EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES

HEALTH

  • Weekly epidemiological update: Omicron variant of concern (VOC) - week 2 (data as of 20 January 2022) EU/EEA - ECDC 

ECONOMY

  • NextGenerationEU: European Commission disburses €271 million in pre-financing to Finland - IP/22/430

EMPLOYMENT

  • Council Implementing Decision amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1561 granting temporary support under Regulation (EU) 2020/672 to Hungary,  to the Portuguese Republic to mitigate unemployment risks in the emergency following the COVID-19 outbreak

COMPETITION

STATE AID

  • Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
  • Commission approves 2022-2027 regional aid map for France - IP/22/427

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Working Group on Customs Union of 25 January 2022
  • Commission notice concerning the application of the transitional rules of origin providing for diagonal cumulation between the applying Contracting Parties in the pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) zone
  • Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel; Brazil, Iran, Russia and Ukraine; 07.10.2022)
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/83 of 16 January 2022 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature 
  • EU challenges Russian export restrictions on wood at WTO - IP/22/410

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Agenda for: Working Group on Competitiveness & Growth on 3 February 2022 - Global attractiveness of the Single Market
  • Minutes of the 23rd meeting of the Committee on Standards of 10 December 2022 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Opinion of Advocate General Collins of 20 January 2022 in Case C‑572/20, ACC Silicones Ltd Vs. Bundeszentralamt für Steuern
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Articles 63 and 65 TFEU - Free movement of capital - Distribution of dividends from ‘free-float’ shares - Reimbursement to a non-resident company of tax on capital income levied in the form of a withholding tax - Condition relating to the situation of shareholders with a direct or indirect equity holding in the company receiving dividends - Requirement to submit a certificate from the tax authorities of the State of residence - Proportionality

TAXATION

  • Commission launches call for contributions on adapting EU VAT rules to the digital age - Consultation period: 21 January 2022 - 15 April 2022 
  • Judgment of the Court of 20 January 2022 in Case C-90/20, Apcoa Parking Danmark A/S Vs. Skatteministeriet
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Article 2(1)(c) - Scope - Taxable transactions - Activities carried out by a company incorporated under private law - Operation of car parks on private land - Control fees levied by that company in the event of failure by the motorists to comply with the general terms and conditions for use of those car parks - Characterisation - Economic and commercial realities of the transactions

ENERGY

  • Intervention by President Charles Michel at the 'Climate and energy in the Africa-Europe partnership' debate 

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Judgment of the Court of 20 January 2022 in Case C-165/20, ET, Vs. Bundesrepublik Deutschland
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading - Directive 2003/87/EC - Article 3e - Inclusion of aviation activities - Directive 2008/101/EC - Allocation and issue of allowances free of charge to aircraft operators - Cessation, by such an operator, of its activities due to insolvency - Decision of the competent national authority refusing to issue allowances to the insolvency administrator of the company in liquidation

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/85 of 20 January 2022 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for flonicamid in or on certain products
  • Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products - Report-2022-3 

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

  • MEPs agreed a draft set of measures to tackle illegal content, to ensure platforms are held accountable for their algorithms, and improve content moderation
  • European Parliament approves rights-respecting DSA & proposes ban on use of sensitive personal data for online ads - See Edri Statement
  • Digital Services Act: Decision in part strengthens, in part threatens privacy, safety and free speech online - See PirateParty Statement
  • IAB Europe urges caution on amendments to the European Parliament’s Negotiating position on the Digital Services Act
  • Unprecedented move against Big Tech’s business model - See Global Witness Statement 

BREXIT

  • The Northern Ireland Protocol must be changed to protect the hard-won peace here: article by Liz Truss 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Agenda for: 6th meeting of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council at Ministerial Level of 25 January 2022
  • Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/84 of 19 January 2022 amending for the 327th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures against certain persons and entities associated with the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida organisations

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