Europe Daily News, 11 October 2024

COMPETITION

• Summary of Commission Decision of 6 September 2024 withdrawing decisions in cases M.10188 – Illumina / GRAIL (Art. 6(1)(c) decision and prohibition decision under Article 8(3)); M.10483 – Illumina / GRAIL (Art. 14 procedure); M.10493 – Illumina / GRAIL (interim measures under Art. 8(5)(a)); M.10938 – Illumina / GRAIL (interim measures under Article 8(5)(c)); M.10939 – Illumina / GRAIL (restorative measures under Article 8(4)(a))
• Summary of Commission Decision of 13 May 2024 relating to a decision pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 2022/1925 - Case DMA.100042 – ByteDance - Online advertising services
• Commission published its decision accepting commitments to end an antirust probe into the iPhone maker's "tap and go" payments technology - Case AT_40452
• Commission has published its decision to clear a vehicle leasing joint venture between Crédit Agricole and Stellantis - see Case M.10728
• Commission clears acquisition of Fraport TAV Antalya Terminal Isletmeciligi by TAV Airports and Fraport AG (M.11729) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of NTS Middle East by ADRILL, ADH and Tubacex (M.11718) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections -  SA.113862,  SA.113862, SA.111058, SA.114339, SA.115689, SA.52512, SA.113521 & SA.113445
• Commission approves €520 million Luxembourgish State aid schemes to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.107987)

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 15 October 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 14 October 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom (attaché) - 14 October 2024
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of glass fibre yarns originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... 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 quotas for the United States and an update of the technical specifications for the IMA1 certificates for the import of dairy products from New Zealand
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of hardwood plywood originating in the People’s Republic of China (HS codes ex 4412 31, ex 4412 33 and ex 4412 34)
• EU plywood dumping probe opens new front in China trade dispute - Investigation into cheap wood exports follows producers’ claim the products originated in Russia - Financial Times
• EU and Canada adopt Mutual Recognition Agreement for architects - Midday Express
• WTO - DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes “meeting of minds” on moving farm trade talks forward
• WTO - Global goods trade on track for gradual recovery despite lingering downside risks - see the "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics"
• WTO - DDG Ellard: Effective trade policies essential for clean energy transition

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• The Council adopts a directive to improve EU-wide product liability rules
• Intellectual property: Council gives its final approval to the designs protection package
• Minutes of the Hybrid meeting of the Expert Group on Toy Safety – Sub-group Chemicals - 17 May 2024

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (High Level) - 24 October 2024
• Minutes of the Working Party IV – Direct Taxation - DAC8 Q&A - 24 & 27 September 2024
• MEP Herbert Dorfmann endorses EU Council position on new rules for withholding tax procedures

ENERGY

• Minutes of the Oil Coordination Group meeting - 18 September 2024
• New report: addressing Energy Poverty in the Energy Community
• EU should double rate of growth in renewable capacity between 2024 and 2030 - see the IEA Report

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Council conclusions on combating cross-border environmental crime Council conclusions (10 October 2024)
• Upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) - Request by the Danish and German Delegations (AOB item)
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Derogations for national carbon taxes under Directive (EU) 2023/959
• Commissioner Hoekstra participates in Environment Council meeting in preparation for COP29 and COP16 UN Conferences on Climate Change and Biodiversity - Midday Express

FORESTRY / DEFORESTATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Forestry - 22 October 2024
• Agenda for: Ad Hoc Working Party on Forest Monitoring - 22 & 23 October 2024
• Working Document for the Meeting of the Standing Forestry Committee - 07 October 2024
  - 5. Forest Partnership - 7 October
  - 3. Nature Restoration Law SFC_ 20241007
  - 2. EUDR - Standing Forestry Committee - 7 October updated
  
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - EUDR and causal link between Union consumption and global deforestation

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• SCHEER - Draft Agenda of the 9th plenary meeting, Luxembourg, 22-23 October 2024
• SCCS - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Methodologies of 23 September 2024
• SCCS - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Cosmetic Ingredients of 1-2 October 2024
• SCHEER - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Weight of Evidence (WoE) of 10 October 2024

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission requests information under the Digital Services Act from Temu on traders selling illegal products on its marketplace - Midday Express
• Commission supports European Code Week to encourage young people to acquire coding and digital skills - Midday Express
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager to a MEP written question - Potential agreements and avoiding preventive censorship on digital platforms under the DSA

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Cyber resilience act: Council adopts new law on security requirements for digital products
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Potential agreements and avoiding preventive censorship on digital platforms under the DSA

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Resettlement Expert Group - 15 October 2024
• EU to delay new electronic border checks - Biometric system will no longer launch next month after warnings of travel delays - Financial Times

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB will need to step up rate cuts if outlook darkens, chief economist said - Gloomy economic data concerned Philip Lane and other policymakers, minutes of September meeting reveal- Financial Times 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council - 14 October 2024
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the Global Gateway High-Level Youth Event
• Press statement by President von der Leyen at the Summit of Southern European Union countries
• Keynote speech of President Charles Michel at the ASEAN Business and Investment summit in Laos
• "Enhancing connectivity and economic integration" - Speech by President Charles Michel at the East Asia summit in Laos
• Commissioner Urpilainen travels to Ethiopia and to Senegal to discuss broader geopolitical issues and review progress in Global Gateway implementation - Midday Express
• HREU statement on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine