COMPETITION

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Competition - 20 November 2023
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11174 - GCA / BPMA / VA / VP)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11237 - PSA / Duisport / Hupac / HTS / DGT)
  • Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11308 - Vodafone UK / Three UK / Vodafone UK Holdings) - Midday Express
  • Commission waives commitments made by Meta to obtain clearance of its acquisition of Kustomer (M.10262) - Midday Express
  • Commission clears acquisition of Epassi by TA Associates and Warburg Pincus (M.11269) - Midday Express
  • Belgium - The Competition Authority publishes its advice on the retail banking sector
  • Portugal - Visabeira Global announces the acquisition of joint control with H-MBO over HCI - Construções.
  • UK - CMA publishes first monitoring report on road fuel market
  • UK - CMA served an initial enforcement order in relation to the completed acquisition by Lindab International AB of HAS-Vent Holdings Limited.

STATE AID

  • Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.104506 & SA.108082
  • Communication from the Commission - Guidelines on regional State aid - Acceptance by Member States of the Commission’s proposal of the appropriate measures pursuant to Article 108(1) of the TFEU (Pursuant to Article 32(1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 of 13 July 2015 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 108 of the TFEU)
  • Action brought on 25 September 2023 - Communauté d’Agglomération du Boulonnais Vs. Commission - Case T-582/23
    Re: annulment of the Commission’s decision contained in the letter COMP/GK/DC* (2023)7641240

TRADE & CUSTOMS

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 15 November 2023
  • Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of mobile access equipment (MAE), originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN codes ex 8427 10 10, ex 8427 20 19, ex 8428 90 90 and, for the pre-assembled or ready-to-assemble sections of MAE, under ex 8431 20 00 and ex 8431 39 00)
  • Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of titanium dioxide (TiO2), originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN codes ex 2823 00 00 and 3206 11 00)
  • EU launches tool to help exporters seize the benefits of Mutual Recognition Agreements - Midday Express
  • Report of the 6th Round of negotiations on a Free Trade agreement between the EU and India - 16-27 October 2023
  • WTO - Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Specific trade concerns - EU MRLs, European legislation on endocrine disruptors and import tolerances for certain pesticides to achieve environmental outcomes in third countries - Communication from the European Union

INTERNAL MARKET INDUSTRY

  • Council Decision (EU) 2023/2509 of 9 November 2023 on the position to be adopted, on behalf of the European Union, within the EEA Joint Committee concerning an amendment to Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement (Market Surveillance and Compliance of Products Regulation)
  • 8th Raw Materials Week focuses on legislation on critical raw materials - Midday Express
  • Europe's small and medium enterprises meet in Bilbao for the SME Assembly - Midday Express
  • Commissioners Schmit and Breton to discuss workers' rights in the age of AI at the 2023 European Employment and Social Rights Forum - Midday Express

AUTOMOBILE

  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2502 of 7 September 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/631 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the adjustment of the mass values of new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles
  • Council Decision (EU) 2023/2518 of 9 November 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU in the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations of the Unece on proposals for modifications to UN Regulation Nos 0, 14, 16, 17, 24, 43, 48, 53, 74, 86, 90, 94, 95, 100, 122, 129, 134, 135, 137, 145, 149, 153, 154, 157, 160, 161 and 162, on proposals for a new UN regulation on event data recorders for heavy-duty vehicles and for a new UN regulation on child restraint systems for safer transport of children in buses, and on a proposal for an amendment of UN Mutual Resolution No 1

CHEMICAL

  • Action brought on 25 August 2023 - AlzChem Trostberg Vs. Commission - (Case T-536/23)
    Re: annulment of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1097; Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012; Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/2100; ECHA’s Biocidal Product Committee

FINANCIAL SERVICES

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Financial Services and the Banking Union (Financial Services) – Digital Euro - 23 November 2023
  • Agenda for: Working Party on Financial Services (Listing Act) 17 November 2023
  • ESMA and EU CCPs participate in a Global fire-drill
  • ESAs publish amended technical standards on the mapping of External Credit Assessment Institutions
  • AFME - Key industry report tracks European capital markets’ performance in 2023 

TAXATION

  • Opinion piece by European Commission Director-General for Taxation and Customs Union, Gerassimos Thomas, ahead of meetings in Japan (CBAM & ETS)
  • Developing countries and Europe in dispute over global tax role for UN - Proposals by states frustrated at OECD processes are being ‘rubbished’ by EU and UK, critics say - Financial Times
  • UK to press ahead with carbon border tax in 2026 - Programme would mirror scheme launched by EU - Financial TImes

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

  • Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2517 of 9 November 2023 amending Implementing Decision 2014/170/EU establishing a list of non-cooperating third countries in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, as regards the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
  • EU and Neighbourhood countries commit to enhanced fisheries management control in the Mediterranean and Black Sea - IP/23/5695
  • Combating overfishing: Council adopts revised rules for the EU’s fisheries control system
  • Council adopts Farm Sustainability Data Network regulation

ENERGY

  • Action brought on 28 September 2023 - BNetzA Vs. ACER - Case T-600/23
    Re: annulment of the decision of the Board of Appeal of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators of 7 July 2023 (A-003-2019_R)
  • Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community (Vienna, Austria, 14 December 2023)

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

  • UNECE: 28th session of the Committee on Environmental Policy (CEP 28) (Geneva, 1-3 November 2023) - Statements by the EU and its Members States
  • EU to support Barbados in upgrading climate resilient infrastructure for clean water under Global Gateway* - IP/23/5669
  • Joint Statement by Commissioner for Climate Action and the COP28 President Designate
  • Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Request for the Commission to take action in response to a new attack on biodiversity in Italy: arrival of the red imported fire ant in Sicily
  • Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Environmental impact of a planned bypass in Wiener Neustadt
  • EEB - Minamata Convention moves to end the use of mercury in cosmetics
  • Some twenty European companies are calling on Member States to retain CO2 capture obligation in Net-Zero Industry Act
  • Food industry calls for more time to implement EU deforestation rules - Producers and traders call for more details and say rules will fail to deliver environmental benefits - Financial Times

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

  • Statement by Commissioner Kyriakides on World Diabetes Day
  • First InvestEU agreement in Romania provides €25 million in EIB financing to boost security of supply for medicines - IP/23/5688

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

  • Agenda for: Working Party on Data Protection - 24 November 2023
  • Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on harmonised rules on fair access to and use of data (Data Act) - Outcome of the EP's first reading (Brussels, 8-9 November 2023)
  • Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Proposal for a Council Directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes 
  • The ENISA has formalised a Working Arrangement with Ukraine counterparts focused around capacity-building, best practices exchange and boosting situational awareness
  • Beijing’s data and spy laws threaten to spur decoupling with Europe, says business group - BusinessEurope claims that anti-espionage amendments make the relationship with China ‘challenging’ - Financial Times

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

  • Commissioner Reynders to attend the EU-US Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs - Midday Express
  • Council adopts decision on funding for firefighting planes and helicopters
  • Council gives green light to the digitalisation of the visa procedure

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

  • Main Results of: Economic & Financial Affairs Council (Budget) -10 November 2023
    - EU budget for 2024: Council and Parliament reach agreement
  • Commission welcomes agreement on EU Annual Budget 2024 - IP/23/5685, QaA
  • Commission receives Finland's first payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
  • Speech by Luis de Guindos: "Outlook for the euro area economy and financial stability"

FUTURE OF EUROPE

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - November 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

  • Agenda for: Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council - 13 November 2023
  • Agenda for: Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) - 14 November 2023
  • Commissioner Urpilainen travels to Apia to sign the Samoa Agreement between the EU and OACPS and strengthen the EU-Pacific Partnership - Midday Express
  • Speech by President Charles Michel at the session "From multi-crisis to multi-conflict: how to stop the vicious circle" at the Paris Peace Forum
  • Speech by President Charles Michel at the session "Making a reality of the Paris Pact for People and Planet" of the Paris Peace Forum
  • Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on humanitarian pauses in Gaza
  • Serbia is a poor fit for EU enlargement plans - Democratic backsliding and a foreign policy close to Russia cast doubt on whether Belgrade really wants to join the club - Financial Times

EU SANCTIONS

  • Action brought on 15 September 2023 - Positive Group Vs. Council - Case T-573/23
    Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1218; of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1216; of Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1767; of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1765
  • Venezuela: Council reviews restrictive measures - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2498 & Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2500