Europe Daily News, 18 December 2024

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11457 - HPE / Juniper)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11488 - Nexans / Gruppo LTC)
• Commission clears acquisition of Asia Pulp & Paper Group by Mr. Jackson Wijaya Limantara (M.11711) - Midday Express
• Germany - Bundeskartellamt currently sees no scope for joint television marketing by RTL and RTL2
• Poland - UOKiK imposed a fine of almost PLN 1.8 million on eleven companies from the geodetic and cartographic industry
• UK - Start of CMA Merger Investigation: Completed acquisition by Topps Tiles Plc of certain assets of Tildist Realisations Limited (formerly CTD Tiles Limited).

STATE AID

• All companies lose their appeal at the EU court on the blocked Madeira Free Zone tax incentives - See Judgments T-702/22, T-704/22, T-705/22, T-710/22 to T-712/22 & T-716/22
  
• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.115637
• Commission approves €41 million Dutch State aid scheme to support rail network interoperability (SA.115848) - Midday Express
• Commission approves Italian compensation of up to €344 million for Poste Italiane's press distribution obligation (SA.108766) - Midday Express
• Commission approves an estimated €9.7 billion Italian State aid scheme to support renewable electricity production to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.115179) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3140 of 17 December 2024 making imports of hardwood plywood originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission initiates review of steel safeguard to protect EU steel industry
• EU and Taiwan hold third Trade and Investment Dialogue
• Deforestation law: Parliament gives companies extra year to comply - See the Outcome of the European Parliament's first reading
• China: Economic indicators and trade with EU - see the EP Briefing
• WTO - General Council Chair welcomes “significant progress” in dispute settlement reform talks

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 laying down harmonised rules for the marketing of construction products and repealing Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
• EU companies top US and China counterparts in R&D investment growth, breaking decade-long trend - see the Scoreboard
• FAQs related to Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 on fertilising products (the ‘Fertilising Products Regulation’)
• Call for evidence: Public procurement directives – evaluation - Report - Feedback period: 13 December 2024 - 07 March 2025
• MEPs approved €700,000 EU aid for 632 dismissed employees of machinery and paper factories in the Flemish province of Limburg - See the EP Resolution

FINANCE

• Better data sharing: Council and Parliament strike deal on financial reporting requirements
• Public consultation: Green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds – templates for voluntary post-issuance disclosures - Delegated regulation - Feedback period: 17 December 2024 - 28 January 2025

TAXATION

• Member States made significant progress in VAT Compliance in 2022, but continued efforts are still needed
• Working Documents & Submission for the Meeting of the Experts Group - Structures of taxation systems - 04 & 05 December 2024

ENERGY

• Winter preparedness - energy efficiency and savings tips - see DG Energy Focus
• ACER monitoring: increase flexibility and grid capacity cost-effectively for EU decarbonisation, competitiveness and security of supply
• Electricity infrastructure development to support a competitive and sustainable energy system - See the ACER  2024 Monitoring Report

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Main results of the Environment Council, 17 December 2024
  - Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution - General approach as approved
  
• European Parliament legislative resolution of 17 December 2024 on the amended proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 2008/971/EC as regards the forest reproductive material of the ‘tested’ category, its labelling and the names of the authorities responsible for the approval and control of the production
• EU emissions trading system (ETS) – update of Registry Regulation following ETS revision/Fit For 55 - Delegated regulation - Feedback period: 13 December 2024 - 10 January 2025
• Parliament paves way for the use of EU funds to finance natural disaster recovery - See the EP Resolution
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Potential threats to EU competitiveness owing to eco-bureaucracy and climate policy unilateralism following the election of Donald Trump

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

ECDC

• Giardiasis - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2020, 2021 & 2022

EFSA

• Guidance for reporting 2024 laboratory data on avian influenza
• Setting of residue definitions and toxicological reference values for ethiprole
• Safety evaluation of the food enzyme β‐fructofuranosidase from the non‐genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CNCM I‐3399
• Revised dietary exposure assessment of the food enzyme triacylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Aspergillus oryzae strain NZYM‐AL
• Generic kinetic and kinetic‐dynamic modelling in human subgroups of the population and animal species to support transparency in food and feed safety: Case studies
• Overall conclusions on the application for approval of Quassia amara L. wood as a basic substance to be used in plant protection as an insecticide and repellent in pome fruit, stone fruit, hop and ornamentals

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• EU introduces Flight Emissions Label for more informed and sustainable travelling
• Better protection for travellers: Council adopts position on the revised package travel directive

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Regulation (EU) 2024/3011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 on the transfer of proceedings in criminal matters
• Joint statement by the European Commission and High Representative Kaja Kallas on "International Migrants Day"
• The European Parliament backed Teresa Anjinho (Portugal) as the European Ombudsman for a five-year mandate, with the support of 344 MEPs - See the EP Resolution
• In order to exclude a company from EU public procurement and grant award procedures, the authorising officer responsible must conduct a specific and individual assessment of the conduct of the operator concerned (See CPR Nº 199/2024 - Judgment of the General Court in Case T-776/22, TP Vs. Commission)

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Concluding report of the High-Level Group on access to data for effective law enforcement
• EDPB opinion on AI models: GDPR principles support responsible AI - see the Opinion 28/2024

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• The second part of the European Semester Autumn Package addresses socio-economic challenges for 2025 - Q&A
• Commission disburses second regular payment of €4.1 billion under the Ukraine Facility - Midday Express
• Commission receives Luxembourg's second payment request under the Recovery and Resilience Facility for €58 million - Midday Express

INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS & FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Main results of the General Affairs Council, 17 December 2024
• Revised Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.2) - 20 December 2024
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary in preparation of the European Council meeting of 19 December 2024
• Special report 28/2024: Enforcing EU law – The Commission has improved its management of infringement cases, but closing them still takes too long

EXTERNAL RELATIONS & ENLARGEMENT

ENLARGMENT

• The Council approved conclusions on EU enlargement
• Main results - Third Accession Conference with Albania, 17 December 2024
• Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova: Council agrees its negotiating position

OTHER RESTRICTIVE MEASURES

• Destabilisation of Moldova: the General Court upholds the restrictive measures taken against Mr Shor and Ms Tauber in respect of their role in organising violent demonstrations (See CPR Nº 200/2024 - Judgments of the General Court in Cases T-489/23, T-493/23, Mironovich Shor Vs. Council)
• National competent authorities for the implementation of EU restrictive measures (sanctions) as of 13 December 2024

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Judgment of the Court of 18 December 2024 in Case T-732/22; Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska Vs. Council of the European Union, supported by European Commission
  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 - Maintenance of the applicant's name on the list - Concept of ‘influential businessman or businesswoman’ - Concept of ‘businessman or businesswoman active in economic sectors which provide a substantial source of income to the Government of the Russian Federation’ - Article 2, Article 2(1)(a) and (g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Plea of illegality - Obligation to state reasons - Right to effective judicial protection and rights of the defence - Error of assessment - Proportionality - Right to property - Right to be heard’
• Judgment of the Court of 18 December 2024 in Case T-270/23, Rosbank PAO, 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 ‘legal persons, entities or bodies operating in economic sectors which provide a substantial source of income to the Government of the Russian Federation‘ - Article 2(1)(g) of Decision 2014/145/CFSP - Article 3(1)(g) of Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 - Plea of illegality - Obligation to state reasons - Error of assessment - Misuse of powers - Proportionality - Right to property - Principle of non-discrimination - Equal treatment’
• Judgment of the Court of 18 December 2024 in Case T-275/23, Tinkoff Bank SA 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 ‘legal persons