Europe Daily News, 06 November 2024

COMPETITION

• The banks Crédit agricole and Credit Suisse participated in a cartel in the sector for suprasovereign bonds, sovereign bonds and public agency bonds denominated in US dollars (‘SSA Bonds’) (See CPR Nº 186/2024 - Judgments of the General Court in Cases T-386/21, T-406/21, Crédit agricole and Crédit agricole Corporate and Investment Bank Vs. Commission)
• Commission clears acquisition of Homrich Berg Wealth Management, LLC (‘HB') by TPG Inc. and New Mountain Capital, LLC (‘New Mountain'), all of the US. (M.11761) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of sole control of Comau S.p.A (‘Comau') of Italy by One Equity Partners Capital Advisors L.P. (‘OEP') of the US. (M.11696) - Midday Express
• Commission opens antitrust investigation into possible anticompetitive practices by Corning over cover glass for electronic devices - see Case AT.40728
• Speech by Christine Lagarde: "Competition policy in a changing world" at an event to mark the 15th anniversary of the Autorité de la concurrence
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Alleged abuse of a dominant position on the electronic payments market
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt has imposed a fine of 2.79 million euros on Strabag AG, Cologne, for collusive behaviour in a tender procedure (bid rigging)
• UK - The CMA is investigating the anticipated acquisition by Outbrain Inc. of Teads S.A.
• A fork in the road for EU competition policy - In her instructions to the incoming EU competition commissioner, Ursula von der Leyen equivocates on the issue of national champions - See Bruegel Analysis

STATE AID

• State aid: the General Court dismisses an action brought by Wizz Air in respect of aid granted by Romania to national airline TAROM in order to provide compensation for the damage suffered owing to the COVID-19 pandemic n(See CPR Nº 187/2024 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-827/22, Wizz Air Hungary Vs. Commission (TAROM II; Covid-19))
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.115578
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager to a MEP written question - Assessment of the SATA Group restructuring process
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager to a MEP written question - Funding in connection with the European Chips Act

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: 16th Meeting of the Canada-EU Biotech Market Access - 06 November 2024
• Agenda for: 2nd Meeting of the informal Expert Group on the CBAM - 13 November 2024
  
• Minutes of: 8th Meeting of the European Union - Ukraine Sanitary & Phytosanitary (SPS) Sub-Committee - 29 November 2023
• Minutes of: 4th Working Group Meeting on Intellectual Property Rights, including Geographical Indications, between the EU and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam - 10 & 11 July 2024
• Overview of Free Trade agreement and Other Trade Negotiations as updated on 31 October 2024
• Overview of Economic Partnership Agreements as updated on 31 October 2024
• Decision No.1/2024 of the Partnership Council established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part of 5 November 2024 modifying Annex 3 to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Dombrovskis to a MEP written question - Steel production and Europe’s lack of autonomy
• CBAM - Information for non-EU producers of "aluminium"; "hydrogen"; "electricity"; "fertilisers" and of "iron and steel" as of 31 October 2024
• The EU's drive on China: What EV tariffs mean for Europe - See CER Insight by Anton Spisak - 31 October 2024
• Brussels’ global infrastructure plan isn’t challenging Beijing — it’s relying on it - EU-funded projects abroad are being built by Chinese companies - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Public Procurement) - 15 November 2024
• Building materials: Council adopts law for clean and smart construction products
• 27 business associations call for simpler implementation of due diligence directive - see the Joint Statement

FINANCE

• Agenda for: Att. & Exp. Financial Services & Banking Union (Digital Euro) - 18 November 2024
• Solvency II and IRRD: Council signs off new rules for the insurance sector

ENERGY

• Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question - Definition of fossil fuel subsidy
• ACER’s latest REMIT Quarterly is out
• ENTSO-E publishes the Interim (Factual) Report on the Grid incident in South-East Europe of last June

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Biodiversity) - 11 November 2024
• Council conclusions on international Climate Finance in view of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29), in Baku on 11-22 November 2024 - Replacement of new paragraph 17
• Council publishes 2023 international climate finance figures
• Urban wastewater: Council adopts new rules for more efficient treatment
• EU adopts rules to better measure the environment’s contribution to the economy
• Minutes - Meeting of the Mission Board for the EU Mission “A Soil Deal for Europe” - 18 July 2024
• Public consultation - Ship recycling – European list of ship recycling facilities (14th edition) - Implementing decision - Feedback period: 06 November 2024 - 04 December 2024
• Europe’s chocolate groups lead opposition to EU deforestation law delay - Nestlé, Ferrero and more than 50 other companies say the uncertainty is putting investment at risk - Financial Times

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• EMA - Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 28-31 October 2024
• Several EU organisations call for a review of Tobacco Products Directive - See the Statement

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Main Results of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council - 05 November 2024
• Statistics: Council adopts revised regulation and approves conclusions on European statistics
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the "European Economic Days" in Uzbekistan
• Speech by Isabel Schnabel: "The ECB’s monetary policy: towards price stability"

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• The EP Committee on Foreign Affairs questioned Dubravka Šuica, Croatian candidate for the Mediterranean portfolio
• Michael McGrath, Irish candidate for the Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law portfolio, was questioned by three parliamentary committees
• The EP ENVI Committee questioned Jessika Roswall, candidate for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy portfolio
• The EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice & Home Affairs questioned Magnus Brunner, Austrian candidate for the Internal Affairs and Migration portfolio
• The EP Industry, Research and Energy Committee questioned Ekaterina Zaharieva, Bulgarian candidate for the Startups, Research and Innovation portfolio
• The EP Industry, Research and Energy and Employment and Social Affairs committees questioned Dan Jørgensen, Danish candidate for the Energy and Housing portfolio

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Enlargement & Countries Negotiating Accession to the European Union - 08 November 2024
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts an assistance measure in support of the navy of the Republic of the Congo - Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2840
• European Peace Facility: Council adopts an assistance measure in support of the Egyptian Armed Forces - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2843
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2846 of 5 November 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2021/509 establishing a European Peace Facility
• Time for a new deal between the EU and NATO - see EPC Commentary
• Statement by President von der Leyen on the results of the US presidential election
• European leaders vow to work with Trump despite fears - Nato and EU heads emphasise strategic links with US while officials privately voice anguish at Republican’s victory - Financial Times

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Judgment of the General Court of 06 November 2024 in Case T‑520/22, Bogoljub Karić, Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine - Freezing of funds - Restrictions on entry into the territories of the Member States - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources or to restriction on admission to the territories of the Member States - Inclusion and maintenance of the applicant’s name on the list - Obligation to state reasons - Principle of personal liability - Error of assessment - Proportionality
• Deployment of DPRK troops to Russia: Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and the High Representative of the European Union