Europe Daily News, 14 June 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11286 - NREP / Novo Holdings / Industriens Pensionforsikring / DSB EU / Jernbanebyen Holding JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11532 - ICG / Holding Uriach / Uriach / Ineldea)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11246 - Rolex / Bucherer)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11581 - Apollo / Purmo)
• Commission clears acquisition of Smart Diesel and Tax Refund by DKV Mobility Group (M.11521) - Midday Express
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by ZGC Env and DEUTZ China (M.11428) - Midday Express
• Austria - Strengthening of BWB competences: Federal Act on the Promotion of Competition in the energy sector unanimously adopted by the National Council
• Austria - Construction cartel update: BWB applies for the imposition of a fine of EUR 110,000 against Pichler
• Austria - Construction cartel: Cartel court imposes fine of EUR 1.4 million on Fröschl at BWB's request
• The Competition Council assesses the takeover of Astir Vitagiannis Bros. S.A by Guala Closures S.p.A.
• The Competition Council laucnhes investigation into IT&C Equipment Marketing in Romania

STATE AID

• Commission Decision (EU) 2024/1675 of 16 February 2024 on the State aid SA.62829 (2023/C) implemented by Romania for Blue Air Aviation SA
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.112932
• Commission approves €500 million Maltese State aid scheme to support cultural audiovisual productions (SA.109768) - Midday Express
• Answer given by Ms Vestager to a MEP written question - New decree to save Taranto steel plant

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of decor paper (CN codes ex 4802 54 00, ex 4802 55, ex 4805 91 00 and ex 4811 60 00) originating in the People’s Republic of China
• EU begins dispute settlement proceedings against Algeria to defend European companies
• Most important features for the Declarant Portal for release CBAM 1.2.1.0
• CBAM Quarterly Report structure XSD and “stypes.xsd” (ZIP format or XLS format)
• WTO - Evaluation praises work of STDF in helping developing countries meet SPS standards
• DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes President Assoumani of Comoros to the WTO

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Internal Market/Industry) - 17 July 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Ratification of the 2012 World Intellectual Property Organization Beijing Treaty
• Stellantis to shift some Chinese electric vehicle production to Europe - Tariff announcement from Brussels prompts Citroën and Fiat brand owner to move part of Leapmotor output - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Agenda for Meeting of the REACH Committee - 25 & 26 June 2024
• Summary of European Commission Decisions on authorisations for the placing on the market for the use and/or for use of substances listed in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH (chromium trioxide C(2024) 3649 & C(2024) 3667)
• Chemicals assessment: Council adopts mandate for forthcoming negotiations with the European Parliament
• Council adopts position on new rules for detergents in the internal market
• Highlights from June RAC and SEAC meetings - ECHA/NR/24/17

FINANCE

• Agenda for: Att. & Exp. Financial Services and Banking Union (Digital Euro) - 26 June 2024
• ESMA in 2023 - Focus on investor protection, risk monitoring and supervision
• The EBA publishes regulatory products under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation
• EU bonds fall after MSCI declines to include them in sovereign debt indices - Decision by index provider hits Brussels’ efforts to widen pool of investors in its debt - Financial Times

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Agricultural markets – obligation to notify information on prices and other data (adjustments) - Implementing regulation - Feedback period:13 June 2024 - 11 July 2024
• Imports of organic products – certification and checks of certain operators in non-EU countries - Delegated regulation - Feedback period: 13 June 2024 - 11 July 2024

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Development and growth of geothermal energy in Europe
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Rising prices and inequalities in the cost of energy and goods
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Right of border residents to have say in connection with onshore wind turbine projects
• Nuclear industry launches manifesto for new EU mandate - See the NuclearEurope Statement

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP): 62nd Session of the Working Group on Strategies and Review (WGSR 62) (Geneva, 27-31 May 2024) - Statements by the EU and its Member States
• Third session of the Ad Hoc Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-3) on a science-policy panel to contribute further to the sound management of chemicals and waste to prevent pollution (Geneva, Switzerland, 17-21 June 2024) - First EU coordination
• F-gases – amendment of the rules for the functioning of the F-gas portal - Implementing regulation - Feedback period: 13 June 2024 - 11 July 2024
• EU rules on land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) – evaluation - Evaluation - Feedback period: 13 June 2024 - 11 July 2024
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Certification framework for carbon removals and carbon credits for farmers

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Public consultation on the draft BEREC Opinion on the national implementation and functioning of the general authorisation, and on their impact on the functioning of the internal market
• Microsoft feels the heat in Europe - After a long truce with regulators in Brussels, it is facing more scrutiny - Financial Times

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 14 July 2024
• Data protection: Council agrees position on GDPR enforcement rules

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Trans-European transport network (TEN-T): Council gives final green light to new regulation ensuring better and sustainable connectivity in Europe

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Main results of Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home affairs) - 13 June 2024
  - The Council adopts its negotiating position to update the European Union framework for the protection of victims of crime
  - Ukrainian refugees: EU member states welcome the proposal to extend temporary protection
  - EU to facilitate recruitment of third country jobseekers - See the General Approach
  - The Council adopted a general approach on an EU law to combat corruption  
• Opinion of Advocate General Collins of 13 June 2024 in Joined Cases C‑146/23 and C‑374/23, XL Vs. Sąd Rejonowy w Białymstoku and SR, RB Vs. Lietuvos Respublika
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Rule of law - The second subparagraph of Article 19(1) TEU - Obligation on Member States to provide remedies sufficient to ensure effective legal protection in the fields covered by EU law - Principle of judicial independence - Judges’ remuneration
• Opinion of Advocate General Pikamäe of 13 June 2024 in Case C‑379/23, Guldbrev AB Vs. Konsumentombudsmannen
  Re Reference for a preliminary ruling - Consumer protection - Unfair commercial practices - Directive 2005/29/EC - Article 2(c), (d) and (i) and Article 3(1) - Combined offer consisting of the valuation and purchase of gold - Concepts of ‘product’ and ‘business-to-consumer commercial practices’

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Birth of a Naturalist? Nature-related risks and biodiversity loss: legal implications for the ECB - Legal Working Paper Series No.22

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU-NATO: 9th progress report stresses the importance of ever closer cooperation at a key juncture for Euro-Atlantic security
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measure to support the Republic of Moldova’s air defence capabilities

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Russia
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions under-mining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

G7 SUMMIT

• Speech by President von der Leyen at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment event in the framework of the G7 Summit
• Remarks by President Charles Michel at the G7 summit in Borgo Egnazia, Italy
• Remarks by President von der Leyen at the G7 Session 1 (Africa)