Europe Daily News, 07 April 2025

COMPETITION

• Commission approves Safran's acquisition of part of Collins Aerospace's actuation business, subject to conditions (M.11253)
• Commission clears acquisition of Bridewell by Oakley Capital and Eurazeo (M.11928) - Midday Express
• Commission clears creation of joint venture by Air Liquide and Fluxys (M.11782) - Midday Express
• Commission clears acquisition of Fujitsu General by Paloma Rheem (M.11852) - Midday Express
• Belgium - Q/A on the Batopin Investigation - CONC-PRP-22/0001
• Denmark - Competition among non-life insurance companies is challenged
• Norway - The Competition Authority investigates veterinary clinics
• Norway - The Competition Authority received 455 tip-offs about possible anti-competitive behaviour and violations in 2024
• Spain - The CNMC investigates the pharmaceutical company Sandoz, its subsidiary Bexal, and the companies Alliance Healthcare España and Bluetab Solutions
• UK - Breaches of the CMA’s markets and mergers remedies - A register of all significant breaches of market and merger remedies notified to us since 1 April 2020.

STATE AID

•  Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.117364

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Fővárosi Törvényszék (Hungary) of 03 February 2025 – Stappert Magyarország Kft. Vs. Nemzeti Adó-és Vámhivatal Fellebbviteli Igazgatósága - Case C-115/25
  Re: Article 1(6) of Regulation (EU) 2019/159; Regulation (EU) 2016/1036; steel products; tariff-rate quota; safeguard measures
• Revised Agenda for: Working Party on European Free Trade Association (EFTA) - 07 April 2025
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/670 of 4 April 2025 imposing a provisional anti-dumping duty on imports of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel originating in Egypt, Japan and Vietnam
• Commission Decision (EU) 2025/676 of 3 April 2025 on relief from import duties and VAT exemption on importation granted for goods to be distributed or made available free of charge to persons fleeing Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and to persons in need in Ukraine
• WTO - Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade - Notification - European Union - Food supplements : magnesium L-threonate
• WTO - Committee on Safeguards - Communication from the United States in response to the European Union's request for consultations circulated on 12 March 2025
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Trade and defence relations between the European Union and the United Kingdom
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - EU-Mercosur agreement

EU/US TARIFFS

• A tariff crisis is exactly the right time to reform the WTO - The commitment to reaching decisions by consensus has led to paralysis - Financial Times
• Trump tariffs risk euro-area ‘demand shock’, Greece’s central bank chief warns - Yannis Stournaras says looming trade war likely to weigh heavily on Europe’s economic growth - Financial Times
• Meloni under pressure to back EU ‘bazooka’ against Trump tariffs - Italy will effectively have casting vote on whether to support use of anti-coercion instrument to hit US services exports - Financial Times
• Northern Irish whiskey sector faces confusion over Trump tariffs - With ingredients sourced on both sides of the border producers are unclear over the impact of US levies - Financial Times
• Brewers warn Trump’s beer tariffs could cost 100,000 jobs in Europe - Industry blindsided by 25% levy and confused whether it applies only to products imported in cans - Financial Times
• Donald Trump’s tariff blitz sparks turmoil for green energy sector - Duties pose one-two punch for an industry already reeling from renewed embrace of fossil fuels - Financial Times
• Brussels could hit Big Tech in trade spat. But how? Digital services could be Wa - shington’s Achilles heel but European officials are conflicted over how to strike it - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Commissioner Kubilius in Sweden to discuss innovation in the defence industry - Midday Express

CHEMICAL

• Agenda for: Meeting of the REACH Committee - 29 April 2025

ENERGY

• Commissioner Jørgensen talks to the nuclear energy industry about the opportunities and challenges facing the sector - Midday Express

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on the Environment - 07 April 2025
• Agenda for: 10th meeting of the ABS Consultation Forum - 10 April 2025
• Agenda for: Expert group on Access and benefit sharing (ABS) under the Nagoya Protocol - 09 April 2025
• European Union provides support for Fiji's Climate Change Act Implementation
• Remarks by President António Costa at the inauguration of the "International Climate Forum"
• Commissioner Hoekstra travels to Brazil to enhance cooperation with COP30 Presidency - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Fitto to a MEP written question - Green Deal – Translation into local action
• Answer given by Mr Tzitzikostas to a MEP written question - Strategic importance of aviation and inclusion of sustainable aviation fuels in the Clean Industrial Deal

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

ECDC

• A scoping review and survey on Evidence-to-Decision Frameworks in public health
• Communicable disease threats report, 29 March - 4 April 2025, week 14

EFSA

• Safety evaluation of the food enzyme cellulose 1,4‐β‐cellobiosidase (non‐reducing end) from the non‐genetically modified Trichoderma citrinoviride strain C1‐5‐2
• Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of L‐lysine sulfate produced by fermentation with Corynebacterium glutamicum CGMCC 7.453 for all animal species (Eppen Europe SAS)
• Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Pest Report to support the ranking of EU candidate priority pests
• Diabrotica virgifera zeae Pest Report to support the ranking of EU candidate priority pests

DIGITAL, DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Agenda for: 104th EDPB meeting - 08 April 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Telecommunication & Information Society  - 09 April 2025
• EDPS participates in fourth Coordinated Enforcement Action: focus on the right to erasure of personal data
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Hof van beroep Brussel (Belgium) of 09 January 2025 – Bisdom Gent VZW Vs. Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit; Interveners: JM and Others - Case C-12/25
  Re: Article 17, Article 17(1), Article 17(1)(c), Article 17(3)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR); fundamental rights (freedom of religion); Article 8, article 9, article 10 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union; Articles 19 and 21 of the Belgian Constitution
• Request for a preliminary ruling from the Oberlandesgericht Wien (Austria) lodged on 23 January 2025 – CRIF GmbH Vs. YO - Case C-40/25
  Re: Article 17 of the GDPR; personal data; prohibitory injunction
• The Commission is seeking contributions to strengthen the cybersecurity of hospitals and healthcare providers - Midday Express
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Harmful and dangerous online content for minors
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Regulation of digital ride-hailing and home delivery platforms to protect consumers
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Delayed evaluation report on the functioning of ENISA and the European cybersecurity certification framework 

AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the JHA Counsellors (COPEN) (Victims' rights) - 08 April 2025
• Agenda for: Working Party on Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters (COPEN) - 09 April 2025
• Statement by EVP Mînzatu, Commissioner Lahbib and Commissioner Kos ahead of "International Roma Day"

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the Mertens Group - 10 April 2025
• Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.1 & Part.2) - 11 April 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• EU and Mongolia hold Joint Committee in Ulaanbaatar
• Readout by President von der Leyen following her phone call with UK Prime Minister Starmer
• Commission announces additional €10 million for Myanmar earthquake relief - Midday Express
• Japan: HR/VP Kallas holds second EU-Japan Strategic Dialogue with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya

EU/RUSSIA/UKRAINE

• Commission to discuss with Member States and international partners the implementation of sanctions against Russia and Belarus - see the Statement  - Midday Express
• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

OTHER EU SANCTIONS

• Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/689 of 4 April 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran - See the Notice
• Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/690 of 4 April 2025 amending Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran - See the Notice