Europe Daily News, 12 September 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11818 - Interparking / Saba)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12053 - Alba / BPCE / Nemo)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11869 - Stone Point / HPS / MDP / Ardonagh)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12147 - Apollo Funds / Kelvion Group)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11900 - Intuitive / AB Medica (Disribution activities of Intuitive Products))
• Commission clears acquisition of SUP by Oaktree (M.12106) -Midday Express
• Commission accepts commitments offered by Microsoft to address competition concerns related to Teams (See Case AT.40721 and AT.40873)

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.119045, SA.118672 & SA.113693

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 16  September 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - 16  September 2025
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea - See the Annex
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Korea - see the Annex
• Recommendation for a Council Decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a digital trade agreement with Canada - See the Annex
• WTO - Committee on Trade and Environment - Carbon border adjustment mechanism - Communication from the European Union
• WTO - Committee on Agriculture - Notification - European Union - Special safeguard - Table MA:5 - Marketing year 2024 / 2025
• Steel market outlook remains poor as uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and weak demand continue - Eurofer
• Steel: EU Parliamentarian calls for new trade defense measure
• EU releases €40 million to shield Ukraine's civilians from the winter cold

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• European Parliament calls on Commission to simplify single market rules without deregulation - See the Report by MEP Anna-Maja Henriksson
• President von der Leyen chairs third Strategic Dialogue with the European Automotive Industry on 12 September

FINANCE

• Answer given by Ms Albuquerque to a MEP written question - Account information services in the anti-money laundering (AML) framework

TAXATION

• Opinion of Advocate General Kokott of 11 September 2025 in Case C‑436/24, Skatteverket Vs. Lyko Operations AB
  Re: Request for a preliminary ruling - Tax law - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Articles 30a and 30b - Definition of a voucher - Loyalty programme with points acquired on the basis of the price of purchases - Taxation of the issue of points - Taxation of the redemption of points - Taxation of expired points
• Opinion of Advocate General Kokott of 11 September 2025 in Case C‑472/24, ‘Žaidimų valiuta’ MB Vs. Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija prie Lietuvos Respublikos finansų ministerijos
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Exemption - Article 135(1)(e) - Sale of in-game Gold for real money outside the game - Transactions concerning legal tender - Calculation of the taxable amount - Article 30b(2) - In-game Gold as a voucher - Margin scheme - Article 315 - In-game Gold as second-hand goods
• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (High Level) - 23 September 2025
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Public health risks associated with the Commission’s new tax on tobacco

ENERGY

• Commission launches major energy efficiency financing initiative with European Investment Bank - Midday Express

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 15 September 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Global) - 19 September 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Int. Chemicals/Synergies) - 16 September 2025

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Contamination from microplastics
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Growing use of e-cigarettes and vapes among young people
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Revision of the Tobacco Products Directive: protecting local industry, ensuring a level regulatory playing field and tackling unfair competition in the overseas regions

ECDC

• Drug-resistant fungus Candidozyma auris confirmed to spread rapidly in European hospitals: ECDC calls for urgent action
• Mapping and review: harnessing sexual behaviour survey data for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections
• Monthly updates: Seasonal surveillance in humans and animals in 2025 for West Nile virus

DATA PRIVACY & DIGITAL SOCIETY

• EVP Virkkunen in Vienna to support innovation and competitiveness
• Commissioner McGrath travels to the Republic of Korea and Japan to strengthen ties on privacy and data protection - Midday Express
• EU Data Act gives users control over data from connected devices
• Guidance on vehicle data, accompanying the Data Act
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Concerns over Israeli online campaigns and enforcement of DSA obligations
• Interplay between the DSA and the GDPR: EDPB adopts guidelines
• Greek SA: Imposition of fines on a telecommunications company and the data processor for personal data breach and insufficient security measures

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Euro Summit (23 October 2025) Annotated Draft Agenda
• Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy decisions & statement (with Q&A)
• ECB staff macroeconomic projections for the euro area, September 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Answer given by Ms Albuquerque to a MEP written question - Belarusian airline Belavia’s circumvention of EU sanctions by purchasing Airbus A330 aircraft