COMPETITION
- Judgment of the Court of 13 February 2025 in Case C-393/23, Athenian Brewery SA, Heineken NV Vs. Macedonian Thrace Brewery SA
Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters - Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters – Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 - Special jurisdiction - Article 8(1) - Multiple defendants - Claims ‘so closely connected’ that it is expedient to hear and determine them together - Article 102 TFEU - Concept of an ‘undertaking’ - Parent and subsidiary companies - Infringement committed by the subsidiary - Presumption of dominant influence exercised by the parent company - Joint and several liability - Decision of a national competition authority - Actions for compensation - Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11749 - AMD / ZT)
- Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11862 - PSS / Maccaferri / JV)
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11787 - Ares / GCP)
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11656 - Enstall / Schletter)
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11827 - LDC / Viterra Assets)
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11670 - Marcegaglia / Manni / Isopan)
- Commission clears acquisition of Digital Vault Services by Deutsche Börse and Lindner (M.11858) - Midday Express
- Answer given given by EVP Ribera to a MEP written question - Large-scale mergers in agro-industry – Ensuring fair competition and protection of small farmers
- Austria - Disproportionate cartel fine jeopardises Austria as a business location - Criticism of Supreme Court judgement against REWE - Reliable legal framework essential for investments
- Croatia: Acquisition of direct controlling interest over Sunčani Hvar and Sunčani Hvar Nekretnine by Eagle Hills deemed conditionally compatible
- Croatia: Hunting Association fined for predatory pricing and ordered remedies
- Germany - Bundeskartellamt has concerns about the current form of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency Framework (ATTF)
- Ireland - CCPC clears Coca-Cola / BDS Vending Solutions deal
- Lithuania - A dispute concerning an infringement of competition law is brought to an end before the administrative court
- Spain - The CNMC initiates disciplinary proceedings against Mémor funeral parlour
- Spain - The CNMC initiates infringement proceedings against Hermandad Farmacéutica del Mediterráneo
- UK - The CMA is undertaking a market study into infant formula and follow-on formula in the United Kingdom
- UK - New CMA proposals to drive growth, investment and business confidence - A robust, independent competition regime should both drive growth and investment and uphold consumer interests
STATE AID
- Judgment of the Court of 13 February 2025 in Joined Cases C‑244/23 P to C‑246/23 P, European Commission, Vs. Carpatair SA, Wizz Air Hungary Légiközlekedési Zrt. (Wizz Air Hungary Zrt.), Societatea Națională ‘Aeroportul Internaţional Timişoara – Traian Vuia’ SA (AITTV), interveners and Wizz Air Hungary Légiközlekedési Zrt. (Wizz Air Hungary Zrt.) Vs. Carpatair SA, European Commission, Societatea Națională ‘Aeroportul Internaţional Timişoara – Traian Vuia’ SA (AITTV), intervener andSocietatea Națională ‘Aeroportul Internaţional Timişoara – Traian Vuia’ SA (AITTV), Vs. Carpatair SA, European Commission, Wizz Air Hungary Légiközlekedési Zrt. (Wizz Air Hungary Zrt.)
Re: Appeal - State aid - Aviation sector - Measures implemented by Timişoara International Airport (Romania) in favour of Wizz Air and other airlines using that airport - Decision finding that there is no State aid - Action for annulment - Article 263 TFEU - Admissibility - Condition that the applicant must be directly and individually concerned - Obligation to state reasons - Distortion of the evidence - Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.58880 & SA.57025
- Commission approves €111.7 million Greek State aid measure under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to support Motor Oil Hellas to produce renewable hydrogen (SA.104899) - Midday Express
TRADE & CUSTOMS
- Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 20 February 2025
- Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 21 February 2025
- Agenda for: Meeting of the ACP Working Party - 18 February 2025
- Agenda for: Meeting of the Market Access Advisory Committee - 19 February 2025
- Report of the 21st EU-Ukraine IPR Dialogue - 22 October 2024
- Report of the 20th EU-Ukraine IPR Dialogue - 19 October 2023
- WTO - The 4th review of the trade policies and practices of Madagascar takes place on 12 and 14 February 2025
- Thyssenkrupp warns US tariffs could prompt flood of cheap Chinese steel to Europe - Financial Times
FINANCE
- Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 18 February 2025
- Current financial services legislative proposals - Information from the Presidency - Commission proposes to shorten settlement cycle for EU securities from two days to one - Financial Times
TAXATION
- Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (High Level) - 26 February 2025
- Opinion of Advocate General Campos Sanchez Mendoza of 13 February 2025 in Case C‑605/23, ‘Ati-19’ EOOD Vs. Nachalnik na otdel ‘Operativni deynosti’ – Sofia v Glavna direktsia ‘Fiskalen kontrol’ pri Tsentralno upravlenie na Natsionalna agentsia za prihodite
Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Common system of VAT - Directive 2006/112/EC
- Article 273- Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union - First paragraph of Article 47 - Right to an effective remedy - Administrative measure for sealing of premises - Application for a stay - Judicial review limited to an assessment of the damage which may result from execution of the measure - Opinion of Advocate General Biondi of 13 February 2025 in Case C‑685/23, Corner and Border S. A. Vs. Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
Re : Request for a preliminary ruling - Indirect taxes on the raising of capital - Issue of debentures - Guarantee agreement - Stamp duty - Scope of the concept of relative formality - Concept of other charges on land or other property
ENERGY
- Judgment of the Court of 13 February 2025 in Case C‑121/23 P, Swissgrid AG, Vs. European Commission
Re: Appeal - Internal market for electricity - Guideline on electricity balancing - Regulation (EU) 2017/2195 - Article 1(6) and (7) - Transmission system operators (TSOs) - Participation in European platforms for the exchange of standard products for balancing energy - Article 263 TFEU - Action for annulment - Admissibility - Concept of ‘challengeable act’ - Letter from the European Commission refusing the participation of a TSO operating in Switzerland in European platforms - EU shoots down rumors it will revive divisive gas price cap - Energy firms are concerned about talk of bringing back the politically fraught mechanism - Politico.eu
- EU ‘completely overshooting’ on green rules, Siemens Energy boss warns - Brussels faces backlash over regulations as Donald Trump’s agenda deepens concerns over region’s competitiveness - Financial Times
EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS
- EPSCO Council of 10 March 2025:
- Employment Committee work programme for 2025 - Information from the EMCO chair
- Social Protection Committee work programme for 2025 - Information from the SPC chair
DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY
- Judgment of the Court of13 February 2025 in Case C-612/23, Verbraucherzentrale Berlin eV Vs. Vodafone GmbH
Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Directive 2002/22/EC (Universal Service Directive) - Electronic communications networks and services - Universal service and users' rights - Consumer protection - Contracts concluded between a consumer and an undertaking providing electronic communications services - Making it easier to change supplier - Article 30(5) - Initial commitment period - Concept - Agenda for: Meeting of the 89th meeting of the Radio Spectrum Committee - 19 March 2025
- Commission endorses the integration of the voluntary Code of Practice on Disinformation into the Digital Services Act
- Commission survey shows that most Europeans are in favour of using artificial intelligence in the workplace - Midday Express
DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY
- Judgment of the Court of 13 February 2025 in Case C-383/23, ILVA A/S
Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Protection of personal data - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - Article 83(4) to (6) and (9) - Concept of ‘undertaking’ - Parent company and subsidiary - Infringement of that regulation by a subsidiary - Calculation of the amount of the fine - Taking into account of the overall turnover of the group including that subsidiary
AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE
- AG Spielmann: Arrest Warrants under the TCA with the United Kingdom - changes in parole rules do not, in principle, fall under the concept of "heavier penalty" under the EU Charter (See CPR No.17/2025 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-743/24, Alchaster II)
- AG Ćapeta: The Danish legislation on public housing in transformation areas constitutes direct discrimination based on an ethnic criterion (See CPR No.18/2025 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-417/23, Slagelse Almennyttige Boligselskab Afdeling Schackenborgvænge)
- Consumer credit agreements: in the event of failure to comply with the obligation to provide information, a bank may be deprived of its right to interest (See CPR No.16/2025 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-472/23, Lexitor)
TRANSPORT & MOBILITY
- Judgment of the Court of 13 February 2025 in Case C-684/23, Latvijas Sabiedriskais Autobuss SIA v Iepirkumu uzraudzības birojs Autotransporta direkcija VSIA
Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Transport - Public passenger transport services by rail and by road - Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 - Public passenger transport services by bus - Article 5(2), third subparagraph, point (c) - Award of public service contracts - Award of a contract for the provision of public transport services by bus - Award in the form of a service concession contract - Direct award by a competent local authority to an internal operator - Article 5, (3) - Competitive award procedure - Award of a contract for the provision of public bus transport services by another competent authority - Participation of the internal operator - Conditions’ - Agenda for: Working Party on Land Transport - 18 February 2025
- Commission Notice - Interpretative guidelines on the application of Articles 4 and 6 of Regulation (EU) 2022/1280 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific and temporary measures, in view of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, concerning driver documents issued by Ukraine in accordance with its legislation, following the extension of the period of temporary protection of persons displaced from Ukraine beyond 6 March 2025
- Executive Vice-President Mînzatu hosts a roundtable discussion under the Strategic Dialogue with the European automotive sector
FUTURE OF EUROPE
- Legislative programming: Annual and multiannual programming - Exchange of views
- Communication from the Commission: A simpler and faster Europe: Communication on implementation and simplification
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- First EU-Central Asia summit to take place on 3-4 April 2025
- President Costa to participate in the 8th EU-South Africa summit on 13 March 2025
- The EU knows aid is not only a moral duty but a strategic necessity - As the winds of isolationism whip across the world, nations that value stability and prosperity must step up - Financial Times
- Europe reels after Trump announces US-Russia talks over Ukraine - Germany criticises US for making ‘public concessions to Putin before negotiations have even begun’- Financial Times
- European defence industry’s search for scale - Boosting the bloc’s defences will be among the discussions at Munich’s security conference this week - Financial Times
EU-CANADA RELATIONS
- Statement - Canada-European Union Leaders' Meeting
- Doorstep by President von der Leyen ahead of the meeting with President Costa and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau
