This Week in Automotive — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Battery regulation derogations published; Critical Raw Materials Strategic Projects recognised; Environmental data reporting format established; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement enters force; Council prepares energy network charges debate.
October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
Battery regulation derogations published; Critical Raw Materials Strategic Projects recognised; Environmental data reporting format established; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement enters force; Council prepares energy network charges debate.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy): On October 29, the EU Council's Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) configuration is scheduled to hold an ministerial meeting in Brussels.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
New Derogations for Removability and Replaceability of Portable Batteries
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1770, published on 22 October 2026, supplements Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 regarding derogations for the removability and replaceability of portable batteries. The regulation clarifies conditions under which certain products, including wearable devices, medical equipment, and telematics devices for agricultural and construction machinery, may have batteries removable only by independent professionals. Temporary derogations for electric toys and food-contact thermometer probes are addressed, with provisions for safety and durability. The regulation enters into force 20 days after publication and is directly applicable across Member States.
Critical Raw Material Projects Recognised as Strategic under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
Commission Decision (EU) 2026/2349, adopted on 9 October 2026 and published on 22 October 2026, recognises 46 critical raw material projects as Strategic Projects under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. Projects span extraction, processing, recycling, and substitution of strategic raw materials, including several battery recycling and lithium extraction initiatives relevant to the automotive sector. The assessment followed technical review and Member State feedback, with no objections from affected states. The Decision is addressed to the project promoters and relevant Member States.
Format and Frequency for Environmental Data Reporting Established
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2267, published on 20 October 2026, establishes the format and frequency of environmental data reporting by Member States under Regulation (EU) 2024/1244. The Decision sets out templates and lists of raw materials to be reported from industrial installations, including automotive manufacturing. Key changes include prefilled templates, phased reporting for livestock installations, and new confidentiality guidelines. Implementation applies from 1 January 2028, with the first reporting year set as 2027.
Council Decision on EU-UK Competition Law Cooperation Agreement
Council Decision (EU) 2026/2304 of 9 October 2026 approves the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom regarding cooperation on the application of their respective competition laws. The Agreement, signed on 25 February 2026, provides a framework for coordination and information sharing on competition matters, including automotive markets. The Decision enters into force upon adoption.
EU-UK Competition Law Cooperation Agreement
The Agreement, published in the Official Journal on 19 October 2026, establishes mechanisms for cooperation and information sharing between EU and UK competition authorities. Areas covered include antitrust, merger control, and market investigations, with provisions for confidentiality and data protection. The Agreement enters into force after notification by both parties and remains in effect until terminated or upon expiry of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
EU Council
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council Prepares Debate on Energy Network Charges
Energy ministers are scheduled to meet on 29 October 2026 in Luxembourg to discuss proposed regulation on network charges and future-proofing electricity bills. The agenda includes exchanges on energy security and post-2030 energy targets.
What We're Reading This Week
- Tesla profit falls 43% as it explores possible SpaceX merger: Tesla’s quarterly profit drops sharply while the company considers a potential merger with Elon Musk’s other venture, SpaceX.
