Europe Daily News, 30 January 2025

COMPETITION

• Judgment of the Court of 30 January 2025 in Case C-511/23, Caronte & Tourist SpA Vs. Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, interveners; Unione nazionale consumatori - Comitato regionale della Sicilia, Unione nazionale consumatori, Assarmatori, Confederazione Italiana Armatori
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Competition - Article 102 TFEU - Abuse of a dominant position - Equipping national competition authorities with the means to implement the competition rules - Directive (EU) 2019/1 - Independence of national competition authorities - Article 4, (5) - Setting of priorities for proceedings relating to the implementation of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU - Fines imposed on undertakings and associations of undertakings - Article 13 - Proceedings for infringement of the rules of competition law - Compliance with reasonable time-limit - National rules requiring the national authority to issue a statement of objections within a time-limit of time-limit of 90 days from knowledge of the essential elements of the infringement - Full and automatic annulment of the decision of the national competition authority in the event of failure to observe that time-limit - Ne bis in idem principle - Loss of power to initiate new infringement proceedings in respect of the same facts - Principle of effectiveness - Rights of the defence of undertakings’
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11663 - Nokia / Infinera)
• Commission clears acquisition of Railsr and Equals by TowerBrook and J.C. Flowers (M.11861) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Arbonia Climate Division by Midea (M.11570) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Hostaway Oy by GA and PSG (M.11846) - Midday Express
• Commission approves Constantia's acquisition of Aluflexpack subject to conditions (M.11536)
• Commission clears acquisition of GCP by Ares (M.11787) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Explanatory notes to the Combined Nomenclature of the European Union (5603 & 6210 10 92)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/141 of 29 January 2025 making imports of screws without heads originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Decision No 1/2024 of the EU-CTC Joint Committee of 18 October 2024 as regards the amendment of Appendices I and IIIa to the Convention of 20 May 1987 on a common transit procedure
• Decision No 2/2024 of the EU-Common Transit Countries Joint Committee established by the Convention on a common transit procedure of 21 October 2024 as regards an invitation to Georgia to accede to that Convention
• Decision No 1/2024 of the EU-Common Transit Countries Joint Committee established by the Convention on the simplification of formalities in trade in goods of 21 October 2024 as regards an invitation to Georgia to accede to that Convention
• Report & Working Document from the Commission on the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/821 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use items
• Draft open for Comments: Trade in agricultural products – rules on ELAN IT system - Implementing regulation & Delegated regulation - Feedback period: 30 January 2025 - 27 February 2025
• EU ready to seek mutually beneficial trade solutions with Washington but will defend its interests according to Maroš Šefčovič - See the Remarks to the EP INTA Committee
• EU, seeking to woo Trump, offers to team up with US on China - The EU, the US and Japan already teamed up in Trump’s first term to counter the competitive threat posed by China - Politico.eu
• WTO - E-commerce work programme focuses on bridging the digital divide

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report highlights challenges and opportunities to EU competitiveness
  - Statement by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on the EU Competitiveness Compass
• An EU Compass to regain competitiveness and secure sustainable prosperity - See the Communication
  - Statement by President von der Leyen on the EU Competitiveness Compass
• More than €1 billion from the European Defence Fund to develop next generation defence technologies and innovation
• Commission launches new Biotech and Biomanufacturing Hub to support innovative companies

AUTOMOTIVE 

• Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry will be launched on 30 January
• President von der Leyen launches Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the Automotive Industry and announces Action Plan

FINANCE

• Answer given by Ms Albuquerque to a MEP written question - Possible location drawbacks in Member States as a result of the Sustainability Directive (ESRS)
• One month left to have your say: Support IFRS 19 Endorsement in the EU by Completing EFRAG’s surveys

TAXATION

• Business taxation: María José Garde re-elected as chair of the code of conduct group

ENERGY

• Judgment of the Court of 30 January 2025 in Case C-205/23, Engie România SA Vs. Autoritatea Naţională de Reglementare în Domeniul Energiei
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Energy - Internal market in natural gas - Directive 2009/73/EC - Article 3(1) - Obligations of Member States towards natural gas undertakings - Consumer protection - Articles 40 and 41 - Powers of the regulatory authority - Breach, by a natural gas undertaking, of its obligation of transparency towards customers - Cumulation of penalties for the same infringement - Article 50 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - Right not to be tried or punished twice in criminal proceedings for the same infringement - Ne bis in idem - Article 52(1) - Limitations on the exercise of that fundamental right - Principle of proportionality’
• EU debates return to Russian gas as part of Ukraine peace deal - Advocates say reopening pipelines could help settlement with Moscow and cut energy costs - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 05 February 2025
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the Conference of the Parties as regards amendments to Annex III to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade
• EU decorum cracks over green agenda - Normally taciturn officials spar online over climate policy and reveal a deep split within the EU - Politico.eu

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Judgment of the Court of 30 January 2025 in Case C-586/23 P, Giovanni Frajese Vs. European Commission
  Re: Appeal - Public health - Medicinal products for human use - Marketing authorisation - Spikevax - Comirnaty - Action for annulment - Independence and impartiality of the Judges of the Union - Failure to comply with procedural rules - Failure to state reasons and statement of reasons contradictory - Legal interest in bringing proceedings - Locus standi - Fourth paragraph of Article 263 TFEU - Right to effective judicial protection
• Opinion of advocate General Campos Sànchez-Bordona of 30 January 2025 in Case C‑618/23, SALUS Haus Dr. med. Otto Greither Nachf. GmbH & Co. KG Vs. Astrid Twardy GmbH
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Medicinal products for human use - Labelling of organic products - Indications on the outer packaging of a medicinal herbal tea based on organically grown plants

ECDC

• One Health: EU agencies unite to tackle azole fungicide resistance in Aspergillus fungi

EFSA

• Guidance for reporting 2024 data on zoonoses, foodborne outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance
• Coordinated One Health investigation and management of outbreaks in humans and animals caused by zoonotic avian influenza viruses
• Scientific Report - Impact of the use of azole fungicides, other than as human medicines, on the development of azole‐resistant Aspergillus spp.
• Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme glucose oxidase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain ZGL
• Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain LFS
• Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of changed use levels of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the non‐genetically modified Limtongozyma cylindracea strain AE‐LAYH (B)
• Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain LFS

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Shipping - 03 February 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Land Transport - 04 February 2025
• Opinion of advocate General Campos Sànchez-Bordona of 30 January 2025 in Case C‑783/23, Liège Airport Security Vs. État belge, represented by the ministre de l’Intérieur
  Re: Preliminary ruling proceedings - Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 - Transport - Air transport - Civil aviation security - Article 4 and Annex I - Common basic standards - Article 9 - Appropriate authority responsible for the coordination and monitoring of the common basic standards - Powers of national authorities with regard to the oversight of private security services operating in an airport - Scope

DIGITAL & CYBERSECURITY

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/138 of 28 January 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2191 as regards harmonised standards in support of the essential requirements of Directive 2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council that relate to cybersecurity, for the categories and classes of radio equipment specified in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/30
• New digital company law measures come into force today to reduce the administrative burden on EU businesses - Midday Express 

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of Estonia's third payment request for €122.3 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: December 2024
• ECB - Payments statistics: first half of 2024

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Possible items for College agendas from 5 February to 1 April 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Speech by EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas at the 17th European Space Conference
• Statement by President von der Leyen on the signature of the EU-Jordan Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership
• Answer given by HR/VP Kallas to a MEP written question - Possible conclusion of an agreement between Türkiye and Syria establishing an EEZ