Europe Daily News, 09 December 2022

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10431 - Ali Group / Welbilt)
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of Quality Meat Processors NV by DGS Group B.V.
• Poland - The World Competition Day - priorities of President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
• UK - Hitachi’s anticipated purchase of Thales’ rail infrastructure business could lead to higher fares in future, the CMA has found.
• UK - Consultation outcome & Recommendation - Retained Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations – R&D and specialisation agreements

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objection
• Commission approves €35 million German scheme to support sustainable forest management - Midday Express
• Commission approves a Belgian scheme to support protection against travel operators' insolvency - Midday Express
• Commission approves €16.2 million Estonian scheme to support forest owners affected by nature conservation restrictions - Midday Express
• Commission approves prolongation of Swedish scheme to refund taxes and social security contributions to employers of seafarers- Midday Express
• Commission approves €45 million Portuguese scheme to support gas-intensive businesses in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine - Midday Express
• Commission approves €1.26 billion Croatian wage subsidy scheme to support employers and self-employed persons affected by the coronavirus pandemic - Midday Express
• Commission approves amendments to Hungarian schemes, including €3 billion budget increase, to support companies in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Regulation (EU) 2022/2399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 establishing the European Union Single Window Environment for Customs and amendingRegulation (EU) No 952/2013
• Decision No 2/2022 of the Joint Committee on Agriculture of 17 November 2022 concerning the amendment of Annex 12 to the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products
• EU and Chile strengthen a comprehensive political and trade partnership - IP/22/7569 & Statement
• UPS Position ahead of 3rd EU-US TTC Ministerial Meeting - November 2022
• EU seals Chile trade deal that will improve bloc’s access to key minerals - South American country will secure more favourable terms for its exports and professional services - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Judgment of the Court of 08 December 2022 In Case C‑769/21, AAS ‘BTA Baltic Insurance Company’ Vs. Iepirkumu uzraudzības birojs, Tieslietu ministrija
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Public procurement - Directive 2014/24/EU - Article 18(1) - Principles of equal treatment, transparency and proportionality - Decision to withdraw an invitation to tender - Tenders submitted separately by two tenderers belonging to the same economic operator and constituting the two most economically advantageous tenders - Refusal of the successful tenderer to sign the contract - Decision of the contracting authority to refuse the tender of the next tenderer, terminate the procedure and issue a new call for tenders
• Commission Notice on the application of ecodesign requirements on the efficiency of power-supply units in servers and data-storage products and of ecodesign requirements on the power-source efficiency of welding equipment
• Council gives final green light to adapted EU standardisation rules

TAXATION

• Tax fraud & evasion - strengthening rules on administrative cooperation and expanding the exchange of information - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 08 December 2022 - 03 February 2023
• VAT in the digital age - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 08 December 2022 - 03 February 2023

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Main Results - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment & social policy) - 08 December 2022
• EU ministers adopt recommendations on early childhood and long term care
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on improving working conditions in platform work - General approach
• ESA launches infringement proceedings against Iceland over failure to correctly implement EEA rules on working time

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: (Agriculture and Fisheries) - 11 and 12 December 2022
• Estonia, Ireland and Poland will receive substantial funds under the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for 2021-2027

ENERGY

• REPowerEU: New industrial Alliance to boost the EU's solar power and energy security - IP/22/7617
• Spain and France to use planned pipeline only for hydrogen - Countries abandon idea of first piping natural gas through undersea link in bid to secure EU funding - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment -12 December 2022
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law - General approach - Declaration by the Finnish and Bulgarian delegations
• Current legislative proposals - Information from the Presidency on the state of play
  - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014
  - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on substances that deplete the ozone layer and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009
• Regulation (EU) 2022/2400 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 November 2022 amending Annexes IV and V to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants
• Zero pollution: 2030 targets within reach but need stronger action - IP/22/7552, Press remarks by Commissioner Adina Vălean  
  - first Zero Pollution Monitoring and Outlook Report & third Clean Air Outlook report
• European Green Deal: new rules agreed on applying the EU emissions trading system in the aviation sector - IP/22/7609
• EU Cohesion Policy: €2.14 billion for a just climate transition in Romania - IP/22/7562

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health) - 09 December 2022
  - Member states settle their position on a proposal to lower asbestos exposure levels for workers
• European Health Union: Commission welcomes adoption of new EU cancer screening recommendations - IP/22/7548
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety evaluation of the food enzyme pectin lyase from the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain RF6199
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process EcoBlue, based on PET direct iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process Alef Recycling, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
  
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process rPET Aviv Shalam, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process Ester Industries, based on the recoSTAR PET FG technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process Duy Tan Plastic Recycling, based on the Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion Safety assessment of the process Poly Recycling, based on the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Path to the Digital Decade’: Council adopts key policy programme for EU’s digital transformation

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber issues - 09 Decemnber 2022
• The European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) join forces to analyse the interplay between cybersecurity and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference - See the Report

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Justice & Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December 2022
  - Schengen area: Council decides to lift border controls with Croatia
  - EU resilience: Council adopts a directive to strengthen the resilience of critical entities 
  - The Gambia: Council increases the visa fee due to lack of cooperation on readmission
• Outcome of proceedings - Council Recommendation on a Union-wide coordinated approach to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure
• Insolvency laws: increasing convergence of national laws to encourage cross-border investment - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 08 December 2022 - 03 February 2023
• Cross-border family situations - recognition of parenthood - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 08 December 2022 - 03 February 2023

EURO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Opinion on a proposal for a Council regulation establishing a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy against excessively high prices (CON/2022/44)

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Statement by President von der Leyen at the Summit of Southern European Union countries

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Democratic Republic of the Congo: EU renews restrictive measures and adds eight additional individuals - see Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2401 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2412
• EU to launch negotiations on a new agreement with Tajikistan - The Council adopted guidelines for the EU to negotiate a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Tajikistan.

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Council adopts conclusions on the fight against impunity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
• Council adopts decision not to accept Russian documents issued in Ukraine and Georgia