Europe Daily News, 03 July 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11610 - Apollo / Panasonic Automotive Systems)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11512 - OTPP / Nordic Capital / Advanz Pharma)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11572 - VTTI / Shell / Dragon LNG)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11525 - SGIF / EDF / Perfesco)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11581- Apollo / Purmo)
• The European Commission has published its decision clearing insurance broker Aon’s takeover of rival Willis Towers Watson - see Case M.9829
• Commission clears acquisition of Air Control Concepts by Blackstone and MDP (M.11606) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of TrustEnergy Subsidiaries by Marubeni (M.11598) - Midday Express
• Commission clears proposed acquisition of stake in ITA Airways by Lufthansa, subject to conditions - See Case M.11071
• Belgium - The Competition Authority conditionally approves the merger between Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen and Ziekenhuis GasthuisZusters Antwerpen

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.113950; SA.108368 & SA.108449
• Commission approves €10.82 billion French State aid scheme to support offshore wind energy to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.109161)

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) …/... supplementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2399 of the European Parliament and of the Council by specifying the data elements to be exchanged through the European Union Customs Single Window Certificates Exchange System and amending that Regulation as regards the list of Union non-customs formalities covered by the EU Single Window Environment for Customs
• Starting from 1 July 2024, the Centralised Clearance for Import (CCI) system enters its first phase of implementation - see the CCI Phase 1 Business Guidance
• WTO - Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Notification - European Union - Residues - Fenbuconazole and penconazole
• WTO - Goods trade posts 1% growth in the first quarter of 2024 after 2023 plateau
• EU takes aim at China’s Temu and Shein with proposed import duty - EC plans to scrap €150 threshold below which goods are exempt from customs duties - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Note of the Commission services on Frequently Asked Questions on EU rules on drug precursors (Created by DG GROW.F.2 - Last update: 01 July 2024)

CHEMICAL

• Rolling List of (groups of) substances for restriction updating Annex I to the Restrictions Roadmap under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability SWD(2022)128 (Created by DG GROW.F.1 - 03 July 20204)

FINANCE

• Report from the Commission on the monitoring of climate-related risk to financial stability
• EBA calls for caution amid rising geopolitical risks for the EU/EEA banking sector

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 08 July 2024

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Commission Expert Group on Outdoor Noise Emission - 11 July 2024
• Nearly every EU country blows major climate plan deadline - The ongoing delays are imperiling the bloc’s 2030 climate goals - and, by extension, its 2050 net neutrality ambition - Politico.eu

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Judgment of the General Court of 03 July 2024 In Case T-667/22; SBM Développement SAS Vs. Republic of Finland
  Re: Biocidal products - Authorisation by way of mutual recognition - Biocidal product Pat'Appât Souricide Canadien Foudroyant - Commission decision on unresolved objections - Articles 35, 36 and 48 of Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 - Cancellation or amendment of marketing authorisations - Action for annulment - Direct concern - Individual concern - Admissibility - Conditions for the grant of an authorisation - Article 19, (1) of Regulation No 528/2012 - Article 19(5) of Regulation No 528/2012 - Competence of the Commission - Concept of 'national authorisation' - Concept of 'reference Member State' - Manifest error of assessment - Proportionality
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Designation of ‘natural mineral waters’ in the context of increasingly frequent contamination with microplastics and chemicals residues
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Shedding light on the opaque choice of Dentsu as provider of the EU tobacco track and trace system
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Impact of PFAS restrictions on the availability of medicinal products and medical devices
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - SSRI and SNRI medications and the PSSD symptoms they cause

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Protection of the most strategic and sensitive European data from extraterritorial foreign laws

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission endorses Greece's request for a targeted revision of its recovery plan - Midday Express
• Commission approves a preliminary assessment of Italy's fifth payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
• Commission endorses preliminary assessment of Belgium's first payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Possible items for College agenda from 24 July to 30 October 2024

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• European Union Satellite Centre Annual Report 2023
• President Michel welcomed President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović to Brussels
• Commission announces additional €1.2 billion investment package for infrastructure and support to entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Upholding unanimity in decision-making in the European Council
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Screening process after opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Judgment of the General Court of 03 July 2024 in Case T‑742/22, Dmitry Arkadievich Mazepin, Vs. Council of the European Union, supported by Republic of Latvia
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures taken in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Maintaining the applicant’s name on the list - Concept of ‘leading businessperson’ – Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Plea of illegality - Obligation to state reasons – Error of assessment – Proportionality
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 3s of Council Regulation 833/2014 (Targeted vessels)
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following legislation: Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014; Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014; Council Regulation (EU) No 692/2014; Council Regulation (EU) 2022/263; Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 (General questions)
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 5aa of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (State-owned enterprises)
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Art. 12b of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Divestment from Russia)
• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 5n of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Provision of services)
• Consolidated version of the FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus (Consolidated version)
  

EU-UK RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom - 05 July 2024
• EU-UK relations towards post-election agenda - see CER Insight