Europe Daily News, 13 February 2024

• Belgium - Notification - MEDE-CC-22/0040: Van Mossel Automotive Groep 6 NV / Van Mossel DC BV
• Czech Republic - The Office punished the undertaking Electrolux, by imposing a fine of CZK 125 404 000 for long-term anticompetitive conduct
• Poland - UOKiK has initiated proceedings against the Polskie Destylarnie [Polish Distillaries] company which organized the “Palikot Vault” lending campaign
• UK - The CMA has revoked the initial enforcement order imposed on 28 November 2023 in relation to the completed acquisition by Pharmacy2U of Lloyds Direct

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.109299 & SA.107668
• Commission closes State aid investigation into Danish and Swedish public financing of Øresund fixed rail-road link (SA.52162 & SA.52617) - IP/24/762
• Answer given by EVP Vestager to a MEP written question - Is EUR 17 billion for a battery-based electricity storage scheme optimal use of EU taxpayers’ money?

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Customs Business Group on EMSWe (European Maritime Single Windows environment) jointly with the 4th meeting of the EMSWe Data Modelling Working Group - 22 February 2024
• Operational Conclusions of the Working Party on Dual Use Goods (WPDU) on the Enforcement Coordination Mechanism (ECM)
• Opinion by MEP Saskia Bricmont on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Union Customs Code and the European Union Customs Authority, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013
• Draft Opinion Samira Rafaela on the proposal for a Council decision on the Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, of the other part - Deadline for tabling amendments : 20-02-2024
• Draft Report by MEP Sandra Kalniete on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary trade-liberalisation measures supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Ukraine, of the other part
  
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/493 of 12 February 2024 imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of ceramic tiles 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
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/571 of 23 January 2024 establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial Conference on the accession of the Union of the Comoros to the WTO
• Council Decision (EU) 2024/582 of 21 November 2023 authorising the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Colombia for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement
• First Written Submission by the European Union: EU-Countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Stainless steel cold-rolled flat products (“SSCRFP”) from Indonesia - WT/DS616
• International Agreements in Progress: Economic Partnership Agreement with Kenya (East African Community) - see the EP Briefing
• International Agreements in Progress: Modernisation of the trade pillar of the EU-Chile Association Agreement - see the EP Briefing
• Provisional list of National Competent Authorities (NCAs) for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - as of 12 February 2024
• Indonesia initiates WTO dispute complaint against EU duties on imports of fatty acids - WT/DS622
• EU proposes sanctions on Chinese firms for helping Russia - Politico.eu

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Competitiveness & Growth (Internal Market) - 19 February 2024
• Joint call to deepen the EU Single Market and renew the dynamic of European integration - See the Joint Statement

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Intellectual Property - 20 February 2024
• Agenda for: Working Party on Intellectual Property (Patents) - 19 February 2024

FINANCE

• Immobilised Russian assets: Council decides to set aside extraordinary revenues - Politico.eu
• The EBA publishes follow-up on the Peer Review on the Joint ESAs Guidelines on the prudential assessment of the acquisition of qualifying holdings

AGRICULTURE & FISHERIES

• European farmers exempted from rules on land lying fallow - IP/24/781

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• Agenda for: Working Party on International Environment Issues (Climate change) - 21 February 2024
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): - Sixth meeting of the Open-ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR-6) (Nairobi, 19 - 23 February 2024) - Sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) (Nairobi, 26 February - 1 March 2024) = EU coordination meeting
• Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2012/19/EU on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE)
• Answer given by Mr Sinkevicius to a MEP written question - Single-Use Plastics Directive and its transposition by the Belgian draft Cooperation Agreement – potential risks to the internal market

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• Commission supports two new Health Union actions with €126 million from the EU4Health programme - Midday Express
• MEPs back stricter rules to ensure children’s toys are safe - see the Opinion by MEP Sara Cerdas
• Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question - Alternative to the regulation on the sustainable use of plant protection products
• EU 'farm to fork' strategy: State of play

TRANSPORT & MOBILITY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Transport - Intermodal Questions & Networks - 16 February 2024
• European Declaration on Cycling - Approval

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Artificial Intelligence Act: EP IMCO Committees confirm landmark agreement - see the Text of the agreement
• AI is too important to be monopolised - Public investments are essential to levelling the computational playing field - Financial Times

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• European Council meeting (21 and 22 March 2024) - Annotated draft agenda
• Speech by President Charles Michel at the Interparliamentary Conference on the occasion of European Parliamentary Week 2024

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/385 establishing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad