COMPETITION

  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11016 - Air Liquide / ADP / JV)
  • Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11064 - Macquarie / Ivanhoe / RHP Partners Manager GP / JV)
  • Commission clears acquisition of IG Bauerhin by Lear (M.10738) - Midday Express
  • Austria - Bid rigging: AFCA and provincial courts of audit exchange experience
  • Cyprus - Notification of a concentration concerning the acquisition of the share capital of GCP Applied Technologies Inc., from Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., via Cyclades Parent, Inc.
  • Slovakia - AMO SR signed a memorandum on regional cooperation with competition authorities in 9 European countries
  • Slovakia - AMO SR initiated administrative proceedings in the case of the concentration of Strabag s.r.o. and Eurovia SK, a.s. - Third parties may submit comments, objections and information on the notified concentration to the AMO SR
  • UK - CMA: New bill to stamp out unfair practices and promote competition in digital markets
  • IAG’s Air Europa bid expected to face lengthy EU probe - Deal may even be blocked over fears it could trigger higher ticket prices - Financial Times

STATE AID

  • State aid: 2022 Scoreboard shows that in 2021 State aid levels remained high to tackle economic effects of the pandemic - IP/23/2407
  • Commission approves prolonged and amended Spanish and Portuguese measure to lower electricity prices amid energy crisis (SA.106095 and SA.106096) - IP/23/2408

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 28 April 2023
  • Agenda for: 45th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Origin - 26 April 2023
  • Agenda for: 53rd meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Tariff Measures subsection - 02 June 2023
  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the making available on the Union market as well as export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 - Outcome of the European Parliament's first reading (Strasbourg, 17 to 20 April 2023)
  • Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft concerning the accession of Brazil to the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft
  • Allies resist US plan to ban all G7 exports to Russia - EU and Japanese diplomats say that Washington’s proposal is ‘simply not do-able’ - Financial Times
  • The coming disputes over trade in electric vehicles - China’s dominance of its domestic car market will soon be projected to Europe - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the Technical Committee - Motor Vehicles - 04 May 2023
  • Regulation (EU) 2023/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 April 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 as regards strengthening the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles in line with the Union’s increased climate ambition
  • Space: Commission calls on Member States to host GOVSATCOM and IRIS² ground infrastructure - Midday Express
  • Kick-off of the seventh edition of the Just Transition Platform Conference with Commissioners Breton, Ferreira and Simson - Midday Express
  • Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - EU’s strategic autonomy threatened by China ramping up car battery production – strengthening EU supply chains

CHEMICAL

  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) /... amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical and scientific progress, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures as regards the addition of notes to Part 1, section 1.1.3, of Annex VI
  • ECHA - Analysis of alternatives and tools to support substitution of biocides - watch online
  • EU pledge to ban most toxic chemicals is failing – NGOs - see ClientEarth and EEB joint press release
  • New Report offers a blueprint for overcoming bottlenecks and unlocking the full potential of digitalisation in the Chemical Industry - Cefic

FINANCIAL SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

  • Gender pay gap: Council adopts new rules on pay transparency - The Council has adopted new rules to combat pay discrimination and help close the gender pay gap in the EU

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

ENERGY

  • EU Energy Platform: Commission launches first call for companies to jointly buy gas - IP/23/2403, QaA
  • Statement by President von der Leyen at the Leaders' Summit on offshore wind in the North Sea
  • Remarks by Commissioner Kadri Simson at the North Sea Summit
  • Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - EU-funded solar power grant and limitations on selling excess electricity to the grid
  • EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-2026 - Action “Stimulate the green transition of the cultural and creative sectors, with a specific focus on the energy crisis”: Stocktaking exercise on the energy crisis - Final Presidency Note

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the Climate Change Committee - 28 April 2023
  • 'Fit for 55': Council adopts key pieces of legislation delivering on 2030 climate targets
  • Green Deal for Europe: landmark climate legislation adopted to put the EU on track for further emissions reductions - Midday Express
  • Air pollution levels across Europe still not safe, especially for children - See EEA Statement
  • How to guarantee green batteries in Europe - T&E's position paper explains how the EU’s battery carbon footprint rules can be made fit for purpose

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Council gives final green light to legislation that will make products safer for consumers
  • SCCS - Preliminary Opinion open for comments on Fullerenes, Hydroxylated Fullerenes and hydrated forms of Hydroxylated Fullerenes (nano) - deadline for comments: 12/06/23
  • SCCS - Request for a scientific Opinion on Benzophenone-4 - and on Benzophenone-1 - 18 April 2023
  • SCCS - Request for a scientific Opinion on Triphenyl Phosphate - 18 April 2023
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Insects as ‘novel foods’
  • Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Combating food waste and waste management
  • EU outlines plan to take control of medicine production in health crises - Proposal for compulsory licensing risks ire of pharmaceutical groups keen to protect patents and revenue - Financial Times
  • Germany clashes with other EU states on pharma regulation overhaul - Berlin warns shortening time before generic drugs are allowed to market will stifle industry investment - Financial Times 

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Transport - Intermodal Questions and Networks - 28 April 2023
  • Maritime safety: Council adopts legislation for safer journeys with ferries in Europe
  • Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/856 of 18 April 2023 on the request for registration, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/788 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of the European citizens’ initiative entitled ‘Connecting all European capitals and people through a high-speed train network’

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN - Environmental Crime) - 03 May 2023
  • Council green lights EU law which improves information exchange between law enforcement authorities
  • Council adopts law to improve and digitalise cross-border judicial cooperation
  • Eurojust assists Czech Republic and Finland in dismantling human trafficking network

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • ECB - Frequency of 7-day US dollar liquidity-providing operations as of 1 May 2023
  • ECB publishes progress report on digital euro and study on possible features of a digital wallet
  • Introductory statement by Fabio Panetta, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, at the EP ECON Committee
  • Interview with Philip R. Lane, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, conducted by Eric Albert on 18 April 2023
  • Interview with Isabel Schnabel, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, conducted by Johanna Treeck on 20 April 2023
  • Letter from Fabio Panetta to Irene Tinagli, ECON Chair, on third progress report on the investigation phase of a digital euro and second focus group report
  • We need to strengthen EU fiscal rules, not dilute them - Proposed reforms by the European Commission must ensure robust enforcement of the framework - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 24 April 2023, see Remarks by HR/VP Borrell
  • Ethiopia: Council conclusions confirm EU support for lasting peace - The Council approved conclusions confirming EU support for lasting peace
  • EU fight against terrorism: one group and two individuals added to the EU sanctions list - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/845 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/848
  • Syria: EU sanctions drug trade benefitting the regime - The Council decided to list 25 individuals and 8 entities in the framework of EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria over drug trade, and support for regime-affiliated militia - Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/844 & Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/847
  • Iran: Council sanctions eight additional individuals and one entity over human rights violations -  See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/846 & Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/849
  • Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/853 of 24 April 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran
  • Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/854 of 24 April 2023 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Iran
  • Moldova: EU sets up a civilian mission to strengthen the resilience of the security sector - The Council agreed to establish a civilian EU CSDP partnership mission in the Republic of Moldova to enhance the resilience of the security sector of the country in the areas of crisis management and hybrid threats - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/855
  • Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran
  • Report of the EU-Uzbekistan Cooperation Council - 24 April 2023
  • United States: EU – US Consultations underscore continued shared commitment to Human Rights

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

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