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Earlier this week, the European Commission sent to Member States for consultation a draft proposal to prolong and adjust the State aid Temporary Crisis Framework. This communication, first adopted on 23 March 2022 and amended on 20 July, enables Member States to use the flexibility foreseen under State aid rules to support the economy in the context of Russia's war against Ukraine.

On 6 October, the Council adopted the eighth package of hard-hitting sanctions against Russia for its aggression against Ukraine.

On 3 October, the European Parliament’s TRAN Committee adopted its report on the proposals for the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) and FuelEU Maritime. CLECAT welcomes the adoption of the report by TRAN MEPs as an important step toward the deployment of much-needed charging and alternative refuelling infrastructure, as well as concrete emissions reduction from the maritime sector.

Earlier this week, CLECAT attended the first joint meeting of the EU and the UK Domestic Advisory Groups under the EU-UK TCA. The two DAGs, tasked to advise the TCA parties on the implementation of the agreement, discussed key topics of mutual interest and concern, and how best to cooperate towards achieving their joint objectives and support the effective implementation of the TCA.

On 4 October, the European Parliament endorsed the political agreement reached earlier this year on the proposal for EU Single Window Environment for Customs. The Council now needs to formally adopt the regulation, before it is signed and published in the EU Official Journal.

CLECAT, together with other members of the DG TAXUD Trade Contact Group, including the express industry, cargo owners, stakeholders in the air and maritime sector, IT service providers, as well as the American businesses active in Europe, issued a joint letter to Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni for Economy on the reform of the Union Customs Code. The signatories to the letter expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of realistic and sufficient timelines for the UCC IT implementation, and the insufficient consultation with the trade community on the ongoing UCC reform.

CLECAT has submitted its feedback to the call for evidence on the evaluation of the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER). In its submission CLECAT elaborates on its arguments why the CBER should not be prolonged.

Following the approval of recovery funds by the European Commission in June, the Italian government has implemented a scheme on 16 September to compensate rail freight companies for the losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 21st of September marked the fifth anniversary of the provisional application of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). The agreement has helped boost EU trade with Canada and has provided the EU with a solid, trusted source of supply for key resources such as energy and raw materials.