Europe Daily News, 22 May 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11493 - Würth Group / IDG01)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11567 - MSI / Finhold / Salcef)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11491 - MT Aerospace / EGI / JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11402 - BNP Paribas Cardiff / BCC Vita)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Enbridge, MPLX and ISQ (M.11537) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Carrier Refrigeration by Haier (M.11432) - Midday Express
• EU - Ombudsman asks Commission to publish details of its handling of senior staff move to a US law firm - see the Decision
• Austria - Construction cartel: Cartel court imposes fine of €1.3 million on Steiner Bau at BWB's request
• Slovakia: Cartels: For the first time AMO initiated an administrative proceeding in the matter of a possible cartel agreement on the labour market
• UK - The CMA is consulting on proposed undertakings in lieu of a reference to a Phase 2 investigation offered by the Parties: Pennon / Sumisho Osaka Gas Water UK
• UK - CMA/ Microsoft Corporation’s partnership with Mistral AI - Decision on relevant merger situation

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.113231

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 656th meeting of the Export Credits Group - 29 May 2024
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) - 22 May 2024
• UK - TRA initiates review into imports of aluminium foil from China
• How Germany lost the battle to prevent tariffs on Chinese cars - Politico.eu
• Protectionism will ‘haunt’ renewable energy industry, says China solar executive - Chinese companies and officials hit back against US and European trade barriers - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Competitiveness Council on 24 May 2024
  - The need to reflect on options to finance industrial policy at EU level: “Reinforcing European Industry to boost Competitiveness” - Information by the Spanish, Portuguese and Greek delegations
  - Declaration by European Ministers on the Regulation and Harmonization of Pyrotechnic Articles in the Single Market - Information from the delegations of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg
• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (High Level) - 22 May 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Online traders from non-EU countries – Question 3 of 4
• Answer given by VP Jourová to a MEP written question - Urgent need to take measures at European level to combat shrinkflation
• Mining industry sceptical of EU joint purchasing plan for critical minerals - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Dangerous Substances - Chemicals) - 31 May 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Fluoropolymers in the PFAS restriction proposal
• ECHA streamlines biocides consultations - ECHA/NR/24/14

FINANCE

• MiFIR review: ESMA consults on three new technical standards
• Getting flirty! Are the UK and EU falling into bed with each other again? - Politico.eu

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Direct Taxation) - 28 May 2024

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• "Agriculture and Fisheries" Council on 27 May 2024
  - Difficult situation of fruit producers due to expected decline in yields caused by unfavorable weather conditions - Information from the Polish delegation
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the General Assembly of the Federation of Swedish Farmers

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 24 May 2024
• Speech by Commissioner Simson at the High-Level Opening Ceremony of the IEA's 9th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency
• Nucleareurope highlights benefits of EU-based hydrogen production
• Eurelectric: Double investments in power distribution or lose Europe’s race to net-zero

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14) (Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 12-17 February 2024) - Statements by the EU and its Member States
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevičius to a MEP written question - Environmental concerns regarding Romania’s forestry law reform

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• European Health Union: stronger and better prepared for the future - IP/24/2523 & Communication
• SCCS - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Nanomaterials in Cosmetic Products - 06 May 2024
• SCHEER - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on the benefit-risk assessment of the presence of phthalates in certain medical devices - 07 May 2024
• SCHEER - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Electromagnetic fields (EMF): technical advice for an amendment of annexes to Council Recommendation 1999/519 - 14 May 2024
• EMA confirms recommendation for non-renewal of authorisation of Duchenne muscular dystrophy medicine Translarna
• EMA - European medicines network designated as WHO listed authority
• EMA - Medical devices: new guidance for industry and notified bodies

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Main results of: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications), 21 May 2024
  - Cybersecurity: Council approves conclusions for a more cyber secure and resilient Union
  - EU digital policy: Council identifies main priorities for the next legislative cycle
• Eurobarometer survey confirms EU must reinforce cybersecurity skills - Midday Express

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Pact on "Migration and Asylum" - A common EU system to manage migration
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted, amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC and repealing Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1349 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a return border procedure, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1148
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1352 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 amending Regulations (EU) 2019/816 and (EU) 2019/818 for the purpose of introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1356 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 introducing the screening of third-country nationals at the external borders and amending Regulations (EC) No 767/2008, (EU) 2017/2226, (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU)
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of biometric data in order to effectively apply Regulations (EU) 2024/1351 and (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 2001/55/EC and to identify illegally staying third-country nationals and stateless persons and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States’ law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council
  • Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147
  • Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection
  • Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415 of 14 March 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 as regards the amount of the visa fees
• The Commission opens a call for funding proposals on support and integration of victims of trafficking in human beings - Midday Express

ECO, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB - Consolidated financial statement of the Eurosystem as at 17 May 2024
• The ABCs of the ECB’s reaction function - see the ECB Blog
• Monetary policy for a stable and prosperous EU: how the ECB should address the climate and nature crisis - see the NGOs statement
• Ursula von der Leyen backs EU budget links to economic reforms - Politico.eu
• The US and Europe should decouple on monetary policy - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Main results of: General Affairs Council, 21 May 2024
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EuropAgora Ceremony

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main Results of: 8th EU-Republic of Moldova  Association Council, 21 May 2024
  - The EU and the Republic of Moldova reaffirm  strong ties
  - Security and defence partnership between the EU and the Republic of Moldova
• Agenda for: 58th Meeting of the EEA Council Brussels, 28 May 2024
• Commission welcomes the Council approval of the Guiding framework for the practical establishment of the Hybrid Rapid Response Teams - Midday Express
• EU countries push for sanctions on Georgia over ‘Russian law’ - Georgian nationals could lose visa-free travel to Europe if restrictive measure enacted - Financial Times

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Commission welcomes Council decision on the use of proceeds from immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine - see Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1469, Council Decision (CFSP)  2024/1470 and the Notice
• Consolidated version of the FAQs concerning sanctions adopted following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and Belarus' involvement in it
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 2f of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 - Media
• Russian Oil Price Cap (OPC) Compliance Alert - Article 3n - Council Regulation (EU) 833/2104 - Fluctuating Urals and ESPO crudes rates
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Reconstruction programmes for Ukraine