Europe Daily News, 14 January 2025

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11787 - ARES / GCP)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11844 - EFMS / Leigh / Calisen Midco I)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11846 - General Atlantic / PSG / Hostaway)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11842 - Eichler Consulting / Maximilian Aicher/ Evelyne Maria Aicher / Wolfgang Reitzle / Telchar Investments / RMH Production)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11810 - Adrill / ADH / Deep Well Services)
• Atlas seeks EU approvals for Rehau Automotive deal - See Case FS.100161
• Commission clears acquisition of IDS by EPCG (M.11625) - Midday Express
• France - The Authority is reforming its procedure for dealing with business secrecy during the investigation of cases, in accordance with the existing legislation
• Italy - AGCM: Meta's commitments in SIAE probe open for comments in Italy
  
• Spain - The CNMC will analyse the Bondalti Chemicals/Ercros merger in its second phase
• UK - The CMA board rules of procedure set out the board's powers and functions
• UK - CMA Research & analysis - Wider benefits of competition policy and enforcement
• UK - The CMA to probe Google in first act under new digital markets regime - Financial Times 

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee (Deputy Members) - 16 January 2025
• Minutes of the 34th meeting of the Prohibitions & Restrictions Expert Group - 13 & 14 November 2024
• Minutes of the 33rd meeting of the Prohibitions & Restrictions Expert Group - 25 & 26 September 2024
• Notice of the impending expiry of certain anti-dumping measures (Certain polyvinyl alcohols; The People’s Republic of China; Anti-dumping duty; Regulation (EU) 2020/1336; 30.9.2025)
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/74 of 13 January 2025 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of lysine originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/81 of 13 January 2025 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel plated or coated with tin originating in the People’s Republic of China
• Council Decision (EU) 2025/9 of 12 December 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee established by the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union, regarding the establishment of the rules of procedure of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee and the working procedures for arbitration
• Decision No 1/2024 of the EU-Ukraine Association Council of 1 October 2024 on the granting of reciprocal market access for supplies for central government authorities in accordance with Annex XXI-A to Chapter 8 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part
• Decision No 2/2024 of the EU-Ukraine Association Council of 1 October 2024 on the granting of reciprocal market access for supplies for state, regional and local authorities and bodies governed by public law in accordance with Annex XXI-A to Chapter 8 of the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part
• Commission to assess next steps for tackling discrimination in China's public procurement market for medical devices - See the IPI Report & Staff Working Document
• 2025-2027 Action Plan for CETA SME Contact Points as of 19 December 2024
• Joint Statement by EVP Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič (AI chip exports)
• WTO confirms validity of EU climate-based actions in renewable energy dispute brought by Indonesia
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - Draft EU-Mercosur FTA

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Safety of Toys) - 21 January 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (Measuring Instruments) - 24 January 2025
• Brussels too slow to tackle trade abuse by member states, say industry bodies - Financial Times

FINANCE

• ESMA - EU funds continue to reduce costs – at low and varying pace

TAXATION

• Spain proposes 100% tax on property purchases for non-EU buyers - Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveils measures to tackle housing crisis - Financial Times

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Public consultation - Cooperation for the enforcement of EU rules on unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 13 January 2025 - 10 March 2025
• Public consultation -Targeted amendment to the CMO and other CAP Regulations strengthening farmers position in the food supply chain - Proposal for a regulation - Feedback period: 13 January 2025 - 10 March 2025
• Working Documents - Meeting of the Commission Expert Group for Agricultural Markets - subgroup Arable Crops and Olive Oil - 19 December 2024
• Minutes of the Commission Expert Group for Agricultural Markets, 4th Meeting of the High-Level Group on Wine - 16 December 2024

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE 

• Council Decision (EU) 2025/9 of 12 December 2024 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee established by the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Co-operative Republic of Guyana on forest law enforcement, governance and trade in timber products to the European Union, regarding the establishment of the rules of procedure of the Joint Monitoring and Review Committee and the working procedures for arbitration
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a written question - Review of the EU regulation on seal products

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• European Aviation Environmental Report 2025 provides key recommendations for a more sustainable future in aviation - Midday Express
• Ryanair calls for alcohol limit at EU airports - Airline demands passengers be limited to two alcoholic drinks following lawsuit against customer who caused mid-flight disruption - Financial Times

DIGITAL, DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Answer given by Mr Brunner to a written question - Further work on ‘chat control’ (CSAM)
• EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google and Meta - Tech groups have urged Donald Trump to intervene against overzealous European regulation - Financial Times

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Speech by Philip R. Lane: "The euro area outlook and monetary policy"
• Reversal of fortunes: Europe’s thriving south and stagnant north - With Germany’s economy stalling, tentative growth in Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain is some good news for the Eurozone. Will it last? - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council - 02 February 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad: Council extends restrictive measures by one year - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/85
• PESCO: Switzerland will be invited to participate in the ‘Military Mobility’ project - See Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/75
• EU provides €40 million in humanitarian aid in Ethiopia - Midday Express

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• EU announces €148 million humanitarian aid package for Ukraine
• Statement by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s destabilising activities
• Statement by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Belarus and the involvement of Belarus in the Russian aggression against Ukraine
• EU Statement – UN Security Council Arria-formula meeting: Violations of international humanitarian law against Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees
• EU shipyards are fixing Russia’s Arctic LNG tankers - Repairs and dry-docking enable Moscow to maintain market access for gas plant through the winter - Financial Times
• US and EU companies paid $3.5bn in Russian tax on profits in 2023 - Figures come despite exodus of multinationals following Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine - Financial Times