Europe Daily News, 31 May 2023

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11088 - Liberty Global / Mediahuis / NRJ Group / Vlaanderen Een)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11102 - Silver Fawn / MHI / Ayosa Hoteles / Evertmel / Jamaica Devco)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Liberty Global and Fluvius (M.10994) - Midday Express
• Electrolux Group sets provision mainly relating to French antitrust case
• Germany - Inquiry into non-search online advertising: significant market position of Alphabet/Google, insufficient transparency in programmatic advertising
• Poland - Protection of competition - an amendment to the law implementing the EU ECN+ Directive has entered into force
• Romania - The Competition Council has cleared the transaction between Res Terranet Holding S.R.L. and Greenvolt Power Solar Poland sp. z o.o. acquire Terravis Studio S.R.L.
• UK - The CMA has cleared the anticipated acquisition by ByBox Holdings Limited of Pelipod Limited
• UK - The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference in relation to the completed acquisition of Asda Stores Limited of Arthur Foodstores Limited from Co-operative Group Limited
• UK - Acquisition by Farfetch of interest in, and certain governance rights over, YOOX Net-a-Porter Group from Richemont, in consideration for the acquisition of a minority shareholding by Richemont in Farfetch - Decision on relevant merger situation and substantial lessening of competition 

STATE AID

• EFTA - ESA adopts revised guidelines on enforcement of State aid rules by national courts - see the Guidelines
• EFTA - ESA launches investigation into alleged State aid to Vygruppen
  

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1050 of 30 May 2023 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of rebars originating in the Republic of Belarus following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs by MEP Adrián Vàzquez ZLàzara on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - 3rd CETA Joint Committee Meeting and TSD Review
• Mercedes chief hits out at EU tariffs set to penalise carmakers - Ola Källenius calls for delay in post-Brexit sourcing rules and warns new tariffs will dent industry competitiveness - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation
  - Motor vehicles - 12 June 2023
  - Construction products - 07 June 2023
• Draft Report by MEP Alexandr Vondra on the Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability (Euro 7) and repealing Regulations (EC) No 715/2007 and (EC) No 595/2009 - Deadline for tabling amendments : 21-06-2023
• EU Cohesion Policy: €120 million call for urban innovation projects - IP/23/2948
• InvestEU: Iceland and Norway join programme for green, digital and SME financing in Europe - IP/23/2952
• MEP Christian Ehler wants to widen scope of ‘net zero industry act’ - See the Report
• VP Šefčovič travels to Kazakhstan to participate in Astana Mining and Metallurgy Congress 2023 and strengthen the bilateral relationship - see the Strategic Partnership Roadmap
   - Midday Express
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - MBDA group snubbed in running for HYDEF project contract

CHEMICAL

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) /... amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the listing of perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), its salts and PFHxS-related compounds
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) /... supplementing Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the determination of end points in the manufacturing chain of certain organic fertilisers and soil improvers
• "Next generation risk assessment": Berlin conference discusses new testing methods for chemicals - BfR Communication No. 021/2023 of 25 May 2023
• ECHA sees broad use of alternatives for chemical safety assessment - ECHA/NR/23/15 & 5th Report

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Council Decision (EU) 2023/1051 of 22 May 2023 amending Decision (EU) 2019/1754 on the accession of the European Union to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications
• EPO - Europe embarks on a new era of patent protection

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• EBA consults on new RTS and ITS on supervisory colleges
• EBA publishes results on impact and calibration of standardised approaches for counterparty risk
• EBA Peer Review finds credit valuation adjustment risk is overall supervised sufficiently and recommends some follow-up measures to further strengthen supervision
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Position of Europe regarding abandonment of petrodollars

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Main Results - Council of the European Union - Agriculture & Fisheries - 30 May 2023
• Council strikes deal on new rules to combat overfishing - see the EP Statement

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work - A four-column document

ENERGY

• REPowerEU: Commissioner Simson in Germany to discuss the energy transition - Midday Express

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: EP ENVI Committee - 05 June 2023
• Draft report by MEP Frédérique Ries Packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC - Amendments 2008 - 2355
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - Greenwashing
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - The EU’s over-reliance on seafood from third countries

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• SCHEER - Draft Agenda of the 5th plenary meeting, Luxembourg - 8 & 9 June 2023
• Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Cosmetic Ingredients - 17 & 18 April 2023
• EFSA presentation - Update on the campaign on awareness raising for plant health
• EFSA - Risk assessment related to the presence of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), didecyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) and chlorates in fish and fish products
• EFSA - Reasoned Opinion - Modification of the existing MRLs in leeks and spring onions/green onions/Welsh onions resulting from the use of potassium phosphonates
• ECDC - Typhoid and paratyphoid fever - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2018
• EMA - Global regulators agree on way forward to adapt COVID-19 vaccines to emerging variants - See the Report

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: 3rd Meeting of the Digital Decade Committee – 02 June 2023
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1053 of 30 May 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2023/588 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards operational requirements for governmental services provided under Union Secure Connectivity Programme and its service portfolio
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1054 of 30 May 2023 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the service portfolio for the Governmental Satellite Communications services offered by the system established under the Union Space Programme
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1055 of 30 May 2023 setting out the rules on the sharing and prioritisation of satellite communication capacities, services, and user equipment to fulfil the function referred to in Article 66(2) of Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Actions to ensure that the Council and Parliament are consulted before the adoption of the draft recommendation on the regulatory promotion of gigabit connectivity

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues – 31 May 2023 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Commission proposes to better guarantee the rights of adults in need of protection or support in cross-border situations - IP/23/2955, QaA 
• European Citizens' Initiative: Commission decides to register initiative on mutual recognition of final judgments within the EU - IP/23/2954
• Commissioner Dalli to meet European Parliament and Council to strengthen EU disability policies - Midday Express
• Statement by the European Commission on the Polish law establishing a State Committee for the Examination of Russian Impacts on internal Security
• Joint Business statement on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D)
• 33 arrested as global money laundering service is shut down - Italian-led investigation uncovers intricate system used to launder drug money for criminal networks - Europol

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB - Financial Stability Review, May 2023
• Financial stability outlook remains fragile, ECB review finds
• Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the GLOBSEC 2023 Bratislava Forum

FUTUR OF EUROPE

• Main Results - Council of the European Union - General Affairs - 30 May 2023
• Possible items for College agendas, from 7 June to 12 September 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Global Gateway: Commissioner Urpilainen in Costa Rica to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss investment priorities for a new agenda with Latin America and the Caribbean ahead of the EU-CELAC Summit - Midday Express
• Read out of President Michel’s Meeting with President Zourabichvili of Georgia, 30 May 2023
• Georgia hedges its bets on the EU and Russia - Despite the enthusiasm Georgia’s prime minister displayed for the EU during Independence Day, there remains the unshakable impression he’s hedging his bets - Politico.eu

EU INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Republic of Moldova: 7 individuals listed - for their destabilising actions and for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine
  - Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1045 of 30 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/888 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova - see notice 1 & 2
  - Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1047 of 30 May 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova
  - Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1046 of 30 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
  - Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1048 of 30 May 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - see notice 1, 2 & 3
• EU sanctions pro-Russian oligarch over plan to ‘destabilize’ Moldova - The Moldovan-Israeli Ilan Shor stands accused of working with Moscow to create unrest in the former Soviet republic – Politico.eu