Europe Daily News, 24 September 2024

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11689 - ADQCVF / Next / Sotheby’s)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11646 - CVC / Cinven / Partner in Pet Food)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11652 - Ocean Yield / Geogas / Marigold / NYK / FLS JV)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11687 - Alfi RE / Plavi RE / Planet Koer)
• Commission carries out unannounced antitrust inspections in the financial services sector
• Commission conditionally approves the acquisition of parts of PPF Telecom by e&, under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation
  Commission clears acquisition of Orisha by Francisco Partners and TA Associates (M.11667) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of TAG South by ENGIE and Macquarie (M.11720) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Vitamin Well Companies by Cinven (M.11719) - Midday Express
• EQT sees EU clearance decision for Dechra Pharmaceuticals published - see Case M.11186
• UK - The CMA is issuing this preliminary ‘invitation to comment’ to allow interested parties to submit to the CMA any initial views on the impact of the XSYS / MGS merger
• The EU’s competition policy conundrum - Antitrust rules in the bloc need updating for the digital era — but with care - Financial Times 

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP INTA Committee - 30 September 2024
• Agenda for: 100th Electronic Customs Coordination Group (ECCG) held jointly with the Trade Contact Group (TCG) - 03 & 04 October 2024
• Minutes of the 98th Meeting of the Electronic Customs Coordination Group (ECCG) - 06 June 2024
• Minutes of the Customs Business Group Meeting on the Digitalisation of Cultural Goods - 20 & 21 June 2024
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/... of XXX concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 7020 00 80)
• Half a million EU jobs protected by EU trade defence in 2023 - see the 42nd Annual Trade Defence Report & Staff Working Document
• Report from the Commission - Review of the functioning and effectiveness of Regulation (EU) 2017/821 (Conflict Minerals Regulation) pursuant to Article 17 (2) of Regulation (EU) 2017/821
• CBAM Self Assessment Tool as updated on 23 September 2024
• WTO - Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices - Semi-annual report under article 16.4 of the Agreement - 1 January - 30 June 2024 - European Union
  
• WTO - Dispute panel established to review certain tax credits under US Inflation Reduction Act
• WTO - Indonesia launches safeguard investigation on tarpaulins made from plastics and synthetic fibers
• Mission Impossible: Germany’s bid to kill EU duties on Chinese EVs - Germany has one last chance to overturn the tariffs at a vote by member countries. But getting the required blocking majority looks to be out of reach — and would be without precedent - Politico.eu
• Commerce moves to ban imports of Chinese ‘connected’ cars and parts - The proposed regulation is the latest barrier that the United States has imposed on Chinese vehicles - Politico.eu
• EU deforestation ban creates a hazy trade future - Reuters

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Priorities for the new Commission in the Single Market - Information from Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden
• Public consultation - Recognition of professional qualifications – update of training requirements for veterinary surgeons - Delegated directive - Feedback period: 23 September 2024 - 21 October 2024
• Call for evidence: Targeted technical update of EU rules on measuring instruments - Proposal for a directive - Feedback period: 20 September 2024 - 18 October 2024
• EU invests €65 million in quantum chips  - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2492 of 23 September 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 440/2008 as regards the test methods, to adapt them to technical progress

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (High Level) - 26 September 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Direct Taxation) - 09 October 2024
• Agenda for: 111th Standing Committee on Administrative Cooperation (SCAC) - 03 October 2024

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 23 September 2024
• Minutes of the Meeting of the CMO of Agricultural Markets - Animal Products - 19 September 2024
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2508 of 17 July 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/891 as regards the Member States’ notifications concerning producer prices of fruit and vegetables on the internal market
• Commission recognises Sardinia and Sweden as free of African Swine Fever - Midday Express

ENERGY

• Eurobarometer survey shows Europeans are taking action to save energy and embrace clean energy, but want more support to make the transition and keep their bills under control
• Opening remarks by Commissioner Simson at the Sustainability Summit NYC
• G7+: Joint Statement on Ukraine Energy Sector Support

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 25 September 2024
• Agenda of: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Biocidal Products - 25 September 2024
• Guidance Note - Guidance on assessment of the submissions on Comparison of Alternative Microbiological Methods under the EU Directives on Drinking and Bathing Water

DIGITAL, INFORMATION SOCIETY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: 3rd meeting of the Cybersecurity Committee - 02 October 2024
• Agenda for: 87th meeting RSC Radio Spectrum Committee - Decision n° 676/2002/EC - 09 October 2024
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 - Outcome of the European Parliament's first reading and Corrigendum procedure (Strasbourg, 12 March 2024 and Strasbourg, 17 September 2024)
• Online platforms report on measures to protect European election integrity under the Code of Practice on Disinformation - Midday Express
• The NIS 2 Directive: Strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity and resilience - see the Cefic Statement

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission makes first payment of €632 million to Belgium under Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• Commission disburses the first payment of €1.3 billion to the Netherlands under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• Asymmetries in the transmission of monetary policy shocks over the business cycle: a Bayesian Quantile Factor Augmented VAR - ECB Working Paper Series No.2983
• Introductory statement by ECB's Piero Cipollone at the EP ECON Committee: "From dependency to autonomy: the role of a digital euro in the European payment landscape" 
• France asks Brussels for extra delay on spending plans - Paris says it will submit road map on compliance with EU fiscal rules by October 31 - Financial Times 

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2520 of 23 September 2024 concerning the temporary reception by Member States of the European Union of certain Palestinians
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2496 of 23 September 2024 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Lebanese Armed Forces
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2521 of 23 September 2024 on an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility to support the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2503 of 23 September 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1465 on a European Union action in support of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism in Yemen
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2500 of 23 September 2024 in support of combating the illicit trade in and proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Member States of the League of Arab States – Phase III
• China: Statement by the High Representative on the 10th anniversary of the sentencing of Sakharov Prize winner Ilham Tohti
• UNGA: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell after and ahead the informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers
• UNGA: EU discusses joint actions to address conflicts, climate and health threats with world partners - Midday Express
• Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the Association of Small Island States Leaders' Meeting
• South Sudan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the extension of the transition
• Sri Lanka: Statement by the Spokesperson on the Presidential elections

EU SANCTIONS MEASURES

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2518 of 23 September 2024 implementing Article 11 of Regulation (EU) No 377/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guinea-Bissau - see Notice 1 & 2
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2504 of 23 September 2024 amending Decision 2012/285/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Guinea-Bissau
• Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2024/2502 of 23 September 2024 implementing Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2519 of 23 September 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria