Europe Daily News, 29 May 2024

COMPETITION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competition - 05 June 2024
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11530 - CVC / Mobake)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11573 - MorganStanley / Tele Columbus)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11468 - IBM / Certain Software AG Products)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11589 - ABB / Niedax  / Eagle JV Holdco INC)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11521 - DKV Mobility Group / Smart Diesel / Tax Refund)
• Commission clears acquisition of WIGA and WIGA GP by SEFE (M.11520) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Alight's payroll and professional services business by HIG Capital (M.11543) - Midday Express
• The Netherlands - ACM: savings rates lag behind due to too little competition - see the ACM Report

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.110923 & SA.113513
• Commission approves up to €1.4 billion of State aid by seven Member States for the fourth Important Project of Common European Interest in the hydrogen value chain
• Commission approves up to €1 billion of State aid by six Member States for the first Important Project of Common European Interest in the health sector
• Remarks by EVP Vestager on the State aid approval of two Important Projects of Common European Interest “Hy2Move” and “Med4Cure”
• Judgment of the Court of 29 May 2024 in Case T-509/14, Decal España, SA Vs. European Commission
  Re: State aid - Aid granted by the Spanish authorities in favour of certain economic interest groupings (EIGs) and their investors - Tax regime applicable to certain financial leasing agreements for the acquisition of vessels (Spanish tax leasing regime) - Decision declaring the aid in part incompatible with the internal market and ordering its partial recovery - Partial disappearance of the subject-matter of the dispute - No need to adjudicate in part - New aid - Recovery - Contractual clause - No need to adjudicate in part - New aid - Recovery of the aid in part - No need to adjudicate in part - New aid - Recovery of the aid in part - No need to adjudicate in part - No need to adjudicate in part - New aid - Recovery - Contractual clause no need to adjudicate in part - New aid - Recovery - Contractual clauses protecting beneficiaries against recovery of unlawful State aid incompatible with the internal market - Division of powers between the Commission and the national authorities

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 03 June 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 04 June 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on the United Kingdom - 31 May 2024
• Agenda for: Council of the EU - Foreign Affairs/Trade - 30 May 2024
• Notice concerning the date of entry into force of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership regarding free flow of data
• Council Decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union, of the on part, and the Republic of Kenya, Member of the East African Community, of the other part - Adoption
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1392 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under 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 - see the Statement
• Regulation (EU) 2024/1501 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to products from the Republic of Moldova under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Moldova, of the other part
• Decision No 1/2024 of the CARIFORUM–EU Trade and Development Committee established by the Economic Partnership Agreement between the CARIFORUM States, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, of 25 April 2024 concerning the establishment of a Special Committee on Services
• Report of the fifth round of negotiations on a digital trade agreement between the European Union and Singapore - 06 to 08 May 2024
• Report to the TBR committee on Mexican measures related to the exportation of Tequila
• Report to the TBR committee on Saudi Arabia’s measures on ceramic tiles
• CBAM and developing countries/LDCs - see the FactSheet
• Answer given by Vice-President Jourová to a MEP written question - Supply Chain Act and Indian cane sugar
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - Russian oil tankers circumventing sanctions via the Netherlands
• Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question - EU response to risks posed by Russian shadow fleet in Union waters

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• List of harmonisation legislation subject to Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 - Created by Grow.D.3 - Updated on 24 May 2024
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Protecting children from unsafe toys and strengthening the internal market – revision of the Toy Safety Directive
• 608.6 million from Horizon Europe to train doctoral candidates under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• Summary of European Commission Decisions on authorisations for the placing on the market for the use and/or for use of substances listed in Annex XIV to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the REACH
• Chemicals - Pyrotechnic articles - Pyrotechnic Notified Bodies - Clarification & Resolution Document - Created by Grow.F.2 - Updated on 28 May 2024
• Safe and Sustainable by Design chemicals and materials - Methodological Guidance 

FINANCE

• ESMA reminds on rules for sharing information during pre-close calls

ENERGY

• Commissioner Simson to discuss electricity grids, Russian fossil fuel imports and European Green Deal with EU Energy Ministers - Midday Express
• Natural gas demand drops by 7.4% to 12.72 TJ in 2023 - After a 13.3% yearly decrease in 2022, demand fell by another 7.4% in 2023, totaling 12.72 million terajoules in 2023 - Eurostat

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Europeans continue to feel directly affected by environmental issues and policy

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission establishes AI Office to strengthen EU leadership in safe and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence - IP/24/2982
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Protection of children online
• Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question - Tackling internet addiction

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Directive (EU) 2024/1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, and amending Directives 2006/54/EC and 2010/41/EU
• Council Directive (EU) 2024/1499 of 7 May 2024 on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, and amending Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC
• The General Court maintains Poland's obligation to pay the daily penalty imposed in the case concerning the Turów mine (see CPR Nº 87/2024 - Judgments of the General Court in Cases T-200/22, T-314/22, Poland Vs. Commission)
• Commission decides to close the Article 7(1) TEU procedure for Poland - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• The General Court of the European Union finds that the calculation of the 2022 ex-ante contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF) is unlawful (see CPR Nº 88/2024 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-395/22, Hypo Vorarlberg Bank Vs. SRB)
• ECB - Monetary developments in the euro area: April 2024

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) - 28 May 2024
  - EU security and defence: Council sets out t five main priorities
• Brussels VIII Conference renews international support for Syria and the region raising more than €7.5 billion
• Joint statement of the parties to the European Economic Area Agreement on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of its entry into force
• Statement by the High Representative with the European Commission on the final adoption of the law on transparency of foreign influence in Georgia
• Schuman Forum for Security and Defence: Keynote speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the opening session
• Schuman Forum for Security and Defence: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell upon arrival

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Judgment of the Court of 29 May 2024 in Case T-302/22, Alexander Semenovich Vinokurov Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures taken in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies to whom the freezing of funds and economic resources applies - Inclusion and maintenance of the applicant's name on the list - Concept of ‘influential businessman’ - Article 2, (1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Plea of illegality - Proportionality - Obligation to state reasons - Right to effective judicial protection - Error of assessment - Right to respect for private life - Right to property - Freedom to conduct a business’
• Judgment of the Court of 29 May 2024 in Case T‑363/22, Farkhad Teimurovich Akhmedov, Vs. Council of the European Union
  Re: CFSP - Restrictive measures adopted in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine - Freezing of funds - List of persons, entities and bodies subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources - Inclusion and maintenance of the applicant’s name on the list - Concept of ‘leading businessperson’ - Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Article 3(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 - Error of assessment
• Russia sanctions are ineffective, says Dubai trade hub chief - Measures imposed on Moscow do not halt business but simply redirect it, DMCC chair says - Financial Times