Europe Daily News, 24 January 2023

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10853 - ISG / EEP / BSG)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10987 - Bain Capital / Caverion)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11000 - KKR / Serentica Mauritius / Serentica Renewables Singapore JV)
• Commission authorises the creation of a joint venture by MHC, BMHC and ALD S.A. (M.10985) - Midday Express
• Cyprus - Notification of a concentration regarding the acquisition of part of the share capital of TransAnt GmbH by T.A.S. Overseas Investments Limited
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt clears takeover of Readly's international business by Cafeyn Group
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt initiates proceeding against PayPal
• Greece - Presentation of a case law data platform in Morocco by the HCC
• Spain - The CNMC cleared nine mergers in December

STATE AID

• Monti’s warning: Easing subsidy rules is dangerous - Former antitrust chief says subsidies are addictive and risk undermining Europe’s single market - Politico.eu

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Potential third-country access to a strategic NATO port in Poland
• WTO - Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Notification - European Union - Plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food - G/SPS/N/EU/611
• WTO - Colombia - Anti-Dumping Duties on Frozen Fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands - Communication from Colombia - WT/DS591/9O
• US touts Biden green subsidies to lure clean tech from Europe - States including Michigan and Georgia on recruiting drive amid complaints from EU officials - Financial Times
• UK to propose carbon border tax as part of steel industry aid package - Chancellor Jeremy Hunt agrees to consult on ways to level playing field against foreign competitors - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: 16th Forum sub-group meeting ‘Forum MSA’ (Child Safety Equipment) - 15 February 2023
• 13.5 million in EU funding will help commercialise research-based innovation and stimulate innovation - See the ERC Statement
• HR/VP Borrell and Commissioner Breton present European space policy priorities for 2023 at the Space Conference - See the full programme - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• Agenda for: Working Party Meeting on Technical Harmonisation (Dangerous Substances - Chemicals) - 6 February 2023
• Authorisation Decisions List - Created by GROW.F.1 - Updated as of 20 January 2023
• Commission Implementing Decision nder Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 granting an authorisation to:
  - Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB for certain uses of OPE of 11.1.2023 (See the Decision)
  - AGC Biologics A/S and AGC Biologics GmbH for certain uses of OPE of 6.1.2023 (See the Decision)
  - PPG Europe B.V. and others for certain uses of OPE of 5.1.2023 (See the Decision)
  - Lilly France S.A.S. and others for a use of OPE of 4.1.2023 (See the Decision)
• CSR - REACH Authorisation decisions - Created by GROW.F.1 as updated on 20 January 2023
  - CT - Ratier-Figeac - Uses 1-2
  - CT - Heinrich Schulte - Uses 1-2
  - CT - GEA Westafalia 

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• ESMA has published its preliminary data report following the introduction of the market correction mechanism (MCM) in the EU Regulation (Gas Derivative)
• EU debt suffers under competition with sovereign borrowers - Bonds issued by European Commission trade with higher yields than Germany and France - Financial Times
• EU to examine seizing confiscated Russian assets for reconstruction - European Council president calls for debate on proceeds from $300bn in held bank reserves going to rebuild Ukraine – Financial Times 

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 26 January 2023
• EU/diesel: loss of Russian imports supportive for independent refiners - Upcoming ban on distilled products may cause disruption but some will benefit - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Outcome of the 42nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) (28 November - 2 December 2022): - Report by the Presidency and the Commission & Statements by the EU and its Member States
• Communication from the Commission - Revision of the EU Pollinators Initiative A new deal for pollinators & Staff working document
  
  
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question -
• Answer given by EVP Timmermans to a MEP written question - Impact of EU climate policy on the primary aluminium production industry 

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Minutes - Second meeting of the Specialised Committee on Aviation Safety under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 26 January 2023

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 25 January 2023
• Estonian SA: Krediidiregister OÜ, legal basis for disclosure of non-payment data to third parties, shortcomings in privacy policy
• Estonian SA: Ticketer OÜ, shortcomings in privacy policy, third-party cookies on a website without consent
• Estonian SA: Private person, legal bases for disclosure of data to unidentified persons
• The Polish SA has once again investigated Virgin Mobile's personal data breach
• The Norwegian SA fines Recover AS for violation of privacy
• Clubhouse fined EUR 2 million by the Italian SA
• The Norwegian SA fines Krokatjønnvegen 15 AS

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Council decision authorising to ratify, in the interest of the EU, the 2nd Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co operation and disclosure of electronic evidence - Adoption
• Migration management: New operational strategy for more effective returns - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Recovery and Resilience Facility
  - Operational arrangements between the European Commission and Belgium
  - Operational Arrangement between the Commission and Luxembourg
• ECB publishes new cclimate-related statistical indicators to narrow climate data gap
• Using machine learning to measure financial risk in China - ECB Working Paper Series - No.2767
• GVC exporter performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: the role of supply - ECB Working Paper Series - No. 2766

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Revised Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.2) - 25 January 2023
• Possible items for College agendas: 1 February - 28 June 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 23 January 2023
  - Iran: EU adopts further restrictive measures against human rights violations - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/152 & Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/153
  - Armenia: EU establishes a civilian mission to contribute to stability in border areas, see Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/162
• Council Regulation (EU) 2023/154 of 23 January 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 147/2003 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Somalia
• Council Regulation (EU) 2023/155 of 23 January 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 356/2010 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, in view of the situation in Somalia
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/160 of 23 January 2023 amending Decision 2010/231/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Somalia
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/156 of 23 January 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 101/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/159 of 23 January 2023 amending Decision 2011/72/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/161 of 23 January 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/649 on Union support for activities of the ATT Secretariat in support of the implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Declaration by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
• Communication on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences – 1 year on - Exchange of view - Summary of discussions of the Working Party on Information
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Freezing of the Russian Central Bank’s reserves
• EU to examine seizing confiscated Russian assets for reconstruction - European Council president calls for debate on proceeds from $300bn in held bank reserves going to rebuild Ukraine - Financial Times