Europe Daily News, 19 December 2024

COMPETITION

• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11805 - Unicredit / CNP Unicredit Vita)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11834 - GTCR / Insight Partners / Tricentis)
• Commission clears acquisition of Apollo by Oaktree (M.11779) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Schwarzmüller Group by Krone Group (M.11657) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Regensburg Logistics Asset by SEGRO and PSPIB (M.11765) - Midday Express
• Denmark - The Competition Council approves two buyers of OK petrol stations
• France - The Autorité imposes fines of €611 million on 10 manufacturers and 2 distributors of household appliances for vertical price fixing
• Germany - The Bundeskartellamt’s activities in 2024
• Italy - Antitrust: thanks to the AGCM's action, more autonomy and transparency for Italian accommodation facilities in their relations with Booking
• Lithuania -  Monitoring the electric vehicle charging sector: Comments on the draft conclusions are invited
• Lithuania - The Competition Council has authorised the Austrian company MS Galleon to acquire a 10% stake in the Polish company Corab and to take sole control of it.

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.107594
• Commission approves €350 million German State aid to support Concrete Chemicals in production of synthetic aviation fuels (SA.106395)
• Commission approves €1.3 billion Italian State aid measure to support Silicon Box in setting up a new semiconductor advanced packaging facility (SA.113264)
• Commission approves €3 billion German-Dutch State aid scheme to support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (SA.108511 and SA.110056)
• Hungarian Presidency report on certain proposals regarding the future of EU State aid rules

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Judgment of the Court of 19 December 2024 in Joined Cases C-717/22 and C-372/23: ‘Sistem Lux’ OOD (C-717/22), VU (C-372/23) Vs. Teritorialna direktsia Mitnitsa Burgas, in the presence of : Rayonna prokuratura - Haskovo, Teritorialno otdelenie - Svilengrad (C-717/22), Okrazhna prokuratura - Haskovo (C-372/23)
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Customs Union - Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 - Customs Code of the Union - Article 15 - Communication of information to the customs authorities - Breach of customs legislation - Article 42 - Effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties - Framework Decision 2005/212/JHA - Confiscation of goods, confiscation of crime-relatedproceeds, instrumentalities and property - Article 2(1) - Confiscation - National rules providing for the imposition of a fine of between 100% and 200% of the customs value of the goods and the confiscation of the goods irrespective of the owner’
• Judgment of the Court of 19 December 2024 in Case C-591/23, ZCC Europe GmbH Vs. Hauptzollamt Düsseldorf,
  Re: Preliminary reference - Customs Union - Common Customs Tariff - Combined Nomenclature - Tariff classification - Headings 8113 and 8209 - Hard metal rods consisting of cermets - Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/910 - Validity - Classification criteria
• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions - 14 January 2025
• Minutes of the 40th meeting of the Customs Expert Group - Section ‘Special Procedures other than Transit’ (CEG/SPE/40) - 15 & 16 October 2024
  
• Notice of initiation of a partial interim review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN Codes ex 6911 10 00 , ex 6912 00 21 , ex 6912 00 23 , ex 6912 00 25 and ex 6912 00 29)
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Resins originating in the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (CN code 3903 30 00)
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of candles, tapers and the like originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN code 3406 00 00)
• Notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of valine originating in the People’s Republic of China (CN code 2922 49 85)
• Notice of initiation of a safeguard investigation concerning imports of manganese and silicon-based alloying elements (2804 69 - 7202 11 , 7202 19 - 7202 21 , 7202 29 - 7202 30 - 7202 99 30 - ex 7202 99 80, ex 2850 00 60)
  
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3201 of 18 December 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1268 extending the definitive countervailing duties imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/433 on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products originating in Indonesia to imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products consigned from Taiwan, Türkiye and Vietnam, whether declared as originating in Taiwan, Türkiye and Vietnam or not
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/3200 of 5 December 2024 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee set up by the Agreement on the European Economic Area as regards the amendment of that Agreement by replacing Protocol 4 thereto on rules of origin
• Council Regulation (EU) 2024/3213 of 16 December 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2021/2283 opening and providing for the management of autonomous tariff quotas of the Union for certain agricultural and industrial products
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3163 of 18 December 2024 amending the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 as regards the inclusion of certain goods of plant origin in the list of rest-of-the-world commodities
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3164 of 18 December 2024 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 992/95 as regards Union tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Norway
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3165 of 18 December 2024 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 499/96 as regards Union tariff quotas for certain fish and fishery products originating in Iceland
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3145 of 18 December 2024 amending Annexes I, IX, X and XV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404 as regards the lists of third countries or territories or zones thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of consignments of certain products of animal origin, and correcting Annex XXI thereto as regards the entries for the United States
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3153 of 18 December 2024 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 on the temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures governing the entry into the Union of certain goods from certain third countries implementing Regulations (EU) 2017/625 and (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• Decision of the EU-Türkiye Association Council amending nDecision No 1/98 of the EC-Turkey Association Council on the trade regime for agricultural products, by replacing Protocol 3 thereto concerning the definition of the concept of ‘originating products’ and methods of administrative cooperation
• The European Parliament approves accession of Tonga, Niue and Tuvalu to EU/Pacific States Interim Economic Partnership Agreement
• WTO - Panel established to review EU duties on imports of fatty acid from Indonesia - DS622
• The wondrous gift of open trade is given - Flexible economies and free markets have kept globalisation going this year - Financial Times
• Europe’s demand for Chinese tech transfers beats tariffs - Linking subsidies to intellectual - property is the sort of strategic inclusion that fosters mutual benefits - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Strategic Dialogue on the Future of the European Automotive Industry to start in January
• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Industry) - 08 January 2025

CHEMICAL

• Explanatory guide on the restriction of PFHxA, its salts and related substances - Created by GROW.F.1 - Last update: 19 December 2024
• CSR - REACH Authorisation decisions - PD - Lynred - CT - Circuit Foil Lux - TEL - Trafigura. TEL - Warter Fuels - Created by GROW.F.1 - Last update: 18 December 2024

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 07 January 2025
• Commission and EIB clear an additional €2.7 billion from emissions trading revenues for cleaner energy systems via the Modernisation Fund

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Thirteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents (TEIA COP 13) (Geneva, Switzerland, 27-29 November 2024) -Statements by the EU and its Member States & Information from the Presidency and the Commission
• Council gives final green light to package of measures to assist member states affected by natural disasters
• EU should force customers to buy less polluting products, companies say - Major fossil fuel and industrial groups push for mandatory requirements in letter to European climate commissioner - Financial Times

DEFORESTATION

• EU deforestation law: Council formally adopts its one-year postponement
• EU deforestation law to be delayed as new threat emerges from EU-Mercosur trade deal - See GreenPeace Statement

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission adopts ban on bisphenol A in food contact materials - Midday Express
• SCCS - Addendum to the Scientific Opinion on Hexyl Salicylate SCCS/1658/23 - Corrigendum adopted on 18/12/24

EFSA

• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 30148 for all animal species (Genus Breeding Ltd.)
  
• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 41028 for all animal species (Genus Breeding Ltd.)
• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the leaves of Salvia officinalis L. (sage oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl)
• Assessment of the feed additive consisting of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum NCIMB 40027 for all animal species for the renewal of its authorisation (Volac International ltd)

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/3157 of 17 December 2024 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1067 on the harmonised use of radio spectrum in the 5945–6425 MHz frequency band for the implementation of wireless access systems including radio local area networks (WAS/RLANs)
• Commission seeks feedback on the measures Apple should take to ensure interoperability under the Digital Markets Act - Midday Express
• US Homeland Security chief attacks EU effort to police artificial intelligence - Alejandro Mayorkas warns tensions between US and Europe have grown over differences in regulating top AI companies - Financial Times

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Judgment of the Court of 19 December 2024 in Case C-65/23, MK Vs. K GmbH
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data - Regulation (EU) 2016/679 - Article 88(1) and (2) - Processing of data in the context of employment relationships - Personal data of employees - More specific rules laid down by a Member State under that Article 88 - Obligation to comply with Article 5, Article 6(1) and Article 9(1) and (2) of that regulation - Processing on the basis of a collective agreement - Margin of discretion of the parties to the collective agreement as to the necessity of the processing of personal data provided for therein - Scope of judicial review’
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/3143 of 18 December 2024 establishing the circumstances, formats and procedures for notifications pursuant to Article 61(5) of Regulation (EU) 2019/881 of the European Parliament and of the Council on ENISA (the EU Agency for Cybersecurity) and on information and communications technology cybersecurity certification

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Commission receives Cyprus' fourth payment request of €120.3 million under the Recovery and Resilience Facility - Midday Express
• Commission report shows real income for citizens increased and that non-EU nationals helped the EU labour market stay strong in 2023 - Midday Express
• Remarks by EVPs Séjourné and Mînzatu and Commissioner Dombrovskis at the press conference on the second part of the European Semester Autumn Package 2025
• ECB - Euro area monthly balance of payments: October 2024
• The ECB wage tracker: your guide to euro area wage developments
• Speech by Philip R. Lane: The euro area outlook and monetary policy
• ECB - Towards a European system for natural catastrophe risk management
• The geography of capital allocation in the euro area - ECB Working Paper Series No.3007
• ECB - Digital payments continue to rise, albeit at a slower pace; cash remains a key payment method - see the Study

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• European Council: press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival
• Human rights breaches in Crimea, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan - See the EP Statement
• Japan: 5th meeting of the Joint Committee Strategic Partnership Agreement takes place in Brussels
• Albania: press statement by HR/VP Kaja Kallas following the Signing of the Security and Defence Partners
• Norway is assessing its EU options as a second Trump term looms - Increased geopolitical tensions could yet see Oslo rethink its attitude towards Brussels - Financial Times

EU-WESTERN BALKANS

• Main results of the EU-Western Balkans summit, 18 December 2024
  - Remarks by President António Costa, EP President, Roberta Metsola, HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Statement by President von der Leyen - see the Brussels Declaration

RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE

• Ukraine: Speech by HR/VP Kaja Kallas at the EP plenary on Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression
• Remarks by President António Costa at the joint doorstep with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
• Stop pushing Zelenskyy into peace talks, warns EU’s top diplomat - Kaja Kallas says western capitals need to make good on promises of security guarantees to Ukraine - Financial Times