The Union Report
Official Journal Daily — L Series
Daily Report
Day in brief
The day’s most significant measures are the extension of Moldova destabilisation sanctions to April 2027 — with updated entries for seven individuals linked to Ilan Shor’s Russia-backed network — and the establishment of EUPM Armenia, the EU’s first CSDP civilian mission in the South Caucasus. Technical measures update pesticide residue limits, revise Category A animal disease response procedures, and define exceptions to the Ecodesign Regulation’s ban on destruction of unsold goods. Four General Court judgments cover Belarus sanctions, VAT bad debt relief in construction, data access rights in a harassment case, and reimbursement limits on competition inspection costs.
Foreign Policy & Sanctions
Food & Agriculture
Product Law
Foreign Policy & Sanctions
4 acts
Moldova Sanctions Extended to April 2027 — Shor Network Updated
The Council renewed and updated sanctions against seven individuals linked to the Shor-led destabilisation network in Moldova. Key updates target Ilan Shor, Vladimir Plahotniuc, Arina Corsicova, and Maria Albot. Shor is accused of organising vote-buying in the 2024 presidential election, the EU membership referendum, and the 2025 parliamentary elections, operating through Russia-based NGO Evraziya and the Victoria/Pobeda political bloc. The framework runs until 29 April 2027.
EU Establishes EUPM Armenia — First CSDP Mission in the South Caucasus
The Council established the EU Partnership Mission in Armenia, the first EU CSDP civilian mission in the South Caucasus. Its mandate covers hybrid threat resilience: advising Armenian ministries on combating disinformation, foreign interference, cybersecurity threats, and illicit financial flows in political and electoral contexts. Budget: €2,678,230 for the first four months. Mission HQ in Armenia. Armenia formally requested the mission in December 2025 following the deepening of the EU-Armenia Strategic Agenda.
EU-African Union Peace Facility: Approval Deadline Extended to April 2026
Amends Decision 2022/667 to extend the deadline for approving AU actions under the European Peace Facility from 31 December 2025 to 30 April 2026. The full reference financial amount has not yet been mobilised. Administrative extension only — no new policy content.
EUAM Iraq Mandate Extended to October 2026
Six-month mandate extension running from 30 April 2026 to 31 October 2026. A strategic review of the mission is due in May 2026. Total reference financial envelope for 1 May 2024 to 31 October 2026: €79,078,620.21. No change to mandate or scope.
Food Safety & Agriculture
3 acts
Pesticide MRL Updates for Acetamiprid, Deltamethrin, and Three Other Substances
Updated maximum residue limits for acetamiprid (honey, apiculture products), aclonifen (aniseed), deltamethrin (cherries, rising to 0.15 mg/kg), oxathiapiproline (Brussels sprouts, kale, watercress, aromatic herbs), and potassium phosphonates (apricots, sweet cherries rising to 80 mg/kg, select nuts). All limits supported by EFSA opinions. Directly applicable, in force 20 days after publication.
Paraffin Oil Pesticide Approval Renewed to 2041 With PAH Data Conditions
Paraffin oil (CAS 8042-47-5) approved as active substance from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2041 under Regulation 1107/2009. Insecticide/acaricide restriction removed. Applicant must submit confirmatory PAH impurity data and complete aquatic risk assessment by 12 May 2027. Risk reduction conditions apply for MOAH content, bee protection, and aquatic organisms.
Category A Disease Response Procedures Overhauled
Amends Delegated Regulation 2020/687 implementing the Animal Health Law. Key changes: movement exceptions for captive non-listed-species animals on a case-by-case risk basis; full cleaning/disinfection cycle now regulated; exceptional early lifting of surveillance zone measures permitted when final disinfection is delayed by force majeure or adverse weather; revised rules for manure/litter movements, day-old chick transfers, and animal by-product treatment. Reflects EFSA 2021–2022 scientific opinions.
Circular Economy & Product Law
1 act
Ecodesign Regulation: Ten Grounds for Destroying Unsold Consumer Goods Defined
Sets exceptions to the prohibition on destruction of unsold consumer products under Regulation 2024/1781, applicable from 19 July 2026. Permitted grounds include safety hazards, legal non-compliance requiring destruction, court-confirmed IP rights violations, expired licence obligations, physical damage where repair is impossible or uneconomical, manufacturing defects, and technical impossibility of removing brand identifiers. Donation-first requirement for goods outside these categories: eight-week offer period to three social economy organisations. Five-year documentation obligation. Commission review by 12 May 2031.
General Court
4 covered · 4 skipped
Chevtsov v Council — Belarus Sanctions Upheld
Annulment application dismissed. The Council correctly assessed Andrei Chevtsov’s senior state management role in Belarus as sufficient grounds for designation. Procedural arguments on the duty to state reasons rejected — the Council provided a specific individual factual basis. The Court reiterated that the standard of review in CFSP sanctions cases does not permit substitution of the Court’s political judgment for the Council’s.
Mokoryte — VAT Base Reduction for Unpaid Construction Debts
Article 90 VAT Directive ruling transferred from Lithuania. A construction subcontractor that accounted for VAT on unpaid invoices may reduce its VAT base, but Member States may impose procedural conditions. The Court clarified the limits of those conditions, confirming they must not render the right to reduce the base practically impossible. Relevant for all contractors in subcontracting chains exposed to non-payment risk.
UU v Court of Justice of the EU — Harassment File Access Denied
Staff member of the Court of Justice challenged partial refusal to provide access to internal harassment investigation documents under Article 17 of Regulation 2018/1725. The General Court examined the balancing of access rights against third-party data protection. Institutions must assess each document individually — blanket refusal is impermissible. Notable for the institutional defendant: the Court of Justice itself.
Red Bull v Commission — No Reimbursement for Inspection Cooperation Costs
Red Bull’s claim for reimbursement of extraordinary IT and legal costs incurred during a Commission competition inspection rejected. Court applied the Nexans doctrine: companies under inspection bear their own cooperation costs. Costs of fulfilling an existing legal obligation to cooperate under Article 20 Regulation 1/2003 cannot be transferred to the Commission. Dawn raid costs remain the inspected party’s burden.
Skipped — Private IP disputes
Peponis / CRETE HOMES — EUIPO Trademark Dispute
Rose Bikes / ROSE — EUIPO Trademark Likelihood of Confusion
Barranco / G MOTION — EUIPO Design Dispute
Crocs v EUIPO — Design Invalidity
