Europe Daily News, 19 March 2025

COMPETITION

• Judgment of the Court of 19 March 2025 in Case T-142/23, Ivo Swenters Vs. European Commission
  Re: Competition - Agreements, decisions and concerted practices - Abuse of a dominant position - Market for the extraction and supply of quartz sand - Decision rejecting a complaint - Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 773/2004 - Obligation to state reasons - Obligation to examine all relevant matters of fact and law - Interest of the Union
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11699 - A-Ware Dairy & Cream/ The Dairy Food Group)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11847 - Hartree / ED&F Man Commodities)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11878 - Boliden / Zikgruvan / Somincor / Nan)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11852 - Paloma Rheem / Fujitsu General)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11839 - Blackrock / HPS)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11907 - Aurelius / Lernia)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11559 - Exyte / Kinetics)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11838 - GA / TA / Tsyl Topco)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11845 - Infravia / Iliad / OP Core)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11873 - Quattror / BC PAartners / Cigierre)
• Summary of Commission Decision of 31 October 2024 relating to a proceeding under Article 102 of the TFEU (Case AT.40588 - Teva Copaxone)
  - Opinion of the Advisory Committee on restrictive practices and dominant positions & Final Report of the Hearing Officer
• Commission published it its decision clearing the Roquette's purchase of IFF Pharma Solutions, a unit of International Flavors & Fragrances - M.11592
• Commission clears acquisition of Prime Data Centers by Ares, Macquarie and Data Realty Group (M.11843) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Hellenic Healthcare by Pure Health (M.11919) - Midday Express
• The Netherlands - 2024 ACM Annual Report: targeted interventions to ensure that markets work well

STATE AID

• Judgment of the General Court of 19 March 2025 in Case T‑350/23, Rems Kargins, Vs. European Commission supported by Council of the European Union
  Re: Non-contractual liability - State aid - Intervention of the Commission as amicus curiae before a national court - Unlawfulness of the conduct alleged against the EU institution - Plea of illegality - Sufficiently serious breach of a rule of law intended to confer rights on individuals - Article 29(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/1589 - Principles of separation of powers, independence of national courts, right to an effective remedy, impartiality and neutrality

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 19 March 2025 in Case T‑356/22, LG Chem, Ltd., Vs. European Commission supported by BASF Antwerpen NV, and Nippon Shokubai Europe NV, and by Evonik Superabsorber GmbH
  Re: Dumping - Import of superabsorbent polymers originating in the Republic of Korea - Regulation (EU) 2022/547 - Definitive anti-dumping duty - Article 3(2), (3), (5), (6) and (7) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 - Article 9(4) of Regulation 2016/1036 - Determination of injury - Examination of the effect of the imports on prices for like products sold on the EU market - Analysis of price undercutting - Application of the product control number method - Causal link - Attribution and non-attribution analysis - Other known factors - Amount of anti-dumping duty - Rights of the defence - Principle of sound administration
• Agenda for: 664th meeting of the Export Credits Group - 27 March 2025
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) - 26 March 2025
• Agenda for: 127th Meeting of the Customs Code Committee - General Customs Legislation - 01 April 2025
  - Commission Implementing Regulation amending Implementation Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code
  
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... correcting Delegated Regulation (EU) 2018/273 as regards the import of wine originating in Canada
• Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Ammonium nitrate; Russia; Anti-dumping duty; Regulation (EU) 2020/2100; 17.12.2025)
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of phosphorous acid originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN code 2811 19 80)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/501 of 18 March 2025 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and definitively collecting the provisional duty imposed on imports of glass fibre yarns originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Agreement on digital trade Between the European Union and the Republic of Korea as of 18 March 2025
• Duties on Chinese electric vehicles – Beijing requests WTO panel - WT/DS/630-2
• Unpredictable Tariffs by the US: Implications for the euro area and its monetary policy - see the EP Study
• Giorgia Meloni warns EU against ‘vicious circle’ of tariff war with Donald Trump - Italian premier criticises Brussels for engaging in tit-for-tat with US - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Recycling policy for lithium-ion batteries
• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Fashion-sector companies unable to the EU ‘Fit for 55’ plan’s carbon footprint targets

CHEMICAL

• Minutes of the Meeting of the REACH Committee - 27 February 2025
• Latest ECHA Weekly Newsletter published
• ECHA - Highlights from March RAC and SEAC meetings - ECHA/NR/25/09
• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Ban on animal testing and revision of the REACH Regulation
• Ensuring the quality of data from chemical testing – the Good Laboratory Practice Directives (evaluation) - Evaluation - Feedback period: 14 March 2025 - 06 June 2025

FINANCE

• The EBA launches call for papers for its 2025 Policy Research Workshop

ENERGY

• EP rapporteurs on security of supply impatient with release of ‘roadmap’ for ending Russian imports - See the Report
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - Russian gas imports into the EU
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - Norway-EU electricity link and prices
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - Energy security in the context of the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia
• Answer given by Mr Jørgensen to a MEP written question - Action to reduce energy prices and address significant disparities between EU Member States
• Answer given by Ms Albuquerque to a MEP written question - Follow-up to the Parliament resolution concerning targeted measures against the Russian shadow fleet

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Monitoring framework for resilient European forests - see the Draft report / Draft recommendation
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - WTO’s concerns regarding the EU’s F-gas Regulation
• EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism study from Orgalim

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

ECDC

• ECDC and Africa CDC discuss deeper collaboration for global health security
• ECDC country visit to Serbia to discuss surveillance of communicable diseases
• Potential risk of multidrug-resistant bacteria in burn victims from North Macedonia fire
• Guide for EU-level external quality assessments (EQAs) for public health microbiology laboratories
• Protocol for the surveillance of healthcare-associated infections and prevention indicators in European intensive care units, HAI-Net ICU protocol, version 2.3,

EFSA

• Modification of the existing maximum residue level for acetamiprid in honey
• Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase from the genetically modified Bacillus subtilis strain DP‐Ezd119
• Updated safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo‐1,4‐β‐xylanase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain XYL
• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of chromium chelate of DL‐methionine (Availa® Cr) for salmonids (Zinpro Animal Nutrition Europe, Inc.)

DIGITAL, DATA PRIVACY & CYBSERCURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 24 March 2025
• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 28 March 2025
• European technological sovereignty and digital infrastructure - see the Draft Report by MEP Sarah Knafo
• EDPB Document Setting Forth a Co-Operation procedure for the approval of Binding Corporate Rules for controllers and processors

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• €3.13 Billion Payment for Greece Advances with Commission's Positive Assessment
• ECB Blog - Managing liquidity in a changing environment
• Euro area risks amid US Protectionism - See the Study for the EP ECON Committee
• ECB policy and strategy review: Potential improvements - See the Study for the EP ECON Committee
• Euro area monetary policy: Quarterly overview, March 2025 - See the Study for the EP ECON Committee
• ECB communication and policy responses: Being effective in an era of disinflation and economic policy uncertainty - See the Study for the EP ECON Committee

 FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Main results - General Affairs Council - 18 March 2025
• Possible items for College agendas from 26 March to 16 April 2025
• Europe’s moment is more than reheated Gaullism - Macron may not yet be bragging about it, but his crusade for strategic autonomy seems at long last to be vindicated - Financial Times
• Criminals use AI in ‘proxy’ attacks for hostile powers, warns Europol - EU police agency says organised crime rings use artificial intelligence to amplify their ‘speed, reach, and sophistication’ - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Joint Statement by HR/VP Kallas and Commissioners Šuica and Lahbib on the breakdown of the ceasefire in Gaza
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/377 of 24 February 2025 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan
• Statement by the HHRE on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Zimbabwe (Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/335)

EU DEFENCE

• Commission unveils the "White Paper" for European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030
  - Q&As and FactSheet on ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030
  - Q&As and FactSheet on the Defence Package: White Paper for European Defence
• Speech by President von der Leyen on European defence at the Royal Danish Military Academy
• Brussels seeks to purchase weapons for entire EU - EC president Ursula von der Leyen proposes central arms reserve capitals could draw from - Financial Times

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Judgment of the Court of 19 March 2025 in Case T‑1042/23, AAT Byelorussian Steel Works – management company of ‘Byelorussian Metallurgical Company’ holding (BSW - management company of ‘BMC’ holding) Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Inclusion of the applicant’s name on the list - Support for the Lukashenko regime - Benefit derived from the Lukashenko regime - Undertaking belonging to the State - Error of assessment - Right to property - Freedom to conduct a business
• Judgment of the Court of 19 March 2025 in Case in Case T‑281/23, Dana Astra IOOO Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures taken in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine - Freezing of funds - Lists of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Maintenance of the applicant’s name on the lists - Action for annulment - Time limit for bringing proceedings - Point from which time starts to run - Inadmissibility - Error of assessment
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in response to the illegal recognition, occupation or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine (Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/338)
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol (Council Decision 2025/397 )
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in response to the illegal recognition, occupation or annexation by the Russian Federation of certain non-government controlled areas of Ukraine (Decision (CFSP) 2025/396)
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine (Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/394)
• Statement by the HREU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine (Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/391 )
• Ukraine open to Russia sanctions relaxation as part of lasting peace deal - Hard-hitting economic measures can be used as leverage to secure justice from Moscow, Ukraine’s sanctions chief tells POLITICO - Politico.eu