Europe Daily News, 28 January 2022

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES

HEALTH

• Data on COVID-19 vaccination in the EU/EEA - ECDC
• Data on the daily number of new reported COVID-19 cases and deaths by EU/EEA country - ECDC
• Societal pressure from unprecedented Omicron spread can be eased through increased vaccination uptake - ECDC
• Guidance on ending the isolation period for people with COVID-19, third update - Technical report - 28 Jan 2022 - ECDC
• Assessment of the further spread and potential impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern in the EU/EEA, 19th update - ECDC

STATE AID

• Commission approves Czech scheme, including €8.3 million budget increase, to support travel agencies affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.101455) - Midday Express
• Commission approves the renewal of an Italian scheme to support companies active in agriculture, forestry, fishery, aquaculture and related sectors, including €500 million budget increase, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.101474) - Midday Express

ECONOMY

• EIB Group increases financing to a record €95 billion in 2021, helping the European Union fight the pandemic and speed up the green and digital transformation 

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10301 - CVC / Ethniki)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10592 - KKR / Köber  / Köber Supply Chain Software Management)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10371 - Sibur / TAIF)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10545 - PSA / TIL / PNIT)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10448 - Mabanaft  / H&R / P2X)
• Commission clears acquisition of Kustomer by Meta (formerly Facebook), subject to conditions (M.10262) - IP/22/652 
• SK Capital Partners’ Seqens acquisition: EU publishes clearance decision - See Case M.10503
• Commission clears acquisition of sole control of Voith Hydro by Voith (M.10547) - Midday Express
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of BAM Galère by Thomas & Piron
• Germany - List of Notified Merger Projects & 2nd phase proceedings
• Hungary - 2021 was a year of fight against cartels, but attention was also drawn to rapid investigations for the benefit of consumers - See the Report

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU- Cases where the Commission raises no objections

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature (Sub-Section Mec/Misc/Tex) of 14 to 16 February 2022
• Draft Opinion by MEP Karin Karlsbro: "Establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism" - Amendments 69-412 & Amendments 413-548
• Draft Report by MEP Geert Bourgeois: "EU-India future trade and investment cooperation"
• Regulation (EU) 2022/111 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/216 as regards the Union tariff rate quota for high-quality beef from Paraguay
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/116 of 27 January 2022 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of acesulfame potassium 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
• ‘Assessing the political dialogue and cooperation pillar of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement: towards a bi-regional strategic partnership?’ - In-Depth Analysis for the EP AFET Committee
• WTO - Egypt - Registration requirements relating to the importation of certain products - Request for consultations by the European Union 
• Statement by EVP Valdis Dombrovskis on Launch of Case at World Trade Organization 
• Speech by EVP Valdis Dombrovskis at French Presidency Conference "For a More Sustainable and Responsible Trade"
• Towards more sustainable and responsible trade - French Presidency Statement 
• UK-EU trade talks put on pause as Johnson uncertainty persists - A new prime minister could dramatically change the political calculations in Brussels and in Westminster - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Mission-oriented Policy: principles, typology and practices - Powerpoint presentation (Informal videoconference of the Research WP members 27.01.2022)
• Malta: EIB Group and Bank of Valletta to provide additional €28 million in financing to Maltese SMEs
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Halt in magnesium supply from China
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Common charger for portable devices 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• ESMA consults on CCP anti-procyclicality measures
• EBA amends standards on currencies with constraints on the availability of liquid assets
• EIB criticises Brussels’ sustainable finance rules - Luxembourg-based organisation will not invest in nuclear power and finds specifications on gas too complicated - Financial Times 

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels of 02 February 2022
• Eurostat: Commission adopts amendment to energy statistics to further support the European Green Deal - See the Proposal 

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Veterinary medicines: New rules to promote animal health and fight antimicrobial resistance now apply - IP/22/663
• Humanitarian aid: €21 million for assistance in Philippines, Nepal and South East Asia - IP/22/645
• European Health Union: new rules to improve clinical trials in the EU - Midday Express
  
• Safety Gate: the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products - Report-2022/4

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Decision No 2/2021 of the Joint European Union/Switzerland Air Transport Committee set up under the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport of 8 December 2021 replacing the Annex to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on Air Transport
• Position (EU) No 1/2022 of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2006/1/EC on the use of vehicles hired without drivers for the carriage of goods by road - Adopted by the Council on 20 December 2021 & Statement of the Council’s reasons
• Serbia: EIB provides €500 000 grant to ensure sustainable future of urban mobility in Niš

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Belgium and The Netherlands: EIB and DPG Media Group - EUR 100m for the further digitalisation of media platforms 
• WhatsApp under pressure to clarify practices following consumer groups’ complaint - See Beuc Statement

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• ENISA explores how to engineer data protection principles
• ESRB recommends establishing a systemic cyber incident coordination framework
• ESAs welcome ESRB Recommendation to create a pan-European systemic cyber incident coordination framework
• Opinion of Advocate General L Jean Ricard de la Tour of 27 January 2022 in Case C-534/20, Leistritz AG v LH
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - Article 38(3), second sentence - Data protection officer - Prohibition on removal from office for the performance of his duties - Legal basis - Article 16 TFEU - Validity - Requirement of functional independence - Scope of harmonisation - National legislation prohibiting the dismissal of a data protection officer in the absence of a serious reason - Data protection officer compulsorily appointed under national law ( no English version available)

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Speech by President Charles Michel at the EP special plenary meeting on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• The digital euro: policy implications and perspectives - Study for the EP ECON Committee
• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: December 2021
• ECB - Euro area economic and financial developments by institutional sector: third quarter of 2021

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Minutes of the Meeting of the Coreper of 05, 12 & 14 January 2022
• Commissioners' weekly activities from 31 January to 06 February 2022

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/118 of 27 January 2022 amending Decision 2011/72/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/113 of 27 January 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/117 of 27 January 2022 amending for the 328th 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
• New Russian gas projects face sanctions if Ukraine attacked - EU and UK proposals being drawn up with US support would curtail financing and technology transfer - Financial Times