Europe Daily News, 23 June 2023

COMPETITION

• Commission clears acquisition of Enel Romania by PPC (M.11103) - Midday Express
• 2023 Competition Summer School for officials from Asian authorities to kick off next week in Bruges - Midday Express
• Spain - The CNMC approves the criteria that will govern the prohibition of companies from contracting with the public sector when they distort competition

STATE AID

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... on detailed arrangements for the conduct of proceedings by the Commission pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2022/2560 of the European Parliament and of the Council on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market (at the Agenda of Foreign Subsidies Advisory Committee on 30 June 2023)
• Commission formally adopts General Block Exemption rules to facilitate green and digital transition - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - In-depth investigation of Fret SNCF - impact on activity
• ESA finds no aid was provided to Orkuveita Reykjavíkur subsidiary

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputy Members) - 28 June 2023
• Judgment of the Court of 22 June 2023 in Case C-24/22, PR Pet BV Vs. Inspecteur van de Belastingdienst/Douane, kantoor Eindhoven
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common Customs Tariff - Classification of goods - Combined Nomenclature - Heading 9403 - Articles consisting of a structure, intended for cats, known as 'cat trees' - Goods composed of different materials - Implementing Regulations (EU) No 1229/2013 and (EU) No 350/2014
• Judgment of the Court of 22 June 2023 in Case C-268/22, Vitol SA Vs. Belgische Staat
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Commercial policy - Defence against dumping practices - Imports of biodiesel originating in Argentina and Indonesia - Validity of Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1194/2013 - Admissibility - No action for annulment brought by the applicant in the main proceedings - Importer - Determination of the existence of dumping - Factors to be taken into account

INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY & RESEARCH

• New European Bauhaus Prizes and European Urban Initiative Call: meet the winners - IP/23/3451
• Culture: Participation in cultural activities strengthens democracy and social cohesion - see the Report

CHEMICAL

• Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) and dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6)

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Judgment of the Court of 22 June 2023 in Case C 258/22, Finanzamt Hannover-Nord Vs. H Lebensversicherung,
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Free movement of capital - Article 63 TFEU - Business tax - Calculation of the basis of assessment for that tax - Rules for calculation - Dividends from holdings of less than 10% in the capital of resident and non-resident capital companies - Inclusion in the basis of assessment for business tax - Time of the inclusion - Difference in treatment - Restriction - None
• Agenda for: Att. Financial Services (Financial Services) - (MiFIR/MiFID) - 28 June 2023
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Financial Counsellors Working Party - 27 June 2023 

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council on 26 and 27 June 2023.
  - The increasing population of large carnivores and the threat they represent for humans and animals – the need to take actions - Information from the Romanian delegation, supported by the Czech and Slovak delegations
  - Ban on Fur Farming - Information from the Austrian, German and Netherlands delegations, supported by the Belgian, Cyprus, Czech, Estonian, Lithuanian, Luxembourg and Slovak delegations
  - Adverse weather conditions and the need for certain derogations within the framework of the CAP - Information from the Latvian delegation
• Commission Implementing Regulation amending the Implementing Act on monitoring and evaluation of CAP Strategic Plans - Implementing regulation - Feedback period : 23 June 2023 - 21 July 2023

ENERGY

• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011 and (EU) 2019/942 to improve the Union’s protection against market manipulation in the wholesale energy market - General approach
• The EU and the International Partners Group announced a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Senegal combining climate and development goals - IP/23/3448 & Political Declaration
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Advantages for Chinese wind turbine producers
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Methane regulation and relaxation of importer requirements
• Germany locks in more US natural gas as it shuns Russian supply - State-owned group formed from Gazprom assets to purchase 2.25mn tonnes annually for 20 years - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• 17th Meeting of the Associated committee: Committee on invasive alien species - 13 July 2023
• Second session of the Intergovernmental negotiating committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment (INC-2) (Paris, France, 29 May - 2 June 2023) - Compilation of statements by the EU and its Member States
• EU plans to relax GMO restrictions to help farmers adapt to climate change - Controls could be eased on plants ranging from wheat able to withstand drought to fungus-resistant tomatoes - Financial Times 

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed
  - section: "GM Food & Feed" of 03 July 2023
  - section: "Animal nutrition" of 05 July 2023
  
• Food Safety: Norway makes limited progress in addressing recommendations
• EFSA - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance hydrolysed proteins
• Efficacy of a feed additive consisting of endo‐1,4‐beta‐xylanase produced by Komagataella phaffii ATCC PTA‐127053 (Xygest™ HT) for all poultry species (Kemin Europa N.V.)

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• EU Cohesion Policy: New sustainable modern railway in Czechia - IP/23/3425
• Consumer groups launch EU-wide complaint against 17 airlines for greenwashing - see the Beuc Study

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 23 June 2023
• Answer given by VP Jourová to a MEP written question - European Media Freedom Act
• Consumer groups call on regulators to investigate generative AI risks & enforce existing legislation - see Beuc Statement

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Agenda of the Fifth Committee for the Home Affairs Funds -18 July 2023
• Opinion of Advocate General Pikamäe in 22 June 2023 in Case C-321/22 ZL, KU, KM Vs. Provident Polska S.A.
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Consumer protection - Unfair terms in consumer contracts - Consumer credit - Directive 93/13/EEC - Articles 6 and 7 - Action for a declaratory judgment - Legal interest in bringing proceedings - Consequences relating to the unfairness of a contractual term - Right to restitution - Principle of effectiveness
• Consumer protection: EU rules on the protection of consumers' collective interests enter into application - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Speech by Christine Lagarde: Remarks at the Summit for a new global financing pact
• Speech by President von der Leyen and by President Charles Michel at the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Press remarks by Neighbourhood and Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi, following the informal General Affairs Council

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• EU adopts 11th package of sanctions against Russia for its continued illegal war against Ukraine - IP/23/3429
  - Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1214 of 23 June 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
  - Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1215 of 23 June 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
  - Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1216 of 23 June 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) 2023/1217 of 23 June 2023 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
  - Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1218 of 23 June 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

EU/UK RELATIONS (BREXIT)

• Agenda for Specialised Committee on the implementation of the Windsor Framework on 23 June 2023