Europe Daily News, 30 June 2022

COMPETITION

• Judgment of the Court of 30 June 2022 in Case C-149/21 P, Fakro sp. z o.o., Vs. European Commission, Republic of Poland
  Re: Appeal - Competition - Rejection of a complaint by the European Commission - Lack of interest of the European Union
  
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10778 - TA Associates / Clearlake / Kofax) 
• Communication from the Commission - Commission Notice - Guidelines on vertical restraints
• Commission seeks feedback on performance of EU antitrust enforcement framework - Feedback period/ 30 June 2022 - 06 October 2022  - IP/22/4194
• Commission accepts commitments by Insurance Ireland to ensure access to its data sharing platform (AT.40511)  - IP/22/4242
• Commission clears acquisition of Affidea by GBL (M.10775) - Midday Express 
• Commission clears acquisition of exclusive control of Albioma by KKR (M.10768) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of KidsFoundation/Partou by Waterland (M.10780) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of DRI IV by Ivanhoe Cambridge and Mubadala (M.10720) - Midday Express
  
• Commission clears acquisition of joint Control of Refresco by KKR, PAI Partners and BCI (M.10717) - Midday Express 
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of Anima by AG Insurance
• Belgium - Decision - 22-CC-20-AUD SAX SANITAIR NV / Bedrijfstak van I.D. GROUP NV
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of CLG and Trilec by Rexel Belgium
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt clears acquisition of eye and eye laser clinics in Central Germany by SmileEyes group
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt - Case report: Non-competition clause in distribution agreements of chainsaw manufacturer STIHL contrary to cartel law subsequently established (decision of 31 May 2022)
• Italy -  Antitrust: less constraints for Mc Donald's franchisees after authority intervention
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the transaction through which Marcos Provit S.A. takes over Gifarm S.R.L.
• Romania - The Competition Council assesses the taking over of Lorencic GmbH and Lorencic Bauservice SRL by Invest Unternehmensbeteiligungs Aktiengesells

STATE AID

• Judgment of the Court of 30 June 2022 in Case C-99/21 P; Danske Slagtermestre Vs. European Commission, Kingdom of Denmark
  Re: Appeal - State aid - Article 107(1) TFEU - Scheme of contributions for the collection of waste water - Complaint - Decision finding no State aid - Action for annulment - Admissibility - Standing to bring proceedings - Fourth paragraph of Article 263 TFEU - Regulatory act not involving implementing measures - Direct effect
• EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 269/21/COL of 1 December 2021 introducing revised Guidelines on Regional State Aid for 2022-2027 [2022/1047]
• EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 293/21/COL of 16 December 2021 amending the procedural and substantive rules in the field of State aid by introducing revised Guidelines on short-term export credit insurance [2022/1048]
• State aid: phase out of COVID Temporary Framework - Midday Express
• Commission opens in-depth investigation into Czech support for new nuclear power plant in Dukovany (SA.58207)  - IP/22/4244
• Commission approves €1.2 billion Polish scheme to support companies in context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine (SA.102866 and SA.102867) - IP/22/4224

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions - 05 July 2022
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) -  06 July 2022
• Agenda for: 102nd Meeting Customs Policy Expert Group ('Customs Policy Group') - 07 July 2022
• Agenda for: Ad Hoc Working Party on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (AHWP CBAM) - 06 July 2022
• Agenda for: Project Group UCC DA/IA Data Annexes Revision for Harmonisation of Customs Data Requirements - 13 July 2022
• Working document for the ETQG meeting of 20-21 June 2022 - Suspensions & Quotas
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of high tenacity yarn of polyesters originating in the People’s Republic of China, limited to Zhejiang Hailide New Material Co. Ltd, and of initiation of a review of the anti-dumping measures on imports of high tenacity yarn of polyesters originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-subsidy measures applicable to imports of certain coated fine paper originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain coated fine paper originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of initiation of an interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of high tenacity yarns of polyesters originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Notice of re-opening of the anti-dumping investigation with regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/763 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively the provisional duty imposed on imports of certain lightweight thermal paper originating in the Republic of Korea following the judgement of the General Court of 2 April 2020 in Case T-383/17, as upheld by the Court of Justice in case C-260/20 P
• Regulation (EU) 2022/1031 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 June 2022 on the access of third-country economic operators, goods and services to the Union’s public procurement and concession markets and procedures supporting negotiations on access of Union economic operators, goods and services to the public procurement and concession markets of third countries (International Procurement Instrument - IPI)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1041 of 29 June 2022 making imports of certain lightweight thermal paper originating in the Republic of Korea subject to registration following the re-opening of the investigation in order to implement the judgment of the General Court of 2 April 2020 in Case T-383/17, as upheld by the Court of Justice in Case C-260/20 P, with regard to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/763
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1039 of 29 June 2022 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the suspension for the year 2023 of certain tariff preferences granted to certain GSP beneficiary countries
• Moldovan agricultural exports liberalised for a year to support its economy - See EP INTA Committee Statement & Report
• WTO - Working Party on State Trading Enterprises - State Trading - New and full notification pursuant to article XVII:4(a) of the GATT 1994 and paragraph 1 of the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article XVII - European Union

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Minutes - Internal Market for Products (IMP) - Working group on accreditation and conformity assessment - 15 July 2022
• Secure space-based connectivity: Council adopts negotiating mandate
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - REACH rules
• AAnswer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Presence of harmful substances in perfumes 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Anti-money laundering: Provisional agreement reached on transparency of crypto asset transfers - see the EP Statement
• New EU Authority for Anti-money laundering: Council agrees its partial position
• EBA publishes its final Guidelines on data collection exercises regarding high earners
• EBA publishes its final Guidelines on the remuneration and gender pay gap benchmarking exercise under the Capital Requirements Directive and the Investment Firms Directive

TAXATION

• Judgment of the Court of 30 June 2022 in Case C-56/21, UAB 'ARVI' ir ko v Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija prie Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Taxation - Common system of VAT- Directive 2006/112/EC - Article 137 - Optional tax liability scheme - Conditions - National legislation making the right of a taxable person to opt for the submission of the sale of immovable property to VAT subject to the condition that that property be disposed of to a taxable person already identified for VAT purposes - Obligation to regularise deductions of VAT in the event of failure to comply with that condition - Principles of fiscal neutrality, effectiveness and proportionality 

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question -
• Public consultation - Sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2023 - Communication - Feedback period: 01 June 2022 - 25 August 2022
• Executive summary of the evaluation of the 2007-2013 rural development programmes - synthesis

ENERGY

• Regulation (EU) 2022/1032 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2022 amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1938 and (EC) No 715/2009 with regard to gas storage

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on Environment - 01 July 2022
• Objective 55 adjustment package - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/841 as regards the scope, simplification of compliance rules, the setting of Member States' targets for 2030 and the commitment in the collective achievement of climate neutrality by 2035 in the land use sector land use, forestry and agriculture sector, and the Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 as regards improved monitoring, reporting monitoring, reporting, tracking progress and review - General guidance
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement, and Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 - General guidance
• Target 55 adjustment package - ETS Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union, Decision (EU) 2015/1814 on the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve for the EU greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme and Regulation (EU) 2015/757 - General approach and Target 55 Adjustment Package - Social Climate Fund Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Social Climate Fund - General approach & Statements
• Target 55 Adjustment Package
  a) Revision of Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading (ETS)
  b) Revision of Directive 2003/87/EC with regard to the contribution of aviation (Aviation ETS)
  c) Revision of Decision (EU) 2015/1814 (market stability reserve)
  d) Regulation establishing a Social Climate Fund
  e) Revision of Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual reductions (e) Revision of Regulation (EU) 2018/842 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member Member States from 2021 to 2030 (BPR)
  (f) Revision of Regulation (EU) 2018/841 on greenhouse gas emissions and removals emissions and removals from land use, Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF)
  (g) Revision of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 setting emission performance standards performance standards for CO2 emissions from new passenger cars and and for new light commercial vehicles - General approach - Reporting

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Regulation (EU) 2022/1034 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Regulation (EU) 2022/1035 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/954 on a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates (EU Digital COVID Certificate) with regard to third-country nationals legally staying or residing in the territories of Member States during the COVID-19 pandemic
• EU Digital COVID Certificate: Commission adopts equivalence decisions for Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar - Midday Express
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Atalodera andina
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Fusarium pseudograminearum
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Commodity risk assessment of Berberis thunbergii potted plants from Turkey
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety of freeze‐dried mycelia of Antrodia camphorata as a novel food pursuant to regulation (EU) 2015/2283
• EFSA - Technical Report - Guidelines for reporting Whole Genome Sequencing‐based typing data through the EFSA One Health WGS System
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan 1,4‐α‐glucosidase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain NZYM‐BE
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process Cajas y Palets en una Economia Circular (CAPEC), used to recycle high‐density polyethylene and polypropylene crates for use as food contact materials

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1036 of 29 June 2022 amending Regulation (EU) 2020/1429 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards the extension of the reference period (Covid)
• Rail transport: Commission launches call for proposals  for cross-border rail services  

DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET

• New Roaming rules for travellers in the EU: “Roam like at home” for 10 more years - 1 July 2022, the new improved Roaming regulation enters into force - IP/22/4198 & QaA
• Commission releases a new strategy to drive its internal digital transformation - IP/22/4199, Communication

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber issues - 01 July 2022
• EDPB - Guidelines 07/2022 on certification as a tool for transfers
• Answer given by Mr Hahn to a MEP written question - Risks posed by cyber threats to EU bodies -

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• EU Court of Justice: seven judges of the General Court appointed
• Visas: Council approves negotiating mandate on visa liberalisation for Kuwait and Qatar

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• NextGenerationEU: European Commission updates Member States' grant allocation key based on Eurostat outturn data for 2020 and 2021
• Report from the Commission concerning the implementation and the results of the Pericles IV programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting in 2021
• Report from the Commission: Long-term forecast of future inflows and outflows of the EU budget (2023-2027)

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• What six months of French presidency meant for the EU - High-intensity meetings secured Russia sanctions and new legislation - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: 11Th meeting of the EU-Montenegro Stabilisation and Association Council at Ministerial Level - 14 July 2022
• Speech by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič at Bloomberg on EU-UK relations
• VP Šefčovič presents a roadmap paving the way for an Association Agreement with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino - Midday Express 
• Remarks by President Charles Michel before the NATO summit in Madrid

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Political statement on the protection of displaced children from Ukraine in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
• Ukraine: Commission supports Member States to include refugee children in their education systems for the next school year - Midday Express
• Supporting Ukrainian exports and improving connections to the EU: Commission strengthens cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova - Midday Express 
• Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs Task Force Joint Statement
• Press conference by Commissioners Ferreira and Schmit on proposals to strengthen cohesion policy and better support Member States in addressing the consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine