Europe Daily News, 01 September 2025

COMPETITION

• Commission clears acquisition of Armorine by Trafigura (M.12066) - Midday Express
• Commission clears the creation of a joint venture of Mubadala and Actis (M.12075) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Sklum, The Masie and Create by Direlec Group and Trilantic (M.12113) - Midday Express
• Spain - The CNMC approves Wellhub’s acquisition of Urban Sports Club subject to commitments
  
• UK - The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Greencore Group plc of Bakkavor Group plc.

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputies) - 04 September 2025
• Guidance for the submission of an ENS for "road" and "rail" during the ICS2 and NCTS P6 derogation period
• CLECAT calls on the European Commission to announce non-enforcement grace period for ICS2 Release 3 Road and Rail
• Brussels poised to present Mercosur and Mexico trade deals this week - The agreement with South America’s Mercosur bloc is likely to run into huge political opposition in countries like France - Politico.eu

EU/US TRADE RELATIONS

• Caught between China and the US, the EU must play to its regulatory strengths - See CEPS Paper
• Auto makers and suppliers Presidents issue letter to EU to align green mobility strategy with changing world - See ACEA Letter
• How long will the tariff madness last? - Pessimists argue Trump’s tariffs are here to stay; optimists argue that governments have limited ability to inflict pain on their electorates - See Bruegel Paper

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Commissioner Hansen visits Moldova to support EU integration and strengthen ties with the agricultural sector - Midday Express
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - An end to discrimination against Swedish dairy farmers?

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• New EU studies explore purchasing programme to boost permanent carbon removals in Europe
  - An EU Purchasing Programme for Permanent Carbon Removals: Assessment of Policy Options and Recommendations for Short-term Policy Design’
  - ‘Funding EU Carbon Removals: Assessment of Existing EU Funding Programmes and New Funding Models to Increase Carbon Removal Supply’
  - ‘Carbon Removals in the EU: Review of Current Carbon Removal Projects and Early-stage Financing’ 
• Answer given to a MEP written question - Water – a strategic resource
• Answer given to a MEP written question - European water resilience strategy
• Answer given to a MEP written question - Implementation of the UWWTD and pending analysis of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme
• EU-Korea Green Partnership highlights the integral role of Artificial Intelligence in achieving a sustainable energy future
• EU weighs outsourcing France-sized chunk of emissions cuts to poorer nations - A leaked EU document reveals the scale of Brussels’ plan to offset its climate efforts - Politico.eu

DIGITAL& INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Working party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 04 September 2025
• Agenda for: Working party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 09 September 2025
• Commission welcomes Code of Conduct for reliable online reviews for tourism accommodation - Midday Express

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Smart Borders Committee - 04 September 2025
• Agenda for: The 4th meeting of the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) Committee - 10 September 2025
• Call for evidence: Tackling drug trafficking – EU drugs strategy and EU action plan - Communication - Feedback period: 29 August 2025 - 26 September 2025

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Antici & Mertens Group -  02 September 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 03 September 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union
• EU Statement – UN Security Council: Maintenance of Peace and Security of Ukraine
• EEAS: High Representative Kaja Kallas announces middle and senior management nominations
• The European Union Election Observation Mission deploys 20 short-term observers to all regions of Guyana
• Informal meeting of defence ministers: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas "upon arrival" and "after the meeting"
• Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas "upon arrival" and "after the meeting"
• Georgia: Statement by the Spokeperson on the authorities’ decision to freeze the bank accounts of seven Civil Society Organisations
• Europe has ‘pretty precise’ plan to send troops to Ukraine, von der Leyen says - Financial Times