Europe Daily News, 29 February 2024

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11359 - Wendel / IK Partners)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11369 - TA Associates / Warburg Pincus / Exercite Group)
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by ACES, PreZero and Enagás Renovable (M.11331) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition de InfraBridge par Swiss Life et DigitalBridge (M.11464) - Midday Express

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111647, SA.111347 & SA.109991
• Summary notice concerning the initiation of an in-depth investigation in case FSP.100147 pursuant to Articles 10(3)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2022/2560
• State aid: the General Court dismisses the actions regarding the financing of the Fehmarn Belt fixed link project between Denmark and Germany (See CPR No 36/2024 - Judgments of the General Court in Cases T-7/19; Scandlines Danmark and Scandlines Deutschland Vs. Commission)
  

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 29 February 2024 in Case C‑688/22 P, Methanol Holdings (Trinidad) Ltd, Vs. European Commission, Achema AB, Grupa Azoty S.A., Grupa Azoty Zakłady Azotowe Puławy S.A.
  Re: Appeal - Dumping - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1688 - Imports of mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America - Definitive anti-dumping duty - Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 - Definitive collection of the provisional duties - Hierarchy between the calculation methods - Calculation of the undercutting margin
• Judgment of the Court of 29 February 2024 in Case C‑95/23 P, European Association of Non-Integrated Metal Importers & distributors (Euranimi), Vs. European Commission
  Re: Appeal - Dumping - Imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in China and Taiwan - Definitive anti-dumping duties - Action for annulment - Association representing the interests of importers - Regulatory act entailing implementing measures
• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions - 07 March 2024
  
• Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and New Zealand & Council Decision (EU) 2024/244 on the conclusion
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/670 of 26 February 2024 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of hand pallet trucks and their essential parts originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• New global rules to simplify trade in services enter into force in the WTO - IP/24/1141
• Parliament backs deeper political and economic ties with Chile - see the EP Resolution
• Implementation of the EU-Southern African Development Community (SADC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) - see the EP Resolution
• Economic Partnership Agreement between the EU of the one part, and the Republic of Kenya, Member of the East African Community of the other Part - see the EP Resolution

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission presents new initiatives boosting European industrial leadership in advanced materials - IP/24/1121

FINANCE

• Commission publishes report on steps to make reporting in EU financial services more efficient - Midday Express

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• €3 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 835 dismissed steel workers in Germany - IP/24/1183 & Decision
• €1.9 million from European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to support 390 dismissed workers in Denmark - IP/24/1185 & Decision
• Commission initiatives, with a view to the EPSCO Council on 11 March 2024
• Future policy priorities for the Union on the European Pillar of Social Rights - Opinion of the Employment Committee and the Social Protection Committee - Policy Debate  & Endorsement

ENERGY

• Commissioner Simson in Azerbaijan to boost energy cooperation - Midday Express
• Parliament adopts plan to protect the EU energy market from manipulation
• Proposal for a Council Recommendation on continuing coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas
• Report from the Commission to the Council review on the functioning of Regulation (EU) 2022/1369 on coordinated gas demand reduction, amended by Regulation (EU) 2023/706
• Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on certain aspects concerning gas storage based on Regulation (EU) 2017/1938 of the European Parliament and of the Council

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• EFTA - ESA: Food safety: Iceland makes progress in several areas, but controls of animal by-products remain unsatisfactory
• EFTA - ESA: Food safety: Norway continues addressing food and veterinary recommendations

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• EDPB - CEF 2024: Launch of coordinated enforcement on the right of access
• EDPB - Coordinated Enforcement Action, Designation and Position of Data Protection Officers

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Poland's efforts to restore rule of law pave the way for accessing up to €137 billion in EU funds - IP/24/1222 & QaA
• Parliament calls for action against the erosion of EU values in member states

EURO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Denmark´s second payment request for €422 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - IP/24/1228
  
• Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Croatia's fourth payment request for €162.5 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - IP/24/1226
• Commission proposes amendment to EU budget 2024 in record time to continue delivering on EU priorities - IP/24/1229
• EU long-term budget for 2021-2027: Council concludes the mid-term revision

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/757 of 26 February 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/44 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/756 of 26 February 2024 implementing Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya
• HR/VP Statement on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Tunisia
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on strengthening European defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape
• Foreign policy, security and defence: the EU should focus on strategic alliances - see the EP Statement

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/769 of 26 February 2024 amending Decision 2012/642/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/768 of 26 February 2024 implementing Article 8a of Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Parliament calls on the EU to give Ukraine whatever it needs to defeat Russia
• MEPs: EU must actively support Russia’s democratic opposition