Assistant lawyer Sofia Kurochka compiled the material.
Competition
Communication from the Commission – Guidelines on the applicability of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to horizontal co-operation agreements
Published: 21 July 2023
These Guidelines replace the 2011 Guidelines and are intended to provide legal certainty by assisting undertakings in assessing the compatibility of their horizontal cooperation agreements with Union competition rules while ensuring effective protection of competition. They also aim to make it easier for undertakings to cooperate in ways that are economically desirable, thereby contributing, for example, to the green and digital transitions and to promoting the resilience of the internal market.
Cybersecurity
Current status: common position adopted by the Council on 19 July 2023
The draft regulation introduces mandatory cybersecurity requirements for the design, development, production and making available on the market of hardware and software products. The proposed regulation will apply to all products that are connected either directly or indirectly to another device or network. The proposed regulation also allows consumers to take cybersecurity into account when selecting and using products that contain digital elements by providing users the opportunity to make informed choices of hardware and software products with the proper cybersecurity features.
See also: Press release.
Industry
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act)
Current status: approved by the Council on 25 July 2023
The Chips Act aims to create the conditions for the development of a European industrial base in the field of semiconductors, attract investment, promote research and innovation and prepare Europe for any future chip supply crisis.
See also: Press release
Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the safety of toys and repealing Directive 2009/48/EC
Published: 28 July 2023
The proposed regulation will prohibit the use of chemicals that affect the endocrine system (endocrine disruptors), and those chemicals which are toxic to a specific organ, including the immune, neurological or respiratory systems. It will allow for derogations to those generic bans only under limited circumstances where the use of these substances in toys do not pose a risk to children and there are no alternatives. The proposed rules will also strengthen enforcement so that only safe toys will be sold in the Union.
See also: Press release.
Sanctions
Adopted: 20 July 2023
The Council adopted and renewed several restrictive measures targeting, among others, individuals and entities in Lebanon, Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, and Myanmar. The Council prolonged restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine by six months.
Other
Communication from the Commission – Towards a Common European Tourism Data Space: boosting data sharing and innovation across the tourism ecosystem
Published: 20 July 2023
The data space will allow businesses and public authorities to share a broad range of data to inform the development of innovative tourism services, improve the sustainability of the tourism ecosystem and strengthen its economic competitiveness
See also: Press release.
July Infringements package
Adopted: 14 July 2023
The European Commission made the following decisions concerning Baltic States:
- The European Commission sent a reasoned opinion to, among others, Estonia, (INFR(2023)0011) and Latvia(INFR(2023)0027) for failing to transpose the EU rules laid down by the Representative Actions Directive (Directive (EU) 2020/1828).
- The Commission sent a reasoned opinion to, among others, Latvia(INFR(2021)0072) and Lithuania (INFR(2022)2036) for not having fully transposed EU rules for the internal electricity market set out in the Directive (EU) 2019/944, amending Directive 2012/27/EU.
- The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against, among others, Estonia (INFR(2023)2076) and Lithuania(INFR(2023)2074) for failing to fully transpose into its national laws the Directive on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings (Directive (EU) 2016/800).
- The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against, among others, Lithuania(INFR(2023)2057) for failing to ensure that their operational stakeholders comply with certain requirements within Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/116 on the establishment of the ‘Common Project One’ supporting the implementation of the European Air Traffic Management Master Plan.
- The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against, among others, Lithuania(INFR(2023)2084) for incorrect transposition of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1717.
- The European Commission opened an infringement procedure against, among others, Estonia(INFR(2021)2135) for failing to correctly transpose the Directive on the right of access to a lawyer and to communicate upon arrest (Directive 2013/48/EU).
- The European Commission referred Estonia(INFR(2021)0112) to the CJEU for failing to fully transpose the ECN+ Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1) into national legislation. A press release is available online.
