Europe Daily News, 15 July 2024

COMPETITION

• Action brought on 8 April 2024 - Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin Vs. Commission - Case T-188/24
  Re: annulment of the decision of the European Commission in Case AT.40863 – Hoops (now ‘Replacement tyres’); Article 20(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11554 - CVC / World of Talents)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11598 - Marubeni / Certain Parts of Trustenergy)
• Withdrawal of notification of a concentration (Case M.11584 - Harng Central Department Store / Kadewe Group)
• Commission authorises the acquisition of HyVia by Renault and Plug Power (M.11500) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of URUS by CVC and Pon (M.11579) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Nexeye by KKR (M.11576) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of real estate assets by PLD and NBIM (M.11561) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Gartner Transport Holding by Richard Gartner and CE (M.11506) - Midday Express
• France - The Autorité de la concurrence presented its annual report

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.107140; SA.58891 & SA.114357
• Commission approves €142 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support energy sector (SA.112301) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €122 million Lithuanian State aid measure to support AB Achema decarbonise its fertiliser production (SA.108431)
• Commission approves €200 million Finnish State aid scheme to support renewable fuels and energy storage to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.113693) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €194 million Polish investment aid under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support construction of terminal in Gdańsk seaport (SA.106975) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €400 million Italian State aid scheme to support decarbonisation of industrial processes to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.109439) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee (Deputies) - 16 July 2024
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Tribunal judiciaire de Marseille (France) of 12 April 2024 – S.A.S. Tenergie Développement Vs. Directeur Régional des Douanes de Marseille, Direction Interrégionale des douanes Provence - Alpes - Côte d’Azur - Corse, Direction Régionale des Douanes de Marseille (Case C-259/24, Tenergie)
  Re: Articles 116, 119 and 120 of the Union Customs Code; remission of the duties
• Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1919 of 12 July 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/265 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ceramic tiles originating in India and Türkiye
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1896 of 11 July 2024 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) originating in Egypt and the United States of America
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1915 of 11 July 2024 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of mobile access equipment originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1940 of 11 July 2024 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1040 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of certain polyethylene terephthalate originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1943 of 11 July 2024 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of optical fibre cables originating in India
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1923 of 10 July 2024 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of titanium dioxide originating in the People’s Republic of China

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Industry) - 18 July 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Advice and support for businesses engaging in cross-border activities in the EU single market
• Europe’s battery problems show the governments need to up their game - Green tech is stalling because businesses lack confidence that leaders will follow up words with actions - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Appeal brought on 31 January 2024 by Cruelty Free Europe (CFE) against the judgment of the General Court of 22 November 2023 in Case T-655/20, Symrise Vs. ECHA - Case C-78/24 P
• Appeal brought on 31 January 2024 by Cruelty Free Europe (CFE) against the judgment of the General Court of 22 November 2023 in Case T-656/20, Symrise Vs. ECHA - Case C-79/24 P

FINANCE

• ESMA publishes 2023 data on cross-border investment activity of firms
• ESAs consult on Guidelines under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation

ENERGY

• Regulation (EU) 2024/1789 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Regulations (EU) No 1227/2011, (EU) 2017/1938, (EU) 2019/942 and (EU) 2022/869 and Decision (EU) 2017/684 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 715/2009
• Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules for the internal markets for renewable gas, natural gas and hydrogen, amending Directive (EU) 2023/1791 and repealing Directive 2009/73/EC
• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Support for our nuclear industry in the face of an aggressive trade war being pursued by the US

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (WPIEI Desertification) - 18 July 2024
  
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/942
• Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 amending Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) and Council Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste
• Directive (EU) 2024/1799 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on common rules promoting the repair of goods and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/2394 and Directives (EU) 2019/771 and (EU) 2020/1828
• Commission invests €126.9 million into 26 new projects to protect and restore health of our ocean and water by 2030

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues - 17 July 2024
  
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/ 2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act)
• Commission sends preliminary findings to X for breach of the Digital Services Act

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 17 July 2024
• Statement on the resignation of Commissioner Vălean and Commissioner Sinkevičius from the Commission

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Action brought on 22 May 2024 - Bazhaev Vs. Council - Case T-270/24
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/847 & Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/849
• Iran: Council prolongs EU restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measures in support of the Beninese Armed Forces
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts first-ever assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Forces
• 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
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain third countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine