Europe Daily News, 15 October 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11654 - Cinven / Idealista)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11763 - KKR / Baupost / Marriott Assets)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11740 - EDF / Vauban Infrastructure Partners / Ontower Austria)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11705 - Tikehau Capital / Bouygues / Serena Industrial Partners / Bellova JV)
• Commission clears acquisition of Epicor by CD&R and CVC (M.11728) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Valenz by Proman (M.11698) - Midday Express
• Commission has published its decision approving the acquisition of SAG Integration by IBM - See Case M.11468
• Commission has published its decision designating "CPS Booking.com" as a “gatekeeper” under the DMA, for its online intermediation service - See Case DMA.100019
• Commission has published its decision not to designate X Ads a gatekeeper under DMA - See Case DMA.100032
• The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) is carrying out an unannounced antitrust inspection connected to a specific retail market in Iceland
• Romania - The Competition Council won the case against Roche Romania which abused its dominant position on the market of certain oncology products
• Romania - Competition Council study: Construction Regulations must be updated to facilitate waste recycling
• UK - The CMA found Lindab’s acquisition of HAS-Vent reduced competition in 2 areas of the UK

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.113145, SA.115082, SA.115133, SA.114922, SA.115431, SA.115327 & SA.115842

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 9th Customs Expert Group - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Sub-Section, TARIC - 19 November 2024
• Agenda for: 65th Customs Expert Group - Tariff & Statistical Nomenclature Section, HS/WCO Coordination Sector - 21st to 23rd October2024
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2661 of 14 October 2024 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of aluminium radiators originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• The EFTA States and Tunisia update Free Trade Agreement with modernised rules of origin
• WTO - DG Okonjo-Iweala at World Food Forum: Trade is vital for ensuring food security

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Activity Report 2019-2024 - EP Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE)
• Retailers: Enforce EU rules on third-country traders and marketplaces - Euro-commerce

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Council (Agriculture and Fisheries) on 21-22 October 2024.
  - Information from Poland on the Results of the meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the Visegrad Group (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia), Bulgaria and Romania (V4+2)
• Minutes of the Quality Policy Committee for agricultural products, wine and spirit drinks - 07 October 2024
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee for the Common Organization of the Agricultural Markets – Arable Crops and Olive Oil  - 27 September 2024
• ‘Really dangerous’: Farmers hate results of von der Leyen’s reform dialogue - Lobby group Copa-Cogeca is hardening its position after backlash from angry members - Politico.eu

ENERGY 

• France calls for tighter monitoring of Russian gas exports to EU - LNG flows have increased despite attempts to sanction Moscow and weaken its economy - Financial Times
• EU ministers nod to support for nuclear energy ahead of UN climate summit - Bloc officials overcome deep divisions on atomic power but finance goal commitment remains unresolved - Financial Times

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (UNECE PRTR) - 21 October 2024
• Main results of Environment Council, 14 October 2024
  - Combating desertification in the EU: Council urges action for a sustainable future - See the Council Conclusions
  - UN climate change conference: EU calls for efforts to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach - See the Council Conclusions
  - UN biodiversity convention: EU reaffirms global pledge to protect a third of the planet by 2030 - See the Council Conclusions
• Commission secures ambitious EU negotiating mandate for triple COPs on climate, biodiversity and desertification
• New Commission tool will help deploy innovative technologies to reduce industrial pollution around Europe - See the INCITE information platform - Midday Express
• EP ENVI Committee "work in progress" as updated on 10 October 2024
• Activity Report 2019-2024 - EP Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI)
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - The Batteries Regulation
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Diminishing water resources in the EU
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Water scarcity is causing serious problems in many parts of Greece
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Plans to build a waste incineration plant with a capacity of 600 000 tonnes/year in Santa Palomba (subdivision of Rome Capital)
• Pollution, over-use and climate change threaten water resilience in Europe - see EEA Statement & Report
• Almost two-thirds of EU water in bad condition, report shows - Pressure rises on agriculture and industry to reduce pollution and cut its share of use from 59% - Financial Times

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Agenda for: Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed
  - Section: "General food law" - 16 October 2024
  - Section "Plant Health" - 18 October 2024
• Minutes of the Standing Committee on veterinary medicinal products - 01 October 2024
• Statement by President von der Leyen at the WHO's Investment Round

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Stakeholder event on ‘AI models’: express your interest to participate - see the EDPB Statement

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Judgment of the Court of 15 October 2024 in Case C-144/23, KUBERA, trgovanje s hrano in pijačo, d.o.o. Vs. Republika Slovenija
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Article 267 TFEU - Scope of the obligation on national courts adjudicating at last instance to refer questions for preliminary rulings - Procedure for leave to appeal for a preliminary ruling before the supreme court of a Member State - Application by the party seeking leave to appeal for a preliminary ruling to refer to the Court a question concerning the interpretation of Union law - National legislation under which leave to appeal for a preliminary ruling is granted where it raises a question of law of importance for ensuring legal certainty, the uniform application of the law or the development of the law - Obligation on the national supreme court to consider, in the context of the procedure for granting leave to appeal for revision, whether there are grounds for a reference for a preliminary ruling - Statement of reasons for the decision rejecting the application for leave to appeal for revision’
  
• The Commission publishes a Eurobarometer survey on Europeans' perception of values and rights - Midday Express
• Donald Tusk rekindles EU migration debate - Polish premier joins anti-immigrant leaders with shock move of suspending asylum rights - Financial Times & Politico.eu

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Ukraine: EP Trade Committee endorses financial support backed by Russian assets
• Statement by EC President Ursula Von der Leyen at the "Berlin Process Summit"
• ECB, ESMA and EC announce next steps for the transition to T+1 governance
• Eurogroup President Donohoe's report to the President of the Euro Summit
• ECB - October 2024 euro area bank lending survey

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main results of Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, (Press remarks by HR/VP Josep Borrell) - 14 October 2024
• Main results of the 21st meeting of the EU - Kazakhstan Cooperation Council, 14 October 2024
• EU announces €21.5 million in humanitarian aid for Asia-Pacific region, new Air Bridge flights
• The first European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council summit to take place in Brussels
• Second meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania at ministerial level

EU/UK RELATIONS

• EU/UK: Joint press release on the meeting between High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy
• EU and British energy groups call for rewrite of post-Brexit trading arrangements - Open letter criticises ‘suboptimal’ mechanism under Trade and Cooperation Agreement amid push for more renewables - Financial Times
• EU countries call on Britain to commit to Brussels-led peacekeeping mission - Foreign ministers urge UK to take part in conflict prevention as London pushes for deeper security co-operation - Financial Times

EU SANCTIONS 

• Chemical Weapons: EU sanctions renewed for an additional year - See Decision (CFSP) 2024/2695
• Republic of Moldova: Council lists further 5 individuals and 1 entity for destabilising actions - See Regulation (EU) 2024/2700 & Decision (CFSP) 2024/2701
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2693 of 14 October 2024 amending Decision 2010/638/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guinea
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2702 of 14 October 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/2287 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Niger