Europe Daily News, 21 January 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11563 - MSC / Clasquin)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11882 - Stellantis / BBVA / FCA FC)
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11715 - Also / Westcoast UK Ireland France)
• Commission clears acquisition of SH by NX (M.11772) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Barnes Group by Apollo Global Management (M.11789) - Midday Express
• Poland - The UOKiK has initiated antitrust proceedings against Oltens 1 and two of its managers (bathroom equipment products)

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections - SA.116111; SA.110166; SA.109641; SA.110765 & SA.105277

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Market Access Advisory Committee - 22 January 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the 7th EU-CETA Bilateral Dialogue on Raw Materials - 04 March 2025
• Agenda for: 125th Meeting of the Customs Code Committee - General Customs Legislation joint with 102nd ECCG - 28 January 2025
  - Implementing Regulation v5.06
• Agenda for: 126th Meeting of the Customs Code Committee - General Customs Legislation - 07 February 2025
• Minutes of the CETA Committee on Trade in Goods - 22 & 23 April 2024
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/92 of 20 January 2025 making imports of choline chloride originating in the People’s Republic of China subject to registration
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/100 of 20 January 2025 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of lever arch mechanisms originating in the People’s Republic of China following an expiry review pursuant to Article 11(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 of the European Parliament and of the Council
• The full take-off of NCTS-P5 is being achieved! - The European Commission is pleased to announce that the transition to NCTS-P5 is nearing completion
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Trade tensions: wine and spirit exports
• Maroš Šefčovič may have the toughest job in the EU - See EPC Statement
• Trump’s trade challenge - Biden’s parting gift throws down the gauntlet to the incoming president on industrial policy - Financial Times
• Divided EU relieved to avoid Trump’s tariffs - Brussels warns it will defend Europe’s economic interests while rightwing parties are invigorated by new US president - Financial Times
• EU industry chief warns Trump: Trade war won’t let us hit defense spending target - Stéphane Séjourné said Europe needs to invest more in defense but that it would be impossible to do so amid a trade war - Politico.eu

EU/UK TRADE RELATIONS

• Minutes - Fourth meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee on Public Procurement under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• Minutes - Fourth meeting of the Trade Specialised Committee on Services, Investment and Digital Trade under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
• UK government rejects attempt to block EU law in Northern Ireland - Unionist parties triggered ‘Stormont brake’ over changes to rules on chemicals labelling in region - Financial Times

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative on the reuse and transformation of buildings
• Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné to a MEP written question - Public procurement contracts in the EU
• EU urged to add industrial kiln commodity to list of key raw materials - Austria-based, London-listed RHI Magnesita says ingredient needs strategic designation to protect European industry - Financial Times

FINANCE

• EBA publishes an Opinion on the interaction between the output floor and Pillar 2 requirements

TAXATION

• Agenda for: Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation - Excise duties/Energy taxation) - 30 January 2025

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Judgment of the Court of 21 January 2025 in Case C-188/23; Land Niedersachsen Vs. Conti 11. Container Schiffahrts-GmbH & Co KG MS ‘MSC Flaminia
  Re: Reference for a preliminary ruling - Environment - Shipment of waste - Directive 2006/12/EC - Directive 2008/98/EC - Concept of ‘waste’ - Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal - Article 1, (4) - Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 - Waste subject to the procedure of prior written notification and consent - Shipments of waste within the EU - Article 1(3)(b) - Validity - Interpretation in accordance with the Basel Convention - Waste produced on board a ship following its damage on the high seas - Concept of ‘landing of the waste’ - Partial landing of the waste in a safe port
• Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution - Four-column document
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Italian Government’s failure to comply with public consultation obligations regarding the PNIEC
• Answer given by Mr Hoekstra to a MEP written question - Support for the European automotive industry affected by the requirement to go fully electric
• Call for evidence: The European Oceans Pact - Communication - Feedback period: 20 January 2025 - 17 February 2025

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• The Council of the EU has adopted a new law that will make it easier to exchange and access health data at EU level, paving the way for it to come into force
• Public consultation - Measures related to Citrus black spot on fruits from Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Uruguay, Zimbabwe - Implementing regulation - Feedback period: 20 January 2025 - 17 February 2025

ECDC

• Reporting protocol for zoonotic influenza virus
• Communicable disease threats report, 11 – 17 January 2025, week 3

EFSA

• Update of the list of qualified presumption of safety (QPS) recommended microbiological agents intentionally added to food or feed as notified to EFSA 21: Suitability of taxonomic units notified to EFSA until September 2024
• Conclusion on Pesticides - Updated peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance spinosad

EMA

• Meeting highlights from the Committee for Veterinary Medicinal Products (CVMP) 14-15 January 2025
• Meeting highlights from the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) 13-16 January 2025

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• CEF 2024: EDPB identifies challenges to the full implementation of the right of access

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Agenda for: 2nd Extraordinary meeting of the Digitalisation of Judicial Cooperation Committee on Small Claims - 22 January 2025
• Minutes of the 12th Committee meeting on Service of Documents and Taking of Evidence - 16 December 2024
• Commission published the 5th progress report on combatting trafficking in human beings in the EU

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Main results of the Eurogroup - 20 January 2025
  - Remarks by Paschal Donohoe & by Commissioner Dombrovskis following the Eurogroup meeting of 20 January 2025
• Luis de Guindos, Frank Elderson: Why prudent projections are the backbone of sound stress testing - See the ECB Blog
• Results of the December 2024 Survey on credit terms and conditions in euro-denominated securities financing and OTC derivatives markets (SESFOD)

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Special Address by President von der Leyen at the World Economic Forum