Europe Daily News, 08 February 2023

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10964 - Wilmar / Clariant / Clariant Quats Business JV) 
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11001 - Skipjack / Mitsui O.S.K. Lines / International Transportation)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10997 - NB / Ardian / Mediolanum / Neopharmed)
• Belgium - Prior notification of a  concentration - Case n° MEDE-C/C-22/0038: Sligro -MFS Belgium NV / Metro Cash & Carry
• Czech Republic - The Office has completed a sector inquiry into the distribution of pharmaceuticals and makes recommendations to increase competition in the market
• Ireland - The proposed acquisition by Dawn Meats Ireland Unlimited Company of sole control of Kildare Chilling Unlimited Company has been notified to the CCPC
• The Netherlands - Self-employed workers are able to negotiate collectively without violating the competition rules
• Poland - More than pln 7 million in penalties imposed by the President of UOKiK for bid rigging on waste market
• Poland - Auchan and Intermarche retail chains facing charges from the President of the UOKiK
• UK - Start of CMA Merger Investigation: Farfetch / YOOX Net-a-Porter Group / Richemont

STATE AID

• Judgment of the Court of 8 February 2023 in Case T-538/21, Penya Barça Lyon: Plus que des supporters (PBL) WA, Vs European Commission
  Re: State aid - Aid to a football club - Refusal to register a complaint lodged by one of the members of a football club - Interested party status
• The General Court annuls the decision of the European Commission approving Romanian aid to Timișoara International Airport in favour of Wizz Air (See CPR Nº 24/2023 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-522/20 Carpatair Vs. Commission)

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)) - 14 February 2023
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of certain corrosion resistant steels originating in People’s Republic of China
• List of authorities empowered to issue export licences for cultural goods, published in accordance with Article 3(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/262 of 7 September 2022 amending Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 1233/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the application of certain guidelines in the field of officially supported export credits
• Answer given by the Council to a MEP written question - The European Union’s failure to sign the post-Cotonou agreement

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament E and of the Council on data collection and sharing relating to short-term accommodation rental services and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 - Presidency text
• InvestEU: EIB agrees €18 million loan to Estonian biotech Icosagen for innovative R&D technologies and new production facility - IP/23/681
• Automotive suppliers urge EU institutions to prioritise the adoption of the Chips Act and ensure swift trilogue negotiations - See Clepa Statement
• EU urgently needs to do its homework on investment conditions in Europe to improve competitiveness and deliver the net-zero transition - BusinessEurope message to the European Council meeting on 9-10 February 2023

CHEMICAL

• ECHA publishes PFAS restriction proposal - ECHA/NR/23/04

FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Commission announces chair and members for the new mandate of the Platform on Sustainable Finance - Midday Express
• Progress on financial services legislative files - 14 February 2023
• ESMA report finds EU MMF industry at close to €1.5tn

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• The European Commission proposes to support 559 workers dismissed by the logistics company TNT in Belgium, with €1.9 million from the EGA Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) - IP/23/644
• Education: ‘Have your Say' on the future of learning mobility (Feedback period: 08 February 2023 - 03 May 2023)  - Midday Express

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: Standing Forestry Committee - 13 February 2023
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee for Spirit Drinks - 02 February 2023
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Organic Production Committee - 25 January 2023
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee on the Agricultural Funds - 25 January 2023

ENERGY

• Internal energy market and Union list of projects of common interest: General Court dismisses the Aquind group’s action (See CPR Nº 23/2023 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-295/20 Aquind and Others Vs. Commission)
• Commission Decision of 13 January 2023 establishing the ad hoc Steering Board to facilitate the coordination of demand aggregation and joint purchasing of gas
• European wind industry attacks ‘absurd’ Danish halt to approvals - Turbine makers caught out by suspension of scheme owing to EU state aid fears - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... of 19.12.2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as regards hazard classes and criteria for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures - Intention not to raise objections to a delegated act - Joint Statement by Slovakia and Finland 
• Public consultation: Waste Electric and Electronic Equipment - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 07 February 2023 - 04 April 2023

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Big tech layoffs and compliance with the Digital Services Act

DATA PRIVACY & CYBRSECURITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Data Protection - 15 February 2023
• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber issues - 08 February 2023
• Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law - Opinion of the EDPS

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• The European Commission adopted a Recommendation and a Communication to establish common goals to boost disaster resilience in the areas of civil protection - IP/23/599, QaA & Factsheet
• Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council on an authorisation addressed to France to negotiate a bilateral agreement with Algeria on matters related to judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters
• Why the EU’s approach to migration is hardening as arrivals soar Premium content - Also in today’s newsletter: Could Switzerland sacrifice its neutrality on the altar of Ukraine - Financial Times

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Public consultation: ISC on a proposal for a Decision of EP and Council providing MFA to the Republic of North Macedonia - Proposal for a decision - Feedback period: 07 February 2023 - 05 April 2023
• The asymmetric adjustment of global imbalances: myth or fact? - ECB Working Paper Series No.2777
• Cross-country price and inflation dispersion: retail network or national border? - ECB Working Paper Series No.2776

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Special meeting of the European Council - 09 & 10 February 2023
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Coreper - 18 January 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• The EU and the Republic of Moldova strengthen engagement and cooperation on reforms - IP/23/641 & Association Implementation Report
• Joint press statement following the Seventh Association Council meeting between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova
• Answer given by the Council to a MEP written question - EU sanctions against Azerbaijan following its aggression against Armenia 

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) /... amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 as regards the provision of information for entry summary declarations and risk analysis for security and safety purposes at entry of goods, and adding Ukraine to the list of countries in the guarantor’s undertakings for transit