Europe Daily News, 16 July 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11605 - ICG / DGS)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11608 - Brookfield / Castlelake Aggregator / Castlelake)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11552 - TotalEnergies / OQ Saoc / Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11593 - Clearlake / Francisco Partners / Software Integrity Group of Synopsys)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11574 - L Catterton / Kiko)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11617 - Blackstone / Stone Point / Allied)
• Commission authorises acquisition of Uriach and Ineldea by ICG and Holding Uriach (M.11532) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Panasonic Automotive Systems by Apollo Management (M.11610) - Midday Express
• Slovak Republic - The Council of AMO decided on a cartel in public procurement related to gastrotechnology

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.104413 & SA.114353

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 5th Meeting of the Japan-EU EPA Joint Committee - 16 July 2024
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee for Investment Agreements - 13 June 2024
• Minutes of the 2nd Customs Code Committee - EU Single Window Environment for Customs - 17 June 2024
• Minutes of the 8th Meeting EU - Ukraine Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) Sub-Committee - 29 November 2023
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Member State Expert Group on "responsible sourcing of tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold (3TG)" - 20 June 2024
• Joint conclusions of the 8th Joint Meeting of the European and Georgian Domestic Advisory Groups under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement - 17 June 2024
• Minutes of the 10th Meeting of the Sub-Committee on TSD - Trade Agreement between the EU, of the one part, and Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, of the other part - 17 -19 October 2023
• Report of the 17th EU-Montenegro Sub-Committee on Trade, Industry, Customs and Taxation - June 2024
• Report of the 3rd round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Thailand - 17 to 21 June 2024,
  - EU's proposal for a legal text on Motor Vehicles in the EU-Thailand FTA
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature - CN code: 6212 90 00
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature - CN code: 4911 10 90
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the screening of foreign investments in the Union and repealing Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and the Council - Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC)
• EU opens new front with China over car chips - Officials are concerned subsidized Chinese firms are going after the bloc’s champions - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Europe’s rushed attempt to set the rules for AI - The EU says its pioneering legislation will protect humans from AI’s dangers. Critics say it is undercooked and will stifle innovation - Financial Times

CHEMICAL

• Summary of European Commission Decisions on authorisations for the placing on the market for the use and/or for use of substances listed in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH (chromium trioxide)

FINANCE

• ESMA consults on firms’ order execution policies under MiFID II

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Summary Record on meeting on the draft implementing regulation on output indicators of 13 June 2024
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - BSE risk posed by ruminant collagen and gelatine derived from bones
• EFSA - External Scientific Report - Modelling wild boar abundance at high resolution
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Assessment of the feed additive consisting of endo‐1,4‐beta‐xylanase (produced with Trichoderma reesei MUCL 49755) and endo‐1,3(4)‐beta‐glucanase (produced with T. reesei MUCL 49754) (AveMix® XG 10) for weaned piglets for the renewal of its authorisation and for its extension of use to suckling piglets (AVEVE BV)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Assessment of the feed additive consisting of endo‐1,4‐beta‐xylanase (produced with Trichoderma reesei MUCL 49755), endo‐1,3(4)‐beta‐glucanase (produced with T. reesei MUCL 49754) and polygalacturonase (produced with Aspergillus fijiensis CBS 589.94) (AveMix® 02 CS) for weaned piglets for the renewal of its authorisation and for its extension of use to suckling piglets (AVEVE BV)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Update of the scientific opinion on tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its derivatives in food
• EFSA - Scientific Report - Update of the Xylella spp. host plant database – Systematic literature search up to 31 December 2023
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety evaluation of the food enzyme asparaginase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain ASP
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Assessment of the feed additive consisting of l‐tyrosine for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (BCF Life Sciences)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of sodium ferrocyanide and potassium ferrocyanide for all animal species (Eusalt a.i.s.b.l.)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I‐1079 for dogs and all other Canidae (Danstar Ferment AG)

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Main results of the Agriculture & Fisheries Council, 15 July 2024
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Expert Group on Organic Production - 26 June 2024
• Minutes & Presentations - Meeting of the Standing Forestry Committee - 03 June 2024

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 23 July 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Global) - 17 July 2024
• EU mobilises aid to combat wildfires in North Macedonia and Bulgaria - Midday Express
• Environmental tax revenue shows slight decline in 2022

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Sweden officially joins the European Public Prosecutor's Office - Midday Express
• VP Schinas visits Libya to take part in the Trans-Mediterranean Forum on Migration - Midday Express
• Answer given by Mr Hahn to a MEP written question - Cigarette smuggling

EURO, ECB & ECONOMY

• Main results of the Eurogroup meeting, 15 July 2024
  - Eurogroup statement on the fiscal stance for the euro area in 2025
  - Remarks by Paschal Donohoe
• Recovery fund: Council greenlights Germany’s amended plan that includes a RepowerEU chapter
• Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of the Netherlands' first payment request for €1.3 billion under the Recovery and Resilience Facility
• Extra-EU exports supported 14.5% of EU jobs in 2022

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• “A strong Parliament in a strong Europe”- Speech by EP President Roberta Metsola
• Roberta Metsola re-elected as President of the European Parliament
• The European Parliament begins its tenth term

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main results of the 15th Meeting of the EU-Jordan Association Council, 15 July 2024
  - Joint press statement - EU and Jordan confirm ever stronger partnership
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measures in support of the Beninese Armed Forces - see Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1980
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts first-ever assistance measure in support of the Albanian Armed Forces - Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1979

EU SANCTIONS VS. IRAN

• Iran: Council prolongs EU restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and for armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region - see Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1971 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1970
• Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran
• Iran: Statement by the HR/VP on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures

OTHER EU SANCTIONS

• Extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as violent activists, blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza: five individuals and three entities sanctioned under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime - see Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1960 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1967
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1964 of 15 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2018/1544 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
• Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1965 of 15 July 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1542 concerning restrictive measures against the proliferation and use of chemical weapons
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1969 of 15 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/1277 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Lebanon
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1968 of 15 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2022/2319 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Haiti