Europe Daily News, 08 June 2022 | Perspectives & Events
7 min read
COMPETITION
- Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10762 – H&F / IRI)
- Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10575 – Bouygues / Equans)
- Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.10664 – XLCEE / Derot / Black Red White)
- Commission clears acquisition of Yunex GmbH by Atlantia S.p.A. (M.10662) – Midday Express
- Commission clears acquisition of Enagás Renovable by Enagás and HY 24 (M.10700) – Midday Express
- Commission clears acquisition of Renewable Energy Group by Chevron Corporation (M.10722) – Midday Express
- Commission clears acquisition of UMAX and ILS by Isuzu and Itochu (M.10736) – Midday Express
- Commission approves acquisition of PostNL by Vesa (M.10667) – Midday Express
- Ireland – CCPC requires binding commitments to clear Tesco Ireland’s proposed acquisition of Joyce’s Supermarkets
- Poland – UOKiK has questioned the mechanism for calculating distribution and allocation fees in unit-linked life insurance contracts used by AXA Życie TU S.A. (now UNIQA)
- Poland – The Court of Competition and Consumer Protection has dismissed the Ombudsman’s appeal concerning the President of UOKiK’s approval for the merger of Orlen and Polska Press
- Portugal – The AdC adopted a non-opposition decision in the concentration operation 18/2022 – ALSO / Distribuição JP Sá Couto
- UK – CMA – Suspected anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the sale of Leicester City FC-branded products and merchandise
- UK – CMA – Suspected anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the pricing of Rangers FC-branded replica football kit
- UK – CMA provisionally finds illegal price-fixing of Rangers FC merchandise
STATE AID
- Judgment of the General Court of 8 June 2022 in Cases T‑363/19 and T‑456/19, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Case T‑363/19, ITV plc, in Case T‑456/19, supported by United Kingdom, and by LSEGH (Luxembourg) Ltd, established in London, London Stock Exchange Group Holdings (Italy) Ltd, interveners in Case T‑456/19, Vs. European Commission
Re: State aid – Aid scheme implemented by the United Kingdom in favour of certain multinational groups – Decision declaring the aid scheme incompatible with the internal market and unlawful and ordering the recovery of the aid paid – Advance tax rulings – Tax regime relating to the financing of groups and concerning in particular controlled foreign companies – Selective tax advantages - Commission approves €160 million Portuguese scheme to support gas intensive companies in context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (SA.102757) – IP/22/3408
- Commission approves €33.6 million Italian scheme to support companies of certain regions affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.102580) – Midday Express
- Commission approves €357 million Romanian scheme to SMEs active in sectors particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.102828) – Midday Express
- Commission approves €605 million Romanian scheme to support SMEs active in the construction sector affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.102830) – Midday Express
- Commission approves €606 million Romanian scheme to support the economic activity in small urban and rural areas in the context of the coronavirus pandemic (SA.103035) – Midday Express
- Commission approves €60 million Italian scheme to support companies active in the tourism and thermal bath sectors affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SA.102968) – Midday Express
- Commission approves €55 million Italian scheme to encourage intermodal freight transport (SA.101273) – Midday Express
TRADE & CUSTOMS
- Judgment of the General Court of 8 June 2022 in Case T‑144/20, Guangxi Xin Fu Yuan Co. Ltd Vs. European Commission
Re: Dumping – Imports of ceramic tableware and kitchenware originating in China – Review investigation – Circumvention – Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 – Related companies – Procedural obligations – Article 5(10) and (11) of Regulation 2016/1036 – Articles 6.1, 6.2 and 12.1 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement – Rights of the defence – Equal treatment – Legitimate expectations – Manifest error of assessment - Agenda for: High Level Working Group of Directors General of Customs – 10 June 2022
- Minutes of: 11th meeting of Valuation Section of the Customs Expert Group – 28 April 2022
- Minutes of: 29th meeting of the Customs Expert group Section Special Procedures other than Transit – 25 April 2022
- Commission Staff Working Document – Interim Evaluation of the implementation of the Union Customs Code – Executive Summary and RSB Opinion
- Notice of initiation of an expiry review of the anti-subsidy measures applicable to imports of certain hot-rolled flat products of iron, non-alloy or other alloy steel originating in the P.R. of China (CN codes 7208 10 00, 7208 25 00, 7208 26 00, 7208 27 00, 7208 36 00, 7208 37 00, 7208 38 00, 7208 39 00, 7208 40 00, 7208 52 10, 7208 52 99, 7208 53 10, 7208 53 90, 7208 54 00, 7211 13 00, 7211 14 00, 7211 19 00, ex 7225 19 10, 7225 30 90, ex 7225 40 60, 7225 40 90, ex 7226 19 10, 7226 91 91 and 7226 91 99)
- Draft Decision of the EPA Committee established by the Stepping Stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure for dispute settlement
- Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the EPA Committee established under the Stepping Stone Economic Partnership Agreement between Ghana, of the one part, and the European Community and its Member States, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure for dispute settlement
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/894 of 7 June 2022 initiating an investigation concerning possible circumvention of the anti-dumping measures imposed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/141 on imports of certain stainless steel tube and pipe butt-welding fittings, whether or not finished, originating in the P. R. of China by imports of certain stainless steel tube and pipe butt-welding fittings, whether or not finished, consigned from Malaysia, whether declared as originating in Malaysia or not, and making such imports subject to registration
- WTO – Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade – Notification – European Union – Wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products
- WTO – DG Okonjo-Iweala urges members to seize opportunity at MC12 to deliver meaningful outcome
- WCO – Secretariat note on the role of Customs in fragile and conflict-affected situations
- Manufacturers criticise Brussels’ move to retain punitive steel import tariffs – Factories threaten to relocate after European Commission only opts for small rise in quota-free imports – Financial Times
INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY
FINANCIAL SERVICES
TAXATION
- Council Directive (EU) 2022/890 of 3 June 2022 amending Directive 2006/112/EC as regards the extension of the application period of the optional reverse charge mechanism in relation to supplies of certain goods and services susceptible to fraud and of the Quick Reaction Mechanism against VAT fraud
- State tax authorities step up tax enforcement efforts in support of ‘Freeze and Seize‘ Task Force – Midday Express
EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL POLICY
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
- Judgment of the General Court of 8 June 2022 in Case T‑92/21, Darment Oy, Vs. European Commission
Re: Environment – Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 – Fluorinated greenhouse gases – Electronic registry for quotas for placing hydrofluorocarbons on the market – Decision to register – Authorisation to use a quota – Compliance with a judgment of the General Court – Principle of sound administration - Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair transition towards climate neutrality
- Modernisation Fund invests €2.4 billion to accelerate the green transition in 7 beneficiary countries – IP/22/3488
- 118 regions and local authorities join the EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change – IP/22/3527
- Forest fires: EU mobilises support to Albania – Midday Express
- Making the maritime ETS work for the climate and for business – See T&E & NGOS Letter
- Call for a commensurate reply to the rising presence of the most hazardous pesticides in the EU – See PAN Europe Letter
- Scientific evidence of glyphosate link to cancer dismissed in ongoing EU assessment, new report reveals – See Heal Statement
HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY
DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET & INFORMATION SOCIETY
- New Commission Decision to strengthen the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of electronic communications – Berec Statement
- Commission and consumer protection authorities urge WhatsApp to keep consumers better informed about its data policies and updates to its terms of service
DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY
AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE
- Commission Notice – Guidelines on Extradition to Third States
- Council Decision (EU) 2022/895 of 24 May 2022 authorising the opening of negotiations on behalf of the European Union for a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes
- Security Union: Rules on removing terrorist content online become applicable – IP/22/3479
- Spanish operation takes down police and customs officers helping ship cocaine and hashish into Europe – See Europol Statement
BREXIT
- Ireland’s Taoiseach: unilateral action on NI Protocol would be deeply damaging – See the EP Statement
- Johnson warned of new clash with MPs over N Ireland protocol – Tackling trade deal with EU adds further pressure on prime minister after confidence vote – Financial Times
ECB, EURO & ECONOMY
FUTURE OF EUROPE
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the EU within the Association Council set up by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Arab Republic of Egypt, of the other part, with regard to the adoption of EU-Egypt Partnership Priorities 2021–2027
- Global Gateway: Commissioner Urpilainen travels to the United Arab Emirates to discuss opportunities for strengthened cooperation – Midday Express
- European Union brings relief to those affected by flash floods in North Eastern Bangladesh
- Declaration by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in South Sudan
- Declaration by the HR on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against cyber-attacks threatening the Union or its Member States
RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE
- Russian war crimes in Ukraine: EU supports the International Criminal Court investigation with €7.25 million – IP/22/3543
- Ukraine: EU boosts operational support to humanitarian organisations – IP/22/3535
- EU summit: MEPs welcome further sanctions against Russia – See Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary
- Answer given by Mr Breton to a MEP written question – Request for an extraordinary fund to be set up to protect European SMEs affected by the sanctions against Russia
https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/perspectives-events/publications/2022/06/europe-daily-news/europe-daily-news-jun0822
