Europe Daily News, 05 November 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11769 - VMAG / NOA)
• Commission clears acquisition of ALNG by Snam and VTTI (M.11568) - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Unjustifiably high prices set by multinationals in Europe
• Finland - Study: Consolidation in the "veterinary sector" has increased prices – FCCA cannot intervene without call-in option
• UK - CMA provisionally finds Vodafone / Three could address competition concerns through network investment and customer protections - Financial Times

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.114260

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• WTO - The Philippines launches safeguard investigation on cement
• WCO - The 21st Meeting of the WCO Counterfeiting and Piracy (CAP) Group holds insightful discussions
• WCO - Exploratory Study on the possible Strategic Review of the Harmonized System: A Step Toward Modernization
• China sues the EU over EV duties - Beijing hits back after Brussels imposed definitive duties of 8 to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicle imports - Politico.eu
• EU shrugs off Trump’s threats to scrap green handouts - Trump may cut Europe out of America’s subsidy splurge, but EU industries aren’t seeing many benefits yet anyway - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• €700,000 from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund will support 632 dismissed workers in Belgium (machinery and paper) - see the Commission Proposal
• European Research Council awards Synergy Grants worth €571 million to 57 research teams tackling major scientific challenges - Midday Express
• Hydrogen: Council calls for swift implementation of EU law and coordinated action for networks, industry and investors

CHEMICAL

• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Presence of dangerous substances in fast fashion clothing from third countries and the safety of European consumers

TAXATION

• Commission welcomes general approach on VAT in the Digital Age
• Report by MEP Herbert Dorfmann on the draft Council directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes
• Report by MEP Aurore Lalucq on the proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the electronic value added tax exemption certificate

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Commission expert group on climate change policy - 06 November 2024
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP to a written question - Deforestation Regulation
• Answer given by EVP Šefčovič to a MEP to a written question - Regarding the digital platform for due diligence statements on deforestation
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Are measures that make flying less accessible justified by a hypothetical benefit for the climate?
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - ‘Book and claim’ mechanism for sustainable aviation fuel in Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 (ReFuelEU Aviation): Part 2/2

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• SCCS - Final Opinion on new coating for Titanium Dioxide (nano form)
• SCCS - Scientific Advice on HC Yellow No. 16 (Colipa No. B123) - Submission II
• SCCS - Final Opinion on Biphenyl-2-ol and Sodium 2-biphenylolate used in cosmetic products
• SCCS - Final Opinion on Inhalation toxicity of the fragrance ingredient Acetylated Vetiver Oil – AVO in sprayable cosmetic products - Submission IV
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Assessment of the feed additive consisting of ammonium propionate for all terrestrial animal species for the renewal of its authorisation 
• EFSA - Scientific opinion on the extension of the authorisation of use of the food additive steviol glycosides (E 960a–d) and the modification of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for steviol
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of tartrazine for its use in baits for freshwater fish (GIFAP)
• EFSA - Generating wildlife density data across Europe in the framework of the European Observatory of Wildlife (EOW)
• EFSA - Scientific Opinion - Commodity risk assessment of Betula pendula and Betula pubescens plants from the UK
• EFSA - Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance fludioxonil

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Agenda for: 18th Meeting of the European eCall Implementation Platform - 29 November 2024
• Minutes of: 15th meeting of the Web Accessibility Directive Expert Group (WADEX) - 07 October 2024
• Artificial intelligence (AI): Council approves conclusions to strengthen EU’s ambitions

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Main results of the Eurogroup - 04 November 2024
  - Remarks by Paschal Donohoe & by Commissioner Gentiloni
  - Macroeconomic dialogue with the social partners on 4 November 2024
  - Competitiveness of the European economy - statement of the Eurogroup in inclusive format
• Mapping the maze: a system-wide analysis of commercial real estate exposures and risks - ECB Macroprudential Bulletin No.25
• A first look at bank loans to real estate funds - ECB Macroprudential Bulletin

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• On Monday evening, the EP TRAN Committee questioned Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Greek candidate for the sustainable transport and tourism portfolio
• The EP Agriculture and Rural Development Committee questioned Christophe Hansen, Luxembourgish candidate for the Agriculture and Food portfolio, on Monday
• The EP Committee on Culture and Education questioned Glenn Micallef, Maltese candidate for the Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport portfolio, on Monday
• On Monday, the EP International Trade and Constitutional Affairs committees questioned Maros Šefčovič, Slovak candidate for Trade and Economic Security/ Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• White paper on the future of European defence - See EPRS Briefing - November 2024
• Mozambique: Statement by the Spokesperson on the EU’s support to the Rwandese army
• Republic of Korea: Press remarks by the High Representative ahead of the EU-Republic of Korea Strategic Dialogue
• Republic of Korea: High Representative/Vice-President Borrell holds first Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Cho in Seoul

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following legislation: Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014; Article 5aa of Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014 - Intellectual property rights
• DPRK/Russia: Joint Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-yul on DPRK-Russia Cooperation
• EU fraud busters probe scheme to relabel banned Russian oil - Politico.eu