This Week in the Single Market — Brussels (#30, 2026)
Commission opens in-depth State aid probe into Spanish arbitration award; Safeguards imposed on steel imports from several FTA partners; New countervailing duty on Chinese lightweight thermal paper; Changes to animal health rules and geographical indications enacted.
August 02, 2026 to August 08, 2026
Commission opens in-depth State aid probe into Spanish arbitration award; Safeguards imposed on steel imports from several FTA partners; New countervailing duty on Chinese lightweight thermal paper; Changes to animal health rules and geographical indications enacted.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
European Commission
Commission initiates in-depth State aid investigation into compensation award against Spain for JGC Holdings
The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation (case SA.102404) to assess whether Spain’s compensation payment to JGC Holdings Corporation, following an arbitration ruling under the Energy Charter Treaty, constitutes unlawful State aid under Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. The award, amounting to €23.5 million plus interest, was granted in connection with retroactive changes to Spain’s 2007 renewable electricity support scheme. The Commission approved Spain’s amended scheme in 2017 but stated that any compensation awarded to investors based on the pre-2013 scheme would require Commission notification. The Commission cited concerns that arbitration awards substituting Commission decisions on State aid may breach the EU Treaties and the autonomy of the Union legal system. Spain also notified the payment's transfer to Blasket Renewables Investment, which is attempting to enforce the award in several jurisdictions. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments; the investigation's outcome remains open.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Provisional countervailing duty imposed on Chinese lightweight thermal paper
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1914 of 5 August 2026 imposes a provisional countervailing duty on imports of certain lightweight thermal paper from the People’s Republic of China. The Regulation (OJ L 2026/1914) establishes a duty rate of up to 70.5% for non-cooperating exporters, following findings of substantial subsidies granted by Chinese authorities and injury to the Union industry. The measure covers thermal paper with a basis weight of 65 g/m2 or less supplied in 'jumbo rolls'. The investigation—initiated under Regulation (EU) 2016/1037—detected significant preferential lending, grants, and tax advantages to Chinese producers.
Bilateral safeguard measures introduced for steel imports under free trade agreements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1930 of 4 August 2026 enacts bilateral safeguard measures under Regulation (EU) 2026/1384, imposing an out-of-quota duty of 50% ad valorem on imports of certain steel products from Albania, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, North Macedonia, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Türkiye. The safeguards are triggered upon exhaustion of country or competitive tariff quotas amid a confirmed 15% surge in union imports and eroding domestic industry market share. The measure follows significant increases in import volumes as reported in Eurostat data for 2023–2025.
Commission approves amendment to PDO specification for 'Romagna'
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1920 of 31 July 2026 approves a Union amendment to the product specification for the protected designation of origin (PDO) 'Romagna', pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2024/1143. The changes, proposed by Italy, concern technical aspects of the PDO specification for this wine, and no statements of opposition were filed.
Registration of 'Kiełbasa pradziada z Dukli' as PGI and other new geographical indications
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1927 of 31 July 2026 registers 'Kiełbasa pradziada z Dukli' as a protected geographical indication (PGI). Further, Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2026/1899 and 2026/1901 register 'Jabłka krajeńskie' and 'Pernil Cerretà' as PGIs under Regulation (EU) 2024/1143, following unopposed national applications from Poland and Spain.
eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu
Amendments to animal health certificate models for intra-EU movement of terrestrial animals
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1127 of 8 May 2026 amends Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/403 by updating animal health certificate models for intra-EU movements of certain terrestrial animals and germinal products, in line with recent changes to Delegated Regulations (EU) 2020/686, 2020/688, 2026/794, and 2026/795. These changes reflect new requirements for diseases such as bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic disease, and contagious equine metritis. The regulation applies from 1 November 2026.
New emergency animal disease control measures for Finland and Greece
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1937 of 5 August 2026 mandates interim emergency measures following the confirmation of African swine fever in wild porcine animals in Finland. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1931 of 4 August 2026 amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/2207 to adjust restricted zones and disease control measures following new outbreaks of sheep pox and goat pox in Greece.
eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu
EU Council position on amendments to EU-Switzerland veterinary agreement
Council Decision (EU) 2026/1911 of 13 July 2026 sets the EU position for forthcoming amendments to Appendices 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 10 of Annex 11 to the EU-Switzerland Agreement on trade in agricultural products. The changes align animal health and official controls provisions, update disease status recognition, and facilitate Swiss integration into the Union's IMSOC information system.
Commission backs Dutch derogation from ERTMS trackside priorities for rail
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1909 of 12 June 2026 approves the Netherlands’ request to temporarily derogate from certain European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) trackside priority rules for 175 VIRM trains, as permitted under Directive (EU) 2016/797, until the end of 2032 or earlier if legacy systems are retired.
Adjustment of Romanian emergency measures on peste des petits ruminants
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1910 of 30 July 2026 amends Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, updating restricted zones and duration of disease control measures in line with new outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania’s Brașov and Mureș counties.
