Enhanced cooperation meaning

In this issue: Commercial Competition and state aid Data protection and cybersecurity Financial services Environment Insurance and reinsurance IP Life sciences Regulatory Restructuring and insolvency TMT International Trade Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Commercial Temu’s practices found to breach EU consumer laws The European Commission has informed Temu that a number of its practices breach EU consumer law and has instructed the platform to bring them into line. A co-ordinated investigation by the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, the Commission and national authorities concluded that Temu misled shoppers with bogus discounts, pushed customers into purchases by falsely claiming limited stock and looming deadlines, and provided incomplete or inaccurate details about consumers’ rights on returns and refunds. Investigators also reported that users were forced to play a ‘spin the fortune wheel’ game to access the marketplace, that fake reviews were used, and that contact information was...

In this issue: UK competition policy EU mergers EU competition policy EU State aid Daily and weekly news alerts Caselex UK competition policy CMA publishes its Strategy for 2026–2029 The CMA has set out its Strategy for 2026–2029, explaining how it will advance competition and safeguard consumers to drive economic growth and strengthen household prosperity. The plan commits to embedding the 4Ps (pace, predictability, proportionality and process) across all activity, while evolving operations to maximise agility, productivity and overall impact. Promoting effective competition, including rolling out the UK’s new digital markets regime and enabling pro‑growth collaboration between businesses Championing consumers through enhanced enforcement powers to secure fair outcomes and bolster household confidence Helping government deploy pro‑competition measures that support growth, innovation and investment‑related policies Fostering a UK regulatory environment that attracts investment and instils business confidence Prioritising UK interests by concentrating on areas delivering the greatest economic benefit ...

In this issue: Commercial Competition and state aid Data protection and cybersecurity Free movement, immigration and employment Financial services Environment Life sciences Regulatory TMT International trade Daily and weekly news alerts Trackers Commercial Vinted improves pricing information following dialogue with European Commission Vinted, an online marketplace for second-hand goods, has enhanced its price displays and consumer transparency after discussions with the European Commission and Member State consumer authorities, bringing its approach into line with EU consumer law. The Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation Authorities (CPC) will oversee checks of Vinted’s site and app to confirm the changes comply with EU rules. Should Vinted fail to uphold its commitments or not remedy issues highlighted by the CPC Network, national consumer authorities may impose sanctions. See: LNB News 18/06/2024 29...

This tracker monitors the EU’s negotiated trade deals that are already in force. It covers provisional arrangements that facilitate commerce whilst talks on a definitive free trade agreement are underway, or until a final free trade agreement enters into force. It also lists agreements with a trade element, even where these do not amount to a comprehensive free trade agreement. Country Agreement Albania — Stabilisation and Association Agreement Algeria — Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement Andorra — Customs Union Antigua and Barbuda — Economic Partnership Agreement Armenia — Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement Azerbaijan — Partnership and Cooperation Agreement Bahamas — Economic Partnership Agreement Barbados — Economic Partnership Agreement Belize — Economic Partnership Agreement Bosnia and Herzegovina — Stabilisation and Association...

Framework This Practice Note offers practical guidance on the UK competition law landscape for major online platforms, drawing principally on Part 1 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA 2024). DMCCA 2024 secured Royal Assent on 24 May 2024, and the digital markets provisions discussed in this Practice Note, set out in DMCCA 2024, Pt 1, entered into force on 1 January 2025 by means of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (Commencement No 1 and Savings and Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2024, SI 2024/1226 (see: LNB News 28/11/2024 7). DMCCA 2024 introduced: a digital competition regime for digital markets in the UK (Digital Competition Regime) reforms to the UK competition regime via amendments to the Competition Act 1998 (CA 1998) and the Enterprise Act 2002 (EnA 2002) enhanced consumer protection measures For more on DMCCA 2024 and the changes to the competition regime, see Practice Note: The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024: key competition...

Urban wastewater is a major driver of water contamination, frequently carrying bacteria, viruses, hazardous chemicals including micropollutants, and surplus nutrients. When released without treatment, these pollutants can threaten human health and harm ecosystems in rivers, lakes and coastal waters... Background to the original Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC) The original Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) took effect on 29 May 1991. It set requirements for the collection, monitoring, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater, along with the monitoring, treatment and discharge of wastewater from specific industrial sectors listed in Annex III. Milk processing Meat and fish processing Manufacturing of fruit and vegetable products Manufacturing and bottling of soft drinks Etc. Its objective was to protect the environment from the negative impacts of these discharges. A 2019 evaluation concluded the Directive had boosted wastewater collection and treatment across the EU, yet determined that a thorough overhaul was necessary to tackle existing and emerging pollution (such as pharmaceuticals and...