Europe Daily News, 25 October 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11670 - Marcegaglia / Manni / Isopan)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11743 - Centerbridge / Banca Progetto)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11485 - Brasserie Nationale / Boissons Heintz)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11739 - Investcorp / PSP / PKF Oconnoer Davies Advisory)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11748 - Epuki / TTE / West Burton Flexible Generation)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11728 - CVC / CD&R / Epicor)
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Illumina/Grail: next steps for tackling killer acquisitions
• Belgium - Notification - MEDE-CC-24/0024: NPM Capital NV – Jef Van den Brande / Jeco Energies NV
• Belgium - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of Mapa Consulting by Waterland Private Equity Investment
• France - Benoît Cœuré designated as Chair of the OECD Competition Committee
• The Netherlands - Commitments by ZuivelNL to ACM: dairy farmers get better insight into the spending of contributions
• UK - The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry in the anticipated acquisition of ANSYS, Inc. by Synopsys, Inc.
• UK - The CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry in the partnership between Alphabet Inc.’s (Google LLC) with Anthropic PBC.
• Heineken liable for competition violations by Greek unit, Dutch court rules - Judgment over infractions stretching back to 1990s leaves brewer open to hundreds of millions of euros in potential damages - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.115849, SA.114488 & SA.113565
• Special report 21/2024: State aid in times of crisis - Swift reaction but shortcomings in the Commission’s monitoring and inconsistencies in the framework to support the EU’s industrial policy objectives
• Commission approves €724 million Danish State aid greenhouse gas tax reduction scheme for companies at risk of carbon leakage (SA.109130)

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 67th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Tariff Measures subsection - 06 December 2024
• Agenda for: 22nd meeting of the Customs Project Group on the Digitalisation of Cultural Goods - 12 November 2024
• Minutes of the 64th Customs Expert Group - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Section, HS/WCO Coordination Sector - 21st to 23rd August 2024
• Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU within the Trade Committee established by the Trade Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, of the other part, as regards modifications to Appendices 2, 2A and 5 to Annex II to that Agreement - Adoption & Statement by the Commission
  
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 with regard to the electronic Union non-customs system for trade in agricultural products (‘ELAN’)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX amending Implementing Regulations (EU) 2016/1239, (EU) 2020/761, and (EU) 2020/1988 as a consequence of the establishment of the Electronic system for Agricultural Non-customs formalities (ELAN)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/761 as regards proof of origin for some tariff rate quotas in the poultry sector
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2714 of 24 October 2024 making imports of epoxy resins originating in the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Thailand subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2715 of 24 October 2024 making imports of glyoxylic acid originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2716 of 24 October 2024 making imports of vanillin originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2718 of 24 October 2024 making imports of decor paper originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2719 of 24 October 2024 making imports of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel, originating in Egypt, India, Japan and Vietnam subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2720 of 24 October 2024 making imports of certain seamless pipes and tubes of iron or steel originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2721 of 24 October 2024 making imports of steel track shoes originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2724 of 24 October 2024 making imports of optical fibre cables originating in India subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2725 of 24 October 2024 making imports of mobile access equipment originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2731 of 24 October 2024 making imports of flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel plated or coated with tin originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2732 of 24 October 2024 making imports of lysine originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2733 of 24 October 2024 making imports of multilayered wood flooring originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2717 of 24 October 2024 correcting certain language versions of Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff
• Chinese imports damage ‘dignity’ of Italian tomato, says Mutti chief - Boss of tomato sauce group urges Brussels to protect farmers hit by ‘unfair’ competition from China’s Xinjiang region - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Steel crisis in focus at EP Plenary debate: urgent need for robust EU Steel Action Plan, says EUROFER

FINANCE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Financial Counsellors Working Party  - 29 October 2024
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Financial Services Committee - 06 November 2024
• ESMA publishes a report on first application of IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts
• ESMA announces 2024 European Common Enforcement Priorities for corporate reporting 
• EFAMA responded to ESMA’s consultations on regulatory technical standards and guidelines

ENERGY

• Quarterly reports confirm EU energy markets stabilised in second quarter of 2024, with more than half of electricity generated from renewables
• Opening speech by Commissioner Simson at the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) Ministerial meeting

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 28 October 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (UNECE Aarhus) - 06 November 2024
• Proposal for a Directive (EU) 2024/… of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal penalties, for pollution offences - Outcome of the European Parliament's first reading and Corrigendum procedure (Strasbourg, 10 April 2024 and 22 October 2024)
• Commission proposes €116 million from the EU Solidarity Fund to help Germany and Italy recover from natural disasters - Midday Express
• EU requests establishment of arbitration tribunal over the UK's prohibition of fishing of sandeel - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Industrial disaster following ‘oily rainfall’ in the Syracuse area in Sicily
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Denmark’s failure to comply with the Water Framework Directive
• An early revision of CO2 emission standards regulations should be driven by technology openness - see the Joint Statement
• The EU drags its feet on addressing water pollution - See EEB Statement

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Opinion of Advocate General Szpunar of 24 October 2024 in Case C‑517/23, Apothekerkammer Nordrhein Vs. DocMorris NV
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Medicinal products for human use - Directive 2001/83/EC - Scope - Medicinal products subject to medical prescription - Advertising for a pharmacy’s entire range of medicinal products - Vouchers or percentage discounts for the subsequent purchase of other products - Direct rebates and payments
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Urgent action needed to reduce food waste in the EU
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Lawfulness of the ban on the trade in products containing hemp cannabidiol (CBD) in Italy 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Criminal network that manufactured narco-boats to smuggle drugs dismantled - Eurojust
• Support to German-led action to halt at least EUR 300 million in online fraud - Eurojust

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: September 2024
• ECB - Consumer Expectations Survey results: September 2024

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Report highlights an increase in the Commission's engagement with national parliaments in 2023

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2701 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2695 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
• Russia/Ukraine: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on reports of the DPRK sending troops to Russia
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Prime Minister of North Macedonia Mickoski
• Lebanon: Statement by the High Representative after the Paris conference on support for the country
• MEPs denounce violations of human rights and international law by Azerbaijan - see the Resolution
• China is trying to distort history and international law in Taiwan, MEPs warn - see the Resolution
• EU has to stop ‘lecturing’ developing world, says top official - Charles Michel says partner countries taking part in Putin’s Brics summit ‘want to send a message’ - Financial Times