Europe Daily News, 29 April 2022

EU COVID-19 RESPONSES

HEALTH

• EU COVID Certificate: committee backs one-year extension to ensure free movement - See the EP Statement
• ECDC - Data on SARS-CoV-2 variants in the EU/EEA
• ECDC - Data for the maps in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated Data on hospital and ICU admission rates and current occupancy for COVID-19
• ECDC - Data for the maps in support of the Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the restriction of free movement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU/EEA

COMPETITION

• Withdrawal of notification of a concentration (Case M.9938 - Kingspan Group / Trimo)  
• Belgium - The Belgian Competition Authority approves the acquisition of BAM Contractors BV by Désiré Stadsbader NV - Press Release No.14/2022
• Portugal - The Crest II - FCR fund notifies the acquisition of sole control over Auto Delta
• Portugal - The DST Group notifies the acquisition of sole control over Efacec
• Romania - The Competition Council has cleared the transaction by which Filtration Group Corporation, USA, through Clear Edge Filtration GmbH, Germany, took over IBS Filtran Kunstsoff/Metallerzeugnisse GmbH.
• UK - CMA publishes second state of competition report
• UK - CMA finds competition concerns in merger of emergency service software suppliers
• Apple to face fresh antitrust charges in Brussels - EU will accuse tech giant of blocking financial groups from its Apple Pay mobile system - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
• State aid - Greece - State aid SA.57538 (2020/FC) - Alleged illegal State aid to ELTA - Invitation to submit comments pursuant to Article 108(2) of the TFEU
• Communication from the Commission - Approval of the content of a draft Commission Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 717/2014 as regards its period of application and the maximum cumulative amounts of de minimis aid
• Commission approves €60 million Spanish scheme under Recovery and Resilience Facility to encourage maritime freight transport (SA.100658) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: EP INTA Committee of 03 May 2022
• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Question of 03 May 2022
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee (Deputies) of 09 May 2022
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group (ACP) of 03 May 2022
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU in the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/682 of 25 February 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/196 of the European Parliament and of the Council on additional customs duties on imports of certain products originating in the United States of America
• WTO Panel rules against Turkey’s discrimination of foreign medicines in line with EU’s claims - DS583
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - State of play of negotiations on additional EU-Mercosur Agreement commitments

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on "Competitiveness and Growth (Industry)" of 03 May 2022
• Agenda for: Extraordinary meeting of EP IMCO Committee  from 2 to 3 May 2022
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on machinery - See the Draft report,  Amendment 101-438 and Compromise amendments 1-10

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Daisy chains: provisional agreement on a revised bank resolution framework

TAXATION

• Agenda for: 104th Meeting of the Standing Committee on Administrative Cooperation (SCAC) of 10 May 2022

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• EIB and Florimond Desprez sign €40 million loan agreement to finance research into new climate change-resistant plant varieties - IP/22/2742
• EUIPO-CPVO study: Community Plant Variety Right system’s impact on the EU economy and the environment

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Judgment of the Court 28 April 2022 in Case C-86/21, Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León Vs. Delia
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Freedom of movement for workers - Article 45 TFEU - Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 - Article 7(2) - Equal treatment - National system for recognising the professional development of health professionals - Failure to take into account professional experience acquired in the health services of another Member State - Obstruction
• International Workers' Day: for a Europe that champions robust labour rights and fair working conditions - Midday Express

ENERGY

• Energy: Bulgaria to set up first regional platform as part of the EU's Energy Purchase Platform
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Repercussions on the energy market and urgent need for effective diversification
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - EastMed pipeline support and the EU’s need to diversify its gas imports
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Construction of the EastMed pipeline
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Nord Stream 2 - Assessment
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Gas supply
• EU4Energy in collaboration with EUNeighbours East launch Energy Efficiency Campaign for Children

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Judgment of the Court of 28 April 2022 in Case C-286/21: European Commission Vs. French Republic
  Re: Failure of a Member State to fulfil obligations - Environment - Directive 2008/50/EC - Ambient air quality - Article 13(1) and Annex XI - Systematic and persistent exceedance of the limit values laid down for microparticles (PM10) in certain areas of France - Article 23(1) - Annex XV - Period of exceedance 'as short as possible' - Appropriate measures
• Answer given by Mr Timmermans to a MEP written question - Impact of national LULUCF removals targets on conservation and adaptation strategies
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Recycling of aircraft in the EU

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Farm to Fork: Commission seeks views on New Genomic Techniques (Feedback period 29 April 2022 - 22 July 2022) - Midday Express
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/677 of 31 March 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the glossary of common ingredient names for use in the labelling of cosmetic products
• SCHEER - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Titanium dioxide in toys of 12 April 2022
• SCHEER - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Titanium dioxide in toys of 31 March 2022
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme
  - endo‐polygalacturonase from the genetically modified Aspergillus luchuensis strain FLYSC
  - α‐glucosidase from the Aspergillus niger strain AE‐TGU 
  - catalase from porcine liver 
  - containing trypsin, chymotrypsin, α‐amylase and triacylglycerol lipase from porcine pancreas 
  - mannan endo‐1,4‐β‐mannosidase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain NZYM‐NM
• EFSA - Reasoned Opinion - Modification of the existing maximum residue level for folpet in lettuces

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Information concerning the entry into force of the Protocol to amend the Air Transport Agreement between the United States of America and the European Community and its Member States 

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• DPAs decide on closer cooperation for strategic files
• Agenda for: Horizontal Group on Cyber Issues of 29 April 2022
• Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence

AREA OF FREDDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Decision (EU) 2022/687 of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of 27 April 2022 appointing Judges to the General Court

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Guideline (EU) 2022/688 of the ECB of 22 April 2022 amending Guideline 2013/47/EU on a Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer system (TARGET2)
• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: March 2022

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Possible items for College agendas : 3 May - 27 July 2022
• European Parliament - Final Draft Agenda for the sittings of 02 - 05 May 2022

BREXIT - EU/UK RELATIONS

• Joint statement following the fifth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Financial Provisions
• Rees-Mogg defends further delay to full post-Brexit border checks on EU imports - Financial Times
• UK plans for Northern Ireland stoke Treasury fears of EU trade war - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Chemical Weapons Convention: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union to mark the 25th anniversary
• Declaration by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar/Burma
• Declaration by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• FAQs on the sale of securities denominated in the currency of a Member State following sanctions adopted in view of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine
• Declaration by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Inclusion of the parent company of the internet search engine and ride-hailing service Yandex on the list of Russian companies sanctioned by the Union