Europe Daily News, 27 February 2023

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11040 - PGGM / DIF / EQT / Saur)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11014 - Abu Dhabi Ports Company / Noatum Holdings)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by ILS and DANX (M.10971) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU
• Commission Decision (EU) 2023/390 of 30 June 2022 on the measures SA.36086 (2021/C) (ex 2019/CC) (ex 2016/C) (ex 2016/NN) implemented by Romania in favour of Oltchim SA
• Decision to close the formal investigation procedure after withdrawal by Member State – State aid – Poland (Articles 107 to 109 of the TFEU) – Commission notice pursuant to Article 108(2) of the TFEU – withdrawal of notification – SA.46981 2018/C (ex 2016/N) – Poland – Flat rate sales tax in shipbuilding sector

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for : 240th meeting of the Customs Code Committee Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section (Sub-Section Mec/Misc/Tex) - From 28th February to 2nd March 2023
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/403 of 8 February 2023 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 as regards the provision of information for entry summary declarations and risk analysis for security and safety purposes at entry of goods, and adding Ukraine to the list of countries in the guarantor’s undertakings for transit
• Council Decision (EU) 2023/404 of 20 February 2023 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Association Council established by the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part, as regards the amendment of Annex XLIV to that Agreement
• Communication from the Commission – Guidelines to facilitate the application of the IPI Regulation by contracting authorities and contracting entities and by economic operators
• WTO note finds global trade resilient following one year of war in Ukraine

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• UN Regulation No 17 - Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the seats, their anchorages and any head restraints
• UN Regulation No 13-H - Uniform provisions concerning the approval of passenger cars with regard to braking
• Commission proposes digital labelling for EU fertilising products to better inform users and reduce costs, see the Proposal & Working Document - Midday Express
• InvestEU: more than €1 billion in financing for small businesses in Spain to support innovation, digitalisation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship - IP/23/1263

CHEMICAL

• ECHA updates monomer and polymer guidance following Board of Appeal decision

ENERGY

• Action brought on 2 December 2022 - Electrawinds Shabla South EAD Vs. Council - (Case T-759/22)
  Re: annulment of Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices
• Minutes of the Coordination Group for oil and petroleum products (formerly Oil Supply Group) - 18 January 2023
• Recommendation No 1/2023 of the Specialised Committee on Energy established by Article 8(1)(l) of the Trade And Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part of 7 February 2023 to each Party concerning their requests to transmission system operators for electricity in view of preparing technical procedures for the efficient use of electricity interconnectors
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Actual origin of fuel imported from Azerbaijan

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Notice to undertakings intending to import or export controlled substances that deplete the ozone layer to or from the European Union in 2024 and undertakings intending to produce or import these substances for essential laboratory and analytical uses in 2024

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Action brought on 21 December 2022 - Broad Far (Hong Kong) and M21 Vs. Commission - (Case T-791/22)
  Re: annulment of Delegated Directive (EU) 2022/2100 or annulment and/or disapply Article 27(2) of Directive 2014/40/EU
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Cosmetic Products - 1 March 2023

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: 6th meeting of the Digital Europe Programme Committee - 07 March 2023
• Agenda for: Meeting of the 82nd meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee - 15 March 2023
• Commissioner Breton participates in Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to discuss the future of connectivity (Speech) - Midday Express

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Minutes of the 8th meeting of the Multistakeholder expert group to support the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - 19 October 2022
• ENISA explores the challenges faced by Operators of Essential Services in the EU, when seeking to acquire cyber insurance - see the Report
• Summary of the Opinion of the European Data Protection Supervisor on the Proposals for Directives on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment
• EDPB publishes a procedure for the adoption of EDPB Opinions on national criteria for certification and European Data Protection Seals
• EDPB publishes three guidelines following public consultation
• Boosting enforcement and cooperation - EDPB sets out priorities
• EDPS to pilot the use of Open Source Software

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Minutes of the 1st meeting of the Commission expert group on urban mobility (EGUM) - 25 October 2022

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB Survey of Monetary Analysts (SMA) - March 2023
• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: January 2023
• Interview of Christine Lagarde with The Economic Times (India)
• Speech by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis at Conference on "Bulgaria Towards the Euro"
• Euro area banks’ market power, lending channel and stability: the effects of negative policy rate ECB Working Paper Series No.2790
• House prices and ultra-low interest rates: exploring the non-linear nexus - ECB Working Paper Series No.2789
• Monetary policy and the drifting natural rate of interest - ECB Working Paper Series No.2788

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Possible items for College agendas 1 March – 28 June 2023
• Agenda for Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2)  - 01 &03 March 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Syria: EU organises airlifts with humanitarian aid to earthquake survivors - IP/23/1241
• Sanctions targeting terrorism: Council renews EU terrorist list - See Council Regulation (EU) 2023/420, Decision (CFSP) 2023/422 and Notice 1 & 2
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/428 of 25 February 2023 implementing Article 12(2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1770 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/431 of 25 February 2023 amending Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/1775 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/430 of 25 February 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/433 of 25 February 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Border management: EU concludes agreement with North Macedonia on Frontex cooperation - See Council Decision (EU) 2023/418 and Agreement
• DPRK/North Korea: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile and short-range ballistic missiles
• Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: EU amends restrictive measures in place regarding Syria to facilitate the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• On the one-year mark of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, G7 leaders issued a statement reaffirming their unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes - G7 Leaders’ Statement
• Wagner Group: Council adds 11 individuals and 7 entities to EU sanctions lists
• EU agrees 10th package of sanctions against Russia -  IP/23/1185, QaA, Council Statement & Press Release
  - Council Regulation (EU) 2023/426 of 25 February 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 Regulation (EU) 2023/427 of 25 February 2023 amending Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
  - Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/429 of 25 February 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)  2023/432 of 25 February 2023 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
  - Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/434 of 25 February 2023 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/419 of 24 February 2023 implementing Article 8a of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/421 of 24 February 2023 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine - See Notice 1, 2 & 3 

BREXIT 

• Joint statement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak