Review of Legal Acts
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1347
This regulation updates sanctions against an individual related to the South Sudan regime. Specifically, it revises the identifying information and justification for maintaining restrictive measures against Michael Makuei Lueth. The regulation amends Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2015/735, replacing the original entry for Lueth with updated details and reasons for the ongoing sanctions. This update includes actions and statements made by Lueth up to early 2025, reinforcing the justification for the imposed measures. No new individuals are added to the sanctions list; the regulation focuses solely on updating existing information.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1322
This regulation establishes the technical specifications for collecting and reporting data on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) across the EU for the reference year 2026. It standardizes data collection methods to ensure comparability between Member States. The regulation covers the variables to be collected, target populations (individuals aged 16-74), reference periods, and data gathering periods. It mandates the use of imputation methods to address missing data and sets standards for data transmission to Eurostat, including deadlines and the Single Entry Point for submission. Member States must also submit an annual quality report on the data. The Annex provides detailed specifications for each variable to be collected, including question wording and response options.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1356
This regulation amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, which outlines special disease control measures for African swine fever (ASF). The core change involves redrawing the geographical boundaries of restricted zones (I, II, and III) and infected zones across several EU Member States. Annexes I and II of the original regulation are entirely replaced with updated zoning designations based on recent ASF outbreaks in wild and kept pigs. The affected countries include Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Czechia and Greece. The regulation reclassifies certain areas based on the evolving risk assessment, for example, relisting an area in North Rhine-Westphalia. These adjustments are intended to control the spread of ASF within the Union.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1327
This regulation modifies Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 to permit the entry of fresh roses from the rest of the United Kingdom into Northern Ireland under specific conditions. It adds “Fresh roses” to the list of “rest-of-the-world commodities” allowed entry, provided that the UK effectively implements EU import conditions and official control requirements for these flowers. A phytosanitary certificate is required, and the provision applies to all third countries. The amendment aims to minimize trade disruptions while maintaining plant health standards. The regulation applies retroactively from April 26, 2025.
Review of each of legal acts published today:
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1347 of 8 July 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/735 concerning restrictive measures in respect of the situation in South Sudan
This Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1347 concerns restrictive measures against individuals in South Sudan. The regulation updates the identifying information and statement of reasons for one person already subject to sanctions. This update reflects a review by the Council, which concluded that the restrictive measures should be maintained and the existing entry should be updated.
The structure of the act is simple: it has two articles and one annex. Article 1 states that Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2015/735 is amended as per the Annex to this new regulation. Article 2 specifies that the regulation comes into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. The Annex contains the updated information for the listed individual. Compared to the previous version, this regulation does not add new names to the sanction list, but rather updates the information of an already listed person.
The most important provision of this act is the updated entry in Annex II of Regulation (EU) 2015/735. Specifically, entry No. 1, pertaining to Michael Makuei Lueth, has been replaced with updated identifying information and a more detailed statement of reasons for maintaining the restrictive measures against him. The updated statement includes actions and statements made by Lueth up to the beginning of 2025, further justifying the sanctions.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1322 of 4 July 2025 specifying the technical items of the data set, establishing the technical formats for transmission of information and specifying the arrangements and content of the quality reports on the organisation of a sample survey in the use of information and communication technologies domain for reference year 2026 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/1700 of the European Parliament and of the Council
Here’s a breakdown of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1322:
**1. Essence of the Act:**
This regulation sets out the specific technical details for collecting and reporting data on the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in the European Union. It standardizes how Member States gather and transmit this data to the European Commission (Eurostat) for the reference year 2026. The regulation ensures that the data collected is consistent and comparable across all Member States, which is crucial for creating reliable European statistics on digital activities. It also specifies the content and arrangements for quality reports that Member States must submit.
**2. Structure and Main Provisions:**
* **Subject Matter (Article 1):** Defines the scope of the regulation, focusing on technical aspects of data collection, transmission formats, and quality reports related to ICT usage.
* **Definitions (Article 2):** Clarifies key terms like ‘fieldwork period,’ ‘reference period,’ and ‘Single Entry Point’ (the electronic portal for data submission to Eurostat).
* **Description of Variables (Article 3 & Annex):** Specifies the technical characteristics of the variables to be collected, including variable identifiers, names, descriptions, codes, filters, and variable types. The Annex provides a detailed table outlining each variable.
* **Target Populations and Observation Units (Article 4):** Defines the target population as private households and individuals (aged 16-74) residing within the Member States.
* **Reference Periods and Date (Article 5):** Sets the specific timeframes for data collection, with a focus on the first quarter of 2026 for most topics and a slightly earlier period for data on interaction with public authorities.
* **Data Gathering Period (Article 6):** Specifies that the fieldwork for collecting data directly from respondents should occur in the second quarter of 2026.
* **Common Standards for Data Handling (Article 7):** Mandates the use of imputation, modeling, or weighting to address missing, invalid, or inconsistent data, emphasizing methods that preserve data variation and correlation.
* **Data Transmission (Article 8):** Sets the deadline for Member States to transmit final data to Eurostat as October 5, 2026. Data must be in microdata files, validated, and transmitted via the Single Entry Point. Metadata must follow Eurostat’s standard structure and be submitted by January 5, 2027.
* **Quality Reports (Article 9):** Requires Member States to submit an annual quality report, following Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2180, by January 5, 2027, through the Single Entry Point.
* **Entry into Force (Article 10):** States that the regulation takes effect twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**3. Main Provisions Important for Use:**
* **Annex: Detailed Variable Specifications:** The Annex is the most crucial part, as it precisely defines what data needs to be collected. It includes the exact questions, response options (codes and labels), and filters that determine which respondents should answer specific questions.
* **Data Transmission Standards (Article 8):** The requirements for data format, validation, and the use of the Single Entry Point are critical for Member States to ensure their data submissions are accepted.
* **Reference Periods (Article 5):** Understanding the specific reference periods for different data points is essential for accurate data collection.
* **Quality Reports (Article 9):** The requirement to submit a quality report ensures that Member States are actively monitoring and improving the quality of their data.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1356 of 8 July 2025 amending Annexes I and II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 laying down special disease control measures for African swine fever
Here’s a breakdown of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1356:
**1. Essence of the Act:**
This regulation amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594, which lays down special disease control measures for African swine fever (ASF). The amendment adjusts the geographical areas listed in Annexes I and II of the original regulation, designating specific zones within certain EU member states as restricted zones (I, II, or III) or infected zones, based on recent outbreaks of ASF in both wild and kept pigs. These changes aim to control the spread of the disease within the Union.
**2. Structure and Main Provisions:**
* **Article 1:** This article is the core of the amendment. It states that Annexes I and II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594 are replaced entirely by the text provided in the Annex to this new regulation. This means all previous zoning designations are superseded.
* **Article 2:** Specifies that the regulation comes into force the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This ensures immediate action to address the evolving ASF situation.
* **Annex I:** Lists restricted zones I, II, and III within specific Member States. These zones are defined by specific geographical boundaries (municipalities, districts, etc.) and are subject to different levels of disease control measures as outlined in the original Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594.
* **Annex II:** This annex is divided into two parts:
* Part A is for areas established as infected zones following an outbreak of African swine fever in wild porcine animals in a previously disease-free Member State or zone.
**3. Main Provisions Important for Use:**
* **Geographical Scope:** The regulation directly impacts those involved in the movement of live pigs and pork products within and from the listed regions in Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Italy, Czechia and Greece. Anyone operating in these areas needs to be acutely aware of the zone designations.
* **Control Measures:** The specific restrictions and control measures that apply to each zone (I, II, or III) are detailed in the original Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/594. This amending regulation only changes the geographical application of those measures.
* **Dynamic Nature:** The regulation acknowledges that the ASF situation is very dynamic. This implies that the listed zones are subject to change as the epidemiological situation evolves, so continuous monitoring of updates is crucial.
* **Delisting and Relisting:** The regulation delists an area in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany from Part A of Annex II (infected zone) and relists it as restricted zones II and I in Annex I. This indicates a change in the risk assessment and corresponding control measures.
* **Increased Risk:** The regulation highlights that new outbreaks in certain regions of Italy and Poland constitute an increased level of risk, leading to a change in their zone designation from restricted zone I to restricted zone II, or from restricted zone II to restricted zone III.
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Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1327 of 7 July 2025 amending the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 as regards the inclusion of fresh roses in the list of rest-of-the-world commodities
This Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1327 amends Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 to include fresh roses in the list of “rest-of-the-world commodities” that can enter Northern Ireland from other parts of the United Kingdom. This inclusion is based on evidence provided by the UK that it effectively implements EU import conditions and official control requirements for fresh roses. The regulation aims to ensure that plant health standards are maintained while minimizing trade disruption.
The regulation consists of two articles and an annex. Article 1 stipulates that the annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2059 is amended as per the annex to this new regulation. Article 2 specifies the entry into force and the date of application of the regulation. The annex adds “Fresh roses” to the “Cut Flowers and Flower Buds” section of the list of goods of non-animal origin, specifying the required phytosanitary certificate and that the provision applies to all third countries.
The most important provision is the inclusion of fresh roses in the list of rest-of-the-world commodities allowed to enter Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, provided they meet specific plant health requirements. This means that fresh roses from any third country can be traded under the conditions set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/1231, provided the UK ensures the implementation of relevant EU regulations and provides the necessary certification. The regulation applies retroactively from April 26, 2025.
