The Council today adopted legislative amendments making it possible for member states to redirect resources from cohesion policy funds and the Fund f…
Press material
Monday 4 April 2022
● Council of the EU
04/04/2022 11:02 | Press release |
Ukraine: €17 billion of EU funds to help refugees
The Council today adopted legislative amendments making it possible for member states to redirect resources from cohesion policy funds and the Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived (FEAD) to assist the refugees escaping the Russian military aggression against Ukraine.
The swift amendment of the legislation on EU funds is a clear statement of the EU’s continued solidarity with the refugees from Ukraine and with the member states hosting them, in particular those sharing borders with Ukraine.
This is an important step in ensuring member states have sufficient resources to meet the growing needs for housing, education and healthcare.
Cohesion policy funds
The Council adopted the regulation on Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) amending the 2014-2020 legal framework governing the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) and the Fund for European Aid for the Most Deprived (FEAD).
This measure will also reinforce member states’ ongoing efforts to tackle the extended impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the changes include exceptional flexibility to transfer resources between programmes financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund to address the inflow of refugees.
This flexibility means, for example, that ERDF resources earmarked for infrastructural projects can be reallocated to provide healthcare and education to persons escaping Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Member states can use overall up to €9.5 billion under the 2022 tranche of REACT-EU, one of the largest post-pandemic EU public investment programmes, as well as unallocated cohesion policy resources under the 2014-2020 budgetary period.
CARE also extends by one accounting year the 100% financing from the EU budget for cohesion programmes. This will alleviate the burden on national and regional budgets due to the inflow of refugees from Ukraine.
The start date for the new measures eligible for funding under CARE is set at 24 February 2022, the date of the Russian invasion.
The extension of the 100% financing, the unlocking of unprogrammed 2014-2020 cohesion funding, and the 2022 React-EU tranche are estimated to release almost €17 billion.
Home affairs funds
The Council also adopted an amendment to the 2014-2020 home affairs funds and to the 2021-2027 asylum, migration and integration fund. This amendment will provide extra resources for the reception of persons escaping the war in Ukraine.
It will extend by one year the implementation period of the 2014-2020 home affairs funds and unlock access to unspent amounts in the asylum and migration fund which had previously been earmarked for other purposes.
This will enable member states to urgently use the remaining funds to help address the mass inflow of persons and is expected to release an estimated maximum amount of €420 million in additional support from unused funds.
The text also provides member states and other public or private donors with the possibility to make additional financial contributions under the 2021-2027 fund as external assigned revenue. This external assigned revenue will make it possible to finance asylum and migration activities in member states during crises, including those arising from the invasion of Ukraine.
Next steps
The CARE regulation and the regulation amending the 2014-2020 home affairs funds and the 2021-2027 asylum, migration and integration fund will enter into force on the day after their publication in the Official Journal of the European Union, which is expected in the next few days.
Regulation on Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE)
Regulation amending the 2014-2020 home affairs funds and 2021-2027 asylum, migration and integration fund
EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information)
● Council of the EU
04/04/2022 10:41 | Press release |
Council adopts €150 million assistance to the Republic of Moldova
The EU will provide a macro-financial assistance operation of €150 million in the form of loans and grants to benefit the Republic of Moldova. The assistance shall contribute to strengthening Moldova’s resilience in the current geopolitical context, and covering Moldova’s balance of payments needs as identified in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. It intends to support Moldova’s economic stabilisation and reform agenda.
This financial assistance adopted today will help Moldova cover, in 2022-2024, part of its residual external financing needs, which are estimated at USD 480 million. This is in the context of the new IMF programme over the period of 2021-2025.
The disbursement is expected to take place in three tranches to be released between 2022 and 2024. Of the total amount, up to €120 million shall be provided in the form of medium- to long-term loans at favourable financing conditions and up to €30 million in the form of grants.
Next steps
The Council adopted this decision today. It will enter into force on the third day after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background
The EU and the Republic of Moldova have developed a close political and economic relationship over the years. Relations continue to develop within the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership. Moldova joined the Union's Eastern Partnership in 2009. An EU-Moldova Association Agreement, which includes the gradual introduction of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), entered into force on 1 July 2016.
Moldova's economic ties with the EU are also well developed. The EU continues to be Moldova’s largest trading partner, accounting for 52% of its total trade in 2020 (approx. 67% of total exports and 45% of Moldova’s total imports), followed by Russia (9%) and China (8%).
Countries that are covered by the European Neighbourhood Policy are eligible for macro-financial assistance (MFA). It is designed to help countries in an acute balance of payments crisis. MFA is provided on an exceptional and temporary basis and is based on economic policy conditions, one of those being that a MFA operation must complement an International Monetary Fund (IMF) adjustment programme.
The Council adopted a previous decision on providing MFA to Moldova in the amount of €100 million in loans on 25 May 2020. The assistance was fully disbursed during 2020-2021.
In view of a worsening economic situation and outlook, the Moldovan government requested a new MFA from the EU on 19 November 2021. The Commission submitted a proposal to this effect to the Council and the Parliament on 4 January 2022.
The long-term EU budget 2021-2027 allows the use of MFA for an overall amount up to €11.6 billion in loans and up to €350 million in grants. The MFA for Moldova adopted today is the second new MFA under the current long-term budget, following the MFA for Ukraine adopted on 21 February 2022.
Decision on providing macro-financial assistance to the Republic of Moldova
Commission proposal
EU relations with the Republic of Moldova (background information)
EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information)
The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of occupied Ukr…
Press material
Monday 4 April 2022
● Council of the EU
04/04/2022 10:06 | Press release |
Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on Russian atrocities committed in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns
The European Union condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces in a number of occupied Ukrainian towns, that have now been liberated. Haunting images of large numbers of civilian deaths and casualties, as well as destruction of civilian infrastructures show the true face of the brutal war of aggression Russia is waging against Ukraine and its people. The massacres in the town of Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will be inscribed in the list of atrocities committed on European soil.
The Russian authorities are responsible for these atrocities, committed while they had effective control of the area. They are subject to the international law of occupation
The perpetrators of war crimes and other serious violations as well as the responsible government officials and military leaders will be held accountable. The European Union supports all measures to ensure accountability for human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine by Russian Armed forces.
In particular, we fully support the investigation launched by the ICC Prosecutor into war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as the work of the OHCHR Commission of Inquiry. The EU is assisting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and Civil Society focused on collection and preservation of the evidences of the war crimes.
We stand in full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in these sombre hours for the whole world. The EU will continue to firmly support Ukraine and will advance, as a matter of urgency, work on further sanctions against Russia.
President Putin must stop this war immediately and unconditionally.
After the European Parliament, the Council today approved the extension of the roam like at home scheme until 2032.After the current roaming regulati…
Press material
Monday 4 April 2022
● Council of the EU
04/04/2022 10:05 | Press release |
Mobile roaming with no extra fees to continue, following Council approval
After the European Parliament, the Council today approved the extension of the roam like at home scheme until 2032.
After the current roaming regulation expires (on 30 June 2022), people may therefore continue to make calls, text and browse the web while travelling in other EU countries at no extra cost.
The revised roaming regulation adjusts maximum wholesale prices to ensure that providing retail roaming services at domestic prices is sustainable for operators throughout the EU.
It increases transparency for services that may be subject to extra cost, and will also protect customers from bill shocks resulting from inadvertent roaming on non-terrestrial mobile networks when on ferries or aeroplanes.
Designed to prevent permanent roaming, the fair use policy will stay in place. The Commission may suggest changes to it after a thorough analysis of the market and due assessment of potential impacts.
The revised regulation also includes measures to ensure a good customer experience in terms of quality of service and access to emergency services, including for people with special needs.
The Commission will monitor the situation and, if necessary, present a new legislative proposal to regulate wholesale price caps and possibly other aspects of the roaming market.
Next steps
Following the Council’s approval today of the European Parliament's position, the legislative act was adopted.
After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, it will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force on 1 July 2022.
Text of the regulation on roaming on public mobile communications networks within the Union
A digital future for Europe (background information)
● Council of the EU
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