Europe Daily News, 09 June 2023

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10920 - Amazon / IRobot)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11078 - Contargo / Ziegler / Schmid / JV)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by DekaBank, LBBW and Standard Chartered (M.11057) - Midday Express
• Czech Republic - The Competition authority blocks concentration between the Czech Post and PNS

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections
• Commission adopts revised Notice on the application of EU State aid rules following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU - Midday Express
• Commission approves €11 million Polish scheme to support agricultural producers in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.107506) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €150 million Slovenian scheme to support the rollout of renewable energy and energy storage to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.106613)  - Midday Express
• Commission approves up to €8.1 billion of public support by fourteen Member States for an Important Project of Common European Interest in microelectronics and communication technologies - IP/23/3087 & Remarks by EVP Vestager on an IPCEI

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 08 June 2023 in Case C‑640/21, SC Zes Zollner Electronic SRL Vs. Direcţia Regională Vamală Cluj – Biroul Vamal de Frontieră Aeroport Cluj Napoca
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Customs union - Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Union Customs Code - Excess quantity of goods discovered after the release of the goods - Article 173 - Amendment of a customs declaration - Goods other than those originally covered by the declaration to amend - Article 174 - Invalidation of a customs declaration - Article 42 - Penalties imposed by the customs authorities responsible - Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446
• Agenda for: 19th meeting of the Customs Project Group on the Digitalisation of Cultural Goods - 12 June 2023
• Agenda for: 246th meeting of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section (Sub-Section Agriculture/Chemistry) - 26th to 28th June 2023
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the adoption of a decision to amend Part I of Annex I of the Agreement
• Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the adoption of a decision adding two newly adopted Union acts to Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework
• Proposal for a Regulation on the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Moldovan products under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part - Analysis of the final compromise text with a view to agreement 
• Council Decision on the signing and on the conclusion behalf of the Union, of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and New Zealand (See also the  Annexes 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11, 12 & 13)
• Notice concerning the date of entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the 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 European Union
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1128 of 24 March 2023 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 to provide for simplified customs formalities for trusted traders and for sending parcels into Northern Ireland from another part of the United Kingdom
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1131 of 5 June 2023 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (2106 90 98)
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 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
• Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Greek Government involvement in exports of Predator malware
• WTO - Committee on Safeguards - Notification under article 12.1(c), 12.2, 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards - Notification pursuant to article 9, footnote 2 of the Agreement on Safeguards - European Union - Certain steel products - Corrigendum
• WTO - On World Oceans Day, DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes EU acceptance of fishing subsidies agreement
• Between a rock and a hard place: the EU response to national import bans on Ukrainian grain - See Bruegel Paper
• Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak unveil ‘Atlantic declaration’ to strengthen economic ties - President and prime minister seek to increase US-UK trade in areas including defence and critical minerals - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY & RESEARCH

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Better Regulation) - 15 June 2023

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Agenda for: AHWP on Frozen and Immobilised Assets - 13 June 2023
• Progress on key financial services legislative files as of 16 June 2023
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets and amending Directive (EU) 2015/849
• Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on markets in crypto-assets, and amending Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010 and Directives 2013/36/EU and (EU) 2019/1937

TAXATION

• Judgment of the Court of 08 June 2023 in Case C‑322/22, E. Vs. Dyrektor Izby Administracji Skarbowej we Wrocławiu, interested party: Rzecznik Małych i Średnich Przedsiębiorców,
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Principle of sincere cooperation - Principle of effectiveness - Tax levied by a Member State in breach of EU law - Breach established following a ruling of the Court of Justice - Right to be paid interest on the overpayment - National legislation limiting the right to the payment of interest to the period running until the thirtieth day following the publication of the ruling of the Court of Justice in the Official Journal of the European Union
• Opinion of Advocate General Pikamäe of 08 June 2023 in Case C‑96/22, Companhia de Distribuição Integral Logísta Portugal, SA Vs. Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Excise duty - Directive 2008/118/EC - Articles 7 and 9 - Scope - National legislation taxing quantities of cigarettes exceeding the quantitative limit at a rate in force after the date of release for consumption

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Expert Group on the Implementation of the CAP Strategic Plans Regulation - 13 June 2023
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Labelling rules for honey: improving consumer information
• Joint Press Release - United call for rejection of unrealistic nature legislation that endangers farmers and fishers’ livelihoods and food production in the EU

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1132 of 8 June 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards carcinogenic, mutagenic or reproductive toxicant substances subject to restrictions
• Commissioners Schmit and Dalli to participate in meeting of EU employment and social affairs ministers - Midday Express

ENERGY

• Remarks by Vice-President Šefčovič on the next steps for the joint EU purchasing of gas
• ACER will consult on its upcoming electricity cross-border capacity report

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Standing Committee on Biocidal Products - 28 June 2023
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues: Basel & Int. Chemicals/Synergies - 15 June 2023
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on reporting of environmental data from industrial installations and establishing an Industrial Emissions Portal - Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament
• Quality of Europe's bathing waters remains high - IP/23/3157
• Statement by Copa-Cogeca - Still in a fog - The European Parliament split over the place of livestock farming in revision of the Industrial Emissions Directive

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1125 of 8 June 2023 amending Annexes V and XIV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the entries for Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom and the United States in the lists of third countries authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of poultry, germinal products of poultry and fresh meat of poultry and game birds

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/1127 of 2 March 2023 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council with the detailed methodologies and procedures regarding the supervisory fees charged by the Commission on providers of very large online platforms and very large online search engines
• Why the EU must now tackle the risks posed by military AI - See CEPS Paper

DATA PRIVACY CYBERSECURITY

• Opinion, of Advocate General Medina of 8 June 2023 in Case C‑231/22, État belge Vs. Autorité de protection des données, joined party: LM
  Re :Reference for a preliminary ruling - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - Article 4(7) and (8) - Processing of personal data - Concepts of ‘controller’ and ‘processor’ - Determining the purpose and the means of the data processing - Obligation of designation by national law - Official journal - Publication of a company law act prepared by a notary - Request for withdrawal - Margin of discretion - Immutability - Article 5(2) - Successive controllers - Separate obligations of separate entities

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Council and Parliament strike a deal on the roll-out of intelligent transport systems
• Sustainable transport: rules to boost intelligent transport systems for safer and more efficient transport agreed - IP/23/3101
• EU court overturns Barcelona’s limits on ride-hailing groups - ECJ’s verdict will allow likes of Uber and Cabify to increase presence in Catalan city - Financial Times 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Main results - Justice & Home Affairs Council, 8-9 June 2023
  - Migration policy: Council reaches agreement on key asylum and migration laws
  - Legal migration: Council settles on negotiating position for review of Single Permit Directive
  - Council vows better civil protection preparedness against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats
  - Stronger press freedom and free speech protection: Council agrees position on anti-SLAPP law
  - Violence against women and domestic violence: Council agrees position on draft EU law
  - Freezing and confiscating criminal money: Council agrees negotiating position
  - Fighting human trafficking: Council agrees position for stronger rules
  
• Council Conclusions on the fight against trafficking in cultural goods - Council conclusions (8 June 2023)
• Strategy for customs cooperation in the area of law enforcement and its contribution to the internal security of the EU - see the Council Resolution
• EU Justice Scoreboard 2023: effectiveness of EU justice systems improves, but challenges to the perception of judicial independence persist - IP/23/3127
• Statement on the political agreement on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum
• New EMCDDA report describes growing complexity and change in cannabis laws in Europe - Cannabis laws in Europe: QaA for policymaking

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Contribution by Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, at Seminar on the Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive (CRR/CRD)
• Germany warns of stalemate on EU fiscal rules reform - Finance minister Christian Lindner sees ‘no landing zone’ between member states over debt reduction plans - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Speech by President von der Leyen at Toulouse Capitole University

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1126 of 8 June 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1686 imposing additional restrictive measures directed against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and natural and legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1138 of 8 June 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts two assistance measures to support the Nigerien Armed Forces - see Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1136 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1137
• 2022 progress report on the European Financial Architecture for Development (Com 2023-299)
• EU sanctions: Council finalises position on law that aligns penalties for violations
• President von der Leyen travels to Latin America to strengthen links with key partners - Midday Express
  
  RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Consolidated version of the FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus as of 08 June 2023
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 2f of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Media) as of 08 June 2023
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Deployment of Western military personnel in Ukraine