Europe Daily News, 28 November 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12178 - Hangcha / Manitour/ JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12203 - ACS / Global Infrastructure Management / JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of TUiR Warta and TU Europa by HDI (M.12176) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Sapiens by Advent (M.12156) - Midday Express
• Lithuania - Commitments regarding the transaction in the-insurance market submitted for public consultation
• Spain - The CNMC is investigating possible anti-competitive practices in the private healthcare and health sector
• UK - The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Beacon Rail Lux Holdings S.à r.l. of Eversholt UK Rails Limited
• UK - The CMA has cleared the anticipated acquisition by Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. of Total System Services LLC

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.108044 & SA.120704
• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/2405 of 28 November 2024 on tax ruling SA.38944 (2014/C) (ex 2014/NN) – Luxembourg, alleged aid to Amazon
• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/2404 of 28 November 2024 on tax ruling SA.38375 (2014/C) (ex 2014/NN) – Luxembcourg, alleged aid to FFT
• Commission approves €70 million Latvian State aid scheme to support investments in holdings linked to primary agricultural production (SA.119558) - Midday Express
• Commission approves new methodology for Latvian guarantee premiums in line with EU State aid rules (SA.119003) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 6th Customs Programme Committee meeting - 04 December 2025
• European Parliament resolution of 27 November 2025 on the implementation of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX amending or repealing certain regulations on the classification of goods in the Combined Nomenclature
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 3917 33 00)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 7318 15 42)
• Explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (CN Codes: 4418 20 10; 7308 30 00 & 7610 10 00)
• Explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (CN Codes: 9503 00 21)
  
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2385 of 27 November 2025 making imports of certain alkyl phosphonic acids and their sodium salts originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2386 of 27 November 2025 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ironing boards originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• EU-US trade relations: Council moves forward in implementing the tariff elements of the Joint Statement
• The 16th Subcommittee meeting on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation between the EU and Albania
• Joint Statement following the EU-Chile Joint Council and EU-Chile Trade Council
• EU agri-food trade strengthens in September as surplus rises
• EU and Türkiye deepen cooperation in industrial decarbonisation and innovation policy - Midday Express
• WTO - Co-coordinators of Plastics Dialogue introduce draft MC14 ministerial statement
• Joint Statement: European industries urge policymakers to fully consider sectoral challenges as the EU-India FTA talks conclude
• The EU’s narrow, perilous path to the Mercosur trade deal - Politico.eu
• Keeping China at bay: EU countries tighten rules on port and railway bids - Countries are worried about outsiders controlling key infrastructure - Politico.eu
• The hot air of Trump’s tariffs is approaching a ceiling of cold reality - Even before their full effect has hit, the duties are doing real damage - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Opinion of Advocate General Szpunar on 27 November 2025 in Case C‑421/24, Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM) Vs. Google Ireland Limited
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Directive 2000/31/EC - Article 1(5)(d) - Advertising of gambling - Article 14(1) - Exemption from liability of intermediary hosting services - Partnership agreement between a hosting service provider and a user

CHEMICALS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the REACH Committee meeting -16 December 2025
  - Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards synthetic polymer microparticles
• Draft Commission Delegated Regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as regards the harmonised classification and labelling of certain substances (24th ATP)
• Manufacturers start to phase out production of ‘forever chemicals’ - Groups including BASF respond to increased risk of litigation over ‘PFAS’ substances and regulatory intervention - Financial Times

AUTOMOTIVE

• Germany’s Merz to demand EU relax petrol engine ban - Coalition led by conservative chancellor agrees push to allow hybrid cars to aid struggling automotive industry - Financial Times

FINANCE

• Belgium says using frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine will endanger a peace deal - Financial Times & Politico.eu

ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 01, 03 and 04 December 2025
• Agenda for: Ambient Air Quality Expert Group meeting relating to the implementation of the NEC Directive - 03 December 2025
• Europe must be a rulemaker, not a rule-taker - Outsourcing EU environmental and economic strategy would be an act of self-harm by Teresa Ribera - Financial Times

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• Agenda for: Fifth Meeting of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement - 01 December 2025
• Disability rights need to be mainstreamed across all EU policies, MEPs say - See the EP resolution
• Employers’ views on key employment and social challenges in view of the 2026 European Semester
• “For a sustainable economy and social progress” - ETUC inputs for the 2026 European Semester
• Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2021/691 (EGF) as regards support to workers affected by imminent job displacement in enterprises undergoing restructuring - General approach

CONSUMER PROTECTION

• Judgment of the General Court of 27 November 2025 in Case C-509/24, Investcapital Ltd Vs. M.H.S.,
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Unfair terms in consumer contracts - Directive 93/13/EEC - Article 6(1) - Article 7(1) - Contract concerning a bank account - Order for payment procedure - Review of the court’s own motion of whether contractual terms are unfair - Proposal by the court to reduce the claim by the amount corresponding to the application of a term considered to be unfair - Acceptance by the seller or supplier and possibility to claim that amount in subsequent proceedings - Principle of effectiveness - Participation of the consumer in the review of whether a contractual term is unfair
• Judgment of the General Court of 27 November 2025 in Case C-746/24 [Gryczara], (i) Bank Millennium SA Vs. PR,
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Consumer protection - Directive 93/13/EEC - Unfair terms in consumer contracts - Article 6(1) and Article 7(1) - Effects of a finding that a term is unfair - Invalidity of the contract - Action brought by a seller or supplier for restitution of the loan capital paid under an agreement declared invalid - Rules on the award of costs - Different methods of calculating court costs according to the status of the applicant - Principle of effectiveness - Obligation to interpret national law in conformity with EU law

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Meeting of EPSCO (Health) of 02 December 2025:
  - WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC): 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) (Geneva, 17-22 November 2025) - Information from the Presidency and the Commission
  - EU Cardiovascular Health Plan - Information from Czechia, supported by Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain
  - EU Strategy on Climate and Health - Information from the Netherlands, supported by Austria, Czechia, Estonia, France, Slovenia and Spain 
  - Union prevention, prepare - Information from the Commission
• EU launches plan to strengthen preparedness for cross-border health crises - See the Communication

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications) - 05 December 2025
  - Outcomes of discussions during the informal meeting of Telecommunications Ministers (Horsens, 9-10 October 2025) - Information from the Presidency
  - Roaming with Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans - State of Play - Information from the Presidency
  - International initiatives in the digital field - Information from the Commission 
  - Declaration for European Digital Sovereignty - Information from Austria
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee - Decision n° 676/2002/EC - 03 December 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the High Level Group on Internet Governance - 11 December 2025
• Presentation - 12th Digital Decade Board meeting - 18 & 19 November 2025
• Minutes of the 7th meeting of the Digital Decade Committee - 07 November 2025
• Minutes of the 95th Meeting of the Communication Committee - 24 October 2025
• EU and the Republic of Korea reinforce tech and digital cooperation at the third Digital Partnership Council
• Socialists push for formal inquiry into enforcement of EU digital rules - Politico.eu

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Safeguarding democracy in Europe: Council shines a light on culture’s vital role

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Kosovo and the EU held the 7th Stabilisation and Association Agreement Sub-committee on Economic and Financial Issues, and Statistics
• EU and Southern Mediterranean partners launch the Pact for the Mediterranean in Barcelona - Q&A and Presentation
  - Opening Remarks & Press statement by HR/VP Kaja Kallas at the launch event in Barcelona
• EU-Philippines Partnership celebrates Five Years of Empowering MSMEs through ARISE Plus Philippines
• EU-Moldova: Joint Statement following the 4th High-Level Political and Security Dialogue
• EP adopted resolutions on the human rights situation in Tanzania, Iran and Tunisia
• EU must show leadership in achieving peace in Ukraine