Europe Daily News, 17 February 2023

COMPETITION

• Initiation of proceedings (Case M.10807 - Viasat / Inmarsat)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11011 - EQT / Trescal)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11005 - Renault / Minth / JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11026 - Partners Group / GHO / Serling Pharma)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11002 - BDT Capital Partners / M+W Group / Exyte)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11039 - Ermenegildo  Zegna / The Esteee Lauder Companies / Tom Ford International)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10998 - Magna International / Minth Group / Huainan Magna Minth Exteriors Systems JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of DML by PON, VWFS and Glinicke (M.11009) - Midday Express
• France - E-mobility: The Autorité starts proceedings ex officio to analyse competition in the sector of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
• Germany - Case report: The Bundeskartellamt has cleared Wienerberger AG's plan to acquire all the shares in Terreal Holding S.A.S. The transaction was approved by the Bundeskartellamt
• The Netherlands - European Commission to assess the acquisition of Figma by Adobe
• Poland - UOKiK has charged seven entrepreneurs with entering into bid rigging
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the transaction by which Ceres Pharma NV takes over Dacia Plant SRL
• Romania - The Competition Council has cleared the transaction by which Afin (Holding) S.A. and Maurizio Michele Giovanni Rossetto enter the shareholding of East Truck Center S.R.L
• Romania - The Competition Council assesses the transaction by which Bittnet Systems S.A., Cătălin-Cristian Georgescu and Constantin-Adrian Savu take over Dataware Consulting S.R.L.

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
• Commission approves up to €1.4 billion French aid measure to compensate Air France for the damage suffered due to the coronavirus pandemic (SA.104957) - IP/23/846
• Commission approves €55 million German measure to support ArcelorMittal's green steel demonstration plant (SA.63733) - IP/23/847
• Commission approves amendment to 2022-2027 regional aid map for Slovakia (SA.105438) - Midday Express
• Commission authorises a €114 million Walloon scheme to support businesses in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.105513) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €120 million Italian scheme to support companies in the Emilia-Romagna Region in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.105509) - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Revision of the Regulation on de minimis aid

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Draft Commission Implementing Regulation concerning the classification of “Empty atomizer for electronic cigarette” in the Combined Nomenclature (CN code 8543 40 00)
• Draft Commission Implementing Regulation concerning the classification of a "wine set in a wooden box" in the Combined Nomenclature (CN code 8205 51 00)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/365 of 16 February 2023 terminating the expiry review investigation concerning imports of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel originating in Ukraine
• Overview of the EU’s active dispute settlement cases: WTO cases involving the EU as a complainant or respondent, cases under bilateral agreements, and cases under the Trade Barriers Regulation as of 07 February 2023
• Commission presents EU-New Zealand trade agreement for ratification - IP/23/921, see the Proposal for a Decision on the Signing and on the Conclusion
• Costa Rica removes discriminatory tax on beer imported from the EU - DG Trade
• EU Trade organisational chart as of 16 February 2023
• WTO - Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices - Semi-annual report under article 16.4 of the Agreement - 1 July - 31 December 2022 - Ukraine
• WTO - Committee on Safeguards - Notification pursuant to article 12 of the Agreement on Safeguards - Notification pursuant to article 9, footnote 2 of the Agreement on Safeguards - United Kingdom - Certain steel products - Supplement

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Long-term competitiveness and productivity - Internal market at 30 and beyond - Policy debate
• Fertilisers: Ensuring availability, affordability and long-term autonomy - See the EP Statement & Resolution
• MEPs say the EU must lead in clean energy technologies, improve its industrial base, and produce high quality jobs and economic growth to reach the Green Deal goals - See the EP Resolution
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe's semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act) - Consolidated mandates EP Council - 16 February 2023
• Minutes of the 88th meeting of the Expert Group on the implementation of the Services Directive - 30 November 2022

CHEMICAL

• Summary of European Commission Decisions on authorisations for the placing on the market for the use and/or for use of substances listed in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH: Chromium trioxide C(2023) 884 & C(2023) 882
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Request for an opinion on the derogation concerning the use of certain raw materials to produce artistic glass and glass

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on European green bonds - Initial positions of the three Institutions prior to commencement of trilogues
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Taxonomy

TAXATION

• Answer given by Mr Gentiloni to a MEP written question - Non-tobacco nicotine products and revision of the Tobacco Excise Directive

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Sledgehammer of big fines looms over EU worker consultation - Proposals in Brussels seek to introduce penalties in line with those for GDPR breaches - Financial Times

ENERGY

• Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2021/241 as regards REPowerEU chapters in recovery and resilience plans and amending Regulations (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) 2021/1060 and (EU) 2021/1755, and Directive 2003/87/EC (first reading): Four-Column Table, Adoption of the legislative act & Statement
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - European solar energy financing mechanism 
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Regulatory barriers to the creation of energy communities in Italy

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on Environment - 20 February 2023
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written questio
• Answer given by EVP Timmermans to a MEP written question
• Zero Pollution: New report draws lessons from Oder River ecological disaster - Midday Express

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Presidency Statement on the Coordination of COVID-19 Travel Measures
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Promotion of e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches to curb smoking in Europe
• ECDC - Outbreak of Shigella sonnei in the EU/EEA, the United Kingdom, and the United States among travellers returning from Cabo Verde - Statement
• EMA has published an overview of its key recommendations of 2022 regarding the authorisation and safety monitoring of veterinary medicines
• EMA recommended 89 medicines for marketing authorisation. 

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Digital Services Act: Commission starts collecting platform's user numbers and consults on its monitoring and investigatory procedures - Feedback period: 16 February 2023 - 16 March 2023 - Midday Express

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber issues - 17 February 2023
• The new report of the ENISA explores how to develop harmonised national vulnerability programmes and initiatives in the EU
• Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 260/2012 and (EU) 2021/1230 as regards instant credit transfers in euro 2023/C 60/10
• Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the proposal for a Regulation on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 2023/C 60/11
• Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the proposal for an Interoperable Europe Act 2023/C 60/12
• Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the proposal for a Council Regulation in matters of parenthood 2023/C 60/13 
• Opinion 4/2023 on the draft decision of the competent supervisory authority of Malta regarding the approval of the requirements for accreditation of a certification body pursuant to Article 43.3 (GDPR)
• Opinion 03/2023 on the draft decision of the competent supervisory authority of Romania regarding the approval of the requirements for accreditation of a code of conduct monitoring body pursuant to article 41 GDPR
• Opinion 02/2023 on the draft decision of the competent supervisory authority of Latvia regarding the approval of the requirements for accreditation of a code of conduct monitoring body pursuant to Article 41 GDPR
• Opinion 1/2023 on the draft decision of the competent supervisory authority of Croatia regarding the approval of the requirements for accreditation of a code of conduct monitoring body pursuant to Article 41 GDPR

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Swedish Presidency - How to move from words to action against racism
• Swedish Presidency - Focus on enhanced customs capacity and cooperation at the conference to prevent and combat smuggling of firearms
• Public consultation - Defending European democracy - Communication - Feedback period: 16 February 2023 - 13 April 2023
• Public consultation - Recommendation on civic engagement - Recommendation - Feedback period: 16 February 2023 - 13 April 2023
• Public consultation - Transparency of covert interference by third countries - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 16 February 2023 - 13 April 2023
• Public consultation - Recommendation on covert interference from third countries - Recommendation - Feedback period: 16 February 2023 - 13 April 2023
• Crackdown on a criminal network dealing with waste trafficking and money laundering - Eurojust
• Franco-Israeli gang behind EUR 38 million CEO fraud busted - Europol

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Interview of ECB's Isabel Schnabel with Bloomberg
• ECB - Euro area monthly balance of payments: December 2022
• ECB - Euro area investment fund statistics: fourth quarter of 2022 - Annexes
• ECB - Euro area financial vehicle corporation statistics: fourth quarter of 2022 - Annexes

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: General Affairs Council - 21 February 2023
• Press statement by President von der Leyen with French Prime Minister Borne

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Foreign Affairs Council - 20 February 2023
• Corruption allegations: MEPs push for ambitious changes and quick progress  
• Human rights breaches in Russia, Equatorial Guinea and Eswatini - the EP adopted three resolutions
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Taking firm action against Iran’s policy of repression
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Iran’s instrumentalisation of third countries and actors
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Links between Polisario and terrorist groups in the Sahel and Sahara
• Nicaragua: Statement by the Spokesperson on revoking citizenship of political opponents
• Earthquake: Disaster response operations in Syria and Türkiye continue - Midday Express
• Speech by Commissioner Janez Lenarčič at the EP plenary: "Repression against the people of Belarus"

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Moldovan parliament backs new pro-EU PM amid Russian coup fears - Chișinău aims to stay on pro-Western trajectory despite Kremlin pressure - Politico.eu
• One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine - EP Resolution of 16 February 2023 on one year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine
• EU Commission scratches Russia nuclear sanctions plans - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had urged the EU to sanction Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy company - Politico.eu

BREXIT

• EU watchdog welcomes UK move to drop case over citizens’ rights - Home Office’s decision to abandon appeal over post-Brexit residency requirements a positive sign, say bloc diplomats - Financial Times