Europe Daily News, O1 August 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11510 - ACS / TK / Yorizon)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11499 - Also / SWS)
• Commission approves acquisition of Juniper by HPE (M.11457)
• Commission clears acquisition of TBKA by TB and Aunde Group (M.11599) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Sinoma by Balder and Folksam (M.11547) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Castlelake by Castlelake Aggregator and Brookfield (M.11608) - Midday Express
• UK - CMA has opened a consultation on the Draft updated mergers guidance documents

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.114766 & SA.110308
• Commission Decision (EU) 2024/2057 of 28 February 2023 on the State aid SA.48556 (2019/C) (ex 2018/N) - Hungary - LIP - Regional investment aid to Samsung SDI

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Minutes of the 259th meeting of the Customs Code Committee, Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Section (Sub-Section CN Codes) - 05 July 2024
• Information concerning the entry into force of the Sustainable Investment Facilitation Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Angola
• Brussels issues UK with list of demands if it wants better relationship - EU claims Britain has failed to implement key Brexit divorce deal - Financial Times
• Is Brexit Britain about to turn into Switzerland? - As the U.K. and the EU enter a new era, their relationship is likely to gradually become more Swiss - Politico.eu

FINANCE

• ESMA delivers opinion on global crypto firms using their non-EU execution venues

ENVIRONMENT & CLMATE CHANGE

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2053 of 30 July 2024 allocating rights to produce hydrofluorocarbons pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2024/573 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases to producers that produced such substances in 2022
• EU prepares for COP29 showdown with China over climate aid - The EU’s draft position for the summit shows the bloc arguing that wealthy emerging economies must pay into a climate action fund - Politico.eu

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2105 of 31 July 2024 refusing to authorise a health claim made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Today, the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the world's first comprehensive regulation on artificial intelligence, enters into force.

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Nine Member States to receive technical support for the preparation of their National Implementation Plans for the Pact on Migration and Asylum - Midday Express
• Statement by President von der Leyen, Vice-President Jourová and Commissioner Dalli on European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Council Decision of 26 July 2024 on the existence of an excessive deficit in France; Hungary; Italy; Belgium; Malta; Slovakia & Poland
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/2130 of 26 July 2024 establishing that no effective action has been taken by Romania in response to the Council Recommendation of 18 June 2021
• Commission adopts financial package to support Lebanon's stability and economy - Midday Express
• Commission and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development launch joint facility mobilising up to €100 million for critical raw materials investments - Midday Express

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Giorgia Meloni sours on Brussels - Italian premier abstained to vote for Ursula von der Leyen and said European Commission peddles ‘fake news’ - Financial Times

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Corrigendum to Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1746 of 24 June 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (OJ L, 2024/1746, 24.6.2024)
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Criteria for new sanctions policies and factoring-in of their economic consequences
• EU and US race to prevent Mideast war after Israeli assassinations - Diplomats hold crisis talks in effort to stop full-blown war in reaction to killing of Hizbollah and Hamas leaders - Financial Times