COMPETITION
- Prior notification of a concentration (Case M.11101 – CEPSA / BOH / BWT)
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10941 – ENI / Sonatrach / Equinor / In Salah JV)
- Commission adopts new Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations and Horizontal Guidelines – IP/23/2900, QaA, see the Impact assessment and its Summary
– Commission Regulation (EU) / on the application of Article 101(3) of the TFEU to certain categories of specialisation agreements
– Commission Regulation (EU) …/… on the application of Article 101(3) of the TFEU
– Guidelines on the applicability of Article 101 of the TFEU - Commission clears acquisition of Ambrosi by Lactalis (M.10876) – Midday Express
- Cyprus – Notification of a concentration concerning the acquisition of the share capital of Industrial Physics Global Holdings, Inc. by KKR & Co. Inc., via Insight Buyer Corporation
- Germany – One-year anniversary of the Competition Register for Public Procurement – a digital register to support public contracting entities in public procurement procedures
- Ireland – CCPC to carry out Phase 2 investigation of Thorntons’ proposed acquisition of The City Bin Co
- Portugal – Euler Hermes notifies acquisition of sole control over COSEC
- Portugal – Explorer IV (Fundo de Capital de Risco) notifies the acquisition of sole control over the company Grupo Your
- UK – Advice for shoppers after report highlights difficulties buying ‘green’ home heating – CMA will be carrying out further work looking into potential misleading practices in the green heating and insulation sector.
TRADE & CUSTOMS
- Agenda for: Customs Business Group (EU SWE-C) – 30 June 2023
- Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union – 05 June 2023
- Draft – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) …/… of XXX concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature
– Spare blades of a glass scraper – CN: 8205 51 00 & 8205 59 80
– Posture Garment – CN: 6212 90 00
– Smartwatches – CN: 9102 12 00 - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1057 of 26 May 2023 concerning the classification of certain goods in the Combined Nomenclature (CN: 3926 90 97)
- Answer given by EVP Dombrovskis to a MEP written question – Negotiations on sustainable development concerning the free trade agreement with Mercosur
- WTO – Goods barometer stabilizes, indicating possible turning point for trade
- WTO – New Global Trade Data Portal offers real-time access to trade data
- Indonesia and Malaysia freeze trade talks with EU over palm oil – Bloc’s new rules on products that come from land cleared of forests deemed ‘punitive and unfair’ – Financial Times
EU/UK RELATIONS
- Council Decision (EU) 2023/1056 of 25 May 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union
- Agreement between the European Union and the Federative Republic of Brazil pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union
- Council Decision (EU) 2023/1059 of 25 May 2023 on the position to be adopted on behalf of the European Union within the Specialised Committee on Social Security Coordination established by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, as regards the designation of the financial institution to serve as reference to determine the interest rate for late payments and the exchange rate for currency conversions, as well as the date to be taken into consideration for determining the rates of currency conversion
- Opinion by MEP Pascal Canfin on the Implementation reports 2021 and 2022 on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement
- Draft Opinion by MEP Martin Hlavacek on the Implementation report on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement – Amendments 1-19
EU-US TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL
- EU-US Trade and Technology Council enhances cooperation in emerging technologies, sustainable trade and economic security – IP/23/2922
- EU-US Trade and Technology Council: simpler rules for more trade in veterinary products – IP/23/2986
- Joint Statement EU-US Trade and Technology Council of 31 May 2023 in Lulea, Sweden
- Trade and Technology Council updated on 01 June 2023
– Annex 1 – TTC Ministerial – ‘Transatlantic Initiative on Sustainable Trade’ work programme
– Annex 2 – TTC Ministerial – Transparent and accountable online platforms
– Annex 3 – TTC Ministerial – Foreign information manipulation and interference in third countries
– Annex 4 – TTC Ministerial – 6G Outlook - Untangling EU-US trade acronyms as of 01 June 2023
INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY & RESEARCH
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1060 of 30 May 2023 on a harmonised standard for test methods and requirements to demonstrate that plastic caps and lids remain attached to beverage containers drafted in support of Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council
- Draft Report by MEP Nicola Beer on Establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020
- Annual Report on Research and Technological Development Activities of the European Union and Monitoring of Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 in 2022
- Report from the Commission – Interim Evaluation of the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)
- June infringement package: key decisions
- One year on, the New European Innovation Agenda is advancing and Commission launches new innovation initiatives – Midday Express
- ESG – MEPs push companies to mitigate their negative social and environmental impact
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
FINANCIAL SERVICES
- ESMA launches Fifth Stress Test Exercise for Central Counterparties
- ESMA – Amended rules for transparency calculations to start applying on 5 June 2023
- EBA consults on amendments to the Guidelines on money laundering and terrorist financing risk factors to include crypto-asset service providers
- Answer given by Ms McGuinness to a MEP written question –
ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
- Urban waste water: Commission decides to refer Italy back to the Court of Justice for failing to properly treat urban waste water – IP/23/2626
- Parliament wants to make EU textiles and clothing industry greener
- Around thirty NGOs urged European Commission to publish proposed directive on soil health – see the Letter
HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY
- Commission Regulation (EU) / refusing to authorise certain health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health
- Prudent use of antibiotics and more research needed to fight AMR – see the EP Statement
- MEPs want better protection for quality agricultural products
TRANSPORT & MOBILITY
- Maritime safety: new proposals to support clean and modern shipping – The Commission today presented five legislative proposals to modernise EU rules on maritime safety and prevent water pollution from ships – IP/23/2919, QaA
– Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties, including criminal penalties, for pollution offences
– Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2009/21/EC on compliance with flag State requirements
– Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2009/18/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of accidents in the maritime transport sector
– Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2009/16/EC on port State control
– Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002 - Public Consultation: EU-wide multimodal travel – new specifications for information services – Delegated regulation – Feedback period: 31 May 2023 – 28 June 2023
DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY
- Telecom operators in EU and Republic of Moldova agree on lowering roaming tariffs from 1 January 2024 – IP/23/3006
DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY
- Minutes of: Meeting of the CEG on the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Directive (EU) 2016/680 – 19 April 2023
- Berlin SA imposes 300 000 euro fine against bank after lack of transparency over automated rejection of credit card application
AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE
- Public Consultation: CER Directive – list of essential services provided by critical entities – Delegated regulation – Feedback period: 01 June 2023 – 29 June 2023
- Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating violence against women and domestic violence – General approach Statements
- Combatting violence against women: Council adopts decision about EU’s accession to Istanbul Convention
- Stop violence against women: Commission welcomes the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention
- Parliament rejects Hungarian candidate for the Court of Auditors
- Hungary: MEPs denounce deliberate and systematic efforts to undermine EU values
- MeToo: MEPs call for more to be done to tackle sexual harassment in the EU
ECB, EURO & ECONOMY
- NextGenerationEU: Denmark submits request to add a REPowerEU chapter to its recovery and resilience plan – Midday Express
- Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, “The fight against inflation” at “Deutscher Sparkassentag 2023”, Hanover
- ECB Blog – Stop carbon leakage at the border
FUTUR OF EUROPE
- MEPs propose reforms to protect democratic institutions and Parliament’s integrity
- Foreign Interference: MEPs call for urgent protection of 2024 European elections – see EPRS Second report
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- Chad: the EU launches a humanitarian airlift to bring aid to displaced persons from Sudan – Midday Express
- TTC Ministerial Foreign information manipulation and interference in third countries
- Remarks by President Charles Michel ahead of the 2nd European Political Community meeting
- Answer given by HR/VP Josep Borrell to a MEP written question – Deployment of cyber support teams
- Brussels to extend EU single market benefits to western Balkans – European Commission president offers to increase funding for countries waiting to join the bloc – Financial Times
EU INVASION OF UKRAINE
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1061 of 31 May 2023 on the establishment of the list of travel documents of the Russian Federation issued in or to persons resident in regions or territories in Ukraine which are occupied by the Russian Federation or breakaway territories in Georgia which are not under the control of the Georgian government that are not accepted as valid travel documents for the purposes of issuing of a visa or of crossing the external borders
- FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provision: Article 2f of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 – (Media)
- Consolidated version of the FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus as of 31 May 2023
- Joint statement on International Children’s Day by President Ursula von der Leyen and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- MEPs endorse plan to provide more ammunition for Ukraine
- Brussels plans four-year financial support for Ukraine – EU came under criticism for haphazard aid to Kyiv last year – Financial Times
BREXIT
- How the Thatcherites lost their Brexit dream and their party – The trade-off the original Tory Leavers made with populists handed the Conservatives over to an alien worldview – Financial Times
