Europe Daily News, 23 April 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11529 - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company / MUFG / Terra-GenPower Holdings II)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11388 - Hydro Energi / Miracl / Rein JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11334 - DPI / PI / JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11430 - Mitsubishi / KDDI / Lawson (JV))
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11394 - Pfeifer & Langen IHKG Group / Rügenwalder)
• Summary of Commission Decision of 25 May 2023 declaring a concentration compatible with the internal market and the functioning of the EEA Agreement (Case M.10807 - Viasat/Inmarsat)
  - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on mergers & - Final Report of the Hearing Officer
• Belgium - Notification MEDE-CC-24/0006: VLH Holding BV / Delhaize Le Lion-De Leeuw NV
• Greece - Clearance of the concentration concerning the acquisition by “Hellenic Healthcare Holding 3 (Cyprus) Ltd.” and “University of Nicosia” of joint control over (a) “University of Nicosia Greece Branch Medical Limited” and (b) “Vanes Limited”
• Slovenia - The PMU approved  the acquisition of sole control by Unicapital Energy s.r.o. of GGE a. s.
• UK - CMA wins legal challenge against CAT on home search warrants - See the Judgment

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111687; SA.109419 & SA.107675

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Peroxosulphates (persulphates); The People’s Republic of China; Regulation 2020/39; 18.01.2025)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2020/761 and (EU) 2020/1988 regarding the creation, modification and management of certain tariff quotas following the Interim Agreement on Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Chile
• Commission Implementing Regulation amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/761 with regard to the management of certain tariff quotas in the rice sector, the adjustment of cheese export tariff quota for the United States and an update of the technical specifications for the IMA 1 certificates for the import of dairy products from New Zealand
• WTO - Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures - Semi-annual report for the period 1 July-31 December 2023 from the European Union
• WTO - Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices - Semi-annual report for the period 1 July-31 December 2023 from the European Union
• WTO - The sixth review of the "trade policies and practices" of Morocco takes place on 22 and 24 April 2024
• WTO issues panel report regarding Chinese duties on Australian wine (Summary of key findings)

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Safety of Toys) - 30 April 2024

CHEMICAL

• List of authorisation decisions adopted on the basis of Article 64(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) as of 18 April 2024 - Created by GROW.F.1
• Commission Implementing Decision of 10.4.2024 granting an authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council to 
  - ArcelorMittal France and ArcelorMittal España SA. for certain uses of chromium trioxide and sodium dichromate
  - Liberty Galati for a use of chromium trioxide and sodium dichromate
  - Acciaierie d’Italia S.p.A. for a use of sodium dichromate
  Document date: 10/04/2024 - Created by GROW.F.1 - Publication date: n/a - Last update: 19/04/2024
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/365 of 23 January 2024 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards methodologies for testing and accepting starting substances, compositions and constituents to be included in the European positive lists
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/369 of 23 January 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down the procedure regarding inclusion in or removal from the European positive lists of starting substances, compositions and constituents

FINANCE

• ESMA proposes changes to ELTIF Technical Standards

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Ukrainian experience of Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Discrepancies in legislation on energy communities
• ACER analyses the gas transmission tariff methodology for Interconnector Limited, connecting UK and Belgium

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Public consultation - Commission Directive amending Annex III of the Nitrates Directive - Directive - Feedback period: 19 April 2024 - 17 May 2024

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/370 of 23 January 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down conformity assessment procedures for products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption and the rules for the designation of conformity assessment bodies involved in those procedures
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/371 of 23 January 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing harmonised specifications for the marking of products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/367 of 23 January 2024 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the European positive lists of starting substances, compositions and constituents authorised for use in the manufacture of materials or products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/368 of 23 January 2024 laying down rules for the application of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the procedures and methods for testing and accepting final materials as used in products that come into contact with water intended for human consumption
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Labeling practices of products in EU countries other than Denmark

EFSA

• Scientific Opinion - Pest categorisation of Crisicoccus seruratus
• Scientific Report - The 2022 European Union report on pesticide residues in food
• Technical Report - National summary reports on pesticide residue analyses performed in 2022
• Scientific Opinion - Re‐evaluation of certain aspects of the EFSA Scientific Opinion of April 2010 on risk assessment of parasites in fishery products, based on new scientific data. Part 1: ToRs1–3

ECDC

• ECDC - European Immunization Week 2024
• ECDC reports: vaccine-preventable diseases on the rise in the EU/EEA
• EU approves new antibiotic to tackle rise of superbugs - Pfizer’s Emblaveo to be aimed at some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria - Financial Times

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission opens proceedings against TikTok under the DSA regarding the launch of TikTok Lite in France and Spain, and communicates its intention to suspend the reward programme in the EU - IP/24/2227
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - The Digital Markets Act should enhance the contestability and fairness of digital markets

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• EDPB Annual Report 2023: Safeguarding individuals’ digital rights
• EDPB reply to Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) on Data Protection and Digital Information Bill
• Opinion 7/2024 on the draft decision of the German North Rhine Westphalia Supervisory Authority regarding the EU Cloud Service Data Protection (Auditor) certification criteria
• Answer given by Ms Jourova to a MEP written question - Does the proposed reform and reauthorisation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act cast a doubt over the Commission having signed the Data Privacy Framework?

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Eurogroup statement on the updated draft budgetary plan of Luxembourg for 2024
• Interview with Luis de Guindos, Vice-President of the ECB, conducted by Éric Albert
• Mutual funds and safe government bonds: do returns matter? - ECB Working Paper Series No.2931
• Trust in the ECB – insights from the Consumer Expectations Survey - Economic Bulletin Issue 3, 2024

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the conclusions of the special European Council meeting of 17-18 April 2024

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Notice concerning the date of entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia on the status of the European Union Mission in Armenia (EUMA)
• Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1205 of 22 April 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1770 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1204 of 22 April 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/1775 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali
• EU companies grapple with expiry of Russia sanctions carve-out - Europe-based multinationals will no longer be able to offer professional services to Russian subsidiaries from June - Financial Times
• EU agrees to tackle Russia’s shadow oil fleet, Sweden says - The dark fleet camouflaged by Moscow “fuels the war chest of Russia,” Swedish foreign minister says - Politico.eu