Europe Daily News, 10 May 2023

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11075 - Ebert Hera Esser Holding / Serviceco)
• Corrigendum to Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11055 - Equitix / Cube / River Ridge)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Chemours and Fumatech (M.11070) - Midday Express
• Commission clears the acquisition of SK Shieldus by SK Square and EFMS (M.11090) - Midday Express
  
• Commission clears the acquisition of joint control over ITI by Skipjack and ONE (M.11056) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Noguera Renovables by Axpo Iberia and ACSA (M.11089) - Midday Express
• UK - Anticipated acquisition by Cochlear Limited of the hearing implants division of Demant A/S, known as Oticon Medical - See Derogation Letter in respect of Initial Enforcement Orders
• UK - Bus Enhanced Partnerships – CMA advice for Local Transport Authorities - Advice for Local Transport Authorities that are developing, monitoring or varying Bus Enhanced Partnerships
• Big Tech deals: Regulators are coming to get you - There’s a new uncertainty about getting tech’s megadeals past skeptical regulators - Politico.eu

STATE AID

• The General Court annuls the decision of the Commission to approve the recapitalisation of Lufthansa by Germany, amounting to €6 billion euros, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (see CPR No.75/23, Judgment of the General Court in Joined Cases T-34/21, Ryanair Vs. Commission and T-87/21 & Condor Flugdienst Vs. Commission (Lufthansa; COVID-19)) 
• Judgment of the General Court of 10 May 2023 in Case in Case T‑102/21, Bastion Holding BV, Vs. European Commission, supported by Kingdom of the Netherlands
  Re: State aid - Measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands - Decision not to raise any objections - Temporary framework for State aid measures - Obligation to state reasons
• Judgment of the General Court of 10 May 2023 in Case T-289/21, Bastion Holding BV, Vs. European Commission, supported by Kingdom of the Netherlands,
  Re: State aid - Measures to support enterprises in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands - Decision not to raise any objections - Temporary framework for State aid measures - Obligation to state reasons
• Judgment of the General Court of 10 May 2023 in Case in Case T‑513/21,Bastion Holding BV, Vs. European Commission
  Re: State aid - Measures to support enterprises in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in the Netherlands - Decision not to raise any objections - Temporary framework for State aid measures - Obligation to state reasons
• Judgment of the General Court of 10 May 2023 in Case T-238/21, Ryanair DAC, Vs. European Commission, supported by Kingdom of Denmark, by Kingdom of Sweden, and by SAS AB
  Re: State aid - Danish and Swedish air transport markets - Aid granted by Denmark and Sweden to an airline in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic - Recapitalisation of SAS - Decision not to raise any objections - Actions for annulment - Individual concern - Substantial effect on the competitive position - Admissibility - Temporary Framework for State aid measures - Aid to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State - Compliance with the requirements of the Temporary Framework

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Draft Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 (first reading) - Adoption of the legislative act & Statements by Estonia, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia
• EU/Brazil Agreement: modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom`s withdrawal from the EU
• MEPs gave their green light to suspending EU import duties on Ukrainian exports of agricultural products for another year to support the country’s economy - See the Report
• Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s Meeting with European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis - USTR Statement
• EU statement on resumption of DS521 panel proceedings - 29 April 2023
• DDG Paugam urges ministers to harness WTO potential for advancing agricultural innovation
• China’s Qin warns EU not to sanction its companies over trade with Russia - Qin Gang and Annalena Baerbock have tense exchange over potential sanctions - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission launches a large-scale skills partnership for energy-intensive industries - Midday Express
• European Chips Act: Commission launches pilot system to monitor semiconductor supply chain - Midday Express
• InvestEU: European Investment Fund and Finnvera sign agreement to finance €280 million of investments by small businesses in Finland to boost the green transition, innovation and digitalisation - IP/23/2681
• InvestEU: European Investment Fund and UniCredit sign agreements to finance around €1 billion of investments by SMEs in seven countries across Central and Eastern Europe - IP/23/2682
• Parliament decided to urgently deal with a draft bill to increase European production of ammunition and missiles
• European Parliament makes recommendations to make standardisation processes more effective
• EFTA - ESA launches new version of Implementation Status Database for the EEA EFTA States
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question  - Estimated additional costs of buying a car related to the adoption of Euro 7 standards
• 7 questions on Euro 7 - See the Acea Fact sheets 

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• EU job seeker’s aid worth €1.2 million for 303 dismissed workers of aluminium producer Alu Ibérica in Spain’s Galicia region after the company declared bankruptcy - see the EP Resolution

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• European associations quite satisfied with EU Council’s position on geographical indications - See the EP Resolution
• Communication from the Commission - Commission Notice on recommendations on the 2020 updated reports for Article 11 of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC)
• Heal Letter to MEPs: Advancing on the implementation of the Farm to Fork strategy for better health and long-term benefits for farmers and everyone

ENERGY

• EU Energy Platform: Commission invites international suppliers to respond to first EU tender for 11.6bcm of joint gas purchases - Midday Express, see Remarks by VP Maroš Šefčovič
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Renewable energy support for Ukraine

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Fit for 55: MEPs boost methane emission reductions from the energy sector - see the adopted Amendments
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Single-Use Plastics Directive and extended producer responsibility
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Noise pollution action plan
• State of nature in Europe: Damaged ecosystems need restoration - see the EEA Briefing
• CHEM Trust, HEAL and EEB comments on REACH revision Information Requirements, as follow-up to CARACAL-48
• The real-life impact of PFAS pollution on communities – examples from Veneto, Antwerp, Dordrecht, Ronneby and Korsør and how to take action - Heal Statement

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Public consultation: Amendment of common specifications for products without intended medical purpose listed in Ann. XVI - Reg. (EU) 2017/745 - Implementing regulation - Feedback period: 08 May 2023 - 05 June 2023
• Draft Report by MEP Nikolaj Villumsen on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 98/24/EC and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the limit values for lead and its inorganic compounds and diisocyanates - Deadline for tabling amendments: 31-05-2023
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Takahashia japonica and of Solenopsis invicta
• EFSA - Reasoned Opinion - Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for triclopyr in animal commodities
• EFSA - External Scientific Report - Assessment of the factors for the presence of wild boar near outdoor and extensive pig farms in two areas of Eastern Europe
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety for the environment of a feed additive consisting of diclazuril (Coxiril®) for chickens reared for laying and pheasants (Huvepharma NV)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Re‐evaluation of xanthan gum (E 415) as a food additive in foods for infants below 16 weeks of age and follow‐up of its re‐evaluation as a food additive for uses in foods for all population groups

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: 1st Meeting of High-Level Group for the Digital Markets Act - 12 May 2023
• European Parliament calls for full implementation of Audiovisual Media Services Directive
• BEREC publishes its Opinion on the draft Gigabit Recommendation - 05 May 2023 

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Intelligent Transport Systems Committee - 26 May 2023
• Working Documents - Group of experts on horizontal social issues in transport - 26 April 2023
• European Parliament votes in favour of new urban mobility framework

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Summary of fourth meeting of the Expert Group on B2B data sharing and cloud computing contracts - 07 & 08 February 2023

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• European Commission raised €9 billion in a successful Europe Day transaction - IP/23/2642
• NextGenerationEU: Commission disburses first payment of €542 million to Lithuania under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, travels to Japan to participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Niigata on 11-13 May 2023
• MEPs approve €145 million in additional assistance to Moldova - see the EP Resolution
• Stress testing with multi-faceted liquidity: the central bank collateral framework as a financial stability tool - ECB Working Paper Series - No. 2814
• Financing the low-carbon transition in Europe - ECB Working Paper Series - No. 2813
• Interview with Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, conducted by Shogo Akagawa on 8 May 2023
• Speech by Isabel Schnabel: "Challenges for monetary policy at times of high inflation"

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz debated with MEPs during the 'This is Europe' series, calling for a united Europe capable of changing to secure its place in the world of tomorrow - see the Speech 
• EP President Roberta Metsola´s address at This is Europe -debate with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Europe Day, 9 May 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Sudan: EU launches Humanitarian Air Bridge to provide essential supplies - IP/23/2641
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Three-step plan for ammunition manufacturing

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the Accountability Summit in Kyiv
• Press statement by President von der Leyen with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Sanctions against Russia - Nord Stream 2 and exports of medical products
• Gazprom mercenary claims turn up heat on EU gas buyers - There are growing reports that the gas giant is financing private militias fighting in Ukraine, but the EU is unlikely to crack down on the company - Politico.eu
• The new ‘blood diamonds’: the elaborate plan to halt Russia’s trade - G7 nations are working on an inspections regime to target the country’s gemstones, but risk destabilising the global industry - Financial Times