Europe Daily News, 17 September 2025

COMPETITION

• Commission clears acquisition of Evolution by ZeroTwo and WP (M.12119) - Midday Express
• Commission has published its Decision approving the acquisition of the joint control of Outlet Mall Group Holding by Stichting Depository APG Strategic Real Estate Pool and Pimco Prime Real Estate - See Case M.11648
  
• EU must advance merger policy review, Von der Leyen says - Former European Central Bank boss, Mario Draghi, called for a fast-track process - Wall Street Journal

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.119370

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP INTA Committee - 24 & 25 September 2025
• Agenda for: Customs Programme - Customs Laboratories European Network (CLEN) - 23 September 2025
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Trade Council established by the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile, as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Trade Council and the Trade Committee 
• Commission notice concerning the application of the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin or the protocols on rules of origin providing for diagonal cumulation between the Contracting Parties to this Convention
• Commission proposes suspension of trade concessions with Israel and sanctions on extremist ministers of the Israeli government and violent settlers
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovi to a MEP written question - Chinese companies using Türkiye to circumvent European tariffs
• WTO - European Union and certain Member States - Certain Measures concerning Palm Oil and Oil Palm Crop-Based Biofuels - Status report by the European Union - Addendum
• WTO - Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Notification - European Union - Feed additive - Capsaicin; L-arginine & Riboflavin
• EU companies suffer renewed China rare earth licence delays - Chamber urges Beijing to lower trade barriers as businesses suffer bottlenecks over critical minerals - Financial Times
• EU plans more sanctions on China. Will that be enough for Trump? - Donald Trump says he’ll slap a harsh embargo on the Kremlin if Brussels turns the screws on China, but EU diplomats suspect the U.S. president is stalling - Politico.eu
• Trump wants to ‘help’ Britain get a better trade deal but hopes of steel relief fade - The U.K. has given up hope of securing a zero-tariff deal for steel and aluminum exports in the near future - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission and European Investment Fund invest €30 million in Sienna Hephaistos Private Investments to improve access to finance for SMEs and midcaps in the defence sector

TEXTILE

• Closing the loopholes: A call for stronger EU rules for safer and fairer eCommerce
• European textile and clothing federations mobilize against ultra-fast fashion

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• “Agriculture & Fisheries” Council on 22 September 2025
  - Decommitment rule for rural development interventions in the CAP Strategic Plans - Information from Latvia, supported by Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain
• France: EIB backs Sodiaal, France’s largest dairy cooperative

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Environment Council - 18 September 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Committee on ozone-depleting substances - 24 September 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Committee on fluorinated greenhouse gases - 22 September 2025
• Sweden and Finland advocate a revision of regulation on land use and forestry
• Commission has published a new study to support Member States in preparing for the launch of the new EU Emissions Trading System for buildings, road transport and small industry (ETS2)
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Backsliding on the 8th Environment Action Programme’s environmental indicators and inconsistencies with the Commission’s deregulatory approach
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - Renewable Energy Directive – regulatory uncertainty surrounding product certification rules and CO₂ accounting

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission authorises medicine to treat postpartum depression - Midday Express
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi  to a MEP written question - Implications and contingency planning in case of glyphosate withdrawal
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi  to a MEP written question - New studies confirming carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure to glyphosate at relevant levels

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Latvia: Conviction in EPPO probe into agricultural funding fraud
• EPPO in Italy: House arrest and seizures in 17 million VAT fraud
• Investigation Calypso: More than 2 400 shipping containers seized at port of Piraeus - EPPO

EU INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

• Possible items for College agendas from 30 September to 29 October 2025
• Election of the Presidents of Chambers of the General Court of the European Union
• Marc van der Woude is re-elected President of the General Court of the European Union
• Savvas Papasavvas is re-elected Vice-President of the General Court of the European Union
• Entry into office of new Members of the Court of Justice and the General Court of the European Union and partial renewal of the General Court

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU disburses €250 million in Macro-Financial Assistance to Jordan - Midday Express
• EU sets out new strategy to reinforce prosperity and security with India - See the Joint Communication & Factsheet
• Commissioner Kos in Azerbaijan and Armenia to advance EU cooperation and connectivity agenda in the South Caucasus - Midday Express
• EU explores using €170bn of Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine - Some capitals remain wary over ‘reparation loans’ plan, as US calls on G7 to tap Moscow’s money immobilised abroad - Financial Times