Europe Daily News, 09 February 2022

EU CORONAVIRUS RESPONSES

HEALTH

• ECDC - Data on the daily number of new reported COVID-19 cases & deaths by EU/EEA country
• ECDC - Data on COVID-19 vaccination in the EU/EEA
• EMA evaluating data on booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty in adolescents
• Answer given by Mr Reynders to a MEP written question - Alignment of EU-wide acceptance period of vaccination certificates

STATE AID

• Commission approves €435 million Lithuanian scheme to support the liquidity and investments of companies affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.101400) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €31.5 million Greek scheme to support certain agricultural producers affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.100945) - Midday Express

ECONOMY

• NextGenerationEU: European Commission raises an additional €5 billion in support for Europe's recovery - IP/22/845
• Pandemic hit EU’s poorest regions hardest, report finds - Commission describes several regions as stuck in ‘development trap’ - Financial Times

COMPETITION

• The General Court annuls the decision of the Commission rejecting a complaint against PKP Cargo, a company controlled by the Polish State, concerning an alleged abuse of its dominant position on the market for rail freight transport services in Poland (See CPR No.25/2022 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-791/19, Sped-Pro Vs. Commission)
• Judgment of the Court of 9 February 2022 in Case T-791/19, Sped-Pro S.A., Vs. European Commission, supported by Republic of Poland
  Re: Competition - Abuse of dominant position - Market for rail freight transport services - Decision rejecting a complaint - Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 - Reasonable time-limit - Interest of the Union in pursuing the examination of a complaint - Determination of the authority best placed to examine a complaint - Criteria - Manifest error of assessment Determination of the authority best placed to examine a complaint - Criteria - Manifest error of assessment - Systemic or generalised failings as regards respect for the rule of law - Risk of infringement of a complainant's rights in the event of rejection of a complaint - Obligation to state reasons
  
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10576 - Bain Capital / Hellman & Friedman / AthenaHealth Group)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10582 - Gamalife / Going Concern of Zurich Investments Life)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10595 - Cerberus / HBCE (French Retail Banking))
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10608 - CMA CGM / CLS Business)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10589 - ADT / Ford Next / SNTNL)
• Commission clears acquisition of WCX by AustralianSuper, Transurban, Tawreed and CPP Investments (M.10555) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Sincere cooperation and primacy of EU law: Commission refers UK to EU Court of Justice over a UK Judgment allowing enforcement of an arbitral award granting illegal State aid - IP/22/802
• Commission approves €30 million Spanish scheme under Recovery and Resilience Facility to remove barriers to interoperability in rail freight transport (SA.62983) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €151 million Slovak measure to support construction of two light maintenance workshops for passenger trains (SA.64546) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputies) of 11 February 2022
• Draft Report by MEP Anna Cavazzini on the future of EU international investment policy
• Draft Report by MEP Heidi Hautala: Applying a generalized scheme of tariff preferences and repealing Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - ILO conventions
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Pakistan’s GSP+ status
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - EU reaction to China’s actions against Lithuania
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - The closure of the Chinese medical technology market to EU production
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of steel wind towers originating in China
• WTO DDG Ellard: Multilateralism is the solution to challenges of global commons, unilateralism
• WTO dispute panel issues report regarding US safeguard on large residential washers - (DS546)
• Relief as Tanzania agrees to approve EU trade deal - Businessdailyafrica
• Small UK businesses count the cost of lingering Trump-era steel tariffs - US imports from Britain have fallen 45% in the past five years, while similar barriers with the EU and Japan have been lifted - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Work programme for the trio Presidency for the Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth (High Level), January 2022 - June 2023
• February infringements package: key decisions
• Firearms: Commission refers Sweden to Court of Justice for failing to transpose EU rules on acquisition and possession of firearms - IP/22/433
  
• European Innovation Council: biggest annual funding opportunities for innovators to scale up - IP/22/847, see the 2022 work programme
• Disruptions in supply chains – Business Views – February 2022
• Scientists campaign for UK and Switzerland to join EU programme - Excluding colleagues from Horizon Europe over political disputes is ‘sadomasochistic’ - Financial Times

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Submission of the draft regulatory technical standards on emerging markets and advanced economies for capturing market risk under the strandardized approach
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/174 of 8 February 2022 determining, for a limited period of time, that the regulatory framework applicable to central counterparties in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is equivalent, in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council 

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: CAP Committee of 11 February 2022
• Agenda for: Special Committee on Agriculture of 14 February 2022
• European Commission launches platform to promote production and use of algae in Europe
• Regulation on making available on the EU market and export of products associated with deforestation and forest degradation - Policy debate 

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Controversial draft amendment by the Bulgarian energy regulator to the electricity trading rules

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Protecting biodiversity: EU takes action to prevent introduction of invasive alien species that would damage European nature - IP/22/748
• Urban Waste Water: Commission decides to refer Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union over waste water treatment (Directive 91/271/EEC) - IP/22/581
• Urban Waste Water: Commission decides to refer Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for lack of treatment of its waste waters (Directive 91/271/EEC) - IP/22/582
• Industry calls on EP ENVI to truly make EU ETS for road a success - Clecat

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• EMA - Initiation of DARWIN EU® Coordination Centre advances integration of real-world evidence into assessment of medicines in the EU
• EMA - Public consultation on reflection paper on prophylactic use of antimicrobials in animals

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Harmonising spectrum for enhanced connectivity: ready for 5G and innovation
  - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/172  of 7 February 2022 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1538 on the harmonisation of radio spectrum for use by short-range devices within the 874-876 and 915-921 MHz frequency bands
  - Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/173 of 7 February 2022 on the harmonisation of the 900 MHz and 1 800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union and repealing Decision 2009/766/EC
• Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager on the European Chips Act

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Group on Cyber Issues of 11 February 2022
• ENISA will host the first International Cybersecurity Challenge, a Cyber World Cup
• Guidelines 01/2022 on data subject rights - Right of access
• Opinion 1/2022 on the draft decision of the Luxembourg Supervisory Authority regarding the GDPR - CARPA certification criteria
• The EU must decide how to limit the use of spyware by member states - Accusations the Polish government used NSO technology against political opponents put pressure on Brussels - Financial Times 

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• New Cohesion Report shows that differences between EU regions are narrowing thanks to EU support - IP/22/762, QaA, see the 8th Cohesion Report

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Possible items for College agendas 15 February – 27 July 2022
• Future of Europe: final Citizens’ Panel session on “EU in the world/migration” - See the EP Statement

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Burundi: EU lifts existing restrictions under Article 96 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Moroccan Head of Government Akhannouch
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - European Parliament proposal on the creation of a transatlantic political council
• How could sanctions against Russia hit European economies? - Europe’s energy, trade, manufacturing, banking and markets may be affected if Moscow invades Ukraine - Financial Times