COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION-EUROPEAN COUNCIL weekly digest

European Council Council of the European Union

Brussels, 28 June 2020 Weekly digest 26/06/2020 17:01 | Media advisory | Foreign affairs & international relations Media advisory - Press briefing ahead of the Republic of Korea-EU leaders' video conference meeting The Republic of Korea-EU leaders' video conference will bring together the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the Republic of Korea, Jae-in Moon. Read the full item 22/06/2020 09:31 | Media advisory | Foreign affairs & international relations Media advisory - EU-China summit, 22 June 2020 The 22nd EU-China summit will take place on 22 June 2020 via video conference. The EU will be represented by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Read the full item 22/06/2020 17:12 | Statements and remarks | Foreign affairs & international relations EU-China Summit: Defending EU interests and values in a complex and vital partnership - Press release by President Michel and President von der Leyen The European Union and China held their 22nd bilateral Summit via videoconference on 22 June 2020. Presidents Michel and von der Leyen, accompanied by High Representative Borrell, held the summit meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang followed by exchanges with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Read the full item 23/06/2020 19:05 | Press release | Employment Main messages from the Tripartite Social Summit, Tuesday, 23 June 2020 A Tripartite Social Summit took place via video link. Participants discussed the contribution of the social partners to relaunching growth and employment in the aftermath of COVID-19. Read the full item European Council 22/06/2020 11:22 | Media advisory | Education & training Media advisory - Video conference of education ministers, 23 June 2020 Press conference following the video conference of education ministers, 23 June 2020. Read the full item 22/06/2020 18:21 | Press release | Education & training Supporting the recovery of the sport sector and addressing the COVID-19 pandemic: Council adopts conclusions Council adopts conclusions on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery of the sport sector. Read the full item Council of the European Union 23/06/2020 21:13 | Press release | Economy & finance Clearing houses: Presidency and Parliament reach political agreement on recovery and resolution The Croatian presidency and the Parliament reached a political agreement on a common set of rules to deal with the recovery and resolution of clearing houses. Read the full item 24/06/2020 14:06 | Press release | Economy & finance COVID-19: Council adopts exceptional rules to facilitate bank lending in the EU The Council adopted today a package of temporary and extraordinary measures aimed at maximising the capacity of banks to lend money and support households and businesses to get through the COVID-19 crisis. Read the full item 24/06/2020 15:54 | Press release | Economy & finance Taxation: Council agrees on the postponement of certain tax rules To cater for the disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council today agreed on the deferral of certain measures related to cross-border information exchanges and VAT for e-commerce. Read the full item 24/06/2020 17:20 | Press release | Economy & finance Excise duty: provisional agreement on modernised taxation rules for alcohol EU ambassadors today reached a provisional agreement on updated excise duties on alcohol within the EU. The reform will improve the business environment and reduce costs for small alcohol producers, while taking into account considerations related to health and efficient tax collection. Read the full item Council of the European Union 24/06/2020 10:36 | Media advisory | Foreign affairs & international relations Media advisory - Press briefing ahead of the conference "Supporting the future of Syria and the region", 30 June 2020 Press briefing organised ahead of the conference "Supporting the future of Syria and the region", 30 June 2020. Read the full item 26/06/2020 11:28 | Media advisory | Foreign affairs & international relations Media advisory - "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" - Brussels IV Conference, 30 June 2020 Media advisory - "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" - Brussels IV Conference, 30 June 2020 Read the full item Council of the European Union 25/06/2020 17:44 | Press release | Environment Aviation emissions: EU confirms its participation in the CORSIA voluntary phase from 2021 and chooses more ambitious option to calculate its offsetting requirements The EU will take part in the carbon pricing scheme for international aviation from the start of its voluntary phase. Read the full item 25/06/2020 18:22 | Press release | Energy Response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the EU energy sector: Council adopts conclusions The Council conclusions address the role of the energy sector in the economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic. Read the full item 25/06/2020 18:22 | Δελτίο τύπου | Energy Αντίδραση στην πανδημία COVID-19 στον ενεργειακό τομέα σε επίπεδο ΕΕ: Το Συμβούλιο εξέδωσε συμπεράσματα Στα συμπεράσματα του Συμβουλίου εξετάζεται ο ρόλος του ενεργειακού τομέα στην οικονομική ανάκαμψη μετά την πανδημία του κορωνοϊού. Read the full item Council of the European Union 24/06/2020 14:12 | Press release | Agriculture Increased support for EU farmers affected by the COVID-19 crisis: Council adopts exceptional measures The Council adopted measures to support EU farmers and small businesses active in processing, marketing or development of agricultural products or cotton. Read the full item 26/06/2020 11:43 | Media advisory | Agriculture Media advisory - Video conference of agriculture and fisheries ministers, 29 June A press conference held following the video conference of agriculture and fisheries ministers, 29 June 2020 Read the full item Council of the European Union 25/06/2020 17:54 | Press release | Euro area Eurogroup presidency: three ministers put forward their candidacies Eurogroup presidency: 3 ministers put forward their candidacies Read the full item Eurogroup 26/06/2020 22:32 | Press release | Agriculture Forward look: 29 June - 12 July 2020 Overview of the main subjects to be discussed at meetings of the Council of the EU over the next two weeks and upcoming media events. Read the full item General Secretariat Meetings 23/06/2020 | Environment Main results - Video conference of environment ministers, 23 June 2020 EU environment and climate ministers had a policy debate on the contribution of environmental and climate policies to the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.For more details, see the meeting page. Visit the meeting page Council of the European Union 23/06/2020 | Education & training Main results - Video conference of ministers of education, 23 June 2020 Ministers responsible for education held an informal meeting, via video conference, on the implications of COVID-19 on education and training. They reflected on the lessons learnt from the crisis and on whether some emergency solutions could be mainstreamed to support quality and inclusive education also beyond COVID-19. Ministers shared their views on the challenges they are facing in preparing for the next school/academic year, including the measures they are planning to take to ensure a safe reopening of schools and training institutions.For more details, see the meeting page. Visit the meeting page Council of the European Union 26/06/2020 | Agriculture Agenda highlights - Video conference of agriculture and fisheries ministers, 29 June 2020 EU agriculture and fisheries ministers will hold a video conference to discuss the recent Commission communication on sustainable fishing and the state of play of some legislative proposals in the policy areas of agriculture and fisheries.For more details, see the meeting page. Visit the meeting page 26/06/2020 | Agriculture Κυριότερα σημεία της ημερήσιας διάταξης - Βιντεοδιάσκεψη των υπουργών Γεωργίας και Αλιείας, 29 Ιουνίου 2020 Οι υπουργοί Γεωργίας και Αλιείας της ΕΕ θα πραγματοποιήσουν άτυπη βιντεοδιάσκεψη για να συζητήσουν την πρόσφατη ανακοίνωση της Επιτροπής σχετικά με τη βιώσιμη αλιεία και την πορεία των εργασιών για ορισμένες νομοθετικές προτάσεις στους τομείς πολιτικής της γεωργίας και της αλιείας.Για περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες, συμβουλευθείτε τη σελίδα των συνεδριάσεων. Visit the meeting page Council of the European Union e-notifications 23/06/2020 | Library blog Think Tanks' reports on COVID-19 To help you stay on top of the latest think-tank research on COVID-19, the Council Library is publishing on its blog a regularly updated list of recent publications on the subject. Subscribe to the Council Library blog to receive the updates if you don't follow us yet. Go to the website 25/06/2020 | Library blog Readers of Europe Reading List - Croatian recommendation The Council Library, in collaboration with the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has started a new initiative - the Readers of Europe Reading List. The list is compiled of choices made by the Member States' Permanent Representations to the EU. Click to discover the book recommended by the Permanent Representation of Croatia. Go to the website 25/06/2020 | Library blog Disinformation - reading references The Council Library has compiled a reading list to help understand what disinformation is and to help build resilience by extending readers' knowledge of the subject. Go to the website 26/06/2020 | Library blog New books added to the library's collection – June 2020 This month's new titles cover European governance, international law and bilateral relationships, among other subjects. Go to the website 26/06/2020 | Library blog Readers of Europe Reading List - German recommendation The Council Library, in collaboration with the Croatian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, has started a new initiative - the Readers of Europe Reading List. The list is compiled of choices made by the Permanent Representations to the EU. Click to discover the book recommended by the Permanent Representation of Germany to the EU Go to the website