Europe Daily News, 20 June 2024

COMPETITION

• Opinion of Advocate General Medina of 20 June 2024 in Joined Cases C-258/23 to C-260/23; IMI – Imagens Médicas Integradas SA (C-258/23), Synlabhealth II SA (C-259/23) SIBS–Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais SA, SIBS, Cartões – Produção e Processamento de Cartões SA, SIBS Processos – Serviços Interbancários de Processamento SA, SIBS International SA, SIBS Pagamentos SA, SIBS Gest SA, SIBS Forward Payment Solutions SA, SIBS MB SA (C-260/23) Vs. Autoridade da Concorrência
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Infringement of the rules on competition - Application of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU by a national competition authority - Seizure of emails - Order issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office - Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - Article 7 - Infringement of the right to respect for communications
• Commission clears acquisition of Magirus by Mutares (M.11533) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Holon by Benteler and PIF (M.11562) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Tele Columbus by Morgan Stanley (M.11573) - Midday Express
• The Netherlands - Commitments made by Ticketmaster: consumers have a choice in resale platforms again

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.112855, SA.112854, SA.112781 & SA.106361
• Commission approves €60 million Flemish State aid scheme to reduce nitrogen deposition on nature conservation areas (SA.110019) - Midday Express
• Commission finds special tax rules for public casinos operators in Germany to be incompatible State aid (SA.44944 and SA.53552)
• Commission opens in-depth State aid investigation into Flemish support to land management associations (SA.36303)
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Dortmund Airport’s aid application

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 20 June 2024 in Case C‑252/23 P, European Association of Non-Integrated Metal Importers & distributors (Euranimi) Vs. European Commission
  Re: Appeal - Commercial policy - Dumping - Imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in India and Indonesia - Definitive anti-dumping duties - Action for annulment - Association of undertakings representing the interests of importers - Fourth paragraph of Article 263 TFEU - Condition that the applicant must be directly and individually concerned - Regulatory act entailing implementing measures
  
• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Deputy Members) - 26 June 2024
• Agenda for: 32nd meeting - Prohibitions & Restrictions Expert Group - 25 & 26 June 2024
• Agenda of: 259th meeting of the Customs Code Committee - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature (CN Sector) - 05 July 2024
  
• Commission launches new public procurement portal
• WTO - The twelfth review of the trade policies and practices of Canada takes place on 19 and 21 June 2024
• Europe’s carmakers won’t suffer most from tit-for-tat tariffs Premium content - Many auto groups are well hedged, while Beijing turns its attention to European pig farmers - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET  & INDUSTRY

• Posted Ukrainian workers: the Member State in which the works are carried out may impose an obligation to obtain a residence permit (See CPR Nº 104/2024 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-540/22, Staatssecretaris van Justitie en Veiligheid)
• Commission launches consultations on 2025-27 priorities for New European Bauhaus Facility - Midday Express
• Commission launches a new Centre to help the industry adopt innovative clean tech and reduce pollution* - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• List of authorisation decisions adopted on the basis of Article 64(8) of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) - Created by GROW.F.1 - Last update: 17 June 2024
• CSR - REACH Authorisation decisions - CT-KYB; CT-Vinzia & CT-HDO - Created by GROW.F.1 - Last update: 07 June 2024
• REACH - List of Amendments to Annex XVII - Restrictions Created by GROW.F.1 - Last update: 07 June 2024
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the harmonised classification and labelling of certain substances
• Commission Implementing Decision of 07.06.2024 granting an authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council to Carlo Nobili S.p.A. Rubinetterie for a use of chromium trioxide
• Commission Implementing Decision of 07.06.2024 granting an authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council to Newform S.P.A for a use of chromium trioxide
• Commission Implementing Decision of 05.06.2024 granting an authorisation under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 to PMC ISOCHEM for a use of bis(2-methoxyethyl)ether (diglyme) in the context of a review and repealing Implementing Decision C(2019) 5096

FINANCE

• Judgment of the Court of 20 June 2024 in Case C-420/23, Faurécia - Assentos de Automóvel Lda Vs. Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Taxation - Article 63 TFEU - Free movement of capital - Stamp duty - Short-term cash transactions - Resident and non-resident borrowers - Difference in treatment - Restriction
• Bank crisis management and deposit insurance framework: Council agrees on its position 
• Council agrees its position on simpler financial reporting requirements - See the Mandate
• Progress on financial services legislative files as of 21 June 2024

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation - VAT) - 11 July 2024
• Agenda for:DAC7: Improving Communication by Tax Authorities on the Purpose of DAC7 and the Taxation Treatment(s) of the Sale of Goods - 21 June 2024
• Working Documents - Meeting of the CEG on Structures of taxation systems - 03 June 2024
• VAT in the Digital Age package:
  a) Draft Council Directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards VAT rules for the digital age  - General approach
  b) Draft Council Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 904/2010 as regards the VAT administrative cooperation arrangements needed for the digital age = Political agreement
  c) Draft Council Implementing Regulation amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 282/2011 as regards information requirements for certain VAT schemes = Political agreement

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

• Strengthening representation of EU workers in multinational companies: Council agrees its position on the European works council directive

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 89/367/EEC setting up a Standing Forestry Committee - General Approach & Statement by the Commission
• Proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material, amending Regulations (EU) 2016/2031 and 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directive 1999/105/EC (Regulation on forest reproductive material) - Presidency revised text & State of play
• Commission launches evaluation of the common fisheries policy - Feedback period: 20 June 2024 - 06 September 2024
• Public consultation - High-risk organic and in-conversion products – import checks and sampling (amendment) - Delegated regulation -Feedback period: 18 June 2024 - 16 July 2024

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Advertising for biocidal products: EU law prohibits use of the indication ‘skin friendly’ (See CPR Nº 103/2024 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-296/23, dm-drogerie markt)
• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): The sixtieth session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB 60) (Bonn, 3 June - 13 June 2024) - EU statements
• Public consultation - ETS – permanent emissions storage through carbon capture and utilisation - Delegated regulation - Feedback period: 18 June 2024 - 16 July 2024
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - EU harmonised classification of nitrous oxide and potential ban of the substance in culinary applications
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Measures to increase the number of electric vehicles in the EU and related comparative data
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - List of Commission legislative proposals under the Green Deal
• Caobisco issues plea to EU Commission president on EUDR deforestation laws
• US urges EU to delay deforestation law - Ban on imports including chocolate and nappies will hurt American producers, says Biden administration - Financial Times

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Zdravko Vukić elected new Deputy Chair of the European Data Protection Board
• Cyber Europe tests the EU Cyber Preparedness in the Energy Sector

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Migrant smuggling: Enhanced role of Europol in fighting migrant smuggling 
• EU-UK: Joint statement following the fourteenth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights
• Two studies prepared for the European Commission by CEPEJ on the functioning of judicial systems in the EU Member States – 2024

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission funds Regional Innovation Valleys with €116 million to strengthen competitiveness and promote innovation
• The Commission adopted a Report under Article 126(3) of the Treaty on compliance with the deficit and debt criteria
• European Semester Spring Package provides policy guidance to enhance the EU's competitiveness and resilience, and maintain sound public finances - QaA
  - Post-Programme Surveillance Report: Cyprus; Greece; Ireland; Portugal; Spain
  - Country Specific Recommendations / Commission Recommendations
  - Recommendation for a Council decision on Romania
  - Employment Guidelines and annexes
  - Fiscal Statistical Tables
  - Spring package 
  
• Economic, financial and monetary developments - ECB Economic Bulletin Issue 4, 2024
• ECB urges Eurozone countries to cut high levels of debt - Central bank warns of fiscal challenges including ageing populations, extra defence spending and climate change - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Giorgia Meloni’s hard-right European group claims a top EU job - Italian PM aims to disrupt plans by other parties in the bloc’s parliament to decide senior roles - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Azerbaijan: Joint Press Release on the 5th EU-Azerbaijan Security Dialogue
• Team Europe announces over €750 million to the African Vaccines Manufacturing Accelerator
• Joint Statement by the European Commission and the HR on the occasion of World Refugee Day
• EU releases €15 million in humanitarian aid for people in Myanmar and refugees on the country's borders
• Western Balkans: HR/VP Borrell travels to Austria to advance EU – Western Balkans relations
• EU approves first-ever sanctions on Russian gas - It’s a notable evolution in strategy for the EU, and came after Germany and Hungary held up a deal for weeks - Politico.eu