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Eight years on from the violent, illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the Eu… Press material Friday 25 February 2022   ● Council of the EU   25/02/2022 12:58 | Press release | Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol   Eight years on from the violent, illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the European Union remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Further violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity have now taken place with Russia’s recent unprovoked military attack against Ukraine and its decision to recognise the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities. The European Union reiterates that it does not recognise and continues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law. It remains a direct challenge to international security, with grave implications for the international legal order that protects the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of all States. The European Union remains committed to fully implementing its non-recognition policy, including through restrictive measures and cooperation in international fora. The European Union calls again on UN Member States to consider similar non-recognition measures in line with the UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262 of 27 March 2014. The European Union does not and will not recognise the holding of elections and referenda by the Russian Federation in the Crimean peninsula. The increasing militarisation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation, including multiple military exercises and the construction of warships, continues to have a negative impact on the security situation in the Black Sea region. In violation of international humanitarian law, Russia has imposed citizenship and conscription into its armed forces on Crimean residents. In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 76/70 of 9 December 2021, the European Union recalls the negative effects of the illegal annexation on regional stability, as shown by the unjustified use of military force by Russia against Ukraine on 25 November 2018. Furthermore, the Russian Federation must stop changing the demographic structure on the peninsula by the resettlement of its own civilian population to the peninsula and by persecution of Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians. The European Union condemns the construction of the Kerch Bridge and the opening of a railway section without Ukraine's consent. These steps constitute further attempts to forcibly integrate the illegally annexed peninsula into Russia, and a further violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU expects Russia to ensure unhindered and free passage of all ships through the Kerch Strait to and from the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law. The ongoing illegal restrictions to such passage have negative economic consequences for Ukraine's ports in the Azov Sea, as well as for the region as a whole. The EU does not recognise other attempts by the Russian Federation to forcibly integrate the illegally annexed peninsula into Russia. This includes the Russian presidential decree on land ban ownership for non-Russian citizens, as well as the holding of all Russian census on the peninsula. Since the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation, the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula has significantly deteriorated. Having in mind the landmark decision of the European Court of Human Rights of 14 January 2021, the European Union calls for Russia’s full compliance with international humanitarian law, international human rights standards, and relevant UN General Assembly Resolutions, including 76/179 of 16 December 2021. Residents of the peninsula face systematic restrictions of their fundamental freedoms, such as the freedoms of expression, religion or belief and association, and the right to peaceful assembly. Journalists, human rights defenders and defence lawyers face interference and intimidation in their work. The Crimean Tatars in particular continue to be unacceptably persecuted, pressured and have their rights gravely violated, especially through arbitrary arrests and detentions. All ethnic and religious communities in the peninsula must be ensured the possibility to maintain and develop their culture, language, education, identity and cultural heritage traditions, which are currently threatened by the illegal annexation. Destructive actions against the peninsula’s cultural heritage, such as archaeological treasures, artworks, museums or historical sites, which continue unabated, must stop. In accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 76/179 of 16 December 2021, it is crucial that regional and international human rights monitoring mechanisms as well as non-governmental human rights organisations have unimpeded access to Crimea and Sevastopol. All pending cases of human rights violations and abuses, such as enforced disappearances, torture and killings, violence, politically motivated prosecutions, discrimination and harassment must be thoroughly investigated. The European Union does not recognise the enforcement of Russian legislation in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and expects all illegally detained to be released without delay. We condemn the recent politically motivated mass detentions of Crimean Tatars. All those detained in the Crimean peninsula and sentenced in breach of international law, including Nariman Dzhelyal, Emir-Usein Kuku and his five co-defendants, Oleh Prykhodko, Halyna Dovhopola, Enver Omerov, Riza Omerov and Ayder Dzhapparov, must be immediately released. The ban on the activities of the Mejlis, a self-governing body of the Crimean Tatars, must be reversed. Russia must also take measures to improve the environmental situation, which has considerably worsened since the illegal annexation. The EU welcomes and supports diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Union will continue to work for a peaceful end of Russia’s illegal annexation of the peninsula, as reiterated in the joint declaration of the first summit of the International Crimea Platform held on 23 August 2021. The EU will continue working towards the implementation of the Joint Declaration. The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by armed forces of the Russian Federation. We also condemn the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and call on it to abide by its international obligations. Russia’s military attack against Ukraine - an independent and sovereign State - is a flagrant violation of international law and the core principles on which the international rules-based order is built. The EU together with transatlantic and like-minded partners have been united in making unprecedented efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the security crisis caused by Russia. Russia has not reciprocated these efforts and instead opted unilaterally for a grave and premeditated escalation. We demand President Putin to cease Russian military operations immediately and unconditionally withdraw all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine. Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions. The EU has made clear from the outset and at the highest political level that any further military aggression against Ukraine will have massive consequences and severe costs, coordinated fully with our transatlantic and like-minded partners. Furthermore, the EU strongly condemns the decision by President Putin to recognise the non-government controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts of Ukraine as independent entities and the ensuing decision to send Russian troops into these areas. This illegal act further undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence and is a severe breach of international law and international agreements, including the UN Charter, Helsinki Final Act, Paris Charter and Budapest Memorandum. As a signatory of the Minsk agreements, Russia has a clear and direct responsibility to work to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict in line with these principles. With the decision to recognise the non-government controlled region of eastern Ukraine as “independent states”, Russia is clearly violating the Minsk agreements, which stipulate the full return of these areas to the control of the Ukrainian government. We urge Russia, as a party to the conflict, to reverse the recognition, uphold its commitments, abide by international law and return to the discussions within the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group. This Declaration is issued on the 8th anniversary of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, commemorated by Ukraine on 26 February 2022.

 

24/02/2022 12:00 | Article Special meeting of the European Council, 24 February 2022 The President of the European Council has urgently convened a special meeting of the European Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military actions that grossly violate international law and undermine European and global security and stability. Special meeting of the European Council, 24 February 2022 Published on 24 February 2022 The President of the European Council has urgently convened a special meeting of the European Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine following Russia's unprovoked and unjustified military actions that grossly violate international law and undermine European and global security and stability. Read the European Council conclusions Special meeting of the European Council, 24 February 2022

Documents destinés à la presse jeudi 24 février 2022

● Conseil de l'UE   24/02/2022 18:08 | Communiqué de presse | Le Conseil adopte sa position concernant la directive sur la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (CSRD)   Le Conseil a arrêté sa position ("orientation générale") concernant la proposition de la Commission européenne relative à la directive sur la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (CSRD). Ce projet de directive complètera la stratégie européenne en matière de finance durable.

Conseil de l'UE
Communiqué de presse
24 février 2022
18:00
Le Conseil adopte sa position concernant la directive sur la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (CSRD)


Le Conseil a arrêté sa position ("orientation générale") concernant la proposition de la Commission européenne relative à la directive sur la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (CSRD). Ce projet de directive complètera la stratégie européenne en matière de finance durable.



L’adoption, sous l’impulsion de la présidence française, d’une position commune des Etats-membres sur ce texte constitue une nouvelle étape décisive dans le développement d’un cadre règlementaire européen de la finance durable. A terme, les entreprises de plus de 250 salariés ou cotées devront désormais traduire leur politique environnementale, sociale et de gouvernance dans des documents d’information standardisés, justifiés et certifiés. C’est donc plus de transparence pour les citoyens, les consommateurs et les investisseurs pour que les entreprises puissent jouer tout leur rôle dans la société. Le greenwashing, c’est terminé. Aujourd’hui, l’Europe établit les normes extra-financières de référence de demain, avec exigence et en ligne avec nos ambitions environnementales et sociales.Bruno Le Maire, ministre de l'Economie, des Finances et de la Relance

La proposition de la Commission européenne révise la directive sur la publication d'informations non-financières de 2014 et permettra d’assurer la robustesse des engagements des entreprises, en introduisant les nouveautés suivantes:
extension du champ d'application à toutes les grandes entreprises et toutes les entreprises cotées sur un marché règlementé (à l'exception des microentreprises cotées)
exigence de certification des informations publiées en matière de durabilité
exigences plus détaillées et standardisées sur les informations que les entreprises doivent publier
meilleure accessibilité des informations, en imposant leur publication dans une section dédiée des rapports de gestion des entreprises

Ces changements permettront d'accroître la responsabilité des entreprises, d'éviter les divergences entre les normes nationales et de faciliter la transition vers une économie durable.
Modernisation de la directive sur la publication d'informations non financières

La proposition vise à remédier aux lacunes des règles existantes en matière de publication d'informations non financières, dont la qualité et la comparabilité étaient insuffisantes pour permettre leur bonne prise en compte par les investisseurs. Ces lacunes nuisent à la transition vers une économie durable.

Cette directive confirme le rôle à l’avant-garde de l’Union européenne dans la définition des normes durables. L’harmonisation des données de durabilité sera rendue possible par la définition de normes d’information en matière de durabilité, qui seront adoptés par acte délégué par la Commission européenne, sur avis technique de l’European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) et de plusieurs agences européennes.

Le texte propose un champ d'application plus large, une clarification et une extension des exigences en matière de publication d'informations, et garantit que cette publication est conforme aux normes obligatoires de l'UE. Il prévoit également d'imposer un accès numérique aux informations en matière de durabilité.
Modification du champ d'application

Le Conseil a modifié le champ d’application proposé par la Commission européenne, afin que les exigences de reporting ne soient pas trop lourdes pour les PMEs cotées (les obligations ne s’appliquant pas aux autres PMEs) et que celles-ci aient suffisamment de temps pour s’adapter aux nouvelles règles.
Contexte et prochaines étapes

La Commission européenne a présenté la proposition relative à la CSRD le 21 avril 2021.

L'orientation générale dégagée ce jour complète la position de négociation arrêtée par le Conseil. Elle donne à la présidence du Conseil un mandat pour poursuivre les discussions avec le Parlement européen, qui devraient débuter au printemps 2022.
Orientation générale - proposition de directive concernant la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (6292/22)
Proposition de la Commission relative à une directive concernant la publication d'informations en matière de durabilité par les entreprises (21 avril 2021)Visiter la page consacrée à la réunion

Press material Thursday 24 February 2022

● European Council   24/02/2022 21:15 | Conclusions | European Council conclusions, 24 February 2022   European Council conclusions on Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine The European Council condemns in the strongest possible terms the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. By its illegal military actions, Russia is grossly violating international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermining European and global security and stability. The European Council underlines that this includes the right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny. Russia bears full responsibility for this act of aggression and all the destruction and loss of life it will cause. It will be held accountable for its actions. The European Council demands that Russia immediately ceases its military actions, unconditionally withdraws all forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council calls on Russia and Russia-backed armed formations to respect international humanitarian law and stop their disinformation campaign and cyber-attacks. The European Council deplores the tragic loss of life and human suffering caused by the Russian aggression. It stands in solidarity with the women, men and children whose lives have been affected by this unjustified and unjustifiable attack. It calls on Russia and Russia-backed armed formations to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to all persons in need. The European Council also strongly condemns the involvement of Belarus in this aggression against Ukraine and calls on it to refrain from such action and to abide by its international obligations. The EU has reacted swiftly and decisively to Russia’s recognition of Ukraine’s self-proclaimed separatist entities and deployment of its armed forces by adopting restrictive measures in response. The European Council today agrees on further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action, in close coordination with our partners and allies. These sanctions cover the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods as well as export control and export financing, visa policy, additional listings of Russian individuals and new listing criteria. The Council will adopt without delay the proposals prepared by the Commission and the High Representative. The European Council calls for the urgent preparation and adoption of a further individual and economic sanctions package that will also cover Belarus. The European Council reiterates its unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. It calls on all countries not to recognise the two self-proclaimed separatist entities and not to facilitate or in any way assist them. The EU is united in its solidarity with Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine and its people together with its international partners, including through additional political, financial, humanitarian and logistical support and an international donors’ conference. Following the December 2016 decision by the EU Heads of State or Government, the European Council acknowledges the European aspirations and the European choice of Ukraine, as stated in the Association Agreement. The European Council firmly believes that the use of force and coercion to change borders has no place in the 21st century. Tensions and conflict should be resolved exclusively through dialogue and diplomacy. The EU will continue cooperating closely with neighbours and reiterates its unwavering support for, and commitment to, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and of the Republic of Moldova. It will continue strong coordination with partners and allies, within the UN, OSCE, NATO and the G7. The European Council calls for taking forward the work on preparedness and readiness at all levels and invites the Commission, in particular, to put forward contingency measures, including on energy. The European Council will remain seized of the matter.

Υλικό για τον Τύπο Πέμπτη 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2022   ● Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο   24/02/2022 23:48 | Συμπερασματα | Συμπεράσματα του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου, 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2022   Συμπεράσματα του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου για την απρόκλητη και αδικαιολόγητη στρατιωτική επίθεση της Ρωσίας κατά της Ουκρανίας Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο καταδικάζει με τον πλέον κατηγορηματικό τρόπο την απρόκλητη και αδικαιολόγητη στρατιωτική επίθεση της Ρωσικής Ομοσπονδίας κατά της Ουκρανίας. Με τις παράνομες στρατιωτικές της ενέργειες, η Ρωσία παραβιάζει κατάφωρα το διεθνές δίκαιο και τις αρχές του Χάρτη των Ηνωμένων Εθνών και υπονομεύει την ευρωπαϊκή και παγκόσμια ασφάλεια και σταθερότητα. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο υπογραμμίζει ότι αυτό περιλαμβάνει το δικαίωμα της Ουκρανίας να επιλέγει το πεπρωμένο της. Η Ρωσία φέρει την πλήρη ευθύνη για αυτή την επίθεση και για όλες τις καταστροφές και απώλειες ανθρώπινων ζωών που θα προκαλέσει. Η Ρωσία θα λογοδοτήσει για τις πράξεις της. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο απαιτεί από τη Ρωσία να σταματήσει αμέσως τις στρατιωτικές της ενέργειες, να αποσύρει άνευ όρων όλες τις δυνάμεις και τον στρατιωτικό εξοπλισμό από ολόκληρο το έδαφος της Ουκρανίας και να σεβαστεί πλήρως την εδαφική ακεραιότητα, την κυριαρχία και την ανεξαρτησία της Ουκρανίας εντός των διεθνώς αναγνωρισμένων συνόρων της. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο καλεί τη Ρωσία και τους ένοπλους σχηματισμούς που υποστηρίζονται από αυτή να σεβαστούν το διεθνές ανθρωπιστικό δίκαιο και να σταματήσουν την εκστρατεία παραπληροφόρησης που διεξάγουν καθώς και τις κυβερνοεπιθέσεις τους. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο εκφράζει τη λύπη του για την τραγική απώλεια ζωών και τα ανθρώπινα δεινά που προκαλεί η ρωσική επίθεση. Στέκεται αλληλέγγυο προς τις γυναίκες, τους άνδρες και τα παιδιά των οποίων η ζωή έχει πληγεί από αυτή την επίθεση για την οποία δεν υπάρχει και δεν μπορεί να υπάρξει δικαιολογία. Καλεί τη Ρωσία και τους ένοπλους σχηματισμούς που υποστηρίζονται από αυτή να επιτρέψουν την ασφαλή και απρόσκοπτη πρόσβαση και παροχή ανθρωπιστικής βοήθειας σε όλα τα άτομα που έχουν ανάγκη. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο καταδικάζει επίσης απερίφραστα την εμπλοκή της Λευκορωσίας σε αυτή την επίθεση κατά της Ουκρανίας και την καλεί να απέχει από τέτοιες πράξεις και να συμμορφώνεται με τις διεθνείς υποχρεώσεις της. Η ΕΕ έχει αντιδράσει γρήγορα και αποφασιστικά, με τη λήψη περιοριστικών μέτρων, στην αναγνώριση από τη Ρωσία των αυτοανακηρυχθεισών αυτονομιστικών οντοτήτων της Ουκρανίας και στην ανάπτυξη των ενόπλων δυνάμεων της Ρωσίας. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο συμφωνεί σήμερα την επιβολή περαιτέρω περιοριστικών μέτρων με τεράστιες και σοβαρές επιπτώσεις για τη Ρωσία εξαιτίας της δράσης της, σε στενή συνεργασία με τους εταίρους και τους συμμάχους μας. Οι κυρώσεις αυτές καλύπτουν τον χρηματοπιστωτικό τομέα, τους τομείς της ενέργειας και των μεταφορών, τα είδη διπλής χρήσης καθώς επίσης τον έλεγχο των εξαγωγών και τη χρηματοδότηση εξαγωγών, την πολιτική θεωρήσεων, επιπρόσθετες καταχωρίσεις φυσικών προσώπων ρωσικής ιθαγένειας και νέα κριτήρια για τις καταχωρίσεις. Το Συμβούλιο θα εγκρίνει χωρίς καθυστέρηση τις προτάσεις της Επιτροπής και του ύπατου εκπροσώπου. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο ζητεί την επείγουσα προετοιμασία και θέσπιση περαιτέρω δέσμης κυρώσεων, ατομικών και οικονομικών, που θα καλύπτει και τη Λευκορωσία. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο επαναλαμβάνει την αταλάντευτη στήριξή του υπέρ της ανεξαρτησίας, της κυριαρχίας και της εδαφικής ακεραιότητας της Ουκρανίας εντός των διεθνώς αναγνωρισμένων συνόρων της. Καλεί όλες τις χώρες να μην αναγνωρίσουν τις δύο αυτοανακηρυχθείσες αυτονομιστικές οντότητες και να μην παράσχουν καμία διευκόλυνση ή άλλου είδους αρωγή σε αυτές. Η ΕΕ εκφράζει ενωμένη την αλληλεγγύη της προς την Ουκρανία και θα συνεχίσει να στηρίζει την Ουκρανία και τον λαό της μαζί με τους διεθνείς εταίρους της, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω πρόσθετης πολιτικής, οικονομικής, ανθρωπιστικής και υλικοτεχνικής στήριξης καθώς και μέσω διεθνούς διάσκεψης δωρητών. Σε συνέχεια της απόφασης των αρχηγών κρατών ή κυβερνήσεων του Δεκεμβρίου του 2016, το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο αναγνωρίζει τις ευρωπαϊκές φιλοδοξίες και την ευρωπαϊκή επιλογή της Ουκρανίας, όπως δηλώνεται στη συμφωνία σύνδεσης. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο πιστεύει ακράδαντα ότι η χρήση βίας και εξαναγκασμού για τη μεταβολή των συνόρων δεν έχει θέση στον 21ο αιώνα. Οι εντάσεις και οι συγκρούσεις θα πρέπει να επιλύονται αποκλειστικά μέσω του διαλόγου και της διπλωματίας. Η ΕΕ θα εξακολουθήσει να συνεργάζεται στενά με τους γείτονές της και επαναλαμβάνει την αταλάντευτη υποστήριξη και δέσμευσή της για την κυριαρχία και την εδαφική ακεραιότητα της Γεωργίας και της Δημοκρατίας της Μολδαβίας. Θα εξακολουθήσει να συντονίζει στενά τις ενέργειές της με εταίρους και συμμάχους, στους κόλπους του ΟΗΕ, του ΟΑΣΕ, του ΝΑΤΟ και της G7. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο ζητεί να προχωρήσουν οι εργασίες για την προετοιμασία και την ετοιμότητα σε όλα τα επίπεδα και καλεί ιδίως την Επιτροπή να προτείνει μέτρα έκτακτης ανάγκης, μεταξύ άλλων στον τομέα της ενέργειας. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο θα εξακολουθήσει να επιλαμβάνεται του θέματος. Συμπεράσματα του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου, 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2022

Council of the EU
Competitiveness Council (internal market and industry), 24 February 2022

Main results
Industrial mobility ecosystem

Ministers held a debate on the future of the industrial mobility ecosystem in the context of the green transition.



Decarbonising our means of transport is crucial to tackling climate change. In this context, we need to anticipate the impact that the Green Deal and Fit for 55 will have on transport, for example in the automotive, rail and air sectors. Because these texts will require extraordinarily far-reaching transformations of our production chains and our skills needs. This will only be achieved through substantial support and investment. We would like to have EU countries’ initial views of the indicators and the tools we should use to complete these transformations.Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French minister with responsibility for industry

The member states welcomed the fact that the Competitiveness Council was to play an important role in guiding the various policies for speeding up the EU’s green transition, in view of the associated industrial challenges.

Ministers addressed the specific challenges that implementing the ‘fit for 55’ package would pose for the mobility industries. They discussed their estimation of the scale and cost of the green mobility transition, but also its long-term benefits and the actions required to support the transition.
Presidency note
Critical raw materials

The presidency returned to the discussions that had taken place at the informal meeting of ministers for industry on 31 January and 1 February 2022 in Lens, France. Ministers had had the opportunity to exchange views on how to secure internal and external supplies of critical raw materials to European industry in order to strengthen the Union’s strategic autonomy.

The presidency stressed that it was important to make progress in three areas: (i) securing supplies outside the European Union, (ii) developing recycling and innovation to improve consumption of existing raw materials in Europe, and (iii) creating a framework for extraction in Europe.
Presidency note
Foreign subsidies

Ministers held a policy debate on the regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market.


Fair competition which is not distorted by foreign subsidies is a prerequisite for the competitiveness of our companies and the sustainability of European industrial projects that help strengthen our strategic autonomy. This proposal is therefore a key element in the deployment of our European industrial strategy.Agnès Pannier-Runacher, French minister with responsibility for industry

The aim of this proposal is to address the distortions created in the single market by subsidies granted by third-country public authorities to companies carrying out an economic activity in the European Union.

Ministers agreed on the need to monitor subsidies paid by third countries in the same way as member states’ subsidies. A number of ministers supported the European Commission as the only body empowered to enforce the regulation, while some stressed the need for the member states to have a more active role in the implementation of the regulation.
Watch the recording of the public debate here
Presidency note
Semiconductor package (Chips Act)

The Commission briefly presented to ministers the semiconductor package, or ‘Chips Act’, which had been published on 8 February 2022.

Since the semiconductor industry is of paramount importance for the European economy, this topic will again be on the agenda of a forthcoming Competitiveness Council meeting.
Watch the recording of the public debate
Corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD)

The Council adopted unanimously a general approach on the proposed Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).



The adoption, under the impetus of the French Presidency, of a common position by the Member States on this text represents a major step forward for the green transition of our businesses. This is a further step towards more responsible capitalism. Europe will be a future reference point for non-financial standards.Olivia Grégoire, French Minister of State for the Social, Solidarity and Responsible Economy.

The proposal aims to address shortcomings in the existing rules on non-financial reporting, which were of insufficient quality and insufficiently comparable to enable them to be properly taken into account by investors.

Such shortcomings hinder the transition to a sustainable economy. Furthermore, the abundant nature of today’s non-harmonised data requests creates a significant burden for businesses that needs to be streamlined.
Council general approach
Council adopts position on Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) (press release, 24 February 2022)
Watch the recording of the public debate
Other topics on the agenda
Common charger

The presidency provided information on the state of play of the examination of the Commission’s proposal for a common charger for radio equipment. It informed ministers about the negotiating mandate adopted by the Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee on 26 January.

The presidency explained that, given the direct impact on the everyday comfort of European consumers and on the reduction of electronic waste, it will make every effort to advance the discussions as far as possible.
Council negotiating mandate
Council adopts position on a common charger for electronic devices (press release, 26 January 2022)
Watch the recording of the public debate
Sustainable corporate governance and due diligence

The European Commission presented to ministers the proposal on sustainable corporate governance and due diligence.

This proposal was adopted on 23 February 2022. It aims to help companies better manage sustainability issues in their operations and value chains, with particular reference to social and human rights, climate change and the environment.
Information from the Commission
Watch the recording of the public debate

The European Commission provided information on the EU standardisation strategy. This strategy is a key tool for the internal market, the digital and environmental transition and, more generally, for European competitiveness on a global scale.
European Commission communication – standardisation strategy

The European Commission also presented its annual report on the single market. This report describes the state of the single market, focusing in particular on economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis and identifying investment needs that would make the single market more resilient. The European Commission also presented the report on dependencies.
Annual single market report 2022 (European Commission)
Report on dependencies (European Commission)

The Council also adopted without discussion the items included in the lists of legislative and non-legislative ‘A’ items.