Europe Daily News, 19 September 2023

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11265 - Deutsche Bank / Munich Re / Weltec Holding JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11216 - Liberty / ISD Dunaferr)
• Commission clears acquisition de Infra Group by PAI Partners (M.11223) - Midday Express
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Baosteel, Saudi Aramco and PIF (M.11193) - Midday Express
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by EF Exclusive Cars and FG Automobil Holding (M.11263) - Midday Express
• Antitrust: Commission carries out unannounced inspections in the medical devices sector - IP/23/4517
• Hungary - GVH imposed a fine of HUF 15 million, injunction and commitment for Heineken
• Ireland - CCPC clears Aurivo’s purchase of certain assets of Arrabawn
• UK - CMA decision upheld in major drug price abuse case
• UK - The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry in the Anticipated acquisition by Hanson Quarry Products Europe Limited of Mick George Limited

STATE AID

• Commission to set up a forum to improve selection and implementation of Important Projects of Common European Interest - Midday Express
  

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 22 September 2023
• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom - 19 September 2023
• Agenda for: 40th meeting of the CEG - Data Integration & Harmonization section - (CEG/DIH/40) joint with Trade Contact Group (TCG) - 28 September 2023
• Council Decision on the Signing and of the Conclusion on behalf of the Union of the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement between the Union and the Republic of Angola
• Commission Decision (EU) .../ on a request for extended cumulation between Cambodia and Vietnam, in accordance with Article 56(1) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2446, as regards the rules of origin used for the purposes of the scheme of generalized tariff preferences pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 for certain materials or parts used in the production of bicycles
• Minutes of: 247th meeting of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature (‘Combined Nomenclature’ sector) - 05 July 2023Summary of Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/821 for 2023
• Overview of FTA & other Trade Negotiations as of 18 September 2023
• Overview of economic partnership agreements as of 18 September 2023
• Report of the 15th round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Indonesia -10 to 14 July 2023
• July 2023 - Euro area international trade in goods surplus €6.5 bn - €4.9 bn surplus for EU
• German carmakers in the line of fire of possible EU-China trade war - Resentment is brewing that Brussels’ subsidies probe against Beijing benefits French rivals - Financial Times
• The real reasons for the west’s protectionism - The US and EU believe that it is not just their economies but their social and political stability that are at stake - Financial Times
• Germany leads EU condemnation of Ukraine trade curbs - Berlin accuses Poland, Hungary and Slovakia of ‘part-time solidarity’ with Kyiv over grain import bans - Financial Times
• Ukraine will sue Poland, Hungary and Slovakia over agricultural bans - Kyiv plans WTO action against three EU countries over ‘ridiculous’ restrictions, trade chief says - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• New online platform to facilitate compliance of Member States with notification obligations - Midday Express
• European battery makers: start-ups back EU’s EV ambitions - Carmakers could use their clout to secure vital raw materials and help local suppliers compete with Asian rivals - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Report of the 4th meeting of the High Level Roundtable on the Chemicals Strategy - 01 February 2023
• List of authorisation decisions adopted on the basis of Article 64(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH), as of 13 September 2023
• ECHA: Provisional Draft Agenda - 83rd meeting of the Member State Committee - 10 & 11 October 2023
• ECHA - Have your say on the draft report on CMRs in childcare products until 29 September 2023

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• ESAs warn of risks resulting from a fragile economic outlook 

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX cancelling the protection of the geographical indication ‘Sable de Camargue’ (PGI)

ENERGY

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) /... amending Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/2202 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing a list of selected cross-border projects in the field of renewable energy
• EU energy market reform: protecting against high prices - see the EP Statement

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Fourth meeting of the intersessional process considering the Strategic Approach and sound management of chemicals and waste beyond 2020 (IP4.3) (Bonn, Germany, 23 - 24 September 2023) - Fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) (Bonn, Germany, 25 - 29 September 2023) - First EU coordination - 22 September 2023
• China probe row adds to EU’s Green Deal woes - Diplomats warn against provoking Beijing to avoid further delaying bloc’s climate ambitions - Financial Times

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda of : 84th Meeting of the EDPB - 19 September 2023

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Gigabit Infrastructure Act: faster rollout of gigabit-capable connectivity - see the EP Statement

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Answer given by Ms Vălean to a MEP written question - Free movement of goods along the Brenner motorway

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Conclusions of the 60th Plenary Meeting of the European Judicial Network (EJN) (Stockholm - 12 to 14 June 2023)
• EP IMCO Committee adopted its position on new rules to make short-term rented accommodation more transparent

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• NextGenerationEU: Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility firmly underway - IP/23/4506
• Technical Support Instrument: Commission supports Slovakia to make better use of cohesion funds - Midday Express
• Recovery fund: Council greenlights Italy’s targeted amendment of its national plan
• The ECB Survey of Monetary Analysts (SMA), September 2023, Aggregated Results
• ECB - Euro area monthly balance of payments: July 2023

FUTUTRE OF EUROPE

• Council appoints Iliana Ivanova as new European Commissioner
• "Our Time for Leadership” - EP President Metsola’s keynote at the World Leaders Forum, Columbia University

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• The European Commission announced 60 members and 10 observers of the Global Gateway Business Advisory Group - IP/23/4510
• Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on expectations from Serbia and Kosovo*
• Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival
• Informal meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Security situation in south-east Nigeria
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Haiti sanctions regime
• Erdoğan threatens to ‘part ways’ from EU after critical EP report - Turkey’s EU accession bid has stagnated for years amid the Turkish leader’s increasingly autocratic behavior - Politico.eu

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• EU Solidarity with Ukraine: Commission proposes to extend temporary protection for people fleeing Russian aggression against Ukraine until March 2025 - IP/23/4496
• Statement by the HR/VP Borrell on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol