Europe Daily News, 07 May 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11947 - AP / LGP / Green Epic Topco)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11983 - Inflexion / 65 Equity Partners / Kee Safety)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11944 - MMG Limited / Anglo American’S Brazilian Nickel Business)
• Commission has published its decision clearing conditionally International Paper's takeover of iDS Smith - See Case M.11564
• Commission clears acquisition of joint control of OMGH JV by APG REP and PIMCO PRE (M.11648) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Sterimed by Sagard and IK Partners (M.11927) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Arôme by Movendo and Draycott (M.11948) - Midday Express
• Minutes of the 8th meeting of the Digital Markets Advisory Committee - 18 March 2025
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt imposes fines on audio products manufacturers Sennheiser and Sonova
• Italy - Thanks to the AGCM's action, more than 5 million in refunds from Enel Energia to more than 40,000 customers
• Poland - UOKiK has launched a preliminary investigation regarding a possible competition-restricting agreement
• Spain - The CNMC finalises the sanctioning proceedings against the Mémora funeral parlour
• Romania - The Competition Council has launched an investigation into a possible anti-competitive agreement in the market for the sale and execution of traffic and road signs
• Breaking up Google: What US move means for EU investigation - Proposal from U.S. Department of Justice could embolden the Commission to wrap its ad tech probe - Politico.eu

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.114137 & SA.118341
• Commission approves Italian State aid scheme to support maritime transport (SA.111368) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 08 May 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP INTA Committee - 13 & 14 May 2025
• Report of the 69th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Section HS/WCO Coordination Sector - 13th to 14th February 2025
• Comprehensive data sets related to export controls of dual-use items for the year 2022 - Accompanying the document Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/821 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items - Commission Staff Working Document Corrigendum
• Amendments to the Customs Convention on the International Transport of goods under cover of TIR carnets (TIR Convention 1975)
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - US tariffs on EU exports of steel and aluminium
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Bolstering the single market – US tariffs as a strategic opportunity for European competitiveness
• UK-India Free Trade Deal: A deal for growth - The UK has secured the best deal India has ever agreed, providing businesses with security and confidence to trade with the fastest-growing economy in the G20.
• EU and UK companies lay bare the pain from Trump’s trade war - Executives warn about the challenges facing businesses and the destabilising effect of prolonged uncertainty - Financial Times
• Why Britain lacks leverage in tariff talks with the US - Asymmetry in trade relationship suggests Trump has the upper hand in negotiations - Financial Times
• Bessent and Greer to meet with Chinese trade official in Switzerland - The trade talks come after months of stalled progress - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Motor vehicles)  - 14 May 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Internal Market) - 14 May 2025
  
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/871 of 30 April 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2019/450 as regards the publication of references of European Assessment Documents for insulating foils as barrier against substances with relevance to indoor air quality and polyethylene terephthalate-based foils with coating for insulating glass units and other construction products
• May infringements package: key decisions
• Europe’s last maker of key antibiotics ingredients shuts biggest domestic factory - Xellia Pharmaceuticals to close Copenhagen plant and shift some production to China - Financial Times

FINANCE

• Agenda for: Att. & Exp. Financial Services & Banking Union (Digital Euro) - 15 & 16 May 2025
• How have European banks developed along different dimensions of international competitiveness? - See the EP In-Depth Analysis
• ESMA delivers technical advice on market abuse and SME Growth Markets as part of the Listing Act
• ESMA - Final Report on the Technical advice concerning MAR and MiFID II SME GM

TAXATION

• Agenda for: 42nd Working Group - Sub-group "Automatic exchange of information" - 27 May 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party of Administrative cooperation in the field of direct taxation - 13 June 2025
• Commission decides to refer Greece to the Court of Justice of the European Union for non-compliance with car taxation and registration rules
• Commission decides to refer Sweden to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to bring its rules on preliminary income taxation in line with EU law requirements
• The future of EU anti-tax avoidance rules - See ESPR Briefing - May 2025

ENERGY

• EU to fully end its dependency on Russian energy - See the Q&A
  - Roadmap towards ending Russian energy imports
  - Press remarks by Commissioner Jørgensen
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - EU Energy Platform and the exclusion of non-corporate members
• Brussels seeks to force EU companies to disclose Russian gas contracts - European Commission will propose rules next month requiring contract details to be shared with energy and security authorities - Financial Times
• EU gears up for fight with Russian energy holdouts - Brussels will soon tell Hungary and Slovakia to stop dealing with Moscow whether they like it or not. But the EU’s enforcement plan is fuzzier - Politico.eu

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Commission expert group on climate change policy - Social Climate Fund Formation - 19 May 2025
• Agenda for: 12th meeting of the Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass Fuels - 14 May 2025
• Commissioner Hoekstra in the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial to prepare COP30 climate negotiations*- Midday Express
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Using Renure and applying a derogation to reduce dependence on imported fertilisers

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission decides to refer Czechia, Spain, Cyprus, Poland and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union due to lack of effective implementation of the Digital Services Act

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• European Patent Organisation and extension of adequacy decisions for the UK: EDPB adopts opinions
  - Opinion 06/2025 regarding the extension of the European Commission Implementing Decisions under the GDPR and the LED on the adequate protection of personal data in the UK
  - Opinion 07/2025 regarding the European Commission Draft Implementing Decision pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the adequate protection of personal data by the EPO
• Letter to Bosnia and Herzegovina DPA from the Chair of EDPB
• Polish SA: lack of procedures to protect personal data processed by the press - administrative fine of 13 500 €
• Polish SA: administrative fine of 132 000 € for improper positioning of the DPO and failure to include profiling in documentation
• Polish SA: administrative fine of 17 880 € for Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Police for disclosing data of a citizen at a press conference
• Polish SA: administrative fines for GDPR infringements in the organisation of an election by postal vote in 2020 – 23 757 € for Minister of Digital Affairs and 6 444 174 € for the Polish Post

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Commission decides to refer Sweden to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to fulfil its obligations under EU maritime security acquis
• Commission decides to refer Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to ensure independence of its rail regulatory body (Directive 2012/34/EU)
• Commission decides to refer Germany, Hungary and Austria to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not respecting EU rules when voting in the Danube Commission
• Commission decides to refer Bulgaria, Greece, and Poland to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose EU rules on tolls and vignettes levied for road infrastructure use

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Commission refers Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not complying with EU legislation on migrant smuggling
• Commission decides to refer Bulgaria to the Court of Justice of the European Union for incorrectly transposing rules on the right to a lawyer
• Commissioner Brunner in Austria to speak in Austrian Parliament on Europe Day, host youth policy dialogues and participate in the Mauthausen commemoration - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB staff contribution to the European Commission’s targeted consultation on the application of the market risk prudential framework

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Judgment of the Court of 07 May 2025 In Case T-502/23, Hashem Anwar Akkad Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures taken on account of the situation in Syria - Freezing of funds - Restrictions on admission to the territory of the Member States - Maintenance of the applicant's name on the lists of persons, persons, entities and bodies concerned - Criterion of ‘influential businessman or businesswoman operating in Syria’ - Presumed link with the Syrian regime - Error of assessment - Obligation to state reasons - Rights of the defence - Right to a fair trial - Right to effective judicial protection - Proportionality - Right to property - Right to privacy - Damage to reputation - New plea in law’
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Foreign Relations Counsellors - 08 May 2025
• Joint statement by High Representative Kallas, Commissioner Šuica and Commissioner Lahbib on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP plenary debate on EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine
• EU’s Russia sanctions to target companies in Vietnam and Turkey - Bloc’s latest package of measures targets more than 20 businesses it accuses of helping Moscow evade restrictions - Financial Times