LEGAL AFFAIRS – INSIGHT EU MONITORING

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EU Court of Justice: Judgment in Case C-518/22 (AP Assistenzprofis)

AP Assistenzprofis is a Germany company specialising in providing assistance and advice to persons with disabilities. In 2018, that company was seeking personal assistants to help a 28 year-old female student in all areas of her everyday life. The job advertisement stated a preference for persons ‘between 18 and 30 years old’. A candidate whose age is not within that range and whose job application was rejected asserts that she

08/12/2023

Reform of the EU Court of Justice: EU legislators reach provisional agreement

The Council presidency and European Parliament representatives today reached a provisional agreement on a reform of the Statute of the Court of Justice, which will improve the functioning of the Court of Justice of the EU against the background of a steady increase in the number of cases brought before it and in the complexity and sensitive nature of questions raised.

08/12/2023

Daisy Chains: EU Council and Parliament reach agreement

The Council and the European Parliament today reached a provisional political agreement on the Daisy Chains proposal. The proposal is a targeted amendment of the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive or (BRRD) and the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation or (SRMR) to include targeted proportionality requirements to the treatment of ‘internal MREL’ in bank resolution groups.

06/12/2023

Capital Markets Union: EU Council reaches agreement on improvements to EU clearing services

The Council adopted today a mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on a review of the European market infrastructure regulation and directive. The review aims to make the EU clearing landscape more attractive and resilient, to support the EU’s open strategic autonomy and to preserve the EU’s financial stability.

06/12/2023

EU Commission clears acquisition of Feni Haltim

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Feni Haltim and the creation of a joint venture by Contemporary Amperex Technology of China and Aneka Tambang of Indonesia. The transaction relates primarily to the production and sale of ferronickel, the production of mixed hydroxide precipitate and other activities related to smelting.

06/12/2023

Mergers: EU Commission clears creation of joint venture by Idemitsu Kosan and Mitsubishi Chemical Group

The transaction relates primarily to the distribution of liquified petroleum gas in Japan. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact in the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

06/12/2023

EU Commission clears acquisition of Landmark Dividend by Platinum Compass and DigitalBridge

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Landmark Dividend LLC (‘Landmark’) of the US by Platinum Compass B 2018 RSC Limited (‘Platinum Compass’) of the United Arab Emirates and DigitalBridge Group, Inc. (‘DigitalBridge’) of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the real estate sector associated with digital infrastructure.

06/12/2023

EU Commission welcomes revised industrial designs agreement

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached last night between the European Parliament and the Council on the proposals for a revised Regulation and Directive on industrial designs. This agreement follows the Commission’s proposal of November 2022 and modernises the existing Community design framework and parallel national design regimes, which were created and harmonised 20 years ago. The new rules will facilitate business innovation and introduce a more balanced approach to design protection.

06/12/2023

EU Commission updates approved ship recycling facilities

Today, the Commission updated the European list of ship recycling facilities that are approved for recycling of large seagoing vessels sailing under an EU Member State flag. The list now contains 45 ship recycling facilities, including 26 yards in the EU, nine in Türkiye, seven in Norway, three in the United Kingdom and one in the United States.

06/12/2023

EU Commission receives Czechia’s second and third payment requests under the RRF

This request covers a set of transformative reforms aimed at speeding up the digitalisation of public administration by setting up digitalisation competence centres, supporting the development of electronic communication networks, and making transport greener through the adoption of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans in Czech cities.

06/12/2023

Europe unites against hate: Call to action launched

With today’s Communication, the Commission and the High Representative are stepping up their efforts to fight hatred in all its forms, by reinforcing action across a variety of policies, including security, digital, education, culture and sport. This includes additional funding to protect places of worship and will be backed up by the designation of Envoys with an explicit mandate to maximise the potential of EU policies to combat hatred.

06/12/2023

EU Commission proposes extension for electric vehicle rule

The European Commission has today proposed to the Council a specific one-off extension – until 31 December 2026 – of the current rules of origin for electric vehicles and batteries under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). This proposal does not affect the TCA’s wider rules of origin which will be applicable as of 2027, as planned. The Commission is also setting aside additional funding of up to €3

06/12/2023

EU Council tackles dual mental health and drug use

The Council approved conclusions on people having drug use disorders that co-occur with other mental health disorders. The Council invites member states to consider drug use disorders (DUDs) co-occuring with other mental health disorders as an important challenge for drug and mental health services and policies, a challenge that requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive response to the needs of people with these disorders.

05/12/2023

EU Commission welcomes provisional agreement on managing hazardous chemicals

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the revision of the regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals (CLP). While improving the functioning of the EU market regarding products containing hazardous chemicals, the new measures will better protect consumers, workers, and the environment.

05/12/2023

EU Commission clears acquisition of European Staffing Business of Kelly Services

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Kelly Services Management Sàrl of Switzerland (i.e. the European Staffing Business of Kelly Services, Inc.) by GI Group Holding S.p.A. (‘GI Group’) of Italy. The transaction relates primarily to the sector of employment services. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited combined market position resulting

05/12/2023

EU Commission clears acquisition of APCOA by SVP

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of APCOA Parking Holdings GmbH (‘APCOA’) by Strategic Value Partners, LLC (‘SVP’), both of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the market of car management services, including parking consultancy and enforcement services, and taxi or shuttle management solutions.

05/12/2023

EU Commission clears creation of joint venture by Musashi, Delta, and Toyota

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Musashi Auto Parts India private limited (‘Musashi’) of India, Delta Electronics, Inc. (‘Delta’) of Taiwan, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (‘Toyota’) of Japan. The transaction relates primarily to the supply of automotive components, notably electric drive systems for two-wheeler electric vehicles in India.

05/12/2023

Europol: 10 illegal firearms workshops dismantled

Europol supported an EU-wide investigation, led by the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), into the illegal manufacturing of firearms. The operational activities, initiated in Spain, involved law enforcement authorities from Canada, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

05/12/2023

EU Commission welcomes provisional agreement for more sustainable, repairable and circular products

The Commission welcomes the provisional agreement reached last night between the European Parliament and the Council on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. It will help make sustainable products the new norm in the EU, by making them last longer, use energy and resources more efficiently, easier to repair and recycle, contain fewer substances of concern and include more recycled content.

05/12/2023