Europe Daily News, 10 December 2025

COMPETITION

• Judgment of the Court of 10 December 2025 in Case T-219/23, Bategu Gummitechnologie GmbH Vs. European Commission, supported by Siemens AG, and by Stadler Deutschland GmbH,
  Re: Competition - Agreements - Bogie components - Decision to dismiss a complaint - Regulation (EU) No 1302/2014 - Rolling stock subsystem interoperability technical specification - Error of law - Manifest error of assessment - Abuse of power - Principle of good administration
• Microprocessors market: the General Court upholds the Commission's 2023 decision against Intel but reduces the fine by approximately € 140 million (See CPR No.153/25 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-1129/23, Intel Corporation Vs. Commission)
  
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12162 - BP / Corteva / JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of Vermaat by Compass (M.12122) - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Ribera to a MEP written question - Current and future ex officio investigations under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation
• Answer given by EVP Ribera to a MEP written question - Consistency between EU and Swiss competition law – legal certainty and a level playing field for EU companies
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt has cleared plans by Ball Corporation to acquire 80% of the shares in and sole control of two subsidiaries of Benepack
• Germany - 14th Sector Report Telecommunications (2025): With Competition towards a European Single Market!
• Greece - Unannounced inspections of the Hellenic Competition Commission in the markets for electricity generation and wholesale supply
• Italy - The AGCM launches investigation into Citizen and Swatch
• UK - CMA is seeking views on the anticipated acquisition by CRH (UK) Limited of Gibson Bros Limited

STATE AID

• Ryanair’s action against a decision by the Commission to approve restructuring aid of €2.55 billion granted by Portugal to TAP is dismissed (See CPR No.154/25 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-458/22, Ryanair Vs. Commission (TAP; restructuring aid))
• Commission approves State aid for the construction and operation of Poland's first nuclear power plant (SA.109707)
• EFTA: ESA closes investigation into Norwegian exemption from excise duty on waste incineration

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 10 December 2025 in Case T-518/23, Middle East Bank, Munich Branch, Vs. European Commission, supported by Clearstream Banking AG
  Re: Trade policy - Protection against the effects of the extraterritorial application of legislation adopted by a third country - Restrictive measures taken by the United States against Iran - Secondary sanctions preventing natural or legal persons of the Union from having commercial relations with the undertakings targeted by those measures - Prohibition from complying with such legislation - Article 5, second paragraph, of Regulation (EC) No 2271/96 - Commission decision authorizing a legal person of the Union to comply with that legislation - Notification of the decision to the undertaking targeted by the restrictive measures of the third country - Retroactive effect - Taking into account the activities of that undertaking excluded from the scope of those measures
  
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputies) - 16 December 2025
• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the review of Regulation (EU) 2019/125 of 16 January 2019 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Steel industry: safeguards and enhanced trade defence
• IMF calls on China to fix economic ‘imbalances’ - Warning comes as EU companies complain ‘undervalued’ renminbi is aiding China’s exporters - Financial Times

EU/WTO

• WTO - Committee on Safeguards - European Union - Safeguard measure regarding certain ferro-alloying elements - Request for consultations by Brazil under article 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards - Brazil
• WTO - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union
  - Space heaters, combination heaters, temperature controls, solar devices, shower water heat recovery devices and packages of those products - G/TBT/N/EU/1173
  - Water heaters, temperature controls, solar devices, shower water heat recovery devices, packages of these products and hot water storage tanks - G/TBT/N/EU/1174

EU/UK TRADE RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom - 12 December 2025
• Minutes of the Fifth meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee on Public Procurement under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• Minutes of the Fifth meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee on Intellectual Property under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

CBAM

• List of National Competent Authorities for CBAM as of 08 December 2025

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• European Research Council invests €728 million in 349 top researchers through Consolidator Grants - Midday Express
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné to a MEP written question - Importance of simplifying procedures and verification of the implementation of regulations across the EU
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné to a MEP written question - Mutual recognition of vehicle safety standards between the EU and the United States
• Trump and U.S. CEOs agree: European red tape goes too far - American executives see an opportunity to shape EU policy as the bloc seeks to trim its own regulations - WSJ

CHEMICALS

• Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead in ammunition
• Commission Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards lead in certain fishing tackle
• Commission Regulation amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards 2,4-dinitrotoluene in articles - See the Annex
• Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament pursuant to Article 294(6) of the TFEU concerning the position of the Council on the adoption of a Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on detergents and surfactants, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 648/2004
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1421 of 17 July 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the conformity assessment procedures for EU fertilising products
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné to a MEP written question - Harmonised classification of talc

FINANCE

• EU becomes major Green Bond issuer - see the Q&A, Impact Report 2025 & Supporting data file 
• ESMA announces supervisory expectations for the management body in the form of 12 high level principles
• How Luxembourg tamed the ‘monster’ of a unified EU market - Financial Times
• EU races to bypass Orbán on Russian assets before summit - Financial Times

ENERGY

• Commission proposes upgrade of the EU's energy infrastructure to lower bills and boost independence - Q&A & Factsheet
  - Communication on European Grids Package
  - Proposal for revised Trans-European Network for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation
  - Proposal for revised Directive to accelerate permit-granting procedures of infrastructure projects
  - Guidance on efficient grid connections & Contracts for difference

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 18 December 2025
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/2437 of 20 November 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) (Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 24 November – 5 December 2025)
• 2040 climate target: Council and Parliament agree on a 90% emissions reduction - See Commission reaction
• Promoting sustainable growth with simpler and smarter environmental legislation - see the Q&A; FactSheet; Communication and the Working document
  - Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1244 as regards simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden - see the Annex 1 & Annex 2
  - Proposal for a Directive on simplification of certain requirements for the establishment of the Infrastructure for Spatial Information - see the Annex
  - Proposal for a Directive suspending the application of the rules on the appointment of authorised representatives for extended producer responsibility for waste, waste electrical and electronical equipment and single use plastic waste
  - Proposal for a Directive on simplification of some requirements and reduction of administrative burden - see the Annex
  - Proposal for a Regulation on speeding up environmental assessments
  - Proposal for a Regulation suspending the application of the rules on the appointment of an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility for batteries and waste batteries and packaging and packaging waste
• Commissioner Roswall at the United Nations Environment Assembly to strengthen multilateral environmental action - Midday Express

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Notice concerning the harmonised classification of titanium dioxide as Carcinogenic Category 2 via inhalation according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Commission announces reinforcement of controls on products imported into the EU - Remarks by Commissioner Várhelyi

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Aviation - 12 December 2025
• Protocol amending the Euro-Mediterranean Aviation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Morocco, of the other part, to take account of the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia - See the Council Decision (EU) 2025/2484 on the signing
• European Maritime Safety Report 2025 highlights progress and remaining challenges in EU maritime safety

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECUIRTY & JUSTICE

• Reports from the plenary and ad hoc meetings of the Victims' Rights Platform
• Commissioner Brunner hosts implementation dialogue on talent attraction and retention - Midday Express

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Commissioner Šuica travels to the United Arab Emirates - Midday Express
• Human Rights Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union
• Press remarks by President António Costa following the meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin
• Myanmar: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the upcoming elections
• Supporting countries’ efforts to raise additional resources for their sustainable development: EU endorses the "Seville Declaration" on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Judgment of the Court of 10 December 2025 in Case T‑369/24, Alexander Dmitrievich Pumpyanskiy Vs.Council of the European Union, supported by European Commission
  Re: Non-contractual liability - CFSP - Restrictive measures taken in view of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies to which the freezing of funds and economic resources applies - Financial and non-material damage - Reality of the damage - Causal link
• Commissioner Kos in Ukraine to advance EU accession process - Midday Express