COMPETITION

  • Judgment of the Court of 23 November 2022 in Case T-275/20; Westfälische Drahtindustrie GmbH, Westfälische Drahtindustrie Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH & Co KG, Pampus Industriebeteiligungen GmbH & Co KG, applicants, v European Commission
    Re: Action for annulment and damages - Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - European market for prestressing steel - Decision finding an infringement of Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement - Suspension of the obligation to lodge a bank guarantee - Staggering of payments made provisionally - Judgment annulling the decision in part and setting a fine of the same amount as the fine initially imposed - Set-off of payments made provisionally - Interest for late payment - First paragraph of Article 266, first paragraph of Article 266 TFEU - Unjust enrichment - Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals - Recovery of sums paid but not due - No legal basis - Unlawfulness
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10928 - ICI / Benvic)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10960 - EPPE / PZEM Subsidiaries)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10925 - BNP Paribas/ Terberg Business)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10854 - GIC Investor / KIA / Omers / DCLI)
  • Germany - Meta (Facebook) responds to the Bundeskartellamt’s concerns – VR headsets can now be used without a Facebook account
  • UK - Well intervention services deal could result in increased costs for UK oil and gas production (Summary of phase 1 decision) 

STATE AID

  • Commission approves €7.75 million Cypriot scheme to support some agricultural producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.104833) - IP/22/6985
  • Commission approves amendments to German schemes, including up to €45 billion budget increase, to support companies in context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.104756) - IP/22/7084
  • Commission approves €50 million Slovak scheme to support the agricultural, fishery and aquaculture sectors in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.104815) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Minutes of: The second Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - 20 October 2022
  • Amending Decision (EU) 2015/2169 on the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea - See the EP resolution
  • EU/New Zealand Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV - See the EP resolution
  • Information on imports of products from Ukraine into the EU subject to trade liberalisation measures, in line with the requirements under Article 6 of Regulation(EU) 2022/870
  • Usage by Moldova of Tariff Rate Quotas granted under the DCFTA and Regulation (EU) 2022/1279 - November 2022
  • Sixth EU-GCC Business Forum - EU-GCC Dialogue on Economic Diversification - 24 November 2022
  • Civil Society Dialogue on the EU’s TDIs – Annual Report 2021 - 24 November 2022
  • Answer given by by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Second Annual Report on the screening of FDIs into the Union
  • Refining the EU’s Geoeconomic Approach to Trade Policy - Egmont Policy Brief 294 - November 2022 
  • WTO - Speech by DG Okonjo-Iweala: “We need multilateral cooperation and solidarity more than ever”
  • EU plans subsidy war chest as industry faces ‘existential’ threat from US - European industry is on an emergency footing thanks to high gas prices and new lavish subsidies for American rivals - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • European Research Council awards €636m in grants for emerging science talent across Europe
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Question on animal by-products in the EU Fertilising Products Regulation  
  • European Parliament legislative resolution of 22 November 2022 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012 as regards the decisions of European standardisation organisations concerning European standards and European standardisation deliverable

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • Judgment of the General Court of 23 November 2022 in Case T-701/21, Allessa GmbH, Vs. European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
    Re: European Union trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - European Union word mark CASSELLAPARK - Absolute grounds for refusal - Distinctive character - Lack of descriptive character - No mark liable to deceive the public - Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (g) of Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 (now Article 7(1)(b), (c) and (g) of Regulation (EU) No 2017/1001) - Obligation to state reasons - Article 94 of Regulation No 2017/1001
  • Judgment of the General Court of 23 November 2022 in Case T-515/21, Zeta Farmaceutici SpA v European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Specchiasol Srl
    Re: "Case T-515/21) (1): Zeta Farmaceutici SpA v European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Specchiasol Srl (1) (European Union trade mark - Invalidity proceedings - European Union word mark EUPHYTOS - Earlier European Union figurative mark EuPhidra - Proof of genuine use of the earlier mark - Articles 56(2) and 43(2) of Regulation (EC) No 40/94 (now Articles 64(2) and 47(2) of the EU Regulation) (EU) 2017/1001) - Relevant periods - Production of evidence for the first time before the Board of Appeal - Power of assessment of the Board of Appeal - Classification of new or additional evidence - Article 95(2) of Regulation 2017/1001 - Article 27(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/625
  • Judgment of the General Court of 23 November 2022 in Case T‑151/22, General Wire Spring Co., Vs. European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
    Re: EU trade mark - International registration designating the European Union - Word mark GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS - Absolute ground for refusal - Descriptiveness - Article 7(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001

FINANCIAL SERVICES

TAXATION

  • Answer given by Mr Gentiloni to a MEP written question - Mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to taxes, duties and other measures

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY 

  • Gender Equality: The EU is breaking the glass ceiling thanks to new gender balance targets on company boards - See the Statement, FactSheet & Outcome of the EPs second reading (Strasbourg, 21 to 24 November 2022) - See the EP resolution
  • Answer given by Mr Schmit to a MEP written question - Lack of a uniform European limit value system for gases in import containers
  • Erasmus+ 2023 call launched: €4.2 billion to support mobility and cooperation in education, training, youth and sport - IP/22/7075

ENERGY

  • Commission proposes a new EU instrument to limit excessive gas price spikes - IP/22/7065, QaA, Proposal for a Regulation & Remarks by Commissioner Simson
  • Establishment of the EU-ASEAN Energy Dialogue on behalf of the Union – request for endorsement by the Council under the non-binding instrument arrangements - Autorisation to sign a non-binding instrument
  • Commissioner Simson to participate in the Extraordinary Energy Council - Midday Express
  • EU’s proposed cap on gas prices labelled ‘a joke non-cap’ - Member states in favour of move say level of €275 per megawatt hour is far too high - Financial Times
  • Russia threatens to restrict gas flows to western Europe via Ukraine - Kyiv rejects accusation by Gazprom it is taking supplies for Moldova from last remaining pipeline - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • The General Court annuls the Commission Delegated Regulation of 2019 in so far as it concerns the harmonised classification and labelling of titanium dioxide as a carcinogenic substance by inhalation in certain powder forms (See CPR No.190/2022 - Judgment of the General Court in Joined Cases T-279/20, T-288/20 and T-283/20 - CWS Powder Coatings and Others Vs. Commission)
  • Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU as regards empowering consumers for the green transition through better protection against unfair practices and better information - Progress report
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2291 of 8 September 2022 amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council on persistent organic pollutants, as regards hexachlorobenzene
  • Technical Support Instrument: Commission helps Greece to tackle natural and environmental disasters
  • LIFE Programme: €380 million for 168 new green projects all around Europe - IP/22/6983
    - short summaries of projects resulting from the LIFE 2020 Call for proposals 2021 

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Agenda for:  Att. & Exp. Horizontal on cyber issues - 25 November 2022
  • Cybersecurity: EU launches first phase of deployment of European infrastructure for cross-border security operations centres - Midday Express
  • Draft Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union, amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 and Directive (EU) 2018/1972, and repealing Directive (EU) 2016/1148 (NIS 2 Directive) (first reading) - Adoption of the legislative act & Statement
  • Cybersecurity Investments in the EU: Is the money enough to meet the New Cybersecurity Standards? - See ENISA Statement & NIS Investments - ENISA report 2022 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Civil Law Matters (General Questions) - 30 November 2022
  • Romania: Benchmarks under the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism are satisfactorily met - IP/22/7029, Q&A
  • European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register a new initiative on “Whatever it Takes” European day - IP/22/7031
  • MEPs approve new rules to protect essential infrastructure - See the EP resolution

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • China: Speech by HR/VP Josep Borrell at the EP debate on EU-China relations
  • Speech by President Charles Michel at the Summit of the Accra Initiative conference in Accra, Ghana
  • A strengthened enlargement policy is the EU’s strongest geopolitical tool - See the EP Statement
  • European Parliament declares Russia to be a state sponsor of terrorism

 

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