Tue. Oct 8th, 2024

LEGAL AFFAIRS

LATEST NEWS

EU Council adopts law to strengthen protection for geographical indications for foods and drinks

Geographical indications are intellectual property rights that protect the names of products with specific features or qualities or a specific reputation and which are linked to their area of production. Those products are protected against copying or fraud, while the geographical system guarantees that they have been manufactured in accordance with high standards in their region of origin.

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26/03/2024

EMFA: EU Council adopts new rules to protect journalists and media providers

The Council has adopted a new law that will safeguard media freedom, media pluralism and editorial independence in the EU. The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) will establish a common framework for media services in the EU’s internal market and introduce measures aimed at protecting journalists and media providers from political interference, while also making it easier for them to operate across the EU’s internal borders.

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26/03/2024

Support for farmers: EU Council endorses targeted review of the CAP

Today member states’ representatives in the Special Committee on Agriculture endorsed a targeted review of certain basic acts of the common agricultural policy (CAP) proposed by the European Commission as a response to the concerns voiced by farmers. This review addresses issues encountered, for instance, with the implementation of the CAP strategic plans and aims to deliver simplification, reduce the administrative burden, and provide greater flexibility for complying with certain

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26/03/2024

Agustín Reyna appointed as BEUC Director General

The European Consumer Organisation’s Executive Board has appointed Agustín Reyna as the next Director General. He will be taking over from the current DG, Monique Goyens, who is retiring this year after having led the consumer group network for almost 17 years.

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26/03/2024

ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda: EU Council adds a person and an entity to its autonomous list of sanctions

The Council decided today to add Mohamed Ibrahim al-Shafi’i Al-Salem, also known as Aba Al-Sahraoui, and Katiba Macina to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda, subject to EU restrictive measures. Aba Al-Sahraoui is the leader of ISIL-affiliated group ‘Islamic State Sahel Province’, which primarily operates in the tri-border area of Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. Katiba Macina is an affiliate of

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25/03/2024

EU Commission clears acquisition of Rügenwalder by Pfeifer & Langen

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Rügenwalder Mühle Carl Müller GmbH & Co. KG and RM Vermögensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG (‘Rügenwalder’) by Pfeifer & Langen Industrie- und Handels- KG (‘Pfeifer & Langen’), all of Germany. The transaction relates primarily to the food sector, in particular to the processing and preserving of meat substitutes.

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25/03/2024

EU Commission clears creation of joint venture by CIP, PHPL and MIESCOR

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by Connect Infrastructure Pte. Limited (‘CIP’), PTCI Holdings Pte. Limited (‘PHPL’), both of Singapore, and Meralco Industrial Engineering Services Corporation (‘MIESCOR’) of Philippines.
The transaction relates primarily to the leasing of space on telecommunications towers in the Philippines.

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25/03/2024

Combatting violence and harassment in the workplace: EU Council invites EU countries to ratify ILO convention

EU Council has adopted a decision inviting member states to ratify the International Labour Organization’s convention on violence and harassment (ILO convention 190). Violence and harassment in the workplace is a widespread and persistent phenomenon around the world: more than one in five people have experienced violence and harassment at work, whether physical, psychological or sexual, with women being particularly at risk.

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25/03/2024

Bosnia and Herzegovina: EU Council extends framework for restrictive measures until March 2026

The European Union will therefore keep its ability to impose targeted restrictive measures on individuals or entities who undermine the sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and international personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Restrictive measures can also be imposed against those who seriously threaten the security situation in the country, or undermine the Dayton/Paris General Framework Agreement for Peace.

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25/03/2024

EU Commission sends Statement of Objections over proposed acquisition of a stake in ITA Airways by Lufthansa

The European Commission has informed Deutsche Lufthansa AG (‘Lufthansa’) and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (‘MEF’) of its preliminary view that their proposed acquisition of joint control of ITA Airways (‘ITA’) may restrict competition on certain routes in the market for passenger air transport services in and out of Italy. The Commission is concerned that customers may face increased prices or decreased quality of services after the transaction.

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25/03/2024

Finland continues funding UNRWA— funds directed to prevention of misconduct

Finland suspended its annual five million euro payment to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in January due to the alleged links to the Hamas terrorist group. In February, Finland allocated corresponding support of EUR 5 million through International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Food Programme (WFP). At the end of last year, Finland also granted EUR

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22/03/2024

More effective joint regulation of illicit asset seizure in the EU

An amendment to the bill to seize illicit assets without a prior criminal conviction will be introduced. This is necessary to tie in with agreements made at European level in the Confiscation Directive at the end of 2023 on improving the effectiveness of seizing criminal assets in the European Union. Earlier in the Netherlands, advice was sought from the Council of State on a bill to seize criminal assets. That

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22/03/2024

EU Commission clears acquisition of Argal by SFH and existing shareholders

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Argal Alimentación, S.A. (‘Argal’) of Spain by Smithfield Foods Holding Limited (‘SFH’) of the UK and Manusian Family, S.L., Guembox Inversiones, S.L., Mr. Jordi Xavier Cagigós Negre and Mr. Antonio Cordero, all shareholders of Argal (‘existing shareholders’), all of Spain.

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22/03/2024

Mergers: EU Commission clears creation of joint venture by DWS, Galaxy and Flow Traders

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA (‘DWS’) of Germany, Galaxy Digital Labs LLC (‘Galaxy’) and Flow Traders Holding LLC (‘Flow Traders’), both of the US. The transaction relates primarily to the issuance of Euro-denominated stablecoin. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture will

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22/03/2024

Georgia: EEAS Spokesperson on the developments around judicial reform

A comprehensive reform of the judiciary, including a reform of the High Council of Justice, in line with the findings of the 2023 EU enlargement report on Georgia and with the Venice Commission’s recommendations, is one of the European Commission’s recommendations in the area of the “fundamentals” in Georgia’s EU accession path. This is also part of the nine steps listed in the latest EU enlargement communication of the European

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22/03/2024

EU Commission proposes increased tariffs on Russian and Belarusian grain products

The transit of cereals, oilseeds and derived products from Russia and Belarus to third countries is unaffected by today’s proposal. This shows that the European Union remains fully committed to promoting food security globally, especially when it comes to developing countries. More than two years after the start of Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, Europe is united and determined to continue defending our values and founding principles. The

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22/03/2024

Mergers: EU Commission clears acquisition of Walki by Oji

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of Walki Holding Oy (‘Walki’) of Finland by Oji Holdings Corporation (‘Oji’) of Japan. The transaction relates primarily to the sector of paper products and protective packaging materials. The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets.

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22/03/2024

‘Araban Sarımsağı’ garlic from Türkiye added to register of PDO

‘Araban Sarımsağı’ is a garlic variety belonging to the early harvested Allium Sativum L. species, which grows only in the Araban Plain. The geographical area covers all the villages and towns belonging to the Araban district in Gaziantep province in Southeastern Anatolia region. The climate and soil structure of the region are effective in the formation of unique features such as taste and aroma, together with the type of product.

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22/03/2024
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