Commission renews decisions to allow free flow of personal data with the UK
Today, the European Commission renewed the two 2021 adequacy decisions for the free flow of personal data with the United Kingdom. The decisions ensure that personal data can continue flowing freely and safely between the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom, as the UK legal framework contains data protection safeguards that are essentially equivalent to those provided by the EU.
In June 2025, the Commission had adopted a technical extension of the 2021 adequacy decisions with the United Kingdom – one under the General Data Protection Regulation and the other concerning the Law Enforcement Directive – for a limited period of six months, as they were set to expire on 27 December this year. This extension allowed the Commission to conduct a thorough assessment of the legal framework in the UK as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act.
The adoption of the renewal decisions follows the European Data Protection Boards opinion and the Member States green light in the so-called comitology procedure.
The new decisions are subject to a sunset clause of six years, running until 27 December 2031, with the possibility to be renewed. The Commission together with representatives of the European Data Protection Board will review the functioning of the adequacy decisions after a period of four years.
More information is available in our press release online.
(For more information: Guillaume Mercier – Tel: +32 2 298 05 64; Cristina Torres Castillo — Tel.: + 32 2 299 06 79)
Final steps taken to ensure smooth entry into application of the EU Deforestation Regulation
The European Commission welcomes the final vote by the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission proposal for targeted amendments of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). We now must ensure that the EUDR delivers on the ground. Tackling global deforestation and forest degradation is one of the most urgent challenges of our time – as they are important drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. The amending Regulation will be published in the Official Journal on 23 December 2025.
The agreed amendments ensure clarity and predictability regarding timelines and requirements for economic operators. They provide an additional year for economic operators preparations before the EUDR entry into application on 30 December 2026. For micro and small operators, the period is extended until 30 June 2027, except for those already covered by the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR). The agreed amendments further limit the obligation to submit due diligence statements to the first operator placing the relevant products on the market. They also replace the regular submission of due diligence statements by a simplified one-off declaration for micro and small primary operators from low-risk countries.
Altogether, these amendments will reduce the data load on the IT system so that it can handle the expected due diligence statements and simplified declarations submitted by all operators. This will provide for a well-functioning IT system, which is necessary for a smooth implementation of the EUDR.
Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: “With the agreement on the EU Deforestation rules, businesses can now continue preparing for the application of the EUDR. It provides the necessary certainty and predictability and will make it possible to implement the law in the most efficient way possible to reduce global deforestation.”
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)
Commission clears acquisition of HAEMATO by PHOENIX
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of HAEMATO PHARM GmbH (‘HAEMATO) by PHOENIX Deutschland Holding GmbH (‘PHOENIX), both of Germany.
The transaction relates primarily to the wholesale distribution of pharmaceutical products.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12210.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Commission clears creation of joint venture by Shandong Wind Power Company and Grampet
The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of a joint venture by CRRC Shandong Wind Power Co. Ltd. (‘Shandong Wind Power Company) of China and Grampet Group (‘Grampet) of Romania.
The transaction relates primarily to the manufacturing of rail freight wagons.
The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the joint venture has negligible activities in the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.
More information is available on the Commissions competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12170.
(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
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Upcoming events of the European Commission
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