Europe Daily News, 08 August 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.12018 - KKR / Topcon)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12003 - Helvetia / Baloise)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.12037 - Deutsche Bahn / Schwarz Group / Datahub Europe)
• Commission clears acquisition of DCC Healthcare by Investindustrial (M.12020) - Midday Express
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt approves acquisition of Willy Bogner GmbH by Katjes Group
• Ireland - CCPC publishes update to high-level grocery sector analysis
• UK - Monitoring of the commitments given by IAG to the European Commission in relation to its acquisition of bmi
• UK - The CMA has cleared the anticipated acquisition by The Boeing Company of Spirit Aerosystems Holdings, Inc
• UK - The CMA has served an initial enforcement order (IEO) under section 72(2) of the Enterprise Act 2002 on Primary Health Properties plc and Assura plc

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Bi-monthly report to the Member States Impact of the trade liberalisation measures for Moldova on the EU market - July 2025
• Bi-monthly report to the Member States Impact of the trade liberalisation measures for Ukraine on the EU market - July 2025
• Draft report on Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore by MEP Svenja Hahn
• Mission Report following the EP INTA Committee mission to Ghent, Belgium, 26 June 2025
• Sri Lanka accepts WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, four remaining for entry into force
• WTO issues 2025 Annual Report

FINANCE

• The EBA amends technical standards specifying the data collection for the 2026 benchmarking exercise

TAXATION

• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Tax law aspects of the 28th legal regime

ENERGY

• Answer given by Mr Brunner to a MEP written question - Prevention of power outages
• Brussels wants to ditch Russian gas. Turkey could keep it flowing undetected. - Ankara said it won’t comply with a new EU bill to fully quit Moscow’s fuel, potentially creating a loophole for Russian gas to keep entering the bloc - Politico.eu

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Minutes of the Meeting of the European Network of Environmental Authorities – Managing Authorities - 10 April 2025

DIGITAL ECONOMY & SOCIETY

• Minutes of the 59th Meeting of the Contact Committee of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) - 16 June 2025
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen to a MEP written question - The Digital Services Act and Google Overview
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Arrangements for the review of the Digital Services Act

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Call for evidence: Sustainable transport investment plan - Report - Feedback period - 07 August 2025 - 04 September 2025
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - The dangers of rail transport of military freight
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - Development and revitalisation of Comiso Airport
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - Recurrent interruptions on the high-speed rail network serving Andalusia
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - The importance of simplification for SMEs when decarbonising corporate fleets

AREA OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE & JUSTICE

• Europe strengthens media freedom, independence and pluralism with new European Media Freedom Act - Midday Express
• Europe’s new media freedom law has kicked in. Will it make any difference? - Media experts fear the law may be ignored as illiberal and populist parties erode media independence - Politico.eu
• Answer given by Mr McGrath to a MEP written question - Hungary’s amendment on monitoring, sanctioning and banning civil society actors

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission disburses nearly €43 billion to five Member States under NextGenerationEU
• ECB - Economic Bulletin Issue 5, 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Statement by the HR/EU on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya
• Statement by the HR/EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan
• Statement by the HR/EU on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism, and repealing Decision (CFSP) 2025/207
• UK - Countering Russian sanctions evasion - guidance for businesses