Europe Daily News, 17 December 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12253 - ELP / PCIV / JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12241 - Trane Technologies / Kipema / Aptus 2527 / K&P)
• Finland - Supreme Administrative Court: FCCA had the right to request information on corporate acquisitions as part of competition restriction investigation
• France - The Autorité publishes its study on the competition issues surrounding the energy and environmental impact of artificial intelligence
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt approved the acquisition by Topp Holding AG, Hamburg, of a stake in the bookstore chain Heinrich Hugendubel Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, Munich.
• Ireland - CCPC opens full investigation into proposed acquisition of O.C.L. Laundry Services by Elis S.A.CCPC
• UK - Civil engineering: CMA sets out concerns and options for better outcomes
• UK - The CMA has accepted undertakings in lieu of reference to a Phase 2 investigation for Greencore Group plc to acquire Bakkavor Group plc.

STATE AID

• Commission approves €172 million Dutch State aid measure to support early-stage development of new nuclear power plants (SA.119266 ) - Midday Express
• Commission approves French State aid to INRAP for mandatory excavations (SA.51268) - Midday Express
• ESA approves additional Norwegian aid for construction of a new airport in Mo i Rana

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Joint Statement by Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency Maroš Šefčovič and HM Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP
• Mercosur: Parliament backs safeguard measures to protect EU agriculture
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - The free trade agreement with the UAE, the war in Sudan and the EU’s responsibility under international law
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Concerns regarding the proposed export ban on European scrap metal under the Commission’s European Steel and Metals Action Plan
• WTO - Committee on Safeguards - Imposition of a safeguard measure by the European Union on imports of certain ferro-alloying elements - Request for consultations under article 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards - India
• WTO - New report finds global value chains resilient, reconfiguring amid latest challenges
• Macron: We urgently need to rebalance EU-China relations - Resolving serious trade imbalances will require co-operation and co-ordinated action - Financial Times

CBAM

• Commission strengthens the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - Q&A and Remarks by EVP Séjourné and Commissioners Hoekstra
  - List of Implementing Acts and Delegated Acts and CBAM Review report & Annexes
• EU admits carbon border tax ‘too clunky’ as it closes loopholes - Brussels confirms plans to extend CBAM to downstream products such as washing machines and garden tools - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• European Parliament approves provisional agreement on creation of European compulsory licence
• Parliament approved a provisional agreement between MEPs and EU governments on updated sustainability reporting and due diligence rules for companies

AUTOMOTIVE

• Commission takes action for clean and competitive automotive sector - Q&A and Remarks by EVP Séjourné and Commissioners Hoekstra, Tzitzikostas and Dombrovskis
  - Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on clean corporate vehicles - See the Impact assessment report & Executive summary
  - Factsheet - Taking action for a clean and competitive European automotive sector
  - Factsheet - Revision of the CO2 standards and Corportate vehicles Proposal
• “Automotive Package” delivers first important step to amending CO2 legislation for cars and vans - Acea Statement

HOUSING & CONSTRUCTION

• Commission takes action for more affordable housing across Europe - See the Q&A, FactSheet, Communication, Working Document & Joint remarks by EVP Ribera and Commissioner Jørgensen
  - Communication on European Strategy for Housing Construction
  - Communication & Proposal for a Council Recommendation on the New European Bauhaus (NEB)
  - Science for Policy brief on Housing investment needs in the EU
  - New SGEI Decision

EU DEFENCE

• Commission allocates €1 billion to boost collaborative European defence research and development
• Parliament backs measures to boost EU support for defence investment
• MEPs back new measures to strengthen Europe’s defence readiness 

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation – Excise duties/Tobacco Products) - 21 January 2026
• Report from the Commission on the capacity and tasks of independent fiscal institutions in the EU

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Parliament endorses simpler rules and more support for farmers
• Record 2026 EU funding boosts agri-food promotion as Commission launches new food campaign 

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Main results of the Environment Council - 16 December 2025
  - Europe’s environment: Council urges accelerated transition for a climate-resilient and circular Europe by 2030
• Deforestation law: Parliament adopts changes to postpone and simplify measures
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... amending Regulation (EU) 2017/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards mercury-added products subject to manufacturing, import and export prohibitions

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• New measures to make EU health sector more innovative, competitive and resilient - Remarks by Commissioner Dombrovskis and Commissioner Várhelyi
  - Proposal for a Regulation to establish measures to strengthen the Union's biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors (European Biotech Act) - Q&A  on the European Biotech Act
  - Proposal for a Directive to place genetically modified micro-organisms and the processing of organs on the market
  - Communication on an EU cardiovascular health plan: the Safe Hearts Plan - Q&A on the EU Safe Hearts Plan
  - Proposal for a regulation to simplify rules on medical and in vitro diagnostic devices Q&A on simpler and more effective rules for medical devices
• Simpler food and feed safety rules while upholding high health standards and boosting competitiveness of EU producers - Q&A & see the Proposals
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Health effects of disposable e-cigarettes imported from China
• Joint press release: European Commission and EIB Group announce new initiative to mobilise €10 billion investment for Europe's biotech sector
• Note for Guidance on the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives with harmonised classification for specific hazardous properties in certain materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
• Critical medicines: new measures to strengthen security of supply 

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission publishes first draft of Code of Practice on marking and labelling of AI-generated content - Midday Express
• Presentation by the European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA): Subsea cable protection - an industry perspective
• Presentation by Europacable regarding the industry's recommendations to enhancing the security and resilience of subsea power and telecom cables
• The hypocrisy of US complaints over X’s EU fine - Howls of protest over a modest penalty from the EU contrast with Europe’s silence over far bigger punishments levied on its banks by America - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP plenary debate in preparation of the European Council meeting of 18-19 December 2025, in particular the need to support Ukraine, transatlantic relations and the EU's strategic autonomy
• Commission signs Convention to establish the International Claims Commission for Ukraine on behalf of the EU
• Parliament to fast-track the reparations loan for Ukraine