Europe Daily News, 03 December 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11564 - International Paper / DS Smith)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11765 - Segro/ PSPIB / Regensburg Asset)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11717 - Sumitomo / EEW Holding / EEW Offshore Wind EU Holding)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11662 - FNAC Darty / Unieuro)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11703 - Novo Holdings / KKR / Sylvan)
• Commission clears acquisition of E. Winkemann by One Equity Partners (M.11710) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Ysco by Davidson Kempner (M.11673) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Unieuro by Fnac Darty (M.11662) - Midday Express
  
• Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/1 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 to empower the competition authorities of the Member States to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the internal market
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt has cleared plans by KME SE, Osnabrück, to indirectly acquire all shares in Sundwiger Messingwerk GmbH, Hemer

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.115642, SA.115976, SA.115917, SA.115891, SA.115615, SA.115977 &  SA.114660

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the EU-Türkiye Customs Cooperation Committee established under the Association Agreement between the European Community and Turkey as regards the adoption of a decision on the use of A.TR movement certificates issued electronically - See the Annex
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3001 of 28 November 2024 on the granting of unlimited duty-free access to the Union for 2025 to certain goods originating in Norway resulting from the processing of agricultural products covered by Regulation (EU) No 510/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2989 of 21 November 2024 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part, with regard to a decision concerning the amendment of Protocol 3 to that Agreement as regards permeability between the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin and the Transitional rules of origin
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2990 of 21 November 2024 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part, with regard to a decision establishing the general requirements for proofs of origin issued electronically under Article 17(4) of Appendix A to Protocol 2 to that Agreement
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2991 of 21 November 2024 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Stabilisation and Association Council established by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Albania, of the other part, with regard to a decision establishing the general requirements for proofs of origin issued electronically under Article 17(4) of Appendix A to Protocol 4 to that Agreement
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2993 of 21 November 2024 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Iceland, with regard to a decision establishing the general requirements for proofs of origin issued electronically under Article 17(4) of Appendix A to Protocol 3 to that Agreement
• How the EU should deal with Trump’s tariff threat - Brussels must try to ensure its response to the US does not trample on trade rules - Financial Times
• France will oppose the Mercosur treaty right until the end - Paris risks an embarrassing defeat this week, just as its government faces possible censure and collapse. But this won’t be the end of the saga - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission and EIB announce new partnership to support investments in the European battery manufacturing value chain
• Commission earmarks €4.6 billion to boost net-zero technologies, electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing and renewable hydrogen under the Innovation Fund
• Consolidator Grants: ERC awards €678m in grants to back excellent research across Europe - Midday Express

FINANCE

• The EBA amends the supervisory reporting framework for investment firms

ENERGY

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2995 of 29 November 2024 setting the filling trajectory with intermediary targets for 2025 for each Member State with underground gas storage facilities on its territory and directly interconnected to its market area

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 04 December 2024
• Agenda for: 20th meeting of the Cluster 5 configuration of the Horizon Europe Programme Committee ‘Climate, Energy & Mobility' - 05 December 2024
• Agenda for: 16th meeting of the Cluster 6 configuration of the Horizon Europe Programme Committee ‘Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture & environment’ - 10 December 2024
• Meeting of the Council (Environment) on 17 December 2024
  - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council non circularity requirements for vehicle design and on management of end-of-life vehicles, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/858 and 2019/1020 and repealing Directives 2000/53/EC and 2005/64/EC ‒ Policy debate
• Summary record of the Habitats Committee meeting - 27 November 2024
• EU proposal to adapt protection status of the wolf adopted by Bern Convention, paving the way to more flexibility in managing wolf populations
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Transposition of Directive (EU) 2018/851
• EEA Executive Director calls on EU to stay the course on its climate, environment policies, ambitions
• EPP abandons push to weaken anti-deforestation rules - The center-right group will drop efforts to gut the key Green Deal law, but wants the EU to commit to reconsidering in the future - Politico.eu

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Council recommends increased protection against second-hand smoke and aerosols
• Commission welcomes Council Recommendation on stronger measures on smoke-free environments
• SCCS - Minutes of the Working Group meeting on Cosmetic Ingredients of 19-20 November 2024
• SCHEER - Memorandum on Weight of Evidence approach for Risk Assessment - Revision 2024

EFSA

• Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme protein‐glutamine γ‐glutamyltransferase from the non‐genetically modified Streptomyces mobaraensis strain AE‐BTG
• Technical Report - The practice of mutilations in turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo gallopavo): exercise of the EFSA Networks on Animal Welfare
• External Scientific Report - Hotspots for Plant Pests Introduction and quantitative pest risk assessment: HoPPI Project Final Report
• Technical Report - The practice of mutilations in beef cattle: exercise of the EFSA Networks on Animal Welfare
• Reasoned Opinion - Setting of import tolerances for hexythiazox in blackberries and raspberries

EMA 

• European Shortages Monitoring Platform enables better monitoring of shortages in the EU
• EMA - Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) - 25 to 28 November 2024

ECDC

• COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation and death using electronic health records in eight European countries in the VEBIS monitoring network - October 2023 to April 2024
• Cryptosporidiosis - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2020

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

• Main results - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment & Social Policy) - 02 December 2024
  - The Council has approved conclusions on labour and skills shortages in the EU with a focus on mobilising untapped labour potential
  - The Council has approved conclusions on fostering the social inclusion of persons with disabilities through employment, reasonable accommodation and rehabilitation
• EU births drop to new low as strains on younger generations mount - Dearth of children expected to heap pressure on state finances - Financial Times
• EU digs in on student fees as UK youth mobility talks near - Brussels is willing to make small concessions over naming of scheme and length of stay - Financial Times

DATA PRIVACY CYBERSECURITY

• Cybersecurity package: Council adopts new laws to strengthen cybersecurity capacities in the EU

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• ECB staff contribution to the European Commission’s targeted consultation on the functioning of the EU securitisation framework

EXTERNAL RERLATIONS

• The Council decided to prolong sanctions against 116 individuals and 33 entities responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses in various countries worldwide, until 8 December 2025 - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3004 & Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2999
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3003 of 2 December 2024 in support of strengthening the capacities of the Ukrainian authorities to prevent and combat illicit trafficking in weapons, ammunition and explosives, in cooperation with the OSCE
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/3006 of 2 December 2024 in support of SEESAC disarmament and arms control activities in South-East Europe reducing the threat of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2988 of 2 December 2024 amending Decision 2010/452/CFSP on the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, EUMM Georgia
• 2024 Annual Report on the implementation of the European Union's External Action Instruments in 2023