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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 13335

25 January 2024
Contents Publication in full By article 34 / 44
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU / State aid
General Court of EU annuls decision classifying as State aid a German support scheme for electricity production by cogeneration plants

24/01/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 24 January, the General Court of the European Union annulled the European Commission’s decision of June 2021 (see EUROPE B12734A21) to classify as State aid the German ‘Kraft-Wärme-Kopplungsgesetz’ (KWKG) scheme to support the production of electricity by high-efficiency cogeneration plants (excluding coal- and lignite-fired cogeneration plants) (Case T-409/21). In particular, the Court noted that this system does not oblige electricity...

Contents

EXTERNAL ACTION
TRADE: European Commission opts for a cautious approach to economic security
TRADE: Belgian Presidency of EU Council sets out key priorities for international trade
DEVELOPMENT: Caroline Gennez outlines geopolitical ambitions of Belgian Presidency of EU Council to MEPs
SECTORAL POLICIES
RESEARCH: European Commission wants to strengthen promotion of dual-use technologies and safety of research
RESEARCH: Commission wants to create AI Factories with easier access for European start-ups
DIGITAL: ‘AI Act’ – European Commission prepares to establish future ‘European Artificial Intelligence Office’
PATENTS: MEPs adopt their position on several regulations to modernise patent environment
HOME AFFAIRS: negotiators from Belgian Presidency of EU Council and European Parliament agree on new rules against human trafficking
HOME AFFAIRS/MIGRATION: migration, artificial intelligence and fight against drugs on agenda of informal meeting of EU27 home affairs ministers
AGRICULTURE: European Parliament committee reaches majority position on supervision of new genomic techniques
AGRICULTURE: Member States support reduction in level of protection for wolves in EU
AGRICULTURE: majority of EU Member States opposed to production of ‘cultured meat’
CLIMATE: European certification for carbon removals, with co-legislators agreeing on process, monitoring and accountability provisions and establishment of a quadripartite structure
CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: for Alain Maron, there is no question of Belgian Presidency of EU Council “hitting pause button” in pursuing objectives of European Green Deal
ENVIRONMENT: revision of ambient air quality directives, further Parliament and EU Council negotiations required to reach agreement
TRANSPORT: real-world CO2 emissions from internal combustion cars did not drop between 2009 and 2019, according to Court of Auditors of EU
ENERGY: Kadri Simson welcomes ENTSO-E’s launch of very first Offshore Network Development Plans
ENERGY: electricity consumption in EU is not expected to return to 2021 levels until 2026, as global production from low-carbon sources accelerates, according to IEA
SOCIAL AFFAIRS - EMPLOYMENT
EMPLOYMENT: European Commission proposes to strengthen role of European Works Councils
INSTITUTIONAL
BUDGET: revision of EU’s long-term budget, an agreement with EU27 Member States remains an “absolute priority” for EU Council
BUDGET/RULE OF LAW: unblocking of EU funds for Hungary, Commission struggles to convince MEPs
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Commission expands guidelines for European Commissioners standing for election
SECURITY - DEFENCE
CSDP: EU Member States plan ambitious Red Sea mission
DEFENCE: Jiří Šedivý calls on Member States to place orders for 155 mm ammunition
NATO: after Turkey ratifies its accession, Sweden awaits green light from Hungary
SPACE: European Commission, EIB and ESA strengthen cooperation
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS - SOCIETAL ISSUES
DEMOCRACY: Council of EU adopts its negotiating position on European Ethics Body
DEMOCRACY: ‘Defence of Democracy’, Belgian Presidency of EU Council calls on Member States to debate transparency registers and resilience of electoral processes
ECONOMY - FINANCE - BUSINESS
COMPANIES: MEPs adopt position on sustainability reporting by third-country companies
ECB: thirteen MEPs and economists call on Governing Council to review minimum reserve requirements for commercial banks in euro area
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
JUSTICE: Register of Damage for Ukraine to be fully operational by end of April
EDUCATION - YOUTH - CULTURE - SPORT
EDUCATION: on International Day of Education, EU reaffirms its commitment to “more just and sustainable societies”
COURT OF JUSTICE OF THE EU
BANKS: General Court of EU annuls three decisions on bank contributions to ‘Single Resolution Fund’ for 2021
STATE AID: General Court of EU annuls decision classifying as State aid a German support scheme for electricity production by cogeneration plants
NEWS BRIEFS
HOME AFFAIRS: European Ports Alliance against drug trafficking launched in Antwerp
MONEY LAUNDERING: details of European Parliament/EU Council agreement on strengthened anti-money laundering rules
CHILE: MEPs broadly endorse updating of association agreement with Chile
CITIZENSHIP: registration of a European Citizens’ Initiative to ban conversion practices targeting sexual and gender minorities in EU
ECONOMY: progress in EU Council on confiscation of profits from Russian public assets frozen in EU
IRAN: EU strongly condemns protester’s execution
DIGITAL: legislation on cyber resilience, MEPs approve interinstitutional agreement in Parliament committee
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Valérie Hayer is set to succeed Stéphane Séjourné as chair of Renew Europe group
SOCIAL: digital platform workers, Member States to resume talks on 26 January
TRANSPORT: independent automotive service providers call on European Commission to legislate on vehicle data