COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

 

Meetings Wednesday 22 June 2022

● European Council   22/06/2022 18:38 | MEETING | European Council, 23-24 June 2022   Background brief - European Council meeting on 23 and 24 June 2022

Press material Tuesday 21 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   21/06/2022 11:23 | Press release | Council pushes for further actions to protect journalists and media professionals   Against the backdrop of increasing threats to journalists and thus impediments to freedom of expression and freedom to inform, the Council today approved conclusions on the protection and safety of journalists and media professionals. Member states call on the Commission to strengthen funding for independent and investigative journalism and take into account online safety and freedom of speech for journalists and other media professionals in all relevant initiatives following from the EU’s digital strategy. The Council recognises that many journalists and other media professionals are not able to work freely and independently everywhere as they should be. According to a Council of Europe report the number of alerts about serious threats to the safety of journalists and media freedom in Europe has almost doubled since 2016 (the number of alerts in 2021 stood at 282). In addition to threats to their safety, the economic situation of journalists and other media professionals is also becoming more and more precarious. The digital transformation, the closure of media outlets and the consequences of the pandemic have led to a worsening of journalists’ economic insecurity. Learning, international action and support to journalists In its conclusions, the Council invites member states and the Commission to – among other things: Encourage lifelong learning for newsroom managers, law enforcement authorities, judges and other concerned stakeholders about the protection of journalists and media professionals Commit to work for the protection of journalists and other media professionals around the world in relevant multilateral fora, in bilateral relations and in international initiatives Support – for instance through professional, financial, social and legal assistance – independent and exiled journalists and media professionals, particularly from countries such as Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation

The President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, has sent a letter to the President of the Euro Summit, Charles Michel, reporting on ongoing and futu… Press material Tuesday 21 June 2022   ● Eurogroup   21/06/2022 11:28 | Press release | Eurogroup President Donohoe's report to the President of the Euro Summit of 24 June 2022   The President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, has sent a letter to the President of the Euro Summit, Charles Michel, reporting on ongoing and future work of the Eurogroup. The letter will inform the discussion that leaders will hold at the Euro Summit of 24 June 2022. The euro has been the most visible symbol of Europe’s unity and has also proved a tangible source of stability for citizens and companies across the continent. As part of the successful policy cooperation in the euro area, the letter notes the following achievements: The Eurogroup agreed that Croatia should introduce the euro as of 1 January 2023, on the basis of the European Commission's and the European Central Bank's positive assessment of Croatia's fulfilment of convergence criteria. Given the successful delivery of the bulk of Greece’s policy commitments, euro area finance ministers welcomed the European Commission’s intention not to prolong enhanced surveillance after its expiration on 20 August 2022. The Eurogroup in inclusive format made an important step to put the completion of the Banking Union back into motion by agreeing to prioritise work on the common framework for bank crisis management and the use of national deposit guarantee funds. In addition, the Eurogroup continues its important work on the close coordination of economic and fiscal policies. In July, the Eurogroup will update its fiscal strategy in view of the complex economic environment that euro area countries are currently navigating. Euro area finance ministers will also continue their discussions on the economic governance review and their work on the digital euro project. Letter of the President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, to the President of the Euro Summit, Charles Michel ahead of the Euro Summit on 24 June 2022

Press material Tuesday 21 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   21/06/2022 17:49 | Press release | Council conclusions on a homogeneous extended single market and EU relations with Non-EU Western European countries and with the Faroe Islands   In accordance with its conclusions of 11 December 2018, the Council has assessed the overall state of EU relations with the following Western European countries that are not members of the EU: the Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Principality of Andorra, the Principality of Monaco, and the Republic of San Marino. The Council has also assessed the state of EU relations with the Faroe Islands as a self-governing country within the Kingdom of Denmark and to which EU treaties do not apply. Following its conclusions of 19 February 2019, the Council will revert to the overall state of EU relations with the Swiss Confederation. The Council will reassess the state of these relations in two years, as appropriate. The Western European Neighbours of the European Union The non-EU Western European countries are the EU's closest partners in building a stronger, safer, greener, more competitive and prosperous Europe. The Council recalls the weight and importance the EU attaches to relations with all these special, like-minded partners that are highly integrated with the EU. Our long-standing cooperation is based on shared fundamental values and interests and underpinned by our common heritage and history, as well as strong cultural and geographical ties. The Council recognises the importance of unity regarding the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine. It commends the alignment Of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway with EU statements and restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. The Council welcomes the decisions taken by Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, as well as the Faroe Islands, to implement equivalent restrictive measures. It also expresses appreciation for other actions in line with the EU and its Member States to counter the military aggression by the Russian Federation, including in the multilateral fora. Economic integration within the framework of the extended EU Internal Market brings us Together even more and frames the inter-dependency of our future prosperity and Competitiveness. In the last four years, our close relations have been further enhanced by a Number of initiatives across a wide range of strategic areas. The Council reiterates that the strength of our economic integration depends on full respect For the four freedoms of the Internal Market. It is therefore the responsibility of all the States which already participate or wish to increase their level of participation in the extended Internal market to ensure its integrity and homogeneity, as well as full respect for equal rights and obligations for both citizens and businesses. The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the necessity and advantages of standing united and tackling common challenges together. The EU Digital COVID Certificate system, used by the EEA EFTA States and, following the adoption of equivalency decisions, by Andorra, Monaco, and San Marino, as well as the Faroe Islands, successfully facilitated cross-border travel. The high degree of integration through the EEA Agreement provides us with excellent tools to address these challenges jointly with the EEA EFTA States. Further challenges caused by the pandemic require a well-functioning Internal Market, including the Digital Single Market, and strong investments in key industrial sectors, which will be essential for sustaining economic recovery. With Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, the COVID-19 crisis highlighted the need for further integration. The Council welcomes Andorra, Monaco and San Marino’s participation in the EU Health Security Committee and supports participation in Joint Procurement Agreements to procure medical countermeasures for serious cross-border threats to health. The Council is fully committed to stepping up global efforts to tackling climate change, Pursuing sustainable energy transition, energy efficiency and sustainable mobility, and Protecting biodiversity and the environment as a whole. Continued close cooperation between the EU and the EEA EFTA States, as well as enhanced dialogue with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino, on these issues is very important. The Council notes the excellent cooperation in areas of EU external action such as the Common foreign and security policy (CFSP), development aid, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and stresses the importance of close and systematic political dialogue. The Council expresses its strong appreciation for the alignment of its closest non-EU Western European partners to the EU's common foreign and security policy instruments and positions, most recently the strong support of EU positions at multilateral level, and the restrictive measures imposed following the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine as of 24 February 2022. The Council looks forward to the further continuation of this strong alignment with CSFP declarations and restrictive measures which is key for European unity and global security. The Council highlights the need to continue and enhance cooperation in international fora Between the EU and its non-EU Western European partners to further strengthen multilateral, rules-based world order and work jointly on shared priority issues, including human rights, gender equality, peace and security, and fight against climate change. By virtue of their geographical and political proximity, the EU and its non-EU Western European neighbours face common security challenges and are interdependent when it comes to ensuring national and regional stability. In this context, we underline the importance of the energy security and also cooperation and mutual support in the field of security of energy supplies, which is a particularly relevant example of the interdependence in the EEA. The Council strongly welcomes the EU's cooperation with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway in the area of justice and home affairs and encourages the EEAS and the Commission to explore opportunities in this respect with Andorra, Monaco and San Marino. The Council takes note of the unilateral actions by some parties and the consequent Challenges for the joint management of fish stocks in the North-East Atlantic. Maintaining the important economic benefits these stocks provide, and avoiding overexploitation and Subsequent stock declines, urgently requires comprehensive and fair management regimes to be agreed, involving all Parties having a management responsibility for these stocks, Including Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

Press material Tuesday 21 June 2022

● Council of the EU   21/06/2022 14:20 | Press release | Council conclusions on a Framework for a coordinated EU response to hybrid campaigns   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 1. RECALLS the relevant conclusions of the European Council1 and the Council2, ACKNOWLEDGES that state and non-state actors are increasingly using hybrid tactics, posing a growing threat to the security of the EU, its Member States and its partners3. RECOGNISES that, for some actors applying such tactics, peacetime is a period for covert malign activities, when a conflict can continue or be prepared for in a less open form. EMPHASISES that state actors and non-state actors also use information manipulation and other tactics to interfere in democratic processes and to mislead and deceive citizens. NOTES that Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine is showing the readiness to use the highest level of military force, regardless of legal or humanitarian considerations, combined with hybrid tactics, cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation and interference, economic and energy coercion and an aggressive nuclear rhetoric, and ACKNOWLEDGES the related risks of potential spillover effects in EU neighbourhoods that could harm the interests of the EU.

Press material Tuesday 21 June 2022

● Council of the EU   21/06/2022 23:23 | Press release | New rules on corporate sustainability reporting: provisional political agreement between the Council and the European Parliament   The Council and European Parliament today reached a provisional political agreement on the corporate sustainability reporting directive (CSRD). The proposal aims to address shortcomings in the existing rules on disclosure of non-financial information, which was of insufficient quality to allow it to be properly taken into account by investors. Such shortcomings hinder the transition to a sustainable economy.

Press material Wednesday 22 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   22/06/2022 13:39 | Press release | Asylum and migration: the Council approves negotiating mandates on the Eurodac and screening regulations and 21 states adopt a declaration on solidarity   The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) today adopted several important first-stage texts on asylum and migration, based on the proposals presented by the Commission in the framework of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. Coreper adopted Council negotiating mandates on the Eurodac and screening regulations. In addition, 21 member states or associated states confirmed the adoption of a declaration on solidarity, providing for a voluntary solidarity contribution mechanism, in the form of relocations or other types of contributions, particularly financial contributions. These decisions reflect the political approval at ministerial level at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 10 June 2022. This major step forward is part of the gradual approach proposed by the presidency to reform the European Union’s migration and asylum policy, preserving at each stage an equivalent level of commitments on solidarity, responsibility and protection of the external border. Eurodac regulation The Eurodac database is intended to help the member states to better monitor the paths of asylum seekers and persons in an irregular situation within the European Union. It contains the fingerprints of irregular migrants and asylum applicants who have been registered in EU member states and associated countries. The text agreed today will make it possible to better tackle irregular movements and facilitate the return of people in an irregular situation. In particular, through this text, the database will make it possible to monitor asylum seekers, and no longer only to monitor applications, which will make it possible to better identify persons lodging multiple applications. The contents of the database are also enriched with new biometric data such as facial images. The regulation will also make it possible to complete interoperability with other European information systems. In addition, a specific category has been included to identify persons brought ashore following search and rescue (SAR) operations at sea. Furthermore, drawing lessons from the solutions put in place to respond to the influx of people fleeing the war in Ukraine, the Eurodac regulation creates an obligation to register beneficiaries of temporary protection. Screening regulation This regulation contributes to strengthening controls on persons at the external borders and also to rapidly directing persons subject to screening towards the appropriate procedure. The text agreed today provides that screening at the external borders will apply to all persons who do not fulfil the conditions for entry, including persons applying for international protection. This covers persons who have been apprehended in connection with an unauthorised crossing of the external border by land, sea or air, persons disembarked following a search and rescue operation (‘SAR’) at sea and persons who have made an application for international protection at external border crossing points or in transit zones but do not fulfil the conditions for entry. It also applies to persons apprehended on EU territory who have escaped external border controls. Screening will include identification and security checks, but also health and vulnerability checks. The screening should, as a general rule, be carried out near the external borders or at other dedicated locations on the territory of the member states, over a maximum period of five days during which the persons must remain available to the national authorities. After screening, all the persons concerned will be referred to the competent authorities: asylum or, where applicable, relocation or return. In addition, member states will have to put in place an independent mechanism to monitor respect for fundamental rights during screening. Background On 23 September 2020, the Commission presented a Pact on Migration and Asylum, comprising a number of legislative and non-legislative proposals. This included new proposals, such as the screening regulation, as well as proposals revising texts presented in 2016 which had not yet been adopted, such as the Eurodac regulation. In order to allow substantial progress to be made, the French presidency of the Council has proposed a ‘step-by-step’ or ‘gradual’ approach, maintaining a balance between the various dimensions, in particular between responsibility and solidarity. Links to the texts will be available soon. Meetings Tuesday 21 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   21/06/2022 18:21 | MEETING | Main results - General Affairs Council, 21 June 2022   European affairs ministers prepared the agenda of the upcoming European Council of 23 and 24 June and had an initial discussion on the substance of the proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe’s final report.

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General Affairs Council, 21 June 2022

Main results
Conference on the Future of Europe

Ministers had an initial discussion on the substance of the proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe’s final report, based in particular on the analysis carried out by the General Secretariat of the Council. The Commission also presented its communication in this respect.

This final report, which was submitted to the three co-presidents of the Conference on the Future of Europe at the closing ceremony of the Conference on 9 May, includes 49 proposals broken down into 326 measures. Work will continue to set out the practical arrangements for implementing these proposals.



Over the course of one year, the Conference on the Future of Europe has mobilised European citizens for an unprecedented exercise of consultations and reflections. The proposals resulting from this exercise deserve a response. Today we have made a first step in this direction.Clément Beaune, minister delegate for Europe

At the closing ceremony on 9 May 2022, the co-presidents reaffirmed, on behalf of each of their institutions, the collective commitment made at the time of the adoption of the Joint Declaration in 2021 to follow up on the Conference’s proposals, within the limits of their own sphere of competence and in accordance with the Treaty.Conference on the Future of Europe (Background information)
European Council (23 and 24 June)

Ministers prepared the next meeting of the European Council on 23-24 June. At this European Council meeting, EU leaders will discuss the different dimensions of the situation caused by the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. They will also examine the applications of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to join the European Union and hold a strategic debate on the European Union’s relations with its partners in Europe. They will also discuss the economic situation and the follow-up to the proposals made by the Conference on the Future of Europe.Draft annotated agenda of the European Council (23-24 June 2022)


Infographic - Who does what in the European SemesterSee full infographic
European Semester 2022

Ministers endorsed the 2022 country-specific recommendations, which contain country-specific policy guidance on macroeconomic, fiscal and budgetary reforms, and forwarded them to the European Council for endorsement.

The European Semester is a cycle of economic, fiscal, labour and social policy coordination within the EU. It is part of the European Union’s economic governance framework.

During the European Semester the member states align their budgetary and economic policies with the rules agreed at EU level.European Semester (Background information)
Transparency and targeting of political advertising

In public session, the presidency gave an update on the work carried out since the beginning of the semester on the proposal for a regulation on the transparency and targeting of political advertising and presented its reflections for further work.

The proposal for a regulation was presented by the Commission on 25 November 2021. This is one of the two main elements of the “Democracy and integrity of the European elections” package, with the revision of the regulation on the statute and financing of political parties, for which the Council adopted its mandate in March 2022 in view of the upcoming discussions with the Parliament.European Democracy: Commission sets out new laws on political advertising, electoral rights and party funding (European Commission press release)
Outermost regions

The Council approved conclusions on the outermost regions of the Union, building on the Commission’s communication “Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the Union’s outermost regions”. This renewed strategy aims not only to respond to the challenges facing the outermost regions, but also to highlight their assets, in order to promote their harmonious development.Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU's outermost regions (Council conclusions)


Meeting information

Meeting n°3885
Luxembourg
21 June 2022
10:00
Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda
Provisional list of A items
Provisional list of A items, addition 1
List of A items, non-legislative activities
List of A items, legislative deliberations
Background brief
Outcome documentsList of participants
Video footage