Europe Daily News, 24 March 2025

COMPETITION

• Action brought on 6 February 2025 - Westfälisches Textilwerk Adolf Ahlers Vs. Commission (Case T-87/25)
  Re: annulment of in whole or in part, Article 2 of Commission Decision No. C(2024) 8150 final, relating to a proceeding under Article 101 of the TFEU and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement (Case AT.40642 – Pierre Cardin),
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11592 - Roquette / IFF Pharma Solutions Business)
• Commission clears acquisition of Prosper Link International by Advent and Mubadala (M.11916) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Commission finds that arbitration award ordering Spain to pay compensation in favour of Antin is illegal and incompatible State aid (SA.54155)
• Commission approves €5 billion German State aid scheme to help industries decarbonise production processes (SA.116065)
• Commission finds German public support to DB Regio to be compatible with State aid rules (SA.18853) - Midday Express
• Commission finds recapitalisation of Romania's CEC Bank does not constitute State aid (SA.115898) - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Ribera to a MEP written question - Follow-up on State aid for airports, commercial aviation and rail in Portugal

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Council of the European Union (Foreign Affairs/Trade) - 07 April 2025
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/591 of 21 March 2025 imposing a provisional duty on imports of glyoxylic acid originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/559 of 18 March 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Customs Cooperation Committee established under the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and Turkey as regards the adoption of a decision on the use of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically
• European Parliament: At a Glance: "Understanding import tariffs under WTO law"
• Answer given by  Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Free-trade agreements: impact on the EU’s trade balance
• Answer given by to a MEP written question - Commission white paper on options for enhancing support for research and development involving technologies with dual-use potential
• L’Oréal leads beauty groups telling Brussels to leave them out of trade war - French group says 16 companies have told EU to remove US cosmetics from retaliation list - Financial Times
• Ukraine urges EU to renew duty-free trade deal - Bloc lifted restrictions on Ukrainian imports when Russia invaded in 2022, but support has waned in some countries - Financial Times
• France’s push for strategic autonomy crumbles under Trump’s booze tariffs - Paris goes weak at the knees as another trade rival singles out France’s famed wines and spirits - Politico.eu
• Belgian FM: EU should fight fire with fire in Trump’s trade war - Targeting Big Tech could be among the EU’s options to hit Washington where it hurts, Belgium’s foreign minister says - Politico.eu 

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Industry) - 27 March 2025
• Minutes of the Meeting of the EP ITRE Committee - 18 March 2025
• Answer given by EVP Séjourné to a MEP written question - Policy on batteries
• How to create a true common market for defence - Even Eurosceptics and Britain-bashers should acknowledge the advantage of smooth weaponry supply chains - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Appeal brought on 5 February 2025 by BASF SE and Nouryon Functional Chemicals BV against the judgment of the General Court of 27 November 2024 in Case T-453/22, BASF and Others Vs. Commission (Case C-122/25 P)
  Re: interpreting Section 3.7.2.2.1 of Annex I to CLP; DTPA; interpretation of the rules for the conduct of public consultation; Article 37(4) of CLP
• Appeal brought on 5 February 2025 by Evonik Operations GmbH against the judgment of the General Court of 27 November 2024 in Case T-449/22, Evonik Operations Vs. Commission (Case C-121/25 P)
  Re: CLP Regulation; Article 37(4) of the CLP Regulation; substance’s intrinsic properties; ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment

FINANCE

• Commission launches consultation on EU approach on market risk rules for banks
• EU/EEA banking sector remains stable amidst evolving geopolitical challenges - ESMA
• Answer given by Ms Albuquerque to a MEP written question - Broadening EU taxonomy to strengthen investment opportunities and industrial resilience
• EU watchdogs warn that weakening rules risks another financial crash - Financial supervisors issue unusual warning as EU prepares to simplify regulation - Financial Times

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Commissioner Kadis launches EU-wide aquaculture campaign - Midday Express
• Commissioner Hansen in Rome to present the Vision for Agriculture and Food - Midday Express

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP ENVI Committee - 31 March 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Int. Chemicals/Synergies) - 31 March 2025
• Statement by Commissioner Roswall on "World Water Day"
• Commissioner Roswall hosts high-level roundtables to discuss upcoming Water Resilience Strategy - Midday Express
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - The Commission’s response to the US’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

DIGITAL, DATA & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 27 March 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 27 March 2025
• Answer given by Ms Kos to a MEP written question - Security considerations linked to the reconstruction of Ukraine’s telecom infrastructure
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Meta social media platforms
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Fast fashion, Shein and the DSA
• Answer given by EVP  Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Preserving competition in the telecommunications sector to enable consumer choice and affordable prices

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• The Council has adopted a new law to improve collection of labour market statistics on businesses at EU level
• European Parliament: In-Depth-Analysis: Europe’s policy options in the face of Trump’s global economic reordering
• Interview with Piero Cipollone, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB, conducted by Andrés Stumpf
• Filling the gap: the geographical allocation of euro area portfolio investment liabilities and related income - ECB Statistics Paper Series No.50
• The expert’s edge? Bank lending specialization and informational advantages for credit risk assessment - ECB Working Paper Series No.3041

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.2) - 26 & 28 March 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/484 concerning restrictive measures in view of Türkiye’s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean
• Read-out of the online meeting between European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with the leaders of Iceland, Norway, Türkiye and the United Kingdom

EU/UK RELATIONS

• Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the declaration to be made pursuant to Article 23(5)(a) of Decision No 1/2023 of the Joint Committee
• Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Joint Committee established by the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community as regards the adoption of a decision adding a newly adopted Union act to Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Action brought on 6 February 2025 - Taylor Vs. Council (Case T-86/25)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3182 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3183
• Action brought on 7 February 2025 - Troost Vs. Council (Case T-91/25)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3182 and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3183
• Action brought on 7 February 2025 - Khiabani Vs. Council (Case T-94/25)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2896
• Action brought on 7 February 2025 - Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines Vs. Council (Case T-93/25)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 and of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2896
• Corrigendum to Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/394 of 24 February 2025 amending Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine