Europe Daily News, 17 March 2025

COMPETITION

• Action brought on 28 January 2025 - Meta Platforms and Meta Platforms Ireland Vs. Commission (Case T-66/25)
  Re: annulment of the European Commission decision C(2024) 8053 final pursuant to Article 102 of the TFEU and Article 54 of the Agreement on the EEA, in Case AT.40684 - Facebook Marketplace
• Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11934 - Bain Capital / Apleona Group)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11915 - EDFT / JERA / Powerco)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11780 - Ingredion / Agrana / AGFD)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11905 - PSPIB / Digitalbridge / Skyline)
• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11822 - RCL Cruises / MSC Cruises / NAHA JV)

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.117801 & SA.104103
• Commission approves €699 million Spanish State aid scheme to support energy storage to foster the transition to a net-zero economy (SA.116836) - Midday Express
• Commission approves €90 million Czech State aid scheme under the Recovery and Resilience Facility to enable the supply of affordable rental housing and amendment to existing scheme (SA.115811) - Midday Express

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 24 March 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the ACP Working Party - 18 March 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Trade Questions - 25 March 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP INTA Committee - 19 & 20 March 2025
• Appeal brought on 29 January 2025 by BT Solar d.o.o. and RC-Log d.o.o. against the judgment of the General Court of 20 November 2024 in Case T-660/20, Zhejiang Beyondsun Green Energy Technology Vs. Commission (Case C-64/25 P)
  Re: annulment of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1216; undertaking repealed
• Appeal brought on 29 January 2025 by Zhejiang Sunflower Great Health Co. Ltd, formerly Zhejiang Sunflower Light Energy Science & Technology Ltd, Sunowe Solar GmbH against the judgment of the General Court of 20 November 2024 in Case T-733/19, Zhejiang Sunflower Light Energy Science & Technology and Sunowe Solar Vs. Commission (Case C-59/25 P)
  Re: annulment of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) (EU) 2019/1329; undertaking repealed
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Cour d’appel de Liège (Belgium) of 14 November 2024 - Ministère public, État belge, SPF Finances Vs. ECDC Logistics SA, Soda Trading IM-&Export SPRL, KL, HM, ZD, RX (Case C-844/24)
  Re: Articles 70 and 74 of the Union Customs Code; Access2Markets/MADB; Article 53 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; statistical data
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesfinanzhof (Germany) of 08 January 2025 - B Vs. Hauptzollamt A (Case T-28/25, Hauptzollamt A)
  Re: Article 71(1)(b)(i) and Article 32(1)(a)(ii) of [Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92; transaction value; General Rule for the Interpretation
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesfinanzhof (Germany) of 15 January 2025 - A Vs. Hauptzollamt C (Case T-69/25, A GmbH)
  Re: Note 3 to Section VI of the Combined Nomenclature; capsule system; alloy powder and liquid mercury; mixing silver amalgam dental fillings
• Draft Decision of the EU-Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip Joint Committee establishing the general requirements for proofs of origin issued electronically under Article 17(4) of Appendix A to Protocol 3 to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, of the other part - Information on the adoption
• Draft Decision of the EU-Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip Joint Committee amending Protocol 3 to the Euro-Mediterranean Interim Association Agreement on trade and cooperation between the European Community, of the one part, and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) for the benefit of the Palestinian Authority of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, of the other part, as regards permeability between the Regional Convention on pan-Euro-Mediterranean preferential rules of origin and the Transitional rules of origin - Information on the adoption
  
• Proposal for a Council Decision on the accession of Vanuatu to the Interim Partnership Agreement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Pacific States, of the other part - See the Annex
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/482 of 14 March 2025 making imports of barium carbonate originating in the People’s Republic of China and India subject to registration
• Trade: Council adopts negotiating position on tariffs for a number of agricultural products and fertilisers from Russia and Belarus
• Draft Report by MEP Inese Vaidere on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the modification of customs duties applicable to imports of certain goods originating in or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus
• US-EU tariff clash imperils $9.5 trillion of business, AmCham warns - See the Report: Launch of The Transatlantic Economy 2025

FINANCE

• ESMA extends the tiering and recognition of the three UK-based CCPs
• ESMA and Bank of England conclude a revised MoU in respect of UK-based CCPs under EMIR
• ESMA clarifies the treatment of settlement fails with respect to the CSDR penalty mechanism
• Discussion on a possible Delegated Act specifying the method for the determination of fees for to be paid by financial and non-financial counterparties requiring the validation of pro forma models - see EBA Consultation: 05 March to 07 April 2025

ENERGY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Energy - 19 March 2025

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Action brought on 20 December 2024 - EuroChem Antwerpen Vs. Commission (Case T-674/24)
  Re: annulment of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2620 and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2493; carbon dioxide emissions in precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) used in fertilisers
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Marine Expert Group (MEG) - 19 March 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (WPIEI Desertification) - 19 March 2025
• Meeting of the Council (Environment) on 27 March 2025
  - Environmental dimension of the Clean Industrial Deal - Exchange of views
  - Global environmental policies - Exchange of views

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• The Commission and the Polish Presidency organise a high-level event to celebrate the launch of the European Health Data Space - Midday Express

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Land Transport - 20 March 2025
• Agenda for: Informal meeting of transport ministers - 17 & 18 March 2025
• Minutes of the 43rd Meeting of the Expert Group on Land Transport Security - 05 February 2025

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• EDPB - Opinion 2/2025 on the draft decision of the Swedish Supervisory Authority regarding the Controller Binding Corporate Rules of the Alfa Laval Group
• EDPB adopts statement on the implementation of the PNR directive - Statement 2/2025
• EDPB Letter on the procedural rules regulation

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Commissioner Brunner in the Hague to present Europol's Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment report - Midday Express

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Euro area rent developments: insights from the CES - ECB Economic Bulletin Issue 2/2025
• Developments in the recent euro area house price cycle - ECB Economic Bulletin Issue 2/2025
• Fiscal requirements for price stability when households are not Ricardian - ECB Working Paper Series No.3038
• Europe needs ‘big bang’ to boost investment, says Deutsche Börse chief - Stephan Leithner says EU should take advantage of investors switching into region’s markets away from US - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 19 March 2025
• Joint Declaration of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on EU legislative priorities for 2025 - Approval & Statement by Hungary
• Joint Conclusions of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Policy Objectives and Priorities for 2025–20295 - Approval & Statement by Hungary

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Action brought on 23 December 2024 - Iran Air Vs. Council (Case T-676/24)
  Re: annulment of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2698; Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
• Appeal brought on 21 December 2024 by Council of the EU against the judgment of the General Court of 23 October 2024 in Case T-480/23, Plahotniuc Vs. Council (Case C-897/24 P)
  Re: Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1047 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1045; restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova
• Xi snubs EU-China anniversary summit - Brussels sought visit to mark 50 years of ties, but move adds to scepticism about warm words from Beijing - Financial Times
• The end of Europe’s ‘peace dividend’ - Defence spending at 3.5% of GDP would have cost EU an extra nearly $390bn a year since end of Cold War - Financial Times
• EU explores new military intelligence satellites to cut reliance on US - Donald Trump’s temporary withdrawal of sharing information with Ukraine has galvanised Brussels’s efforts - Financial Times

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Ukraine Facility: Council approves third payment of close to €3.5 billion to Ukraine
• Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU individual sanctions over territorial integrity prolonged for a further six months - See Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/527 & Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/528
• G7 warns Russia of expanded sanctions unless it backs ceasefire - Rubio joins other foreign ministers in seeking to ratchet up pressure on Vladimir Putin - Financial Times