Europe Daily News, 28 October 2024

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11637 - Sonoco / Eviosys)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11712 - Waterland / Lebara)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11586 - Masdar / EDFI / JV)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11735 - CVC / Fidelio / Odevo)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11719 - Cinven/ Vitamin Well Companies)
• Commission clears acquisition of DBR by MPLX, ISQ and Enbridge (M.11755) - Midday Express
• JCDecaux has decided not to pursue the acquisition of Clear Channel’s business in Spain
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the take over of several companies by Public Power Corporations SA.
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the take over of Calibra M&D Impex S.R.L. by LDC Tranzit Holding ZRT
• Romania - The Competition Council approved the take over of Romania by the Kinstellar Network

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.115889 & SA.62915
• Commission approves €150 million Greek State aid measure funded under Recovery and Resilience Facility to support construction of carbon storage facility in Prinos
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Europe’s contribution to the completion of a European project of general interest

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 08 November 2024
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Working Party on Dual Use Goods - 05 November 2024
• Agenda for: Law Enforcement Working Party (Police & Customs) - 08 November 2024
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market - Outcome of the EP's first reading and Corrigendum procedure (Strasbourg, 23 April 2024 and 22 October 2024
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2740 of 24 October 2024 granting a derogation allowing Ireland to use means other than electronic data-processing techniques for the exchange and storage of information for the release into free circulation of goods in postal consignments availing of relief under Articles 25 to 27 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 sent by a private individual in the United Kingdom to a private individual in Ireland
• Report of the 1st round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Philippines - 14 to 18 October 2024
  - EU's proposal for a legal text in the EU-Philippines FTA on: Rules of Origin; State-Owned Enterprises; Customs and trade facilitation; Small and medium-sized entreprises; Intellectual property; Competition; Sanitary and phytosanitary measures; Public procurement & Trade remedies
• EU agri-food trade increased in July 2024
• WTO - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Biocidal products
• Orgalim key recommendations on trade policy 2024-2029 - Policy proposals for the upcoming EU legislative period
• “Harris vs. Trump on Trade Policy: The Good, the Bad, or Just Ugly?”, Policy Paper N°306, Jacques Delors Institute, October 2024
• EU needs to rethink FTAs, look for ‘shortcut’ for deal with India, says German vice chancellor - ThePrint
• EU races to prepare for a Trump win - Bloc seeks to bolster aid to Ukraine, sanctions against Russia and trade policy in case Republican is re-elected - Financial Times
• Policymakers warn protectionism threatens global economic recovery - Officials fear rules-based order is under threat as race for US presidency enters final days - Financial Times

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) - 08 November 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation - VAT) - 06 November 2024

ENERGY

• European gas prices hit peak for year on Norwegian production outage - Increase highlights continuing vulnerability of market to supply disruptions - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Int. Chemicals/Synergies) - 05 November 2024
  
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the Union in the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union, regarding the establishment of the rules of procedure of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee and the working procedures for arbitration - See Annex 1 & Annex 2
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2770 of 15 July 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards biodegradability criteria for coating agents and water retention polymers
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Azerbaijan’s actions risk undermining COP29

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.2) - 30 October 2024
• Invitation letter for the European Political Community summit in Budapest

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ statements, Washington, DC, 25 October 2024
• Regulation (EU) 2024/2773 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2024 establishing the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and providing exceptional macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU Integrated Resolve 2024: EU concludes wide crisis response exercise - See also IP/24/5482
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with Montenegrin Prime Minister Spajić
• Statement by the European Commission and the High Representative Josep Borrell on the Parliamentary elections in Georgia
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2695 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
• UK-EU ‘reset’ talks delayed until next year - Negotiations expected to focus on post-Brexit fishing rights and electricity trading arrangements, which expire in 2026 - Financial Times

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Appeal brought on 13 September 2024 by Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin against the judgment of the General Court of 3 July 2024 in Case T-742/22, Mazepin Vs. Council - (Case C-595/24 P)
  Re: Annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/1530; Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1529, Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/572; Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/ 571; Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/811; Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/806 & Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1765
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2761 of 24 October 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2760 of 24 October 2024 implementing Decision 2014/512/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
• European Commission - Request for feedback on Article 12g of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014
• Commission welcomes the consensus reached by G7 partners to collectively provide €45 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine
• Answer given by HR/VP Borrell to a MEP written question - Information concerning Greek arms deliveries to Ukraine