COMPETITION
- Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.10796 – GOOga / Photomath)
- Belgium – Prior notification of a concentration – Case n° MEDE-CC-23/0017: Fleetinvest NV / Zilverpijl NV en United NRJ
- Italy – 7 metal smelters active are under investigation by the AGCM, to find out whether they coordinated sudden increases of list prices for cast-iron castings – See the Bulletin 37/2023 p.5
- Latvia – The Competition Council’s strategy for 2023–2029 enters into force – 26 September 2023
- Romania – Competition Council examines the transaction by which New Europe Vending Sarl intends to take over Vending Zone SRL
- Slovenia – Competition Agency has issued a decision that the notified transaction of transfer of part of the activities of the cooperative Kmetijsko Gozdarska Zadruga Sloga Kranj to the company Megatrade is not subject to the provisions of ZPOmK-2
TRADE & CUSTOMS
- Agenda for: Meeting of the Trade Policy Committee (Services & Investment) – 03 October 2023
- Agenda for: Customs Programme – CLEN Action 1 – ILIADe Project Group Meeting – 08 November 2023
- Agenda for: Customs Programme – CLEN Action 2 – Proficiency Test on Tobacco Products – 25 October 2023
- Draft Motion for a Resolution by MEP Iuliu Winkler on “EU-Taiwan trade and investment relations”
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2395 of 2 October 2023 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 as regards the inclusion of certain goods of non-animal origin in the list of rest-of-the-world commodities
- EU deforestation policy triggers governments protest – see the Peruvian letter
- DG Okonjo-Iweala welcomes Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta to the WTO
- Free trade agreements with the EU, UAE and Sri Lanka expected next year – Bilaterals.org
- US has the trade tools needed for China’s EVs, but it must use them – Action on unfair practices is essential to stop the auto industry suffering like steel, aluminium and solar – Financial Times
INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY
- Commission Delegated Directive (EU) …/… of 27.9.2023 amending Directive 2009/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the updating of the list of defence-related products in line with the updated Common Military List of the European Union of 20 February 2023 – see the Annex
- Draft Council Conclusions on the European Court of Auditors’ special report No 15/2023: “The EU’s industrial policy on batteries: New strategic impetus needed”
- Public consultation – EU fertilising products – Processed manure as a component material in EU fertilising products – Delegated regulation – Feedback period: 02 October 2023 – 30 October 2023
CHEMICAL
- REACH – List of Amendments to Annex XVII – Restrictions as of 02 October 2023
- LIVE: Webinar on ECHA’s approach to assessing chemicals in groups – 03 October 2023
FINANCIAL SERVICES
ENERGY
- Agenda for: Working Party on Energy – 05 October 2023
- Agenda for: Meeting of the Energy Efficiency Directive Committee (Directive 2012/27/EU) – 05 October 2023
- Answer given by Ms Simson to a MEP written question – Supply chain risks
- Public consultation – Energy efficiency – Ecodesign requirements for solid-fuel boilers (review) – Regulation – Feedback period: 28 September 2023 – 21 December 2023
- Public consultation – Energy labelling requirements for solid fuel boilers (review) – Delegated regulation – Feedback period: 28 September 2023 – 21 December 2023
ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
- European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius visits China to step up dialogue on environment and discuss European Green Deal priorities
- EU nominee for climate chief wants global fossil fuel taxes – Wopke Hoekstra seeks to help developing countries suffering from carbon pollution – Financial Times
HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY
- Agenda for: Working Party on Public Health – 06 October 2023
- Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question – Health risks of trans fats
- Answer given by Ms Kyriakides to a MEP written question – Better Regulation guidelines and application of SME test in revision of EU framework for tobacco control
- Draft Renewal report for the active substance benthiavalicarb (Regulation); metiram (Regulation); S-metolachlor (Regulation) finalised in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed at its meeting on 13 October 2023 in view of the non-renewal of the approval of benthiavalicarb as an active substance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009
- EFSA – Assessment of the application for renewal of the authorisation of a feed additive consisting of sodium hydroxide for dogs, cats and ornamental fish (Brenntag Holding GmbH and Electroquímica de Hernani, S.A.)
- EFSA – Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of iron(II)‐betaine complex for all animal species (Biochem Zusatzstoffe Handels‐ und Produktionsges. mbH)
DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY
- Meta to charge users in EU for ad-free Instagram and Facebook – Tech group plans a $14 monthly subscription fee for access via mobile – Financial Times
- Brussels warns against ‘paranoia’ when regulating generative AI – European Commission vice-president says legislation should be based on ‘solid analysis’ – Financial Times
DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY
- The European Commission under the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, the ENISA co-organised and co-hosted the Blue Olex table-top cyber exercise in the Hague, Netherlands
- Public consultation – Cybersecurity – security requirements for ICT product certification – Implementing regulation – Feedback period: 03 to 31 October 2023
- Answer given by Vice-President Jourová to a MEP written question – Protecting the privacy rights of journalists Michele Santoro and Guido Ruotolo
TRANSPORT & MOBILITY
- Single European Sky: European Commission advised to prioritise environmental performance when setting performance targets for air navigation services
AREA OF FREEDOM, SECURITY & JUSTICE
- Taking stock of approaches to counter hate speech in the Western Balkans, September 2023 – See the Report
ECB, EURO & ECONOMY
- Slides by Philip R. Lane on “Inflation and monetary policy in the euro area”
FUTURE OF EUROPE
- Agenda for: Meeting of the Coreper (Part.2) – 04 & 06 October 2023
- Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of their informal meeting on 6 October 2023
- Brussels to unfreeze Hungary funds as it seeks help for Ukraine – Unblocking €13bn could secure Orbán support for EU budget top-up and assistance to Kyiv – Financial Times
- Creaking Franco-German tandem delays EU decisions – Lack of chemistry between Macron and Scholz contributes to difficulty in agreeing on urgent issues – Financial Times
EXTERNAL RELATIONS
- Vietnam: Statement by the Spokesperson on the conviction of environmental activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong
RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE
- Establishing the Ukraine Facility – Financing Ukraine’s recovery and its path to EU accession – See EPRS Briefing
- Consolidated version of the FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus as of 02 October 2023
- FAQs on sanctions against Russia and Belarus, with focus on the following provisions: Articles 3g, 3i, 3m and 3o of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 (Imports, purchase and transfer of listed goods)
- FAQs on export-related restrictions for dual-use goods and advance pursuant to Articles 2, 2a and 2b of Council Regulation No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine
