Europe Daily News , 21 May 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11553 - Central / Berlin Property)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11389 - ASPO / OP / ESL)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11508 - Aramco Digital / Ltimindtree / JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11213 - BP / Equinor / Net Zero North Sea StorageJV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11529 - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company / MUFG / Terra-Gen Power Holdings II)
• Lithuania - The Competition Council received a notification of concentration from the Estonian company Ekspress Grupp, which operates the news portal delfi.lt,

STATE AID

• Appeal brought on 29 December 2023 by Renco Valore SpA, Seopult LTD and Grapevine Investimentos e Serviços, Lda (Zona Franca da Madeira) against the order of the General Court of 18 October 2023 in Cases T-588/22 and T-660/22 Renco Valore and Seopult Vs. Commission (Zona Franca da Madeira) - (Case C-806/23 P)
  Re: annulment of Articles 1, 4 and 5 of Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1414 (1) of 4 December 2020 on aid scheme SA.21259 (2018/C) (ex 2018/NN) implemented by Portugal for Zona Franca da Madeira (ZFM) [Madeira Free Zone; MFZ] – Regime III
• Appeal brought on 9 January 2024 by AFG, SA (Zona Franca da Madeira) against the order of the General Court of 27 October 2023 in Case T-722/22 AFG Vs. Commission (Zona Franca da Madeira) - (Case C-13/24 P)
  Re: Annulment of Articles 1, 4, 5 and, 6 of European Commission Decision C(2020) 8550 final (1) of 4 December 2020 on aid scheme SA.21259 (2018/C) (ex 2018/NN) implemented by Portugal for Zona Franca da Madeira (ZFM) [Madeira Free Zone, MFZ] – Regime III
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU – Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.110921
• Commission approves €1.7 billion German State aid scheme to support rail freight transport operators providing single and group wagon transport (SA.108800) - IP/24/2687

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Krajský soud Vs. Ostravě - pobočka Vs. Olomouci (Czech Republic) of 2 February 2024 - CS STEEL a.s. Vs.Generální ředitelství cel - (Case C-86/24)
  Re: primary rule for determining origin set; subheading 7304 41 of the Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System; Annex 22-01 to Delegated Regulation 2015/2446; origin of hot-finished tubes; ASTM A312
• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom - 24 May 2024
• Agenda for: 656th meeting of the Export Credits Group - 29 May 2024
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Experts - Services & Investment) - 22 May 2024
• Study in support of an ex-post evaluation of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and its Member States and Canada - Inception Report & Annexes
• Joint Minutes of the Fifth Meeting of the Committee on Regulatory Cooperation under the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership - 27 February 2024
  
• Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be adopted on the Union’s behalf with regard to the decision of the Participants to the Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits to update certain sunset clauses within the Sector Understanding on Export Credits for Climate Change
  
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1279 of 8 May 2024 concerning exemptions from the extended anti-dumping duty on certain bicycle parts originating in the People’s Republic of China pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 88/97
• Key new factors likely to shape the EU’s trade agenda in the next five-year term - see the EP Study
• The all-American cheat sheet to Europe’s trade weak spots - Hit ’em in the prawns - Financial Times
• Yellen urges Europe to join US in crackdown on Chinese exports - Treasury secretary rejects Brussels claims of protectionist lurch by Washington - Financial Times
• China retaliates against the US and EU with anti-dumping probe Tit-for-tat investigation into thermoplastics follows a pattern established during the Trump presidency - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Better Regulation) - 29 May 2024
• Draft Council conclusions on “A Single Market for the benefit of all” - Approval
• Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724
• InvestEU: EIF extends support to Europe’s cultural creative businesses and audiovisual sector - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• Summary of European Commission Decisions on authorisations for the placing on the market for the use and/or for use of substances listed in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

FINANCE

• Commission launches consultation on macroprudential policies for Non-Bank Financial Intermediation - Midday Express
• Vanguard defends dominance of US equities in EU-domiciled funds - Response follows warnings of ‘unintended consequences’ of passive funds shunning EU corporations - Financial Times

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• The Commission welcomes the agreement on sustainable fisheries reached at Indian Ocean Tuna Commission - IP/24/2683

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Electricity cross-border committee - 31 May 2024
• Electricity market reform: Council signs off on updated rules - see the Q&A
• Fit for 55: Council signs off on gas and hydrogen market package - see the Q&A
• European consumers and industry to benefit from clean, secure and stable energy supplies with key market reforms now adopted - IP/24/2261
• Commissioner Simson at IEA Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Kenya  - Midday Express
• Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1344 of 13 May 2024 on auction design for renewable energy
• Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1343 of 13 May 2024 on speeding up permit-granting procedures for renewable energy and related infrastructure projects 2024/1344

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 21, 22, 23 and 24 May 2024
• Minutes of: 8th Meeting of the Invasive Alien Species Expert Group (IASEG) - 26 January 2024
• Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP): 62nd session of the Working Group on Strategies and Review (WGSR62) (Geneva, 27-31 May 2024) - First EU coordination
• Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2024/1441 of 11 March 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down a methodology to measure microplastics in water intended for human consumption
• EIB Group and Deutsche Bank launch mortgage programme for climate-friendly housing in Germany - Midday Express

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Public Health - 23 & 24 May 2024
• Environmental determinants of health, including those caused by climate change - see the EP Study
• Hydroxyprogesterone caproate medicines to be suspended from the EU market - see the EMA Study
• Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 13-16 May 2024

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• European Digital Identity rules enter into force - Midday Express
• Artificial intelligence (AI) act: Council gives final green light to the first worldwide rules on AI
• Minutes of the 3rd Meeting of the European Semiconductor Board (E03932) - 19 March 2024

DATA PROTECTION & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Data Protection - 22 May 2024

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• The Council approved its 2023 report on public access to documents
• Hybrid threats: Council paves the way for deploying Hybrid Rapid Response Teams
• Council conclusions on democratic resilience: safeguarding electoral processes from foreign interference
  
• Commission welcomes European Citizens' Panel recommendations on Tackling Hatred in Society - IP/24/2722

EURO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Commission endorses Ireland's revised recovery and resilience plan, and preliminarily endorses its first payment request of €324 million - IP/24/2668
• ECB - Euro area monthly balance of payments: March 2024
• ECB Survey of Monetary Analysts (SMA), June 2024
• ECB TARGET2-Securities Annual Report 2023
• Ursula von der Leyen backs EU budget links to economic reforms - European Commission president seeks to replicate ‘success’ of post-pandemic recovery fund - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Action brought on 2 April 2024 - Al Akhras Vs. Council (Case T-176/24)
  Re: Annulment of Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/380 and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/362; restrictive measures; situation in Syria
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/1394 of 22 April 2024 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Japan, of the other part
• EUDA: Council establishes the first ever European Union Diplomatic Academy to train EU diplomats
• EEAS - The situation of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries: Challenges, opportunities, and ways forward - see Regional Strategic Overview 2024
• Joint statement on the telephone call between the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa and the President of the European Council Charles Michel
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Clarification on lifting sanctions against Iranian tech company ArvanCloud
• Why EU monitors should observe Venezuela’s presidential election - The democratic aspirations of the South American nation’s hard-pressed citizens deserve encouragement - Financial Times
• EU split over ICC’s Israel and Hamas arrest warrants bid - France voices support for international court and its ‘fight against impunity’ - Financial Times