Europe Daily News, 05 December 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12116 - Sodexo / Grupo Mediterranea De Catering)
• Commission clears acquisition of Novo Banco by BPCE (M.12096) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of the STADA Group by CapVest (M.12177) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Native Instruments Group by Bridgepoint and Bain Capital Credit (M.12232) - Midday Express
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of Altrio Group by Waterland Private Equity Investment
• France - Biannual meeting of independent administrative and public authorities: discussions on simplification and efficiency
• UK - The CMA has published its decision of the acquisition by Unite Group Plc of Empiric Student Property Plc.

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.119663; SA.119884 & SA.117606
• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/2433 of 29 July 2025 on the aid scheme SA.51501 (2021/C) (ex 2019/NN) (ex (2018/N) implemented by Czechia in favour of large enterprises active in primary agricultural production

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - 09 December 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the e-commerce Working Group of the CUP Expert Group - 08 December 2025
• Agenda for: Advisory Committee on the implementation of activities relating to the Community market access - 10 December 2025
• Corrigendum to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2219 of 3 November 2025 imposing provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of softwood plywood originating in the Federative Republic of Brazil (OJ L, 2025/2219, 4.11.2025)
• Annual Review by the Commission of Member States' Annual Activity Reports on Export Credits in the sense of Regulation (EU) No 1233/2011
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - EU-China trade relations
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Coffin imports from China and dumping practices
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Compliance by New Zealand with the EU-NZ free trade agreement on methane methodology and objectives
• EU to review tariffs on Volkswagen’s EVs made in China - Move could offer German carmaker respite from anti-subsidy measures - Financial Times
• China says it is ‘actively’ issuing rare earths general licences - Beijing’s tight export controls on critical minerals have strained relations with US and EU - Financial Times
• EU pushes magnet recycling to cut reliance on China - Proposed restriction on export of some waste is latest bid to secure critical minerals supply after China export measures - Financial Times
• David Lammy talks up customs union amid efforts to rebuild UK-EU ties -Leaving EU ‘badly damaged our economy’, says deputy prime minister - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY 

• Agenda for: Competitiveness Council (Internal market & industry) - 08 December 2025
• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Need for an urgent response to combat ultra-fast fashion
• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Industrial accelerator act
• Statement by Commissioner Dombrovskis presenting the 2025 Overview Report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement at the EP's Committee on Legal Affairs

TAXATION

• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2394 of 20 November 2025 on the conclusion of the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Monaco on the exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance in accordance with the Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2399 of 20 November 2025 on the conclusion of the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2413 of 20 November 2025 on the conclusion of the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2430 of 29 September 2025 on the conclusion of the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2438 of 20 November 2025 on the conclusion of the Amending Protocol to the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of San Marino on the automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance
• Minutes of the 44th Working Group - Sub-group "Automatic exchange of information" (SG AEOI) - 19 November 2025

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Council and Parliament strike agreement to strengthen and future-proof the EU wine sector
• 21st EU – North Macedonia SAA Subcommittee on Agriculture and Fisheries
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - Protecting the European olive sector against alleged fraud in the olive oil trade between Tunisia and Spain

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Electricity Coordination Group - 13 November 2025
• PCI Energy Days 2025: two days of meaningful discussions to shape Europe’s energy future
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensent to a MEP written question - EU-US energy pledge in the new trade deal: severe climate impacts of fracked liquefied natural gas imports and feasibility of energy purchases
• EU targets Russian LNG carriers still using European ports - The measure would stop Russian tankers from using European ports even when their gas is not from Russia - Politico.eu

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: 90th Standing Committee on Biocidal Products - 10 December 2025
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2493 of 1 December 2025 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Environment through Criminal Law
• Meeting of the Council of the European Union (Environment) - 16 December 2025
  - Update on the Progress of the EU Missions on Climate-neutral and Smart Cities and on Adaptation to Climate Change under Horizon Europe ‒ Information from the Commission
• Executive Vice-President Ribera and Commissioner Roswall participate in Water Resilience Forum
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Impact of Regulation (EU) 2024/1157 on cooperation with Switzerland on cross-border waste management
• According to PAN Europe, high levels of ‘forever chemical’ TFA have been detected in cereals across Europe - see the Report
• EU climate chief criticises China, India and Saudi pushback on carbon tax - Petrostates becoming ‘more assertive’, Wopke Hoekstra tells - Financial Times

DEFORESTATION

• EU deforestation law: Council and Parliament reach a deal on targeted revision
• Clarity and predictability to ensure a smooth entry into application of the EU Deforestation Regulation
• Europe faces worst wildfire year on record as fire seasons grow longer and more destructive - See the JRC Report

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Minutes of the Meeting of the Digital Services Committee - 19 November 2025
• Minutes of the Meeting of the AI Board Sub-group on Annex III High-risk AI systems - 22 October 2025
• Commission accepts TikTok's commitments on advertising transparency under the Digital Services Act
• Commission has issued a fine of €120 million to X for breaching its transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA)

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• EDPB gives recommendations to make online shopping more respectful of users’ privacy, discusses the Digital Omnibus proposal and appoints new Deputy Chair
  - Recommendations 2/2025 on the legal basis for requiring the creation of user accounts on e-commerce websites

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Council sets position on updated EU rules on inspections of vehicles and their registration
• Position (EU) No 14/2025 of the Council at first reading with a view to the adoption of a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 Adopted by the Council on 13 October 2025 - Statement of the Council’s reasons

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council - 08 & 09 December 2025
  - State of play of ongoing legislative files in the area of Justice and Home Affairs
• 25 years of the Charter of Fundamental Rights – safeguarding our freedoms and values
• Commission hosts Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Eurobarometer survey shows continued strong public support for the euro and the Recovery and Resilience Facility
• Banks’ regulatory risk tolerance - ECB Working Paper Series No.3161
• The ESCB forecasting models: what are they and what are they good for? Occasional Paper Series No.381
• Estimating the natural rate of interest in a macro-finance yield curve model - ECB Working Paper Series No.3160

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• The Council decided to prolong restrictive measures against individuals and entities responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in various countries worldwide, until 8 December 2026 - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2471 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/2469
  
• Press statement by President António Costa following his meeting with President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana
• Opening statement to the Ministerial Council Meeting of the OSCE by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas
• Will the UK and EU choose to be partners or rivals? - From defence collaboration to energy, the bloc is struggling to decide how to view its former member - Financial Times