Simmons & Simmons Brussels

📣 Join us for an engaging and interactive discussion with the EU Commission and practitioners on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). One year after its full implementation, we’ll explore the lessons learned, challenges faced by companies, and solutions for the future. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to gain valuable insights from DG COMP, DG GROW and inhouse counsel! 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: Iveta Stoyanova, EU Commission, DG COMP Bence Horváth, EU Commission, DG GROW Fernando Sebastian Íscar Rüland, Senior Counsel, thyssenkrupp AG Lena Hornkohl, Professor, University of Vienna Moderator: Dr. Andrea Pomana, Partner, Simmons & Simmons Host: Alejandro Guerrero, Partner, Simmons & Simmons Follow the link to register: https://lnkd.in/eR8-iwQ2 ✨ Event hosted by #Simmons, University of Vienna, CELIS Institute, and Wolters Kluwer #FSR #ForeignSubsidies #EUCommission #Regulation #Antitrust #Business

📣 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐔 & 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐌𝐓 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞! 🌍 Product cybersecurity: the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) will soon be signed and published in the EU’s Official Journal. The CRA will come into effect twenty days post-publication and will be fully applicable 36 months thereafter, with certain provisions kicking in earlier. The CRA will introduce cybersecurity requirements applicable to most products with digital elements.Companies acting as manufacturers, importers or distributors may be impacted by the CRA in the future. https://lnkd.in/eV2ExRQW 🌍 Cookies: the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has released the final version (2.0) of its Guidelines on the technical scope of Article 5(3) of the ePrivacy Directive. The updated Guidelines provide guidance on newer tracking technologies that go beyond traditional cookies. The Guidelines explore the nuances of URL and pixel tracking, local processing, IP-only tracking, intermittent and mediated Internet of Things (IoT) reporting, and the use of unique identifiers (UIDs). https://lnkd.in/dM_Vcc5i #dataprotection #AIregulation #privacymatters #EUregulations #TMT #legalupdates #EU #Belgium #simmons

🔔 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 ⚠ 𝐄𝐒𝐆 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 The new ESG Ratings Regulation was just adopted by the European Parliament.   In the upcoming weeks, the text will be signed off by the European Council and published in the EU Official Journal. The Regulation will apply 18 months following its entry into force.    #EU #Regulation #FinancialRegulation #ESG #Ratings #Sustainability #SustainableFinance

🎤 ✨ Great news! Annabelle Bruyndonckx, will be speaking at Seton Hall University School of Law’s European Healthcare Compliance Certificate Program in Paris this Thursday 24 October. She’ll dive into the critical topic of advertising medicinal products and medical devices in Europe, covering essential areas like digitalization of information and advertising practices. We are proud to share our expertise on key issues. For more information follow the link here: https://lnkd.in/ejHpJVa5 #HealthcareCompliance #EUHCCP #MedicalDevices #PharmaceuticalLaw #SetonHallLaw #DigitalAdvertising #Regulation

🔔 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰! 🤖 On 14 October, the Commission for the first time disclosed a concentration notification under the Foreign Subsidies Regulation in relation to the acquisition by CD&R and Palmira of French cybersecurity company Exclusive Networks. https://lnkd.in/e--KhSw7    📱 On 16 October, the European Commission decided not to designate X as a gatekeeper for its online social networking service under the DMA. Commission concludes that online social networking service of X should not be designated under the Digital Markets Act (europa.eu)    🏨 On 16 October, the European Commission published its decision designating Booking as a gatekeeper under the DMA. DMA_100019_191.pdf (europa.eu)    📃 On 16 October, the European Commission published guidelines on the export of cybersurveillance items, aiming to raise awareness of risks of misuse of cyber-surveillance technologies. https://lnkd.in/eWkFFsfN    💲 On 17 October, the European Commission published its 4th Annual Report on the screening of FDI into the EU. The report highlights that the number of notifications to the EU cooperation mechanism has risen by 18% since the entry into force in 2020. https://lnkd.in/eJPM7cn7  #competitionlaw #antitrust #trade #simmons

📣 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐔 & 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐌𝐓 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞!   🔒 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐘𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐘 ◾ Today, the NIS2 Directive is transposed into Belgian law by the Law of 26 April 2024 establishing a framework for the cybersecurity of networks and information systems of general interest for public security ("NIS2 Law"). Companies should assess whether they fall under the scope and, if so, whether they have already implemented the cybersecurity measures to fulfil the applicable obligations. The scope of the NIS2 Directive has been greatly expanded compared to NIS1. In particular, companies active in Life Sciences may find themselves impacted, even if outside of the scope of NIS2, due to being in the value chain of an entity that is subject to the NIS2 Directive. We are happy to assist companies to achieve compliance with the Belgian NIS2 Law and the implementing rules of the Commission. ◾ On 17 October, the Commission has adopted the first implementing rules on cybersecurity of critical entities and networks under the Directive on measures for high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS2 Directive). This implementing act details cybersecurity risk management measures as well as the cases in which an incident should be considered significant and companies providing digital infrastructures and services should report it to national authorities. This is another major step in boosting the cyber resilience of Europe's critical digital infrastructure. The implementing regulation adopted will apply to specific categories of companies providing digital services, such as cloud computing service providers, data centre service providers, online marketplaces, online search engines and social networking platforms, to name a few. For each category of service providers, the implementing act specifies when an incident is considered significant, to whom it needs to be reported and in which timeframe. 📲 🖥 The final version (2.0) of the EDPB Guidelines on the technical scope of Art. 5 (3) ePrivacy Directive has just been published. The Guidelines provides guidance on the applicability of the Art. 5 (3) ePrivacy Directive to tracking technologies that may serve as alternative to traditional cookies, such as URL and pixel tracking, local processing, tracking based on IP only, intermittent and mediated Internet of Things (IoT) reporting, and use of unique identifiers (UIDs). The Guidelines however do not discuss whether such "new" technologies would require prior consent or whether they could be deemed necessary for the provisioning of a service under Art. 5 (3) ePrivacy Directive, which would depend on the individual use case. 📌 More information and links in comments section #dataprotection #AIregulation #privacymatters #EUregulations #TMT #legalupdates #EU #Belgium #simmons

As poignantly stated in this recent UBS report, in many countries mandatory pension schemes alone can’t maintain your accustomed lifestyle in retirement.   Private savings are often crucial to covering expenses in old age.   The asset management industry is a key enabler to provide the necessary financial solutions to keep ensure a decent standard of living for entire populations throughout the different life stages.   At Simmons & Simmons, we’re leading the way! Through our 4 core areas of focus, Asset Management & Investment Funds (#AMIF), Financial Services, Health Care & Life Sciences (#HLS) and Technology, Media & Communication (#TMT), we are perfectly positioned to help address the big challenges of our times and help societies boost their growth and competitiveness.    ✨ Great reminder on a Friday that we’re doing something extremely relevant!   Thank you Sergio P. Ermotti for sharing! https://lnkd.in/eYzeYfCd   #AssetManagement #InvestmentFunds #Pensions #Savings #Investment #Aging #Population #Demography #EU #Poli

🔔 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐔 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰! 📱 On 7 October, the Commission published its decision from July this year, where it accepted Apple’s commitments to open up access to its Near Field Communication technology to rivals. This decision ended the antitrust probe into the iPhone maker's "tap and go" payments system. https://lnkd.in/ewVUVacj    💰 On 8 October, EDF filed a complaint with the EU Commission, disputing a Czech nuclear project awarded to a South Korean company under the EU's Foreign Subsidies Regulation. https://lnkd.in/eeij-EbB    🌎 On 8 October, the EU Council agreed on climate finance conclusions in preparation for COP29. https://lnkd.in/e3J-fVzZ    💵 On 9 October, the Commission announced that companies in Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, and Marche, affected by May 2023 floods and landslides, will receive direct grants under a €1 billion aid plan. https://lnkd.in/e-VNgVxw     ❗ On 11 October, the Commission published a notice of initiation of an anti-dumping proceeding concerning imports of hardwood plywood originating in the People’s Republic of China. https://lnkd.in/dMjER5Fg

📣 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐔 & 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐌𝐓 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞! 👨⚖️ ⚖ CJEU Judgment C-621/22: Last week, the CJEU confirmed that under Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, any legitimate interest can be considered relevant unless it is unlawful. However, this does not permit a tennis association to sell its members' data to entities such as online casino providers. This rulings follows from the Dutch DPA having taken a more restrictive approach.   📕 Staying in the same lane, the EDPB published its new Guidelines 1/2024 on processing of personal data based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest).   🔗 The EDPB adopted Opinion 22/2024 on the obligations of processors and sub-processors. The Opinion provides that controllers don’t need to check every sub-processing contract, however, they must have processes in place to audit and verify that all contracts with sub-processors comply with GDPR standards. Should concerns about compliance or actual breaches arise, controllers are specifically advised to examine sub-processing agreements. This may be particularly relevant for international data transfers.   1️⃣ During its October 2024 plenary, the EDPB announced the focus of its fourth Coordinated Enforcement Action (CEF) to be the implementation of the right to erasure ('right to be forgotten') by controllers, set to launch in the first semester of 2025. This action, which Data Protection Authorities (DPAs) can join voluntarily, aims to assess how this frequently exercised and complained-about right is implemented in practice by analyzing controllers' processes and identifying compliance issues and best practices. 📌 Link in comments section #dataprotection #AIregulation #privacymatters #EUregulations #TMT #legalupdates #EU #Belgium #simmons

𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭  We are looking to hire a full-time Accountant for our Brussels office. This role involves supporting the Finance Manager with a range of tasks including daily accounting activities, preparation of payments, liaising with personnel, and handling VAT administration. You will also play a key role in month-end and year-end closing activities, testing and implementing new accounting software, managing debtors, and maintaining accurate records through printing, scanning, and filing documents. For more details see below. If interested, please send your CV, motivation letter, and academic transcripts to Stéphanie Martins Alves at stephanie.martinsalves@simmons-simmons.com #SimmonsBrussels #Accounting #FinanceCareers #JobOpening #JoinOurTeam