Europe Daily News, 18 November 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11656 - Enstall / Schletter)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11773 - Strategic Value Partners / Nordic Paper)
• Summary of Commission Decision of 19 October 2023 relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.40636 – SNBB)
  - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions & Final Report of the Hearing Officer
• Commission clears acquisition of Marine Olie by STX (M.11721) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Picard by Imanes and ICG (M.11738) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Crown by Lone Star Funds (M.11722) - Midday Express
• France: The Autorité de la concurrence and its German counterpart, the Bundeskartellamt, met in Paris on 14 and 15 November for the 9th Franco-German Competition Day
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt: Kaufland may take over four Globus locations and relinquishes the Neubrandenburg location
• The Netherlands - NCM Investments seeks to acquire sole control of MGG Group
• The Netherlands - Apheon Management wants to acquire Hittech Group (merger notification)
• The Netherlands - J.A.B. van Kessel Beheer may acquire sole control of De Pooter Terneuzen (merger decision)
• Poland - Polish Kennel Club – investigation procedure - UOKiK has initiated an investigation procedure in the case in question
• Spain - The CNMC initiates disciplinary proceedings against Telefónica

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111638; SA.112557; SA.109130 & SA.109730
• Commission Decision (EU) 2024/2864 of 24 November 2023 on SA.32179 (2014/C) – State aid measures in favour of Trenitalia SpA and FS Logistica SpA – Italy
• Commission Decision (EU) 2024/2860 of 24 November 2023 on SA.32953 (2014/C) – State aid measures in favour of Trenitalia SpA – Italy

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 20 November 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 21 November 2024
• Agenda for: 6th Meeting of the CBAM Committee - 21 November 2024
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Experts - Services & Investment) - 20 November 2024
• Working documents for the ETQG meeting of 14-15 November 2024 - Quotas EP & Suspensions EP
• Working Documents: Slides 1-2 & Slides 2-7 for the 2nd Informal Expert Group Meeting on CBAM - 13 November 2024
• Decision No 79/2024 of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement on Mutual Recognition between the European Community and the United States of America related to the listing of Conformity Assessment Bodies under the Sectoral Annex for Electromagnetic Compatibility of 5 November 2024
• EU-New Zealand Trade Agreement - Country FactSheet: Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Netherland, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden, Spain, Poland
• WTO - SPS Committee - Specific trade concerns - EU maximum residue levels (MRLs), European legislation on endocrine disruptors and import tolerances for certain pesticides to achieve environmental outcomes in third countries - Communication from Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Paraguay
• WTO - SPS Committee - Notification - European Union - Food of animal origin
• WTO - United States - Anti-dumping and countervailing duties on ripe olives from Spain - Recourse to Article 22.2 of the DSU by the European Union (WT/DS577)
• WTO - Costa Rica formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies
• WTO - New report showcases opportunities to unlock trade in renewable electricity
• WTO - DDG Paugam: Climate crisis requires scaled-up response from trade community

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Postal Services - 25 November 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Tourism) - 20 November 2024
• Minutes of the Committee for the Single Market Programme - Competitiveness and Sustainability of SMEs (SMP/COSME) - 06 November 2024
  
• Preparation of the Council (Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research & Space)) on 28-29 November 2024
  - Draft Council conclusions on the Commission's communication on advanced materials - Approval
  - Draft Council conclusions on strengthening the competitiveness of the EU, reinforcing the European Research Area and overcoming its fragmentation - Approval 
  - The contribution of research and innovation to the competitiveness of the EU: follow-up to the recommendations of the report on The future of European Competitiveness - Policy debate
  - Draft Council conclusions on a potential Europe-wide R&I initiative on advancing sustainable natural resource management, food systems security and the deployment of the bio-economy, harnessing the potential of Central and Eastern Europe - Approval
• Presentations of the Working Party on Technical Harmonisation on 14 November 2024
  - High-Level Forum recommendations on funding for standardisation activities
  - Update High Level Forum (HLF) on Standardisation HWES 1: Education and skills
  - High-Level Forum Workstream 3 : Report on NSBs peer-review and recommendations on national inclusiveness

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Directive (EU) 2024/2823 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on the legal protection of designs (recast)
• Regulation (EU) 2024/2822 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 on Community designs and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 2246/2002

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

• Council of the European Union (Employment, Social Policy, Health & Consumer Affairs) - 02 & 03 December 2024
  - European Semester 2025: Priorities in employment and social policy - Policy debate
  - EMCO review of the implementation of the Recommendation on individual learning accounts: Key messages - Endorsement
  - Labour and skills shortages in the EU: Mobilising untapped labour potential in the European Union - Draft Council Conclusions - Approval
  - Draft Council Conclusions on fostering social inclusion of persons with disabilities through employment, reasonable accommodation and rehabilitation - Approval
• Assessment of the Social Convergence Framework as implemented on a pilot basis in the 2024 European Semester cycle - Presentation by the Chairs of the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee
• Proposal for a Council Recommendation on a reinforced Quality Framework for Traineeships and replacing the Council Recommendation of 10 March 2014 on a Quality Framework for Traineeships - Progress report

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the European Union Ecolabelling Board (EUEB) - 27 November 2024
• Agenda for: 27th Meeting of the Environmental Footprint Technical Advisory Board - 22 November 2024
• Agenda for: Meeting of Member States Expert Group on Circular Economy and Sustainable Production and Consumption - 29 November 2024
• Fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5, 25 November – 1 December 2024, Busan, Korea) - First EU coordination

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 19 November 2024
• European Commission and South Africa launch the Scaling up Renewables in Africa campaign - IP/24/5881
• Joint press release by the Commission, Spain, Lithuania and Austria on the European Hydrogen Bank's ‘Auctions-as-a-Service' scheme, increasing the funding for clean investments

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Plant health law: Council adopts improved rules to protect against plant pests
• EU fishing fleet sees improved profitability but structural challenges remain - See the Report

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Maritime safety: Council adopts new laws to support safe, clean and modern shipping in the EU
• Minutes of the 89th meeting of the Single Sky Committee (SSC) - 05 November 2024

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• The European Health Union in light of the report on ‘The future of European Competitiveness’ - Exchange of views
• Commission and OECD report shows need to further promote healthy ageing while tackling health workforce shortages - Midday Express
• Directive (EU) 2024/2853 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on liability for defective products and repealing Council Directive 85/374/EEC

ECDC

• Reducing antimicrobial resistance: accelerated efforts are needed to meet the EU targets

EMA

• Agenda for: HMA/EMA Big Data Stakeholder Forum 2024 - 28 November 2024
• Meeting highlights from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) 11-14 November 2024
• Updated advice to minimise risks of interaction between weight loss medicine Mysimba and opioids - See the Initial Position

EFSA

• Scientific Opinion - Re‐evaluation of saccharin and its sodium, potassium and calcium salts (E 954) as food additives
• Reasoned Opinion - Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for propamocarb in radishes (roots and small leaves)
• Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of ponceau 4R for its use in baits for freshwater fish (GIFAP)
• Scientific Opinion - Assessment of soy leghemoglobin produced from GM Komagataella phaffii, under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• G7 Leaders´ Statement on Enduring support for Ukraine
• EU Solidarity Fund: Council agrees to €116 million in disaster relief aid for Germany and Italy
• Recovery and resilience fund: Council greenlights Italy’s amended recovery and resilience plan
• EU annual budget 2025: pursuing our political priorities and addressing crises - See the QaA and Council Press Release
• Speech by ECB's Ms Schnabel: "Reassessing monetary policy tools in a rapidly changing world"
• Speech by ECB's Luis de Guindos: " Financial stability in the euro area"at the Frankfurt Euro Finance Week
• Low firm productivity: the role of finance and the implications for financial stability - ECB Financial Stability Review Issue 2, 2024

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 20 & 22 November 2024
• Interventions by President von der Leyen at the Global Citizens NOW: Rio de Janeiro Event

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• European Peace Facility: Council tops up support to the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force to fight terrorism in Cabo Delgado
• Cyberspace: Council approves declaration on a common understanding of application of international law in cyberspace
• Sahel: EU appoints João Cravinho as new Special Representative for the Sahel region
• Foreign Affairs Council: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell ahead of the meeting
• Mozambique: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest developments in the country
• Sri Lanka: Statement by the Spokesperson on the Parliamentary elections