COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Friday 29 October 2021
● Council of the EU
29/10/2021 15:15 | Press release |
Council approves 2020 climate finance figure

In 2020, €23.39 billion1 in climate finance was committed by the European Union and its 27 member states to support developing countries in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. This figure was approved by the Council today, in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which will take place from 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow. The figure is based on new, more detailed EU climate finance reporting rules.2

In 2020, €23.39 billion1 in climate finance was committed by the European Union and its 27 member states to support developing countries in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. This figure was approved by the Council today, in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which will take place from 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow. The figure is based on new, more detailed EU climate finance reporting rules.2

In 2020, close to 50% of the funding for developing countries was dedicated to either climate adaptation or cross-cutting action (involving both climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives) and close to half of the total funding was committed in the form of grants, according to data compiled by the European Commission.

The EU and its member states are determined to continue scaling up their international climate finance towards the developed countries' collective goal of mobilising USD 100 billion per year, applicable through to 2025. They have recently made concrete pledges to enhance their contributions in the coming years as part of a climate finance ‘delivery plan’ that donor countries published on 25 October 2021.*

International public climate finance plays an important role in helping developing countries to implement the 2015 Paris climate change agreement.

1 Climate finance from public budgets includes EUR 2.5 billion from the EU budget and European Development Fund and EUR 2.7 billion from the European Investment Bank. The overall figure is calculated on the basis of commitments made for bilateral and multilateral support. As this represents a change compared to past reporting methodology, this year’s figure cannot be compared directly with figures reported in previous years. As certain commitments cover a multi-annual period, reported annual amounts may fluctuate over time.

2 EU Member States have, this year, reported data on commitments pursuant to Article 19.3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 (‘Governance Regulation’) and Article 6 and Annexes III-V of Commission Implementing Regulation 2020/1208.
* COP26 - Climate finance delivery plan: meeting the US$100 billion goal
Council conclusions on climate finance, 5 October 2021
Addendum to the Council conclusions on climate finance

● Council of the EU
29/10/2021 12:46 | Press release |

COVID-19: Council adds Argentina, Colombia, Namibia and Peru to the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted
Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. In particular, Argentina, Colombia, Namibia and Peru were added to the list.

Non-essential travel to the EU from countries or entities not listed in Annex I is subject to temporary travel restriction. This is without prejudice to the possibility for member states to lift the temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU for fully vaccinated travellers.

As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed every two weeks and, as the case may be, updated.

Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation, as from 28 October 2021 member states should gradually lift the travel restrictions at the external borders for residents of the following third countries:
Argentina (new)
Australia
Bahrain
Canada
Chile
Colombia (new)
Jordan
Kuwait
Namibia (new)
New Zealand
Peru (new)
Qatar
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
China, subject to confirmation of reciprocity

Travel restrictions should also be gradually lifted for the special administrative regions of China Hong Kong and Macao.

Under the category of entities and territorial authorities that are not recognised as states by at least one member state, travel restrictions for Taiwan should also be gradually lifted.

Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation.

The criteria to determine the third countries for which the current travel restriction should be lifted were updated on 20 May 2021. They cover the epidemiological situation and overall response to COVID-19, as well as the reliability of the available information and data sources. Reciprocity should also be taken into account on a case by case basis.

Schengen associated countries (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) also take part in this recommendation.