Europe Daily News, 07 March 2024

STATE AID

• Judgment of the Court of 07 March 2024 in Case C-558/22, Autorità di Regolazione per Energia Reti e Ambiente (ARERA) Vs. Fallimento Esperia SpA, Gestore dei Servizi Energetici SpA - GSE
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - National support scheme providing for the grant of tradable green certificates to domestic producers of electricity from renewable sources - Import of electricity produced from renewable sources in another Member State - Obligation to purchase green certificates - Penalty - Exemption - Directive 2001/77/EC - Directive 2009/28/EC - Support scheme - Guarantees of origin - Free movement of goods - Articles 18, 28, 30, 34 and 110 TFEU - State aid - Articles 107 and 108 TFEU - State resources - Selective advantage
  
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.111319; SA.110639 & SA.109932
• EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 135/23/COL of 27 September 2023 concerning alleged aid to the Remiks Group in relation to waste handling in Tromsø (Norway)
• Commission approves €3 billion Romanian State aid scheme to support onshore wind and solar photovoltaic installations to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.108510)- IP/24/1329
• Commission approves €61.3 million Bulgarian State aid scheme to support farmers, producers of grain and oil crops, in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine (SA.112832) - Midday Express
• Commission seeks feedback on its plan to adopt new rules to simplify procedures for State aid to green transport - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Trade Policy Committee (Full Members) - 20 March 2024
• Agenda for: 123rd meeting of the Customs Code Committee - General Customs Legislation Section - 21 March 2024
• Judgment of the Court of7 March 2024 in Case C‑725/22 P, AO Nevinnomysskiy Azot, AO Novomoskovskaya Aktsionernaya Kompania NAK ‘Azot’, Vs. European Commission, Fertilizers Europe
  Re: Appeal - Dumping - Imports of mixtures of urea and ammonium nitrate originating in Russia - Definitive anti-dumping duty – Initiation of an investigation - Sufficient evidence
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/265 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ceramic tiles originating in India and Türkiye
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/793 of 6 March 2024 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2180 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/607 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of citric acid originating in the People’s Republic of China as extended to imports of citric acid consigned from Malaysia, whether declared as originating in Malaysia or not, following a new exporter review pursuant to Article 11(4) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• First go-ahead to renewing trade support for Ukraine and Moldova - see the EP Statement
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Dependence on imports of Turkish rare earth elements (borates)
• Answer given by Ms Urpilainen to a MEP written question - Chinese state-linked companies on board of EU’s Global Gateway
• How trade can save the planet, one tedious spreadsheet at a time - The EU’s carbon tariffs to combat climate change are snarled in complex bureaucracy - Financial Times
• Chinese trade rebounds on electronics and exports to Russia - Foreign minister hails ‘new paradigm’ in relations with Moscow as trade picks up - Financial Times
• CTU has informed EU of free trade agreement labour law breach
• Indonesia still wants to secure EU trade pact this year
• PH-EU free trade talks could start ’very soon’

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Council of the European Union (Competitiveness (Internal Market, Industry, Research & Space)) - 07 March 2024
• AG Collins: only economic operators established in countries party to international agreements on public contracts that bind the EU may rely on provisions of the Public Procurement Directives (See CPR Nº 45/2024 - Opinion of the Advocate General in the Case C-652/22, Kolin Inşaat Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret)

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents) - 13 March 2024

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY

• EPSCO Council on 11 March 2024
  - Information from the Presidency - Information on the events organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union
  - Letter on the need for stronger focus on advancing European legislation to set limit values for substances in the workplace - Information from the Danish delegation

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• The European Commission invites farmers to participate in online survey on simplification - IP/24/1341
• Minutes of the Meeting of the Expert Group Meat Market Observatory - 27 February 2024

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Answer given by MS Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Member State’s intentional concealment of misleading commercial practices and potential risks to health and the environment

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunications & Information Society - 13 March 2024
• Agenda for: Meeting of the RSC Radio Spectrum Committee - Decision n° 676/2002/EC - 20 March 2024
• Designated gatekeepers must now comply with all obligations under the Digital Markets Act - IP/24/1342
• Tinder commits to provide consumers with clear information about personalised prices - IP/24/1334

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Auctioning of personal data for advertising purposes: the Court of Justice clarifies the rules under the GDPR (See CPR Nº 44/2024 - Judgment of the Court of Justice in Case C-604/22, IAB Europe) - See the IAB reaction
• Judgment of the Court of 07 March 2024 in Case C-740/22, Endemol Shine Finland Oy
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Protection of personal data - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - Articles 2, 4, 6, 10 and 86 - Data held by a court relating to a natural person's criminal convictions - Oral communication of such data to a commercial company in connection with a competition organised by that company - Concept of 'processing of personal data' - National rules governing access to such data - Reconciliation between the public's right of access to official documents and the protection of personal data

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Can Europe’s trains compete with low-cost airlines? - Despite huge investments and increasing competition, travelling by rail is still slower and more expensive than flying - Financial Times

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Criminal investigations: Council and EP reach agreement on transfer of proceedings law that will help fight cross-border crime more effectively
• Commission welcomes political provisional agreement on transfer of criminal proceedings between Member States - Midday Express
• Commissioner Johansson in Mauritania to sign the EU - Mauritania migration partnership - Midday Express
• The European Commission launches new migration partnership with Mauritania - IP/24/1335 &  Financial Times
  
• The Polish top judge opposing Donald Tusk’s pro-EU agenda - Julia Przyłębska is a powerful ally in former ruling party’s quest to thwart new prime minister’s reforms - Financial Times

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans: Council agrees its negotiating mandate

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU makes major step forward in the delivery of 2024 humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza - IP/24/1330
• Statement by Commission and the High Representative on International Women's Day - The factsheet
• EU Statement on Women, Peace and Security agenda - OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation N°1072 Vienna, 6 March 2024 
• EU Statement on NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, as delivered at the IAEA Board of Governors, 7 March 2024