Europe Daily News, 17 August 2023

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11161 - Nordic Capital / Foxway)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11080 - Savvy / Tencent / Ying / VSPN)
• EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 094/23/COL of 5 July 2023 on the designation of a new Hearing Officer in certain competition proceedings
• Commission clears acquisition of Azets by PAI Partners and Hg (M.11215) - Midday Express
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Acciona Concesiones, Cobra and Endeavour (M.11210) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Enel Green Power Australia by INPEX Corporation and Enel Green Power (M.11205) - Midday Express
• Austria - Update market inquiry into food delivery platforms: survey of food establishments and their online food and drink delivery activities
• Italy - AGCM has fined 14 companies (almost EUR500,000) for rigging bids in military tender at the Taranto Arsenal - See AGCM Bulletin No.31 p.151
• Lithuania - Retailer "Maxima LT" has been fined for obstructing dawn raid
• Portugal - Arcolgeste notifies acquisition of exclusive control over Digal
• Romania - The Competition Council examines the takeover of claims of Intrum Debt Finance AG by DDM Invest III AG
• Romania - The Competition Council examines the takeover of Borusan Mannesmann Boru Yatirim Holding by Borusan Holding A.S.
• Romania - The Competition Council authorised the acquisition of Eolenerg Project S.R.L. by Res Terranet Holding S.R.L. and Greenvolt Power Wind Poland SP Z O.O.

STATE AID

• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Ireland: State aid and the Irish Forestry Programme

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• 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 between the European Union and Iceland on the protection of geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs as regards the adoption of its rules of procedure - See the Annex
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1637 of 16 August 2023 initiating an investigation concerning possible circumvention of the countervailing measures imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2092 on imports of biodiesel originating in Indonesia by imports of biodiesel consigned from the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom, whether declared as originating in the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom or not, and making such imports subject to registration
• List of GSP beneficiary countries according to Annex II, III, and IV of the GSP Regulation (EU) 978/2012 updated on 10 August 2023
• Civil Society Dialogue on the EU’s Trade Defence Instruments - Annual Report 2022 - 25 September 2023
• Joint Report - First EU-Singapore Intellectual Property Dialogue - 01 June 2023 (See the Agenda)
• EU Trade organisational chart updated on 03 August 2023
• WTO dispute panel issues report regarding Chinese duties on US products

TAXATION

• Commission adopts detailed reporting rules for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism's transitional phase - IP/23/4186, See the Implementing Regulation
  - Guidance document on CBAM installations for importers of goods into the EU
  - Guidance document on CBAM installations for installation operators outside the EU
  - Optional communication template for the exchange of information between importers and operators of installations

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - EU aid to support Irish grain sector
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Support for Greek cereal producers
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Commission action to support agri-food chains in parts of Italy and Europe vulnerable to desertification

ENERGY

• Minutes of the Coordination Group for oil and petroleum products (formerly Oil Supply Group) - 28 June 2023

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Circular economy: New law on more sustainable, circular and safe batteries enters into force - Midday Express
• EU economy greenhouse gas emissions: -3% in Q1 2023 - Eurostat
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Stars will be ‘invisible’ in 20 years’ time owing to light pollution

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• EMA review of data on paternal exposure to valproate

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Half-yearly report from the Commission on the implementation of borrowing, debt management and related lending operations pursuant to Article 12 of Commission Implementing Decision - 1 January 2023 - 30 June 2023
• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council and the European Central Bank concerning the implementation and the results of the Pericles IV programme for the protection of the euro against counterfeiting in 2022 - See Annex I and Annex II
• Q2 2023: Business bankruptcies at highest level since 2015 - Eurostat
• European Statistical Recovery Dashboard: August edition - Eurostat

EXTERNAL RELATIONS 

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Sarkozy says Europe ‘needs’ Russia, slams Europe’s Ukraine policy - The former French president distanced himself from Emmanuel Macron’s current Ukraine strategy - Politico.eu