The European Commission has launched a consultation seeking views on the draft implementing Regulation concerning customs enforcement of intellectual property rights through electronic submission of applications for action by businesses. Under the draft egulation, businesses will be able to submit an application to customs authorities to ask them to take action on goods suspected of infringing their intellectual property rights. This initiative aims to acknowledge the obligation for business to electronically submit applications for action and related requests, set the date of entry into force of this obligation and also set out the fallback procedure to be used in the cases where electronic submission fails. The deadline for response is 24 April 2024 (midnight Brussels time).

The European Commission has published the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1041 of 28 November 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council of the EU regarding the EU list of projects of common interest (PCI) and projects of mutual interest (PMI) in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU). The new list includes 166 projects connecting the energy networks of EU Member States and PMIs with non-EU countries. Member States will be able to reach their goal of installing 111 GW of offshore renewable energy by 2030 and more than 300 GW by 2050, alongside rapid electrification, with the help of these projects. The Commission will now work closely with Member States, project promoters, regulators, and the wider stakeholder community to accelerate the implementation of the key projects in line with the stronger measures of the Grid Action Plan.

The European Commission has published reports on the main parameters of EU consolidated tapes issued by the expert stakeholder group on equity and non-equity market data quality and transmission protocols. The reports contain a set of recommendations focused on key pre-conditions for the tapes to emerge, such as the quality of data to be transmitted to and disseminated by consolidated tape providers, as well as the timeline for disclosing the trading information around bonds and derivatives.

The European Commission has published its first report on the application of the EU Regulation on Cash Controls (Regulation (EU) 2018/1672), which lays down rules on controls of cash entering or leaving the Union. The regulation, fully applicable since 3 June 2021, aims to protect the EU against money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CTF) by requiring declarations for cash movements of €10,000 or more at external borders. The report, submitted to the European Parliament and the Council pursuant to Article 19, covers the period from 3 June 2021 to 2 June 2024 and presents feedback gathered from Member States, customs authorities and Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs). It concludes that the regulation is functioning effectively and does not require amendment at this stage. The Commission also confirms that the current threshold and scope remain appropriate.

The European Commission has published the report it sent to the European Parliament and the Council on its assessment of the markets for commodity derivatives, for emission allowances and for derivatives of emission allowances, pursuant to Article 90(5) of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) (Directive (EU) 2014/65), as amended in February 2024. The report says responses from stakeholders, as well as the subsequent Commission assessment based on the analysis of market trends, did not point to an urgent need to make substantive changes to the reviewed elements of the commodity derivatives framework, even though certain targeted amendments could be considered in the future.

The European Commission has published revised Guidance Documents to support the implementation of EU Directive 2009/31/EC on geological storage of carbon dioxide (CCS). Initially published in 2011, the updated Guidance Documents streamline permitting procedures and promote sustainable CO2 storage solutions in the EEA. Key revisions cover novel storage technologies, CCS value chain aspects, corrosion and safety issues, and transitioning from hydrocarbon production to CO2 storage. The Guidance Documents guide Member States on identifying suitable geological areas and adopting risk-based financial provisions for storage permits. The update aligns with the EU's Industrial Carbon Management strategy, reflecting CCS's increasing role in achieving climate neutrality

The European Commission has published a statement about the seventh high-level meeting on sanctions implementation, chaired by Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque. The meeting focused on supporting Ukraine and weakening Russia's economy to hinder its aggression against Ukraine. High-level representatives from EU Member States, the Commission, and the External Action Service participated to tackle challenges in sanctions implementation and enforcement. Solutions, such as the EU sanctions helpdesk, were introduced to aid businesses in compliance. The event also featured a statement from the EU Sanctions Envoy, David O’Sullivan, highlighting the need to prevent evasion and ensure robust international coordination.

The European Commission has published the final report on the study on the relevance and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) for company law and corporate governance, in collaboration with EY. The aim of the study is to provide a better understanding of the impact of the use of AI by companies, shareholders, creditors, public authorities and other stakeholders in order to perform certain company law and corporate governance tasks. The study provides analysis of potential regulatory gaps, obstacles and risks relating to the use of AI for corporate governance purposes. The study also develops some high-level recommendations, including recommending that the Commission monitors the development and spread of the use of AI within the boards of directors of EU companies and that it continues to monitor the evolution of national legislation and case law concerning the use of AI for company law and corporate governance related tasks in EU Member States.

MLex: The European Commission is pressing ahead with finalising a Code of Practice for general-purpose AI (GPAI) model developers, intended as a key compliance tool for the likes of OpenAI, Anthropic and Microsoft, for application in August 2025, even though discussions on pausing the EU AI Act that underpins it are now formally on the table. The Code, GPAI guidelines, the template to disclose training datasets and related guidelines are expected by the first week of July 2025. Leading AI companies are being engaged to secure their support for the Code, though they are still in the dark on the critical copyright-related parts.

The European Commission has decided to refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for alleged failures in implementing EU free movement law, which continue to affect EU citizens under the Withdrawal Agreement. The referral, announced on 16 December 2024, relates to infringement procedures INFR(2020)2202 and INFR(2011)2054. The Commission contends that the UK has not adequately addressed several grievances, particularly concerning the rights of workers and extended family members. The case focuses on the UK's implementation of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, specifically Articles 21, 45, and 49, as well as the transposition of the Free Movement Directive (2004/38/EC). This action is permissible under the Withdrawal Agreement, which allows the Commission to pursue infringement cases initiated before the end of the transition period.

The European Commission has registered a European Citizens' Initiatives (ECI), called PsychedeliCare, which seeks to assist with the development of psychedelic assisted therapies, support expert consensus on psychedelic care standards, and increase capacity building efforts for multidisciplinary training. The initiative is also calling on the Commission to improve research into the therapeutic applications of psychedelics and the development of research networks, and to also endorse common positions for regulations on psychedelic compounds. The PsychedeliCare organisers now have six months to open the signature collection, which the Commission will have to respond to if it receives at least one million statements of support within one year across seven different Member States.

The European Commission has reaffirmed its dedication to promoting media freedom and diversity on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2024. It emphasises the importance of journalists being able to work without restraint or danger, highlighting attacks on journalists over the past few years. Concrete measures, such as the upcoming enforcement of rules on 6 May 2024, against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and the European Media Freedom Act entering into force on 7 May 2024, aim to protect journalists and uphold media independence. These actions are part of a broader strategy for the media, aligning with the European Democracy Action Plan and the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan. The Commission calls on Member States to implement these rules promptly, promoting its ongoing commitment to addressing media challenges.