COMPETITION

  • Judgment of the General Court of 8 March 2023 in Case T‑94/20, Campine Campine Recycling, Vs. European Commission
    Re: Non-contractual liability - Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Market for car battery recycling - Decision finding an infringement of Article 101 TFEU - Judgment partially annulling the decision and reducing the amount of the fine imposed - Refusal of the Commission to pay default interest - Article 266 TFEU - Article 90(4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 - Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law conferring rights on individuals - Rate of default interest
    P    rior notification of a concentration (Case M.10996 - ICG / Scopelec  / Setelen )
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11004 - Itochu / AMCI / Fitzroy QLD Resource)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11041 - Verdane Capital 2020 / FSN Capital VI / Polytech Group)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11009 - Pon.Bike / VWFS / Glinicke / DML)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10973 - Vodafone Group / Altice Luxembourg / Fibreco)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10616 - CAF / Coradia Polyvalent Business / Talent 3 Business)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11038 - Rothschild  & CO / Andera Partners / Financiere Canella)
  • Commission confirms unannounced inspections in the fragrance sector - IP/23/1532
  • UK - CMA launches investigation into fragrances and fragrance ingredients (See Case 51257)
  • Switzerland - COMCO investigates possible collusions in the fragrance market
  • Germany - In the proceedings on the anti-trust assessment of the so-called 50+1 rule, the German Football League (DFL) has offered commitments to address the Bundeskartellamt's anti-trust concerns.
  • Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Evaluation of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) post COVID-19

STATE AID

  • Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - On illegal State aid to vehicle-for-hire companies in Madrid, Spain

TRADE & CUSTOMS

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Delay in publication of the proposal on the right to repair
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Statements by Commissioner Breton on the sale of vehicles with combustion engines

CHEMICAL

  • Judgment of the General Court of 8 March 2023 in Case T-70/22: Novasol Vs. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
    Re: REACH - Fee payable for the registration of a substance - Reduction granted to SMEs - Verification by ECHA of the declaration relating to the size of the undertaking - Request for evidence demonstrating SME status - Refusal to provide certain information - Decision ordering recovery of the uncollected balance of the fee payable and imposing an administrative charge - Concept of 'related undertaking' - Recommendation 2003/361/EC - Obligation to state reasons
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - The key role of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) in the EU economy and as part of a non-toxic environment
  • Authorities and ECHA push for compliance with authorisation duties - ECHA/NR/23/06
  • Key actions for safer and more sustainable chemicals - see EEA Briefing

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • European Commission raises a further €6 billion in its third syndicated transaction for 2023 - IP/23/1488
  • Capital markets union: Council adopts revised framework for European long-term investment funds
  • ESMA Effects assessment of the introduction of the market correction mechanism (MCM)

TAXATION

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION & SOCIAL POLICY

  • Council and Parliament pave the way for a European Year of Skills

ENERGY

  • Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Signing of an agreement with Azerbaijan to supply ‘green’ electricity to the European Union
  • Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Algeria’s use of energy supplies as a political weapon

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Council (Environment) meeting on 16 March 2023
    - Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee of the Treaty on Plastic Pollution - Information from the French delegation
    - Regulation of plants obtained by new genomic techniques – need for further discussions respecting environmental aspects - Information from the Austrian delegation
  • Flood and drought analysis shows that impact-reduction strategies are effective – but fail in unprecedented events - Issue 596
  • On-site renewable energy generation could help decarbonise shipbuilding given suitable incentives - Issue 596
  • Noise from wind farm installation activities can impact commercially important cuttlefish - Issue 596
  • Growing number of studies detect antibiotics, medicines and caffeine in groundwater- Issue 596

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • The work of the technical working group on COVID-19 diagnostic tests will soon be discontinued
  • SCCS - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products of 27 February 2023
  • EFSA - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance sulfur
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process Zhenjiang Ceville, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of the feed additives 2‐acetylfuran [13.054] and 2‐pentylfuran [13.059] belonging to chemical group 14 for animal species (FEFANA asbl)
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process Steinbeis PolyVert, based on the EREMA Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety assessment of the process Plastipak Iberia, based on the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
  • EFSA - Scientific Report - Coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross‐border pathogens that threaten the Union – options for sustainable surveillance strategies for priority pathogens
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo‐polygalacturonase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain EPG
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus subtilis strains CNCM I‐4606, CNCM I‐5043 and CNCM I‐4607 and Lactococcus lactis CNCM I‐4609 for all animal species (MiXscience)
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Bacillus paralicheniformis DSM 5749 and Bacillus subtilis DSM 5750 (BioPlus® 2B) for piglets, calves for fattening and other growing ruminants (Chr. Hansen A/S)
  • EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Pantoea ananatis

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Agenda for: Justice and Home Affairs Council - 9-10 March 2023
  • Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Parliament and of the Council on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures - Opt-in of Ireland

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Fiscal policy guidance for 2024: Promoting debt sustainability and sustainable and inclusive growth - IP/23/140 & QaA
  • NextGenerationEU: Commission disburses first payment of €52.3 million to Malta under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
  • EU Cohesion Policy: €160 million for the development of water and wastewater infrastructure in Iași County, Romania - Midday Express
  • President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, travels to Slovenia on 8 and 9 March 2023

FUTURE OF EUROPE

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Judgment of the General Court of 8 March 2023 in Case T‑426/21, Nizar Assaad, Vs. Council of the European Union
    Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures adopted against Syria - Freezing of funds - Errors of assessment - Retroactivity - Legitimate expectations - Legal certainty - Force of res judicata
  • Judgment of the General Court of 8 March 2023 in Case T-98/22, Évariste Boshab Vs. Council of the European Union (see also Case T-96/22, T-95/22, T-94/22, T-93/22,T-92/22, T-91/22 & T-90/22)
    Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures taken in respect of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo - Freezing of funds - Restriction on admission to the territories of the Member States - Maintenance of the applicant's name on the lists of persons concerned - Right to be heard - Proof of the validity of the inclusion and maintenance on the lists - Manifest error of assessment - Perpetuation of the factual and legal circumstances which led to the adoption of the restrictive measures
  • Joint press release on Canada-EU relations - IP/ 23/1486
    - Address by President von der Leyen at a joint session of the Canadian parliament
    - Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
  • Violence against women and girls: EU sanctions nine individuals and three entities under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime - See: Regulation (EU) 2023/500 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/501
  • Statement by the HR/VP Borrell on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
  • Statement by the HR/VP Borrell on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali
  • Global Gateway: Call for applications for the Business Advisory Group - IP/23/1481

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

  • The General Court annuls the restrictive measures applied to Ms Violetta Prigozhina, mother of Mr Yevgeniy Prigozhin, in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine (see CPR No.43/2023 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-212/22, Prigozhina Vs. Council)
  • Statement by the HR/VP Borrell on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
  • Statement by the HR/VP Borrell on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
  • EU Solidarity with Ukraine: one year of temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine - IP/23/1525 & Communication
  • Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Importance of peace negotiations with Russia

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