COMPETITION

  • The Court sets aside in part the judgments of the General Court and, consequently, annuls the decisions of the Commission ordering inspections at the premises of a number of French undertakings in the distribution sector on account of suspicions of anticompetitive practices (See CPR Nº 44/2023 - Judgments of the Court of Justice in Cases C-682/20 P, C-690/20 P, C-693/20 P; Les Mousquetaires and ITM Entreprises Vs. Commission)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11050 - PAI Partners / Savory Solutions Group)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10749 - PAI Partners / The Carlyke Group) / Theramex)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10954 - Bouygues Immobilier / CLC Holdings / CLC France Property JV)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10919 - Apollo / Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings)
  • Summary of Commission Decision of 20 December 2022 relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the TFEU and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement (Cases AT.40462 - Amazon Marketplace and AT.40703 - Amazon Buy Box)
    - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions
    - Final Report of the Hearing Officer
  • Commission clears acquisition of Komsa by Westcoast (M.10990) - Midday Express
  • Commission clears acquisition of SCP Real Assets in Cologne, Staßfurt and Waiblingen by Kaufland (M.10992) - Midday Express
  • Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - Developing competition in the motor vehicle aftermarket
  • Austria - AFCA launches inquiry into online food and drink delivery platforms
  • Austria - AFCA publishes Guidelines on Pre-notification Procedures in Merger Control -
  • France - Sanctions imposed on champagne company Canard-Duchêne (Arvitis group) and two wholesale importers
  • Portugal - Current and future issues for competition enforcers - Speech by Maria João Melícias
  • Portugal - The AdC has adopted a non-opposition decision in the merger transaction 6/2023 - Arrow / Saviotti
  • UK - CMA/ Microsoft / Activision Blizzard merger inquiry - see the response to the notice of possible remedies by Microsoft and by Sony Interactive Entertainment 
  • Top four fragrance groups raided in co-ordinated antitrust probe - Regulators in Switzerland, UK, US and EU investigate overcharging and other anti-competitive practices - Financial Times
  • Data rises up the EU antitrust agenda - Regulators believe more action is needed when reviewing mergers and acquisitions - Financial Times

STATE AID

  • Opinion of Advocate General Pikamäe of 9 March 2023 in Case C‑466/21 P; Land Rheinland-Pfalz Vs. Deutsche Lufthansa AG, European Commission
    Re: Appeal - State aid - Aviation sector - Operational aid granted by Germany to Frankfurt-Hahn airport - Decision not to raise objections - Action for annulment -– Status as an ‘interested party’ - Safeguard of procedural rights - Concept of ‘overall scenario’
  • Commission approves €18 million Irish scheme to support road haulage operators in context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.106462) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves €200 million Flemish scheme to compensate for reduction or closure of pig production (SA.103681)  Midday Express
  • Commission approves €32 million German scheme to support fishery sector in the context of Brexit (SA.101585) - Midday Express
  • Commission approves amendment to 2022-2027 regional aid map for Spain (SA.106039) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C-358/22; Bolloré logistics SA v Direction interrégionale des douanes et droits indirects de Caen, Recette régionale des douanes et droits indirects de Caen, Bolloré Ports de Cherbourg SAS
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Customs Union - Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 - Community Customs Code - Article 195 - Article 217(1) - Article 221(1) - Common Customs Tariff - Obligations of the guarantor of the debtor of a customs debt - Procedures for communicating the customs debt - Duties corresponding to that debt not duly communicated to the debtor of the debt - Enforceability of the customs debt against the guarantor
  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C-725/21; SOMEO S.A., formerly PEARL STREAM S.A. Vs. Republika Slovenija,
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Customs Union - Common Customs Tariff - Tariff classification - Combined Nomenclature - Subheading 9401 90 80 - Parts of seats for motor vehicles - Netting for making up pockets on the back of seats - Protection for the interior of seats
  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C-752/21, JP EOOD Vs. Otdel "Mitnichesko razsledvane i razuznavane" /MRR/ v TD "Mitnitsa Burgas", in the presence of Okrazhna prokuratura - Haskovo,
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Customs Code of the Union - Remedies - Judicial cooperation in criminal matters - Framework Decision 2005/212/JHA - Customs smuggling - Goods belonging to a third party seized in the context of administrative proceedings of a criminal nature - National legislation excluding that third party from the category of persons entitled to bring an appeal against the administrative penalty decision ordering the seizure
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions – 13 March 2023
  • Second Meeting of the Trade Partnership Committee UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement - Joint Minutes - 1st December 2022
  • Council Decision establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the WTO Committee on Government Procurement on the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia to the Revised Agreement on Government Procurement – Adoption
  • Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations on a Protocol between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan on the protection of Geographical Indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs, wines and spirits, amending the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan
  • EFTA States and Singapore hold first round of negotiations towards a Digital Economy Agreement
  • The quick and easy guide for countries resisting Chinese trade coercion - Australia and Lithuania have shown that finding new export markets is much faster than WTO litigation - Financial Times
  • Netherlands to restrict chip exports after US pressure over China threat - Move affects ‘most advanced’ semiconductor tech after concerns on use in weaponry - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Medicinal Products - List of marketing authorisations granted by the EEA EFTA States for the first half of 2022 - Subcommittee on the free movement of goods - To be noted by the EEA Joint Committee
  • Dangerous substances - List of authorisation decisions taken by the EEA EFTA States in accordance with Article 44(5) of Regulation (EU) 528/2012 in the first half of 2022 - Subcommittee on the free movement of goods - To be noted by the EEA Joint Committee
  • Germany slams the brakes on the EU’s engine ban - The clean energy transition requires painful trade-offs - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C‑119/21 P, PlasticsEurope AISBL, Vs. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Federal Republic of Germany, French Republic, ClientEarth
    Re: Appeal - Establishment of a list of substances subject to authorisation - Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 - Annex XIV - List of substances identified for eventual inclusion in Annex XIV - Updating of the entry of the substance bisphenol A as ‘a substance of very high concern’
  • Dangerous substances - List of authorisation decisions taken by the EEA EFTA States in accordance with Article 64(8) of Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) in the first half of 2022 - Subcommittee I on the free movement of goods - To be noted by the EEA Joint Committee 

TAXATION

  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C-571/21, RWE Power Aktiengesellschaft Vs. Hauptzollamt Duisburg,
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Taxation of energy products and electricity - Directive 2003/96/EC - Article 14(1)(a) - Article 21(3), second and third sentences - Electricity used to generate electricity and to maintain the capacity to generate electricity - Exemption - Scope - Open-cast mining operations - Electricity used for the purpose of operating fuel bunkers and means of transport

EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION & SOCIAL POLICY

  • Football: according to Advocate General Szpunar the UEFA rules on home-grown players are partially incompatible with EU law (See CPR No 45/2023 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-680/21; Royal Antwerp Football Club)
  • Erasmus+ 2023 Annual Work Programme: Commission increases annual budget, with a focus on learners and staff from Ukraine - IP/23/1507

ENERGY

  • Judgment of the Court of 09 March 2023 in Case C‑46/21 P European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), Vs. Aquind Lt
    Re: Appeal - Energy - Regulation (EC) No 714/2009 - Article 17 - Request for exemption relating to an electricity interconnector - Refusal decision from the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) - Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 - Article 19 - Board of Appeal of ACER - Intensity of the review
  • One Year of REPowerEU: Commissioner Simson takes stock of progress on ending Russian fossil fuel imports - see the Opening Remarks
  • Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Gas supply agreement between Italy and Algeria and EU refinancing for GALSI project
  • Russia’s energy conflict with Europe is turning attritional - Both sides have had to abandon hopes of a swift victory - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Judgment of the Court of 9 March 2023 in Case C‑9/22, NJ, OZ Vs. An Bord Pleanála, Ireland, The Attorney General, Notice party: DBTR-SCR1 Fund, a Sub Fund of TWTC Multi-Family ICAV
    Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Environment - Directive 2001/42/EC - Assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - Article 2(a) - Concept of ‘plans and programmes’ - Article 3(2)(a) - Environmental assessment - Non-statutory act prepared by a municipal council and a developer - Directive 2011/92/EU - Assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment - Article 3(1) - Obligation to identify, describe and assess in an appropriate manner, in the light of each individual case, the direct and indirect effects of a project - Binding ministerial guidelines on building height
  • LIFE programme: EU invests more than €116 million in nature, environment and climate Strategic Projects - IP/23/1526 & QaA
  • Sustainable mobility: Executive Vice-President Timmermans announces European Declaration on Cycling to come this summer
  • Speech by President von der Leyen on the occasion of launching the storage of CO2 in the first full value chain Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) project in the EU (Project Greensand)

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Implementation of the Medical Device Regulations - Information from the Commission

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • Amended proposal for a Council Decision on the signature and provisional application of the Air Transport Agreement between the United States of America, of the first part, the EU and its Member States, of the second part, Iceland, of the third part, and the Kingdom of Norway, of the fourth part; and on the signature and provisional application of the Ancillary Agreement between the EU and its Member States, of the first part, Iceland, of the second part, and the Kingdom of Norway, of the third part, on the application of the Air Transport Agreement between the United States of America, of the first part, the EU and its Member States, of the second part, Iceland, of the third part, and the Kingdom of Norway, of the fourth part ‒ Adoption

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • TikTok introduces European data measures amid security concerns - Chinese-owned social media app is facing pressure from governments worldwide - Financial Times

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • NextGenerationEU: positive preliminary assessment of Slovenia's first request for €50 million disbursement under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - IP/23/1529 & QaA
  • Press remarks by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Gentiloni on the Fiscal policy guidance for 2024 
  • Speech by Fabio Panetta: "The Quick and the Dead: building up cyber resilience in the financial sector"
  • Speech by Christine Lagarde: "Empowering women in a changing global economy"
  • Christine Lagarde: Channelling Europe's savings into growth
  • Digitalisation and productivity: gamechanger or sideshow? - ECB Working paper Series No.2794
  • "Channeling Europe's savings into growth" - Op-ed article by European Council, European Commission, Eurogroup, ECB and EIB Presidents
  • The EU’s future in a world of deep disorder - In adjusting to today’s crises, the bloc needs to decide whether it wishes to be an ally, a bridge or a power- Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Agenda for: 16th meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Council - 17 March 2023
  • Israel/Palestine: Statement of the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the latest developments
  • Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region: EU allocates €50 million in humanitarian aid as Commissioner Lenarčič visits Madagascar - IP/23/1399
  • Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Development): Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival
  • Informal Foreign Affairs Council (Defence): Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell at the press conference

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

  • Russia’s energy conflict with Europe is turning attritional - Both sides have had to abandon hopes of a swift victory - Financial Times

BREXIT


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