Europe Daily News, 24 June 2024

14TH PACKAGE OF SANCTION AGAINST RUSSIA

• 14th package of sanctions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: EU lists additional 69 individuals and 47 entities
• Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: comprehensive EU’s 14th package of sanctions cracks down on circumvention and adopts energy measures
• EU adopts 14th package of sanctions against Russia for its continued illegal war against Ukraine, strengthening enforcement and anti-circumvention measures
  • See Regulation (EU) 2024/1776; Regulation (EU) 2024/1746, Regulation (EU) 2024/1739, Decision (CFSP) 2024/1738 & Decision (CFSP) 2024/1770
  • See Regulation (EU) 2024/1793 & Decision (CFSP) 2024/1791 (Iran's military support)
• Cyber-attacks: six persons added to EU sanctions list for malicious cyber activities against EU member states and Ukraine
  • See Regulation (EU) 2024/1778 & Decision (CFSP) 2024/1779

COMPETITION

• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Krajský soud Vs. Brně (Czech Republic) of 29 February 2024 - OSA - Ochranný svaz autorský pro práva k dílům hudebním, z.s. Vs. Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže - (Case C-161/24, OSA)
  Re: Article 102 TFEU; unfair trading conditions; United Brands test’; substantial effect on trade
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Administrativen sad Sofia-oblast (Bulgaria) of 5 April 2024 - ‘Lukoil  Bulgaria’ EOOD and ‘Lukoil Neftohim Burgas’ AD Vs. Komisia za zashtita na konkurentsiata - (Case C-245/24)
  Re: Article 102 TFEU; propane/butane gas (LPG); restriction of trade; separate infringements; principle of proportionality; Bronner test
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Administrativen sad Sofia-oblast (Bulgaria) of 15 April 2024 - ‘Lukoil Bulgaria’ EOOD Vs. Komisia za zashtita na konkurentsiata - (Case C-260/24)
  Re: Article 102 TFEU; propane/butane gas (LPG); market share in the national market
• Action brought on 29 April 2024 - JPMorgan Chase and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association Vs. Commission (Case T-226/24)
  Re: Case AT.39914 - Euro Interest Rate Derivatives (EIRD); default interest and/or compensatory interest; fine
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11574 - L Catterton / Kiko)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11522 - Cerberus / Velobank)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11535 - APG Asset Management / Stonepeak / Eunetwroks)
• Commission fines International Flavors & Fragances €15.9 million for deleting WhatsApp messages during an antitrust inspection - QaA
• Commission sends preliminary findings to Apple and opens additional non-compliance investigation against Apple under the Digital Markets Act
• Commission clears acquisition of Iveco's businesses in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden by Hedin Mobility (M.11410) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of certain Software AG products by IBM (M.11468) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Bubbles by TDR Capital (M.11591) - Midday Express
• Belgium - The Digital Markets Act – a short guide for tech challengers
• Germany - Restructuring of SAS airline – Air France-KLM, Castlelake and Kingdom of Denmark can acquire minority shareholdings
• Spain - CNMC continues investigation into possible anti-competitive practices in agricultural machinery distribution market
• Spain - CNMC suggests adapting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by type of operator

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.114064 & SA.109806

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 657th meeting of the Export Credits Group - 03 July 2024
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) - 25 June 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union: On the spot preparatory meeting for WCO 143rd/144th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council 27-29 June 2024
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Cour de cassation (France) of 14 March 2024 - YX, Logistica I Gestio Caves andorrannes I Vida SA Vs. Ministre de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Relance, Directeur général des douanes et droits indirects (Case C-206/24)
  Re: Article 2(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 1430/79; Article 236(2) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92; Community Customs Code; wrongly collected customs duties by customs authorities
• Notice to economic operators, importers and exporters
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/159, including the prolongation of the safeguard measure on imports of certain steel products
• Recommendation No 1/2024 of the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by Article 8(1)(P) of 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, of 5 June 2024 as regards further guidance on the implementation of the Protocol on Social Security Coordination to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (the Protocol) concerning the interpretation of Article SSC.11 of the Protocol on the legislation applicable to detached workers and self-employed persons temporarily working outside the competent State
• Eurobarometer shows most EU citizens benefit from international trade
• EU and China strengthen Customs Cooperation
• Carbon tax should apply to carbon emissions from all sectors at same rate, according to Tax Foundation Europe
• China agrees to talks with EU over EV tariffs - German minister Robert Habeck welcomes the move during visit to Beijing to soothe tensions - Financial Times
• China, EU agree to start consultations on electric-vehicle subsidies - China’s Wang Wentao and EU’s Valdis Dombrovskis agreed to launch the consultations in a video call on Saturday - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Intellectual Property - 03 July 2024
• Presidency report on work towards a new European Competitiveness Deal
• EU Ministers formally endorse EIB Group Strategic Roadmap and reaffirm its role as financing arm of the EU

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 REACH (4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol, ethoxylated)

FINANCE

• EBA's submission of the draft RTS and ITS on the use and reporting of ARTS/EMTs denominated in a non-EU currency as a means of exchange and RTS on supervisory colleges under Article 22(6) and (7) and Article 119(8)
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/1764 of 13 June 2024 authorising the Commission to participate, on behalf of the European Union, in negotiations on an additional protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on Laundering, Search, Seizure and Confiscation of the Proceeds from Crime and on the Financing of Terrorism
• EU devises legal loophole to bypass Hungary veto on support for Ukraine - Budapest should have no say on how profits of Russia’s frozen assets are used, says chief diplomat - Financial Times

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation - Excise duties/Energy taxation) - 12 July 2024
• Code of Conduct (Business Taxation) Group - Council conclusions (21 June 2024)
• Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) - Overview of EU Member States' preferential tax regimes examined since the creation of the COCG in March 1998

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Common Agricultural Policy Committee - 28 June 2024
• Minutes of: Meeting of the Special Committee on Agriculture - 17 June 2024
• Attendance of a representative from the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) at the Working Party on Genetic Resources and Innovation in Agriculture (Seeds, Propagating and Planting Materials) on 11 July 2024 - Approval

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 03 July 2024
• EU invests close to €3 billion of emissions trading revenues for cleaner energy systems in 10 EU countries via the Modernisation Fund
• Spain: EIB Group and BBVA unlock €800 million to support energy transition and small and medium-sized enterprises
• Denmark/Germany: EIB to co-finance RWE's new Gigawatt offshore wind farm with a €1.2 billion green loan

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 25 June 2024
• More than ‘bouncing back’: leveraging transformative resilience and new governance thinking under shocks and complexity - See the EEA Statement & Report

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Main Results of: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health) - 21 June 2024
  - WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control COP 10, Panama, 5-10 February 2024 - Information from the presidency and the Commission
  - Negotiations for an international agreement on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response - Information from the presidency and the Commission
  - Strengthening efforts to protect children from direct marketing and sale of tobacco and nicotine products, especially on digital platforms - Information from the Danish delegation on behalf of the Danish, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Irish, Luxembourg, Maltese, Netherlands, Polish, Slovenian and Spanish delegations
  - Health crisis in the strip of Gaza: state of play and call for action – Information from the Spanish delegation on behalf of the Irish, Luxembourg, Maltese, Slovenian and Spanish delegations
  - A call for action at the EU and national level to prioritise efforts and investment towards ending HIV epidemic in Europe until 2030, ensuring the implementation of appropriate political actions in the next crucial 6 years to come – Information from the Romanian, Polish and Spanish delegations

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Commission adopts €110 million in Cohesion Policy Funds to modernise the rail network between Madrid and Seville and make it more reliable and attractive for passengers - Midday Express

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Directive (EU) 2024/1712 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 amending Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims
• Access to data for effective law enforcement ‒ Presidency report
• Note on the Commission's intention to start discussions on a Methodology for the risk and impact assessment of AI systems on human rights, democracy and the rule of law (HUDERIA) - Authorisation to negotiate a non-binding instrument
• EU-US joint press release following the EU-US Ministerial on Justice and Home Affairs

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main Results of: Council of the EU (External Affairs) - 24 June 2024
  - 2024 Annual Report to the European Council on EU Development Aid Targets - Council conclusions (24 June 2024)
  - Mid-Term Evaluation of the NDICI-Global Europe external financing instrument - Council conclusions (24 June 2024)
  - Implementation of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus through NDICI – Global Europe - presentation by VOICE
  - Children and armed conflicts: Council updates EU guidelines and approves conclusions
  - European Peace Facility: Council adopts the first ever assistance measure in support of Kenya Defence Forces
• Official development assistance: the EU and its member states remain the biggest global provider
• Iran: Statement by the Spokesperson on the sentencing of Narges Mohammadi
• Uzbekistan: 20th Sub-Committee with the EU on Justice, Home Affairs, Human Rights and Related Issues held in Tashkent
• Sudan: Council lists 6 individuals for undermining stability and political transition - See Regulation (EU) 2024/1783 & Decision (CFSP) 2024/1784
• Statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and access constraints by HR/VP Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Action brought on 3 May 2024 - Euro Asia Cargo Vs. Council (Case T-232/24)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/746
• Action brought on 3 May 2024 - Gutseriev Vs. Council (Case T-233/24)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/769 & Article 4(1) of Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP
• Action brought on 7 May 2024 - Karić Vs. Council (Case T-238/24)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/769 & Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/768