Europe Daily News, 27 March 2026

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12343 - VIG / Nürnberger)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11295 - Airbus / Air France / JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12317 - Raiffeisen-Holding Niederösterreich -Wien / Raiffeisenlandesbank Oberösterreich / Business Center Muthgasse)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12309 - Eurazeo / Eiffel / Segula)
• Austria: Construction cartel update: Cartel court imposes a fine of EUR 103,000 on construction company Marko
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt published the quarterly report of the Market Transparency Unit for Fuels ("Fuel News")
• Norway - Considering intervention in Telenor’s Acquisition of GlobalConnect
• UK - The CMA is investigating the anticipated joint venture between Suzano International Holding B.V. and Kimberly-Clark Corporation

STATE AID

• Commission approves €500 million Luxembourgish cleantech manufacturing capacity State aid scheme (SA.120921)
• Commission approves €144 million French State aid to support HyforSeeds in the production of hydrogen (SA.102874)

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Minutes of the Meeting of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) Expert Group - 13 March 2026
• Notice of initiation of a safeguard investigation concerning imports of certain grain-oriented flat-rolled products of silicon-electrical steel (CN codes 7225 11 00 and 7226 11 00)
• Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-subsidy measures (Aluminium converter foil - The People’s Republic of China - Countervailing duty - Regulation (EU) 2021/2287 - 23.12.2026)
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of aluminium extrusions originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN codes ex 7604 10 10, ex 7604 10 90, 7604 21 00, 7604 29 10 , 7604 29 90, ex 7608 10 00, 7608 20 81, 7608 20 89 and ex 7610 90 90)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/716 of 26 March 2026 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2328 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/328 imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of certain continuous glass fibre products originating in the People’s Republic of China following a partial interim review, limited to injury and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2337 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1452 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain continuous glass fibre products originating in the People’s Republic of China following a full interim review
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/734 of 26 March 2026 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of yarns of polyamide originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/671 of 20 March 2026 concerning exemptions from the extended anti-dumping duty on certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 88/97
• EU customs: Council and Parliament agree on landmark reform
• Commission welcomes historic agreement to reform EU Customs Union - QaA and FacSheet
• Council conclusions at the start of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization
• EU-Canada: Trade helpful tools which make your trade easier - See the FactSheet
• Statement by U.S. Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder on the EP’s vote on the U.S.-EU Framework Agreement on Trade
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Suspension of frozen sardine exports by the Moroccan Government

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission takes action to ensure complete and timely transposition of EU directives

CHEMICAL

• ECHA supports PFAS restriction with targeted derogations - ECHA/NR/26/17
• ECHA to launch consultation on draft SEAC PFAS opinion - ECHA/NR/26/16
• Action points from March Enforcement Forum meeting
• Latest ECHA Weekly Newsletter published

FINANCE

• ESMA - Guidelines on stress test scenarios under the MMF Regulation
• ESAs spring risk update highlights geopolitical pressures and rising private finance risks -  See the Background Document
• An enhanced role for insurers and pension funds in funding risky investments and boosting EU capital markets? - See EP Briefing March 2026

TAXATION

• Minutes of the Indirect Tax Expert Group - 26 January 2026

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Meeting of the “Agriculture & Fisheries” Council - 30 March 2026
  - The financial ceilings for direct payments for claim year 2027 - Information from Poland, supported by Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Malta and Romania
  - European milk market under pressure: the need for a coordinated European response – Information from Slovakia, supported by Bulgaria, Hungary and Italy
  - CAP Strategic Plans - National Partnership Plans: transitional provisions for sectoral interventions in the wine sector and in the fruit and vegetable sector - Information from Spain and Portugal, supported by Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia  
  - Joint Declaration of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Visegrad Group and Bulgaria and Romania on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and Common Agricultural Policy - Information from Hungary, on behalf of Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia 

ENERGY

• Agreement on the interpretation and application of the Energy Charter Treaty
• Energy security: solutions to today’s challenge  - See EP Briefing March 2026

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food products
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Written question on the Commission’s change in the classification of Siltac and the legal framework for its use

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Industry Policy Blueprint for Semiconductor Sovereignty, Competitiveness and Resilience - Final Report (March 2026)
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Curbing the activities of Telegram
• One-Stop-Shop case digest on the legal basis of "legitimate interest" - EDPB
• EDPB conference on cross-regulatory cooperation: what we learned

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Judgment of the Court of 26 March 2026 in Case C-819/25, PPU, Ms. X and Mr. Y, acting in their own name and as legal representatives of A, B, C and D, Vs. the Belgian State.
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Urgent preliminary ruling procedure - Border controls, asylum and immigration - Immigration policy - Directive 2003/86/EC - Right to family reunification - Article 13(1) - Obligation to provide every facility for obtaining visas - Visas granted subject to the suspensive condition of the beneficiaries' personal appearance for the purpose of verifying their identity and the authenticity of the documents produced - Beneficiaries unable to travel to a diplomatic or consular post of the Member State that granted the visas - Obligations incumbent upon the Member State to ensure or facilitate such travel - None
• Judgment of the Court of 26 March 2026 in Case C-202/25, HG Vs. Minister van Asiel en Migratie.
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Area of freedom, security and justice - Common standards and procedures in Member States for returning illegally staying third-country nationals - Directive 2008/115/EC - Revocation of subsidiary protection status - Public order - Principle of non-refoulement - Possibility of adopting a return decision

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• First ever EU-Armenia summit to take place on 4 and 5 May 2026
• EU support brings urgent aid to families forced to flee their homes in Lebanon
• Security and Defence: The European Union and China hold their 15th consultations
• The European Union and India sign a working arrangement on industrial aviation production
• G7 Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting: press remarks High Representative / Vice-President Kaja Kallas
• Japan: High Representative/Vice-President Kallas holds 3rd EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Motegi