Council of the EU,update

 

Press material Monday 21 February 2022   ● Council of the EU   21/02/2022 10:42 | Press release | Council calls for greater emphasis on sustainability in international food standards   Farming ministers today called for sustainability considerations to feature more prominently when it comes to setting food safety standards for international trade. In conclusions approved at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, ministers recognised the crucial role of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) in facilitating the transition to sustainable food systems, and reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to maintaining high standards and fair practices. They also highlighted the EU’s willingness to explore, together with its partners, all pragmatic ways of integrating sustainability considerations into the work of the CAC, in line with commitments made by its members at international level. "As a member of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the European Union plays a vital role in ensuring that food traded internationally abides by high standards. Adding an environmental dimension to these standards is necessary for the sake of reciprocity and in order to achieve the transition to sustainable food systems." Julien Denormandie, French Minister for Agriculture and Food In its conclusions, the Council recognised the essential work of the CAC in ensuring that food products imported into the EU respect the highest possible safety standards. Nevertheless, it acknowledged the need for the CAC to evolve in response to recent developments including increased environmental challenges and changing consumer expectations regarding health, food and nutrition. Ministers also called on the CAC to improve coordination of standard-setting among international and intergovernmental organisations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The Council highlighted the contribution made by the EU and member states in terms of providing scientific expertise as part of the expert committees that support the work of the CAC, and called on member states to continue providing this support.

The EU will provide an emergency macro-financial assistance operation of €1.2 billion in the form of loans to foster stability in Ukraine. It intends… Press material Monday 21 February 2022   ● Council of the EU   21/02/2022 10:27 | Press release | Council adopts €1.2 billion assistance to Ukraine   The EU will provide an emergency macro-financial assistance operation of €1.2 billion in the form of loans to foster stability in Ukraine. It intends to provide swift support in a situation of acute crisis and to strengthen Ukraine’s resilience. The Council finalised the adoption today, only 21 days after the Commission presented its proposal. The EU fast-tracked this economic assistance to Ukraine, as the current geopolitical tensions are having a detrimental effect on Ukraine's economic and financial stability. Persistent security threats have already triggered a substantial outflow of capital. Ukraine is losing access to international capital markets due to the heightened geopolitical uncertainty and its impact on the economic situation. "The EU has acted swiftly and decisively to help Ukraine. Within 21 days, we completed the necessary work, which means that €1.2 billion macro-financial assistance can now reach Ukraine." Bruno Le Maire, French Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Recovery This emergency macro-financial assistance will have a duration of 12 months and it will consist of two disbursements: The release of the first tranche, subject to the political precondition and a satisfactory implementation of the IMF programme, would occur swiftly after the approval of this proposal, upon entry into force of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on specific structural policy measures, to be agreed between the European Commission on behalf of the EU and Ukraine. The disbursement of the second tranche would be linked to the continuous satisfactory implementation of both an IMF programme and the policy measures agreed in the MoU. The MoU underpinning this emergency macro-financial assistance operation is likely to focus on a limited number of feasible, short-term policy actions in the most urgent priority areas, such as strengthening economic resilience and stability, governance and rule of law, and energy. Background The EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, which entered into force on 1 September 2017, brings the Ukraine and the EU closer together. In addition to promoting deeper political ties, stronger economic links and the respect for common values, the agreement has provided a framework for pursuing an ambitious reform agenda, focused on the fight against corruption, an independent judicial system, the rule of law, and a better business climate. The EU has shown continuous support for these reforms, which are crucial for attracting investments, boosting productivity and lifting the standards of living in the medium term. Among other support instruments, between 2014 and 2021 the EU supported Ukraine through five consecutive Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) operations that totalled EUR 5 billion of loans. The current geopolitical tensions are having a detrimental effect on Ukraine's already precarious economic and financial stability. Persistent security threats have triggered a substantial outflow of capital. On 1 February 2022, against the backdrop of the loss of access to international capital markets due to the heightened geopolitical uncertainty and its impact on the economic situation in Ukraine, the Commission submitted a proposal to provide a new MFA of 1.2 billion in the form of loans to foster stability in Ukraine. Council supports €1.2 billion assistance to Ukraine (press release, 11.02.2022) Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on providing macro-financial assistance to Ukraine COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT ex-ante evaluation statement Accompanying the document Proposal for a DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on providing macro-financial assistance to Ukraine EU relations with Ukraine (background information)