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PRESS Council of the European Union      12/6/2018  Schengen information system: agreement between the Council Presidency and the European Parliament On 12 June 2018, the Bulgarian Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament reached an informal agreement on three regulations on the use of the Schengen Information System: in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters in the field of border checks for the return of illegally staying third-country nationals "Information sharing is a key part of EU efforts to improve security and to manage migration, and the Schengen Information System (SIS) is an essential tool for this. The updated SIS rules will include new categories of alerts, closing any potential gaps and addressing new needs." Valentin Radev, Bulgarian minister of interior. The draft regulations address potential gaps and introduce several essential changes to the current system on the types of alert entered. They will contribute to strengthen the fight against terrorism and serious crime, ensuring a high level of security in the EU, and will help migration management. Alert categories The draft regulations introduce additional categories of alerts to the system: alerts issued for the purpose of inquiry checks, an intermediary step between discreet checks and specific checks, which allows for interviews of individuals. alerts on unknown suspects or wanted persons, which provide for the introduction into the SIS of fingerprints or palm prints discovered at the scenes of serious crimes or terrorist offences and which are considered to belong to a perpetrator. preventive alerts for children at risk of parental abduction, as well as children and vulnerable persons who need to be prevented from travelling for their own protection (for example, where travel might lead to the risk of forced marriage, female genital mutilation, trafficking of human beings). alerts for the purpose of return, which require the introduction of an alert in relation to return decisions issued to illegally staying third-country nationals, thus improving exchange of information in relation to return decisions. They also expand the list of objects for which alerts can be issued, to include, among other, false documents and high-value identifiable objects , as well as IT equipment. In addition, the introduction of alerts in the SIS as regards entry bans for third-country nationals becomes compulsory. Types of data The draft regulations introduce the possibility of using facial images for identification purposes, in particular to ensure consistency in border control procedures. It also allows for the inclusion of a DNA profile to facilitate the identification of missing persons in cases where fingerprint data, photographs or facial images are not available or not suitable for identification. Access to data Europol will be able to access all categories of data in the SIS and to exchange supplementary information with Member States SIRENE Bureaux. In addition, member states must inform Europol of any hits when a person is sought in relation to a terrorist offence. This will allow Europol's European Counter Terrorism Centre to check if there is any additional contextual information available in Europol's databases. For the purposes set out in its mandate, the new European Border and Coast Guard Agency will also have access to the alert categories in SIS. Next steps The informal agreement will now be presented to EU ambassadors for confirmation on behalf of the Council. Following this, the regulation will be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote at first reading, and subsequently to the Council for adoption. Background The Schengen Information System is the most widely used and efficient IT system of the EU in the area of freedom, security and justice. The system contains more than 76 million alerts. In 2017 it was accessed more than 5.1 billion times by member states, triggering more than 240 000 hits on foreign alerts (alerts issued by another country). In December 2016, the European Commission presented a legislative package to improve the SIS from a technical point of view and to respond to the development of certain forms of serious crime, including terrorism. SIS II - 2017 statistics Council of the European Union      11/6/2018  ACER: Council agrees position to update the role of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators The Council today agreed its position (general approach) on a regulation to update the role of ACER, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The agreement provides the Presidency with a mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament. The objective of the regulation is to improve collaboration between national electricity and gas regulators by updating the tasks of the agency. ACER is already active in the field of wholesale market supervision and helps address cross-border issues. "The Council of the EU, part “Energy”, agreed on a text for a general approach on the proposal for a revision of the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of an EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The proposal to revise the ACER regulation is the last legal act of Clean Energy for All Europeans Package, on which the Council has finally reached a general approach. ACER plays an important role in facilitating cooperation between national energy regulators. After intense negotiations, the agreement reached today is balanced, and offers us an excellent basis on which to begin talks with the European Parliament." Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of energy of Bulgaria All member states have accepted the need for the existing legislative framework to be adapted in order to redefine the way the agency functions, its role and remit. This adaptation covers the tasks of its director and the board of regulators which consists of senior representatives of the member states' national regulatory authorities. The division of tasks between the board of regulators and ACER's director is redefined.  ACER has already improved coordination between regulators on cross-border issues. The agency was officially launched in March 2011 and has its seat in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Since its creation, the agency has been given important new tasks related to the monitoring of wholesale markets and in the area of cross-border energy infrastructure. New regulatory tasks and competences shall only be granted to the agency if there is adequate involvement of the member states. This will be guaranteed through legislation adopted under the ordinary legislative procedure or through implementing acts.  Increased market integration and the change towards more variable electricity production means that further efforts are needed to coordinate national energy policies with neighboring countries and to make greater use of the opportunities offered by cross-border electricity trade. This will enable EU member states to prepare for unexpected energy supply crises and ensure the security of electricity supply. The close interconnection of the EU electricity grid means that cooperation is also needed to maintain grid stability and integrate large volumes of renewable energies.  Background and next steps The Commission presented the original proposal on the recast ACER regulation on 30 November 2016 as part of the clean energy package. The current legislative framework is based on a regulation which dates back to 2009 and which established ACER. This general approach enables the Council to start negotiations with the European Parliament which adopted its position on the regulation on 1 March 2018. Negotiations are expected to start under the Austrian presidency. General approach Commission proposal Council of the European Union     11/6/2018  Main results - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy issues), 11/06/2018 In its meeting of energy ministers in Luxembourg today, the Council reached a general approach on the ACER regulation which redefines the role, tasks and competences of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The Council took note of the state of play on the clean energy package and progress made on three of its key elements: governance of the Energy Union, renewable energy directive and energy efficiency directive. Main results ACER regulation In a public session, the Council agreed its position on the regulation on ACER, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. Since its creation in 2011, ACER has improved coordination between energy regulators on cross-border issues. The Union electricity grid is closely interconnected and there is an increasing need for neighbouring countries to cooperate in order to maintain grid stability and integrate large volumes of renewable energies. New regulatory tasks and competences shall only be granted to the agency on condition that adequate involvement of member states is guaranteed. The Council of the EU, part "Energy” agreed on a text for a general approach on the proposal for a revision of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of an EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. The proposal to revise the ACER regulation is the last legal act of the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package on which the Council has finally reached a general approach. The Bulgarian Presidency is working intensively to find compromise solutions to the various positions raised by delegations with a view to achieving an appropriate balance in the text. Reaching a general approach provides an opportunity to outline the Council's preliminary position as a basis for the preparation of the negotiations with the European Parliament. Temenuzhka Petkova, Minister of Energy of Bulgaria Infographic - Clean energy for Europeans: Key for driving forward the Energy Union See full infographic Governance of the Energy Union, renewable energy directive and energy efficiency directive In a public session, the Council took note of the information from the presidency on the state of play on the three files of the clean energy package on governance, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since February a total of eleven trilogues were held. Negotiations with the European Parliament are now at an advanced stage. The main outstanding issues that still require agreement are the level of targets, contributions and trajectories. External energy relations Ministers had the opportunity to be hear a presentation by the Commission on external energy relations, which covered Egypt, Ukraine, the Western Balkans, Iran, the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation.  Incoming Austrian presidency The Austrian delegation outlined its work programme and priorities for the next six months in the field of energy policy. Meeting information Meeting n°3623-3   Luxembourg   11/06/2018 Preparatory documents Background brief Indicative programme Provisional agenda - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, 11 June 2018 List of A items, non-legislative activities, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council - 7, 8 and 11 June 2018 Addendum 1 to list of A items, non-legislative activities, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council - 7, 8 and 11 June 2018 Outcome documents Outcome of the Council meeting List of participants Video footage of the meeting