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Competition
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08/12/2022
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Commission extends duration of R&D and specialisation block exemption regulations
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The European Commission has adopted today two regulations extending the period of validity of the horizontal block exemption regulations on Research & Development and Specialisation Agreements (together ‘HBERs'). The HBERs were due to expire on 31 December 2022 and the Commission has prolonged them until 30 June 2023.
For more information on the review process, click here.
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Antitrust
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06/12/2022
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Commission sends Statement of Objections to Deutsche Bank and Rabobank over Euro-denominated bonds trading cartel case
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The European Commission has informed Deutsche Bank and Rabobank of its preliminary view that they breached EU antitrust rules by colluding to distort competition when trading Euro-denominated Sovereign, SSA (Supra-Sovereign, Foreign Sovereign, Sub-Sovereign/Agency), Covered and Government Guaranteed bonds.
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State aid
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05/12/2022
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Commission approves €26.3 million Finnish measure to support SEVO in construction of hydroelectric pump storage
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The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a €26.3 million Finnish aid measure to support Suomen Energiavarasto Oy (‘SEVO') in the construction of an underground hydroelectric pump storage facility. The measure will increase the share of renewables in Finland's electricity generation in line with the EU's European Green Deal objectives. At the same time, it will help reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition in line with the REPowerEU Plan.
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Mergers
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05/12/2022
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The Commission adopts a Statement of Objections outlining measures to unwind Illumina's blocked acquisition of GRAIL
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The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to Illumina and GRAIL informing them of the restorative measures it intends to adopt under the EU Merger Regulation, following the Commission's decision to prohibit the implemented acquisition of GRAIL by Illumina.
See also the EC's infographic on the Procedures in Illumina/GRAIL.
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Court
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07/12/2022
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CCPL and Others v Commission
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The Commission takes note of today’s judgment by the General Court in the case CCPL Sc and Others v Commission.
The General Court fully upholds the Commission’s decision of 17 December 2020, re-adopting a cartel decision against CCPL and imposing fines on three entities of CCPL Group for their participation in three separate cartels in the retail food packaging sector.
In today’s judgment, the General Court also upholds in full the Commission’s decision rejecting the CCPL’s request for inability to pay the fine under the Commission’s Guidelines on fines.
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Events
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13/12/2022
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Workshop on Mergers in the Digital Sector
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The European Commission has the pleasure to invite you to the workshop on digital mergers that will take place on Tuesday 13 December 2022 in Brussels, from 13:00 to 19:00.
Full agenda and registration are available in DG COMP's website.
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Public consultations
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29/08/2022 - 19/12/2022
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Evaluation of the Guarantee Notice – Expert consultation
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The aim of the expert consultation is to gather evidence for evaluating the Guarantee Notice since its last revision in 2008, in the light of significant changes in market conditions, and the resulting risk that certain applications of the Notice by EU countries are not aligned with current market benchmarks. In this way, the expert consultation will gather evidence and views on the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value of the Guarantee Notice. This input will help the Commission to analyse the extent to which the Commission’s Guarantee Notice has facilitated access to finance in an effective and efficient way, especially for SMEs.
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25/11/2022 - 23/12/2022
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EU competition rules on technology transfer agreements – evaluation
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The purpose of this initiative is to evaluate how the Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation, due to expire on 30 April 2026, and related guidelines are working in practice, to help decide whether the Commission should: (i) let the Regulation expire; (ii) prolong the duration of the Regulation, or (iii) prepare a revised Regulation and related guidelines.
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15/11/2022 - 10/01/2023
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Exemptions for small amounts of aid (de minimis aid) (update)
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The Commission proposes to revise the de minimis threshold to adapt it to the current economic context and proposed to improve transparency requirements. These changes are translated into the text of the proposed Regulation, which is subject to the present public consultation.
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08/11/2022 - 13/01/2023
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Review of the Commission Notice on the definition of relevant market for the purposes of Community competition law
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The present consultation is carried out in the context of the ongoing review of the Market Definition Notice. The purpose of the consultation is to gather stakeholders’ opinion in relation to the draft revised Market Definition Notice, first rendered public on 8 November 2022.
See also the corresponding EC press release.
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Open calls for tender
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22/11/2022 - 15/12/2022
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Study on State aid for access to finance for social enterprises and for the recruitment of disadvantaged workers in the form of wage subsidies
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The EU Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP), adopted in December 2021, entails several Commission commitments regarding State aid control. In the legislative field, it spells out that the Commission, when the revision of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) will take place, will consider whether the available evidence “justifies easing the rules in relation to aid for social enterprises’ access to finance and as regards aid for hiring disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged workers”. The General Block Exemption Regulation exempts specific categories of State aid from prior notification to, and approval by the Commission, if they fulfil certain conditions.
Please note: this is not a call for tenders but a publication announcing the Contracting authority’s intention to publish a future negotiated low or middle value procedure.
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11/11/2022 - 10/01/2023
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Technical expertise in the context of investigations and compliance enforcement in relation to digital services
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The subject of this call for tenders is the provision of technical expertise in relation to digital services in the context of enforcement of competition law and of ensuring contestability and fairness in that sector.
Time limit for receipt of tenders: 10/01/2023.
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New legislation
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