Europe Daily News, 12 April 2024

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11233 - Omers/ ABP / Kenter)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10783 - EQT Future / AM Fresh / SNFL / IFG)
• EU-US hold fourth Joint Technology Competition Policy Dialogue - IP/24/1952
• EU to decide on Nippon Steel's US Steel bid by May 17, approval a formality - see Case M.11476
• Commission approves Illumina's plan to unwind its completed acquisition of GRAIL (M.10939) - IP/24/1964
• Germany: Bundeskartellamt - Hunter Douglas’s takeover of erfal – a manufacturer of window coverings – called off due to competition law concerns
• The Netherlands - ACM: Thuiswinkel’s sustainability initiative fits with competition rules
• The Netherlands - Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn to remove incorrect sustainability claims following ACM action
• Romania - The Competition Council launches for public debate the commitments proposed as part of the investigation on the poultry meat market
• UK - The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry in the anticipated acquisition by TGS ASA of PGS ASA

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.108102, SA.109883 & SA.107837
• Commission consults Member States on a proposal to delay the phase out of the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework to further support the agricultural sector - IP/24/1888

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 15 April 2024
• Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Argentine Republic amending the Agreement of the European Union and the Argentine Republic pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union - see the EP Resolution on the Conclusion & Council adoption
• Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Arab Republic of Egypt pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union - see the EP Resolution on the Conclusion  & Council adoption
• Commission Implementing Regulation  (EU) …/... amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 as regards decisions relating to binding information in the field of customs valuation and introducing an electronic system for binding origin and valuation information
• Communication in accordance with Article 34 (7)(a)(iii) of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on decisions relating to binding information issued by the customs authorities of the Member States concerning the classification of goods in the customs nomenclature
• European Commission and OECD sign agreements on the Commission’s financial contribution to the OECD IFCMA
• Compendium of customs valuation texts - Edition 2024 - Updated on 11 April 2024
• CBAM communication template for installations as of 11 April 2024
• WTO - Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices - Semi-annual report under article 16.4 of the Agreement - 1 July - 31 December 2023 - United Kingdom
• Trade growth likely to pick up in 2024 in spite of challenging environment - Views of the WTO Chief economist
• WTO forecasts rebound in global trade but warns of downside risks

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the CEG on Personal Protection Equipment - 24 April 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Use of environmental protection devices in vehicles
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Discharged and discarded ammunition at shooting ranges

FINANCE

• ESMA - New report sheds light on quality and use of regulatory data across EU
• ESMA shows EU regulators’ supervisory practices regarding EMIR data quality improving
• ESAs to run voluntary dry run exercise to prepare industry for the next stage of DORA implementation

TAXATION

• Opinion of Advocate General Kokott of 11 April 2024 in Case C‑709/22, Syndyk Masy Upadłości A Vs. Dyrektor Izby Administracji Skarbowej we Wrocławiu, intervener: Rzecznik Małych i Średnich Przedsiębiorców
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC - Combating of VAT fraud - Special measure - Split payment mechanism - VAT account belonging to the insolvent taxable person - Transfer of the funds held in the VAT account at the request of the insolvency administrator - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - Article 17(1) - Fundamental right to property - Article 51(1) - Implementation of EU law
• Agenda for: Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) - Subgroup on internal and external issues - 24 April 2024
• VAT: amendment of the EU–Norway Agreement on administrative cooperation, combating fraud and recovery of claims - see the EP Resolution 
• European Parliament legislative resolution of 10 April 2024 on the proposal for a Council directive on transfer pricing (COM(2023)0529 – C9-0339/2023 – 2023/0322(CNS))

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture on 15 April 2024
  - CAP Annual Performance Reports - Information from the Commission - Preparation of the Council debate
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Taking targeted action to relieve and strengthen the agricultural sector
• Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski to a MEP written question - Reform of the Directive on unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain

ENERGY

• Council Decision (EU) 2024/1102 of 25 March 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EU-UK Specialised Committee on Energy established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, regarding the adoption of the guidance on working arrangements and on administrative arrangements
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/1075 of 5 February 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community
• Energy Performance of Buildings Directive adopted to bring down energy bills and reduce emissions - IP/24/1965, QaA & Council Press Release
• Commission launches survey on the prospective development of the EU’s joint purchasing mechanism - Deadline: 02 May 2024
• EU gets out of the winter with record gas storage levels, diversified supplies and a cleaner energy mix - Midday Express
• Statement of Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson on record post-winter gas storage levels in Europe
• MEPs approve reforms for a more sustainable and resilient EU gas market - see the EP Resolution on the Directive and the Regulation
• Parliament adopts reform of the EU electricity market - see the EP Resolution on the Directive and the Regulation

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Commission expert group on climate change policy - 24 April 2024
• Industrial emissions: Council signs off on updated rules to better protect the environment
• Soil health: Parliament sets out measures to achieve healthy soils by 2050 - see the EP Resolution

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Data Protection - 15 & 16 April 2024
• Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1101 of 11 April 2024 on a Coordinated Implementation Roadmap for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Transport - Intermodal Questions & Networks - 19 April 2024
• Tourist bus drivers: Council adopts new law to improve their working conditions
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1084 of 6 February 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) No 305/2013 supplementing Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the harmonised provision for an interoperable EU-wide eCall

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Council gives final approval to introduce criminal offences and penalties for EU sanctions’ violation
• Organised crime: Council gives green light for EU law on asset recovery and confiscation
• Legal migration: Council gives green light to single work and stay permit for non-EU nationals
• The Gambia: visa fees down to normal level
• Terrorist Content Online Regulation – evaluation - Report - Feedback period: 11 April 2024 - 09 May 2024

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Main results of the Eurogroup - 11 April 2024
  - Remarks by Commissioner Gentiloni and Paschal Donohoe at the Eurogroup press conference
• Council agrees to increase EU’s shares in European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• Council adopts €1 billion macro-financial assistance to Egypt
• Partnership Agreement with Bulgaria for the organisation of information and communication campaigns on the euro changeover signed - Midday Express
• Results of the ECB Survey of Professional Forecasters for the second quarter of 2024
• Main findings from the ECB’s recent contacts with non-financial companies - Economic Bulletin Issue 3, 2024
• The exchange of balance of payments, international investment position statistics – BPM6 - booklet - April 2024
• Forecast processes and methodologies: results of the 2023 special survey - Survey conducted on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ECB SPF
• ECB - Results of the March 2024 Survey on credit terms and conditions in euro-denominated securities financing and over-the-counter derivatives markets (SESFOD)
• ECB sticks to rate cut plan despite fallout from hot US inflation data - Officials brush off concerns about transatlantic divergence and expect looser monetary policy from June - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Opinion of Advocate General Medina of 11 April 2024 in Case C‑109/23 [Jemerak] (i) GM, ON Vs. PR
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common foreign and security policy - Restrictive measures - Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine - Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 - Article 5n(2) and (6) - Prohibition on the provision of legal advisory services to legal persons established in Russia - Exemption - Services which are strictly necessary to ensure access to judicial, administrative or arbitral proceedings in a Member State - Authentication and execution by a notary of a contract of sale of immovable property - Interpreter assisting the notary - Article 17(1) of the Charter
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Rising nuclear threat from Belarus
• Activists trigger referendum that could end Swiss sanctions on Russia - Campaign seeks to tighten constitutional terms of country’s long-held neutrality in era of geopolitical and trade tensions - Financial Times