Europe Daily News, 11 March 2025

COMPETITION

• Non-opposition to a notified concentration (Case M.11819 - Audi / Qatar Holding / Sauber Hodling)
• Commission carries out unannounced antitrust inspections in the non-alcoholic drinks sector and asks for information in personal care sector - Financial Times
• Belgian - The Competition Authority approves the acquisition of joint control of IFW Globe by Sofindev and Benlen
• Italy - The Competition Authority approves Italgas’ acquisition of 2iRete Gas subject to conditions
• The Netherlands - ACM now authorized to investigate compliance with the Digital Markets Act

STATE AID

• Authorisation for State aid pursuant to Articles 107 and 108 of the TFEU - Cases where the Commission raises no objections – SA.104936
• Commission invites comments on the draft State aid Framework supporting the Clean Industrial Deal - see the Draft Communication
• Answer given by M.s Ribera to a MEP written question - EU state aid rules and applying them to tax exemptions for non-profit bingo games

TRADE & CUSTOMS

• Agenda for: Working Party on Customs Union - 13 March 2025
• EU and Korea deepen ties with landmark digital trade deal
• President von der Leyen in South Africa to strengthen the strategic partnership and boost trade and investments
• Joint report of the sixth meeting of the CETA Committee on Geographical Indications (GIs) - 16 December 2024
• Joint report of the sixteenth meeting of the Canada-EU Dialogue on Biotech Market Access Issues (“Biotech Dialogue”) - 06 November 2024
• Answer given by Mr Šefčovič to a MEP written question - Problems arising from the EU’s agreement with the Mercosur countries
• WTO - Guatemala formally accepts Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies

INTERNAL MARKET & INDUSTRY

• Agenda for: Working Party on Technical Harmonisation (safety of toys) - 21 March 2025
• Informal ministerial meetingof EU Ministers for Research and Innovation (COMPET Research) - 10 & 11 March 2025

TAXATION

• The VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package has been adopted on 11 March 2025 following re-consultation of the European Parliament and will be rolled out progressively until January 2035
• Council agrees to enhance cooperation and information exchange on minimum effective corporate taxation
• Data on Taxation Trends - New data updated in March 2025 including tax revenue data up to year 2023
• Taxation: Council sets tax decluttering and simplification agenda

EMPLOYMENT & SOCIAL AFFAIRS

• Main results of the Council (Employment & Social Policy) - 10 March 2025
  - Macroeconomic dialogue with the social partners
• Artificial Intelligence for Workers, not just for profit: Ensuring quality jobs in the Digital Age - see the ETUC Statement
• ETUC Position on the e-Declaration on Posting - Adopted at the Executive Committee meeting of 4-5 March 2025
• Priorities for strengthening gender equality in Europe - a BusinessEurope position paper

ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE

• European Commission publishes technical guidelines on application of “do no significant harm” principle: Social Climate Fund
• Answer given by Ms Roswall to a MEP written question - Dangers of button cell batteries for children
• Climate change impacts leading to increased exposure to harmful toxins - See the EEA briefing

HEALTH, FOOD & PRODUCT SAFETY

• SCCS - Draft Agenda of the 10th plenary meeting, Luxembourg - 27 March 2025
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Imported fish contaminated with microplastics
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - E-cigarettes and the need for a uniform European framework
• Answer given by Mr Várhelyi to a MEP written question - Fish contaminated with mercury and other carcinogenic substances
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - Non-conformity of feed used in the production of ‘Prosciutto di Parma’ PDO
• Answer given by Mr Hansen to a MEP written question - Compatibility of the proposed dictatorial anti-smoking measures with individual freedom
• Public consultation - Equivalence of third countries’ requirements concerning pests of plants - Citrus sinensis from Israel - Implementing regulation - Feedback period: 07 March 2025 - 04 April 2025

DIGITAL & INFORMATION SOCIETY

• Third Draft of the General-Purpose AI Code of Practice published, written by independent experts
• Fourth meeting of the Digital Markets Act High-Level Group on the DMA first anniversary
• Apply for the European Digital Connectivity Awards 2025
• Annex on the Digital Europe Work Programme 2025-2027
• Answer given by EVP Virkkunen to a MEP written question - Fact-checkers and very large online platform (VLOP) commitments

DATA PRIVACY & CYBERSECURITY

• Draft Agenda for: 103rd EDPB meeting - 13 March 2025
• EDPB - Finnish SA: loan comparison provider Sambla Group issued administrative fine for data security neglect

ECB, EURO & ECONOMY

• Agenda for: Economic & Financial Affairs Council - 11 March 2025
• Main results of the Eurogroup - 10 March 2025
  - Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting
• EIB: Council grants the bank greater flexibility to manage its investment capacity
• ECB - Cyber resilience stress testing from a macroprudential perspective
• Capital markets union: a deep dive - Five measures to foster a single market for capital - ECB Occasional Paper No.369

FUTURE OF EUROPE

• Agenda for: Meeting of the EP Plenary Session - 10 to 13 March 2025

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

• Agenda for: EU-South Africa summit - 13 March 2025
• Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary joint debate on European Council meetings and European Security
• Common Security and Defence Policy: New Headquarters for the EU’s civilian missions
• Sudan: Statement by the Spokesperson on the latest political developments
• Plenary opening: “Parliament steadfast in support of the people of Belarus”
• EP to establish Western Balkans office in Albania and in Moldova