Intelligence

Das OLG Düsseldorf hat entschieden, dass öffentliche Auftraggeber bei produktspezifischen Ausschreibungen konkret nachweisen müssen, warum eine produktneutrale Ausschreibung nicht möglich ist. Die Entscheidung betrifft eine Ausschreibung der Stadt Datteln, die ausschließlich Apple iPads zuließ, und stellt hohe Anforderungen an die Dokumentation von Mehrkosten und technischen Beeinträchtigungen. Auftraggeber müssen nun bei jeder Vergabe erneut prüfen und vergabere

A leaked draft of a standalone German Investment Screening Act (the “IPG”) has been circulating for a few days – offering a first concrete glimpse into the planned overhaul of Germany's FDI regime.

The European Commission has authorized EUR 400 million in German State aid to Sanofi to secure insulin supply within the EEA, marking a significant development in European pharmaceutical policy.

The European Commission has proposed replacing the EU's three core procurement directives with a single, directly applicable Regulation that would fundamentally reshape how companies compete for public contracts across Member States. The reform introduces mandatory quality criteria thresholds, embeds ESG considerations as evaluation factors, and establishes new security and European-preference provisions that could restrict participation based on ownership, supply chain exposure, and strategic dependencies.

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt regional elections, winning nearly 44% of the vote and dealing a severe blow to the ruling Christian Democratic Union. The election results are creating political instability that could weaken Berlin's leadership role in the European Union and reshape the bloc's approach to critical trade, industrial policy, and China relations during a pivotal period for European policymaking.

The European Commission has published its first report on Directive (EU) 2019/1153, mapping the evolving framework for law-enforcement access to financial intelligence across the EU. While the report defers decisions on expanding data access, it signals a shift toward faster, more standardized cross-border information sharing through interconnected account registers and structured transaction formats. Financial institutions face mounting pressure to ensure their data governance, production capabilities, and