Europe Daily News, 11 February 2022

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10590 - PAI Partners / OTPP / Veonet)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10587 - Blackstone / Warburg Pincus / INTRAFI Group)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10543 - Biscuit Holding / Continental Bakeries Holding)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10515 - Iliad / UPC Polska)
• Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Anti-competitive behaviour of European Retail Alliances (ERAs)
• Austria - AFCA files application to impose fine on submetering provider
• Belgium - Competition Authority approves the merger between Water-Link and Pidpa
• Belgium - Law of 2 February 2021 containing various provisions relating to the Economy (publication of provisions related to book IV CEL)
• Germany - Fines imposed on manufacturers of modular expansion joints for bridges involved in a quota cartel
• Germany - Approval of the takeover of the OMV petrol station network by EG Group (Esso) on condition that 48 sites are sold to third parties
• The Netherlands - Drug manufacturer Pfizer to discontinue its steering pricing structure for Enbrel following discussions with ACM
• The Netherlands - ACM imposes a fine for misleading telemarketing practices regarding puzzle subscriptions
• Malta - Abandonment of Proposed Acquisition by Lidl Immobiliare Malta Limited of property at Zabbar belonging to Said Investments Limited and leases belonging to Scotts Limited
• Poland - UoKiK - The year 2021 was a record year in terms of business mergers and acquisitions
• Portugal - The AdC issued a non-opposition decision to the merger 2/2022 - GRP III/Ionity
• Romania - The Competition Council assesses the transaction by which Max Bau Materiale S.R.L. intends to take over Dragmat S.R.L.
• Romania - The Competition Council is analysing the transaction by which Autonom Services S.A. intends to take over Premium Leasing S.R.L., part of the Țiriac group.
• UK - CMA to keep ‘close eye’ on Google as it secures final Privacy Sandbox commitments
• UK - In view of the evidence available to the CMA at this stage, the CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order in the IAA, Inc. / SYNETIQ Holdings Limited merger
• European Publishers Council files EU Complaint against Google for Anti-Competitive Ad Tech practices - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
• Commission approves extension of French scheme to encourage risk investments in innovative SMEs (SA.100943) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €48.62 million Finnish aid measure to compensate Finnair for the damage suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic (SA.63668) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Customs Business Group (CBG) on EMSWe jointly with the 4th meeting of the EMSWe Expert sub-group of the HLSG for Governance of the Digital Maritime System and Services of 23-24 February 2022
• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions of 15 February 2022
• Open public consultation on the Trade and Sustainable Development Review:
  - Enforcing TSD provisions - Factsheet
  - Implementation TSD provisions - Factsheet
  - Challenges & opportunities in public submission processes for non-compliance - Factsheet
  - Assessing other countries’ experience in TSD implementation and enforcement - Factsheet
• Comparative Analysis of Trade and Sustainable Development Provisions in Free Trade Agreements - Final report
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Consideration of citrus fruits as ‘highly sensitive products’ in negotiations with third countries
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Effective enforcement of compulsory licences and exemptions from intellectual property requirements to stimulate vaccine production
• UK Single Trade Window - Policy discussion paper - Updated 11 February 2022

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on "Competitiveness & Growth” (Industry) of 14 February 2022
• General Safety Regulation - Secondary Legislation as of 27.01.2022
• Speech by Commissioner Breton at the "EU Industry Days"

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• ESMA finds high level of divergence in disclosure of ESG factors in credit ratings
• Speech by ESMA's Verena Ross - Keeping on track in an evolving digital world
• UK-EU rule split risks complexity for ESG investors - Confusion and extra costs could be in store for British savers - Financial Times 

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - EU gas storage facilities under Gazprom control
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Energy crisis in the Republic of Moldova

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• One Ocean Summit: new steps strengthen EU leadership in protecting the Ocean - IP/22/843, FactSheet & Speech by President von der Leyen
• MEPs want to strengthen new EU rules for design, production and disposal of batteries
• Circular business models and smarter design can reduce environment and climate impacts from textiles - See EEA Briefing

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/187 of 10 February 2022 authorising the placing on the market of cetylated fatty acids as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470
• Novel foods: house cricket becomes third insect authorised as food ingredient for the EU market - see the Q&A
• EMA - Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 7 - 10 February 2022
• EFSA - Multi‐country outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis sequence type (ST)11 infections linked to eggs and egg products - 8 February 2022

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for 78th meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee of 09 March 2022
• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunication & Information Society of 14 February 2022
• 112 Day: saving lives by quickly and easily reaching emergency services anywhere in the EU
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Agreement on extending free roaming until 2032 

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Answer given by Mr Reynders to a MEP written question - Access to health records for mother and baby home survivors

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for Committee on Road Transport of 18 February 2022
• Minutes of the First meeting of the Specialised Committee on Road Transport of 24 November 2021

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Interview with Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, conducted by Andreas Niesmann and Tim Szent-Ivany
• Bank risk-taking and impaired monetary policy transmission - Working Paper Series No.2638
• The financial accelerator mechanism: does frequency? - Working Paper Series No.2637

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Minutes of the Meeting of the Coreper of 26 and 28 January 2022
• Final draft agenda for the sittings of 14 - 17 February 2022

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for : Meeting of the Conventional Arms Exports subgroup (COARM) of the Working Party on Non-Proliferation and Arms Exports of 21 February 2022
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/183 of 10 February 2022 implementing Article 21(5) of Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2022/189 of 10 February 2022 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya 
• Sudan: Statement by the Spokesperson and partners on the arrests and detentions in the country
• Russia: Statement by the High Representative on the EU response to Minister Lavrov’s letters
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: Statement by the Spokesperson on the vote in Republika Srpska
• EU-Africa: Global Gateway Investment Package
• UK to make new offer on Northern Ireland in talks with EU - Foreign secretary says resolving row with Brussels is ‘absolute priority’ - Financial Times