs. EUIPO - InterES (ACM 1899 AC MILAN))
  • Judgment of the General Court of 10 November 2021 in Case T‑193/20, Eternit, Vs. European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Eternit Österreich GmbH
    Re: Community design - Invalidity proceedings - Community design representing a building panel - Earlier design representing a panel for a noise-reduction wall - Ground for invalidity - No individual character - Sector concerned - Informed user - Degree of freedom of the designer – No different overall impression - Relevance of goods actually marketed - Article 6 and Article 25(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 6/2002

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Commissioner McGuinness in Finland to discuss sustainable finance and the EU taxonomy and meet high-level members of the government - Midday Express
  • EBA publishes Guidelines on recovery plan indicators

TAXATION

ENERGY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Energy of 11 November 2021
  • ACER - Trans-European Energy Infrastructure: selection of Projects of Common Interest moving towards decarbonisation targets - see electricity PCI Opinion (its Annex) and the gas PCI Opinion - 03.10.2021
  • ACER and the CEER published the new edition of the Electricity Wholesale Markets Volume of the 2020 Market Monitoring Report (MMR) - 04.10.2021
  • Gazprom makes slow start on boosting gas supplies to Europe - Markets react tepidly as volumes remain too low to stave off supply fears - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • EU at COP26: Commission pledges €100 million to the Adaptation Fund - IP/21/5886
  • Commissioner Sinkevičius on official visit to Greece to discuss the European Green Deal and visit burnt areas - Midday Express
  • EVP Timmermans' remarks at the high-level plenary session at COP26

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • ECDC released an updated version of its COVID- 19 Vaccine Tracker with additional information, new indicators, and improved features for visualisation

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

  • Agenda for: 77th meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee of 09 December 2021
  • Commission to invest nearly €2 billion from the Digital Europe Programme to advance on the digital transition - IP/21/5863, FactSheet

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • EFTA - ESA calls on Norway to fully implement data link services to improve air traffic management

AREA OF FREEDOM SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Council Decision (EU) 2021/1940 of 9 November 2021 on the partial suspension of the application of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Belarus on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
  • Report from the Commission on the state of play of preparations for the full implementation of the Interoperability Regulations in accordance with Article 78(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/817 and Article 74(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/818
  • The General Court dismisses Romania’s action against the Commission’s decision registering the proposed citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures’ (See CPR Nº 199/2021 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-495/19, Romania Vs. Commission)

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Outcome of the 3822nd Council meeting of the Economic & Financial Affairs of 9 November 2021 - See Remarks by EVP Dombrovskis
  • Scarring effects of the pandemic on the global economy – reviewing recent evidence by Julia DoleschelAna-Simona Manu - Economic Bulletin Issue 7, 2021
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour productivity growth by Paloma Lopez-GarciaBéla Szörfi - Economic Bulletin Issue 7, 2021
  • Key factors behind productivity trends in euro area countries by Paloma Lopez-GarciaBéla Szörfi - Economic Bulletin Issue 7, 2021
  • Speech by Isabel Schnabel: “Diversity and Inclusion in Economics, Finance, and Central Banking”
  • ECB - Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 5 November 2021

FUTURE OF EUROPE

  • Agenda for: 1st Meeting of the CEG on the Common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage of 16 & 17 November 2021
  • "State of Europe" - Speech by President Charles Michel at the Berlin Conference 2021

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Judgment of the Court of 10 November 2021 in Case T-218/20, Waseem Alkattan Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures taken against Syria - Freezing of funds - Obligation to state reasons - Rights of the defence - Right to a fair trial - Error of assessment - Determination of the criteria for inclusion
  • The Council adopted a decision to amend Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2016/44 and Annexes II and IV to Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 - See Regulation (EU) 2021/1932 and Decision (CFSP) 2021/1942
  • President von der Leyen in United States to meet President Biden and receive Atlantic Council's Distinguished Leadership Award - Midday Express

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