Europe Daily News, 23 May 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11503 - Vitol / Saras)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11433 - Süwag / Alterric / JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11527 - Engie / Macquarie / MPBV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11382 - AGCO / Trimble / JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of Hektar Media by Gamma, Karl Royer and RHO (M.11540) - Midday Express
• Commission fines Mondelēz €337.5 million for cross-border trade restrictions - IP/24/2727 & Remarks by EVP Vestager
• Information by the Belgian Presidency on the 26 April 2024 Competition Day
• Competition merger brief - Issue 2 / May 2024
• Belgium - The Competition Authority accepts commitments from Telenet in relation to the allocation and acquisition of broadcasting rights for cyclo-cross races
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of six shops of Delhaize Le Lion/De Leeuw by VLH Holding
• Cyprus - Notification of a concentration concerning the acquisition of joint control of Soft One Technologies A.E. by Rucio Investment S.À.R.L., Rocinante Investments S.A R.L. and Grey Squirrel Services LTD
• Denmark - The Danish Parliament has adopted an amendment to the Competition Act
• Italy - Sanction of 2.5 million to Intesa Sanpaolo RBM Salute S.p.A. and 1 million to Previmedical Servizi per la Sanità Integrativa S.p.A. for unfair commercial practice
• Portugal - Esteve Healtchcare notifies the acquisition of exclusive control over HRA Pharma Iberia
• Romania - The Competition Council assesses the takeover of Dr. Oetker's assets by the New Originals Company GmbH
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the takeover of Officine Maccaferri S.p.A. and its subsidiaries by Ambienta SGR
• Slovakia - The AMO approves merger of undertakings in road freight transport
• Slovakia - The AMO has issued its Annual Report for 2023

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111028; SA.112838; SA.101759 & SA.112447
• EFTA Surveillance Authority: State aid – Decision to raise no objections
• EFTA Surveillance Authority: State aid – Decision to raise no objections

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 27 May 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 28 May 2024
• Agenda for: Customs Business Group on EU CSW-CERTEX - 04 June 2024
• Agenda for: Meeting of the CBG on the Digitalisation of Cultural Goods - 20 & 21 June 2024
• Agenda for: Customs Programme - CLEN Action 6 - Meeting on the Update and enrichment of ECICS (Derivatives of Chapter 29) - 20 June 2024
• Agenda for: 257th meeting of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff and Statistical Nomenclature Section (Sub-Section Agriculture/Chemistry) - 17 & 18 June 2024
• Report of 5th meeting of Outbound Investment Expert Group - 07 May 2024
• Minutes of the meeting of the Customs Union Performance Expert Group - 23 & 24 April 2024
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of lysine originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN codes ex 2309 90 31, ex 2309 90 96, and 2922 41 00)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... making imports of mobile access equipment originating in the People's Republic of China subject to registration
• EU secures access to diversified, affordable, and sustainable supply of critical raw materials - IP/24/2748 & QaA
• EU seeks to stop Russia’s imports of western luxury cars via Belarus - Moscow is leveraging a loophole allowing Belarusian car dealers to circumvent sanctions - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) - 24 May 2024
  - Presidency note on progress on the legislative proposals associated with the Commission commitment to reduce by 25% burdens associated with reporting requirements
  - The need to reflect on options to finance industrial policy at EU level: “Reinforcing European Industry to boost Competitiveness” - Information by the Spanish, Portuguese and Greek delegations
• Council adopts conclusions on the contribution of space to Europe’s competitiveness
• May infringements package: key decisions
• Commissioner Breton hosts high-level ministerial meeting on the Net-Zero Industry Act - Midday Express
• The Commission decides to refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to correctly transpose EU rules on proportionality of professional regulations - IP/24/2672

CHEMICAL

• Agenda for: Ad Hoc Working Party on One Substance One Assessment - 27 May 2024

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Administrative cooperation in the field of direct taxation - 14 June 2024
• Agenda for: WP IV - Direct Taxation: DAC7: Improving Communication by Tax Administrations on the purpose of DAC7 and the Taxation Treatments(s) of the Sale of Goods - 21 June 2024
• Minutes of the WP IV - Direct Taxation on 'DAC8 and CARF implementation timelines' - 11 March 2024
• The Commission decides to refer Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to implement taxation rules set out by the Merger Directive - IP/24/2667

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• The Commission decides to refer Italy to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failure to establish and communicate its maritime spatial plans (INFR(2021)2223) - IP/24/2674
• Introducing the eligibility of expenses related to the purchase of breeding animals within the CAP Strategic Plans - Information from the Romanian delegation
• Market situation in particular following the invasion of Ukraine - Information from the Commission and the Member States
• Minutes of 12th Meeting of the Mission Board for the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” - 05 March 2024

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Working Documents - 22nd meeting of the Environmental Footprint Technical Advisory Board - 22 May 2024
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - PM10 exceedances in Athens, Greece
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Photovoltaic system on Mar Piccolo, Taranto
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Review of implementing acts concerning the closure of vulnerable marine ecosystems
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - An answer to the misuse of nitrous oxide as an intoxicant and the detrimental impact of nitrous oxide canisters on waste treatment facilities
• Coffee traders speed up shipments before EU deforestation law, says ICO - Reuters

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission facilitates faster access to medicines with clear rules for joint clinical assessments - see the Proposal - Midday Express
• Remarks by Vice-President Schinas and Commissioner Kyriakides at the press conference on the European Health Union Communication

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• High-Level Group for the Digital Markets Act - Statement on Artificial Intelligence
• In the EU-US data transfer and privacy quarrel, the end is not in sight - See CEPS Paper

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• EU Court of Justice: member states’ representatives appoint two judges

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Annual EFC Report for 2023 to the Commission and the Council on "The Movement of Capital and the Freedom of Payment"
• Commissioner Ferreira launches latest edition of the EU Regional Social Progress Index 2.0 - Midday Express
• Interview with Oberösterreichische Nachrichten of ECB's Luis de Guindos
• President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, travels to Italy to participate in the G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Stresa

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• A new Eurobarometer survey reflects opinion and expectations of the EU citizens ahead of the European elections - IP/24/2729
• Why are concrete economic proposals so important before the EU elections? - see the Bruegel Letter
• Who will succeed Rutte? Implications for Dutch influence in the EU - see EPC Analysis
• The homegrown problems facing the EU’s next leader - Four main takeaways from the Bruegel-FT EU leadership debate 2024 - Financial Times