Here’s a concise review of the key legal acts:
1. Customs Regulation Amendment
The regulation extends customs simplifications to accessories of musical instruments when carried together by travelers. Both instruments and accessories now receive the same treatment for temporary admission, export, re-export, and free circulation procedures. The changes apply to both EU and non-EU residents.
2. Mediterranean and Black Seas Fishing Regulation
Sets fishing quotas and effort limits for 2025 in these seas. Includes maximum catches for species like European eel, red coral, and common dolphinfish. Establishes specific measures for different fishing zones including Western Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea, and Black Sea. Contains technical measures like closure periods and gear restrictions.
3. Biofuels Certification Amendment
Modifies rules for certification bodies verifying sustainability of biofuels. Requires accreditation to EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard and compliance with EN ISO/IEC 17029 and EN ISO 14065 for verification activities. Includes a transition period until December 2026 and corrects nitrogen fertilizer values.
4. Maximum Residue Levels Amendment
Revises maximum residue levels for fenbuconazole and penconazole pesticides in food products. Lowers MRLs for fenbuconazole in various fruits, maintains current levels for some products, and adjusts penconazole levels based on new data. Includes new standards for animal products and tea.
5. Court Judgment on Integration Requirements
Interprets EU law regarding integration requirements for refugees. States that while countries can require integration exams, they cannot demand full cost coverage from beneficiaries or impose unreasonable fines. Requires consideration of refugees’ specific needs and integration challenges.
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/218 of 29 November 2024 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 concerning simplifications for declaring accessories of musical instruments
This Regulation amends the EU customs rules to extend simplifications for musical instruments to their accessories when carried together by travelers. The changes ensure that both musical instruments and their accompanying accessories can benefit from the same customs treatment for temporary admission, export, re-export, and free circulation procedures. The Regulation also updates certain CN codes related to bananas.The Regulation modifies five articles of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446. The amendments specifically target Articles 136, 138, 140, 155, and 226, adding references to ‘accessory instruments, apparatus or equipment’ that accompany portable musical instruments. The changes ensure consistent treatment of these items in various customs procedures.Key provisions include:
– Extension of duty relief to accessories when carried together with musical instruments
– Equal treatment of instruments and accessories in temporary admission procedures
– Application of simplifications to both EU and non-EU resident travelers
– Requirement that accessories must be carried and used together with the musical instruments
– Coverage of professional equipment cases
Council Regulation (EU) 2025/219 of 30 January 2025 fixing for 2025 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
This is a Council Regulation establishing fishing opportunities (quotas and effort limits) for certain fish stocks in the Mediterranean and Black Seas for 2025.The regulation sets detailed rules for fishing activities in different geographical areas of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, including:
- Maximum allowable catches and fishing effort for various species like European eel, red coral, common dolphinfish, demersal stocks, small pelagic stocks
- Specific measures for different fishing zones – Western Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea, Strait of Sicily, Ionian Sea, Levant Sea, Alboran Sea and Black Sea
- Technical measures like closure periods, gear restrictions, minimum sizes
The regulation’s structure includes:
- Title I – General provisions defining scope and key terms
- Title II – Fishing opportunities for EU vessels, divided into 7 chapters covering different sea basins
- Title III – Final provisions
- 9 detailed annexes specifying quotas, effort limits and technical measures for different areas and species
The main provisions establish catch limits, fishing effort restrictions, fleet capacity ceilings and technical conservation measures aimed at sustainable exploitation of fish stocks in line with scientific advice and international commitments. The regulation is particularly important for countries bordering these seas, including Ukraine in relation to Black Sea fisheries.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/196 of 3 February 2025 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 as regards the accreditation of certification bodies and correcting Annex VII to that Regulation
This Regulation amends the rules for certification bodies that verify sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions criteria for biofuels and other renewable fuels. It introduces changes to ensure proper accreditation of certification bodies and corrects technical values in the previous regulation.The Regulation consists of three main articles and an annex. Article 1 modifies the definition of ‘certification body’ and establishes new requirements for their accreditation. Article 2 introduces corrections to Annex VII regarding nitrogen fertilizer values. Article 3 contains entry into force provisions.Key provisions include:
- Certification bodies must be accredited to EN ISO/IEC 17065 standard
- When conducting verification activities, certification bodies must meet requirements of EN ISO/IEC 17029 and EN ISO 14065
- The Commission must assess if voluntary and national schemes’ methodologies are suitable for accreditation
- A transition period is established until December 31, 2026, allowing existing certification bodies to continue operations without new accreditation
- Technical correction of values for nitrogen and urea fertilizers in emissions calculations
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/195 of 3 February 2025 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for fenbuconazole and penconazole in or on certain products
This regulation amends Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 regarding maximum residue levels (MRLs) for two pesticides – fenbuconazole and penconazole – in various food products. The changes are based on new scientific data and risk assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).The regulation has a detailed structure consisting of 3 articles and an extensive annex that replaces the existing columns for fenbuconazole and penconazole in Annex II of Regulation 396/2005. The annex provides specific MRL values for different categories of food products including fruits, vegetables, cereals, spices, and products of animal origin.Key changes include lowering MRLs for fenbuconazole in several products to the level of Codex maximum residue limits (CXLs) or to the limit of determination (LOD), maintaining current MRLs for some products, and adjusting MRLs for penconazole based on new residue trials data. The regulation also includes a new CXL for fenbuconazole in tea.
Main provisions:
- Lowering MRLs for fenbuconazole in grapefruits, oranges, peaches and other products to CXL levels
- Maintaining current MRLs for lemons, limes, pome fruits, cherries and other specified products
- Raising MRLs for penconazole in blackberries and raspberries based on new data
- Setting new MRLs for animal products including milk, meat, and eggs
- Including a new CXL for fenbuconazole in tea
The regulation provides a transition period before the new MRLs become applicable (August 24, 2025) to allow for market adaptation while maintaining consumer protection.
Judgment of the Court (Grand Chamber) of 4 February 2025.T.G. v Minister van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid.Reference for a preliminary ruling – Asylum policy – Refugee status or subsidiary protection status – Directive 2011/95/EU – Article 34 – Access to integration facilities – Obligation to pass, on pain of a fine, a civic integration examination – Beneficiary of international protection who has not passed such an examination in time – Obligation to pay a fine – Obligation to bear the full costs of civic integration courses and examinations – Possibility of obtaining a loan in order to pay those costs.Case C-158/23.
This judgment concerns the interpretation of Article 34 of Directive 2011/95/EU regarding access to integration facilities for beneficiaries of international protection in EU Member States.The Court analyzed whether Netherlands legislation requiring refugees to pass civic integration exams and bear related costs complies with EU law. The key provisions examined were the obligation to pass integration exams under threat of fines and the requirement for beneficiaries to cover program costs through loans.The Court ruled that while Member States can require integration exams, they must:
- Consider refugees’ specific needs and integration challenges
- Set appropriate knowledge requirements
- Exempt those who demonstrate effective integration
- Not impose systematic or unreasonable fines for exam failure
- Not require beneficiaries to bear full costs of integration courses and exams
The Court found that the Netherlands’ system of mandatory full cost coverage by beneficiaries, even through loans, was incompatible with EU law as it placed unreasonable burdens on refugees and hindered their integration. The judgment establishes important principles for how Member States must structure integration requirements for international protection beneficiaries.
