COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

 

Press material Friday 4 November 2022

● Council of the EU   04/11/2022 15:05 | Press release | Joint press statement EU - Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Tirana, 3-4 November 2022)   The Ministers of Home Affairs and Justice of the Czech Republic, representing the Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the European Commission, represented by the European Commissioners for Home Affairs and for Justice, met on 3-4 November 2022 in Tirana with their counterparts from the Western Balkans at the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the incoming Swedish and Spanish presidencies of the Council of the EU. The following matters were discussed: HOME AFFAIRS Cooperation in addressing the security impact stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine The EU and the Western Balkans stand in full solidarity with Ukraine. Ministers exchanged views on the security implications of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and measures undertaken to identify and counter the evolving criminal threats stemming from the conflict. They agreed to intensify their exchanges of information, in particular through Europol, and their operational cooperation through the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), and to fully seize the benefits and opportunities stemming from their collaboration with CEPOL. Both sides also agreed on the need to further invest in strategic analysis, relying on Europol’s capacity and expertise in this field, to identify crime threats in a timely manner and, in so doing, develop targeted operational actions. The Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator highlighted ongoing regular contacts with the Ukrainian authorities on the matter. Ministers stated their readiness to step-up efforts to protect vulnerable people against the threat of trafficking in human beings, to enhance cooperation to address the threat of trafficking and to facilitate the sharing with Ukrainian authorities of lessons learnt in the Western Balkan region and best practice in that respect. Both sides agreed on the need to remain vigilant as regards implications for radicalisation and violent extremism. They agreed to intensify efforts to monitor travel, communication, and financing between violent extremists and to exchange information. The EU and Western Balkans underlined the need to step up efforts to prevent and monitor the spread of Russian disinformation in the region, offline and online, and concurred on the need for the Western Balkans to keep investing in cyber resilience and in the protection of critical infrastructure. The EU reiterated its commitment to continue to provide robust support for the Western Balkans in building their capacity in these areas. Strengthening migration, asylum and border management The EU and the Western Balkan partners discussed the pressing situation along the Western Balkan migratory route, which has seen a significant upsurge in irregular migrants since the beginning of 2022 that has put a significant strain on reception capacities. Ministers reaffirmed that migration management is a common challenge and a shared responsibility that needs to be addressed by close partnership. They agreed to strengthen the monitoring of trends along the route and to reinforce border management, including by the use of Frontex's presence and mandate in the region. The EU and the Western Balkans welcomed the signature of the Frontex Status Agreement with North Macedonia and affirmed that new Frontex Status Agreements with other partner countries should be negotiated and concluded without delay with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia. The EU welcomes that the Western Balkan partners have committed to swiftly align their visa policy with the visa policy of the EU, including a concrete commitment by Serbia to end several visa-free regimes by the end of 2022 and the first step it has taken in this regard. Additionally, the EU and the Western Balkan partners highlighted also the need to strengthen cooperation with relevant airlines as well as with countries of origin on the issue of migration. These measures are crucial to address the abuses that are currently impacting the migration and asylum systems of many EU Member States, and for the overall good functioning and sustainability of the visa-free regimes between the Western Balkans and the EU. This issue will be looked at closely by the EU, including in the context of the upcoming Commission report on the visa suspension mechanism. The EU and Western Balkans welcome all efforts to combat migrant smuggling, including the launch today of a regional Anti-Smuggling Operational Partnership to strengthen law enforcement and judicial cooperation against criminal smuggling networks, and to increase the border management capacity of Western Balkans. The Operational Partnership will build on several ongoing initiatives, including the Common Operational Partnership “SCOPE”, the operational activities under the EMPACT and the information and awareness raising campaigns on the risks of migrant smuggling and irregular migration, and will further strengthen cooperation through joint investigations, stronger exchange of information, joint training for law enforcement and the judiciary and capacity building. These activities will be supported by EU funds, including through a new regional programme worth EUR 30 million to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings, to be proposed for adoption by the end of the year the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2023. The Ministers welcomed enhanced cooperation to counter migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings through the EMPACT, Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre, and joint initiatives such as the Joint Operational Office in Austria. The Western Balkans agreed to improve the accuracy and efficiency in the registration and identification of irregular migrants. Both sides agreed on the importance of carrying out returns and fully implementing relevant readmission agreements, and committed to exchanging best practices in relation to cooperation on readmission with third countries along the route. The EU committed to expanded financial support for supporting increased returns from the Western Balkans to third countries. The EU and the Western Balkans will continue their cooperation on return and readmission, and will monitor the implementation of the existing Readmission Agreements between the EU and the Western Balkans partners through Joint Readmission Committees. The Western Balkans acknowledged their obligation to readmit third country nationals who entered the EU illegally from the Western Balkans and agreed to step up efforts to expand and implement their own readmission agreements with countries of origin. Ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing asylum and reception systems across the Western Balkans in line with EU standards, including through cooperation with the EU Asylum Agency. JUSTICE Rule of law and judicial reforms The EU and the Western Balkans reconfirmed the importance of continued commitment and efforts to strengthen judicial independence. The Commission informed ministers of the latest developments on rule of law within the EU and underlined that ensuring respect for the rule of law is a key priority both within the Union and in the EU’s relations with its partners. It highlighted the need for further progress on reforms aiming to strengthen judicial independence in the region. Western Balkan partners exchanged on the current challenges to fully ensure judicial independence and measures envisaged to address them. They reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen the rule of law, in particular by stepping up efforts to ensure the independence, accountability, impartiality, integrity, quality and efficiency of the justice systems. It is essential that reforms result in robust, tangible and irreversible progress. The Commission presented to the ministers the results of the 2022 round of case-based peer review missions in the area of organised crime and high-level corruption in the Western Balkan partners, focusing on recommendations for the courts and prosecution services. The findings indicate that a more strategic and integrated approach towards tackling organised crime, high-level corruption, and money laundering remains to be developed, notably to include a more systematic focus on dismantling criminal structures through parallel financial investigations. The recommendations of the experts underline the need for increased specialisation of judicial authorities across the region, strengthening independence and preventing external undue pressures, notably through the availability of adequate internal mechanisms to report pressure or interference, and improving the system of appraisal of magistrates. The peer reviews are complemented with extensive trial monitoring of such cases, performed in collaboration with the OSCE. The EU called on Western Balkan ministers to ensure a thorough follow-up of the recommendations. The Commission informed Ministers of its ongoing work to improve statistical data collection in the region in the areas of organised crime and high-level corruption. This work aims to facilitate improved analysis, assessment and reporting on partner countries’ progress towards building a track record of results in handling organised crime and corruption cases through a new e-platform. The EU recalled that building a solid track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and final convictions in the fight against corruption, at all levels, and in serious and organised crime remains a long-term objective that requires more consistent efforts, including through further strengthening of strategic and operational capacities. To support these efforts, Eurojust announced that it will formally launch at the beginning of 2023 a new four-year project, WB CRIM JUST, aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation against serious and organised crime within the Western Balkans and between the region and EU Member States. The Western Balkan partners expressed their full commitment to make credible and tangible progress in the prevention and repression of high-level corruption and in the fight against organised crime, in particular by implementing the recommendations of the peer reviews. All necessary resources will be deployed to ensure timely and quality statistical reporting in the new track records e-platform. Joint action against the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine Ministers discussed efforts to improve the enforcement of the restrictive measures and initiatives adopted in response to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The Commission presented the activities of the Freeze and Seize Task Force and recent initiatives within the EU for the criminalisation of the violation or circumvention of restrictive measures against Russia. Eurojust presented its efforts to support and coordinate investigations and prosecutions of international crimes committed in Ukraine, in particular the Joint Investigation Team and the upcoming Core International Crime Evidence Database (CICED). The Western Balkans partners1 committed to step up efforts to implement restrictive measures against Russia in force and prevent the violation or circumvention of sanctions. The EU and the Western Balkan partners discussed how to support Eurojust in its work to improve coordination of investigation and prosecution of war crimes and the other most serious crimes committed in Ukraine, as well as that of the Ukrainian authorities and the International Criminal Court. The EU reiterated its commitment to continue to provide support for the Western Balkans in their efforts. The Commission also informed of recent measures taken in relation to citizenship acquired under investor citizenship schemes, including with regard to Russian and Belorussian nationals. Such schemes run by Member States are in breach of EU law and pose risks as regards security, money laundering, tax evasion, terrorist financing, corruption, and infiltration by organised crime. Ministers concurred on the need to discontinue investor citizenship schemes. With respect to any other measures such as tax amnesty legislation, they discussed the need to thoroughly engage with the EU to avoid any undermining of the fundamentals behind the justice reform or alignment with EU acquis and policies. 1 Except Serbia in that respect

Meetings Friday 4 November 2022

● Council of the EU   04/11/2022 15:14 | MEETING | Background brief- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget) of 11 November 2022   Background brief- Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget) of 11 November 2022

  Council of the EUEconomic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget), 11 November 2022

Agenda highlights

The Council will aim to reach an agreement on the 2023 EU budget with the European Parliament. The Council will start at 09:30 in public deliberation and prepare the meeting of the Conciliation Committee.

The meeting of the Conciliation Committee with the European Parliament will start at 11.00.

In July, the Council agreed its position on the EU budget 2023. In order to establish the EU’s annual budget, Article 314 TFEU foresees a conciliation procedure of 21 days. During this period, the European Parliament and the Council, with the help of the Commission, should reach an agreement on a draft joint text concerning the budget of the following year. This year, the conciliation procedure takes place from 25 October till 14 November.EU budget for 2023: Council agrees its position (press release, 13 July 2022)
EU budget for 2023 (background information)
EU budget (background information)


Meeting information

Meeting n°3906
Brussels
11 November 2022
09:30
Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda
Background brief

Meetings Friday 4 November 2022

● Council of the EU   04/11/2022 14:11 | MEETING | Main results - General Affairs Council, 18 October 2022   Ministers focused on preparations for the October European Council, follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, rule of law in Poland and EU electoral law.

Council of the EU
General Affairs Council, 18 October 2022

Main results
October European Council

The Council exchanged views on the draft conclusions of the European Council meeting on 20-21 October.

Following their informal discussions in Prague on 7 October, EU leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss a number of pressing issues.

They will address the latest developments in relation to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and continued EU support for Ukraine.

EU leaders will also assess the state of energy prices and security of supply, including market optimisation measures and progress on demand reduction.

In light of the current energy crisis, the European Council will address the economic situation.

Leaders will also hold a strategic discussion on China and prepare a number of international events.European Council, 20-21 October 2022
Conference on the Future of Europe

Ministers discussed the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Work is underway in the Council to ensure effective follow-up to the Conference outcome, notably on the basis of a comprehensive preliminary technical assessment of the 49 Conference proposals and their 326 related measures. Ministers last took stock of the follow-up at their meeting in September.

In addition, the Council has received proposals for two specific Treaty amendments under Article 48(2) TEU from the European Parliament. Ministers discussed the timing for submitting them to the European Council and for notifying national parliaments.

Taking into account that the EP has asked its Committee on Constitutional Affairs to prepare proposals for further Treaty amendments to implement the results of the Conference, during the debate ministers broadly agreed that, in order to ensure procedural efficiency and avoid duplication of processes, it would be appropriate to wait until the Parliament has concluded this work before transmitting the two specific proposals already received.

In this context, many ministers noted that the vast majority of the Conference proposals can be implemented under the current Treaty framework and took the view that these proposals should be given priority at this stage.

In addition, some ministers felt that, in the context of the urgent challenges resulting from Russia's war in Ukraine, it was important to focus all energy on delivering solutions to the practical problems facing European citizens. Others considered that more time was needed for a comprehensive assessment before engaging in the process of Treaty change.



The Council is fully committed to ensure the best possible follow-up to the Conference proposals. The vast majority of them – up to 95% – can be implemented using the full potential of the current Treaties. It is important to focus on this work, to give citizens' wishes a positive and concrete follow-up within a relatively short time frame.Mikuláš Bek, Minister of European Affairs of the Czech Republic

Ministers also discussed the organisation of the Conference feedback event, which will be an important occasion to inform citizens about the follow-up that three institutions are giving to the Conference outcome.Conference on the Future of Europe (background information and timeline)
Preliminary technical assessment of the proposals (10 June 2022)
European Council conclusions, 23-24 June 2022
Rule of law in Poland

As part of the Article 7(1) TEU procedure, ministers were updated on the situation regarding the rule of law in Poland.

The procedure concerning Poland was launched in 2017 when the Commission issued its reasoned opinion on the rule of law in Poland. It covers a range of issues related to the independence of the Polish judiciary.

The latest hearing with Poland under Article 7(1) TEU was held in February.

The Commission informed ministers about developments since the hearing, including as regards the reform of the disciplinary regime applicable to Polish judges undertaken by the Polish authorities. Poland had an opportunity to present its remarks.Reasoned proposal regarding the rule of law in Poland
2022 Rule of Law Report - Country Chapter - Poland
Electoral law

The Council held a policy debate on the European Parliament's proposal for revising the EU rules governing the EP elections to provide political guidance for further work on this file.

Expressing different views, ministers commented both on the proposed changes that they would wish to see reflected in EU electoral law and on the changes that they considered more challenging.

Several ministers noted their general support for efforts to increase voter turnout in the European Parliament elections and to enhance their democratic legitimacy.

The main political and legal challenges identified by member states relate to the proposals for an EU-wide constituency based on transnational lists and a lead candidate process for choosing the Commission President. Member states also expressed reservations regarding different suggestions to harmonise the electoral processes across the EU, stressing the need for flexibilities that would respect longstanding voting traditions.

Some member states pointed to the changes to the EU electoral law agreed in 2018, expressing the hope that they could enter into force soon.Background note for the debate
Proposal for a Council regulation on the election of the Members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage
Enforcement of EU law

Under 'Any other business', the Commission informed ministers about its Communication on 'Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers', published on 13 October 2022.

The Communication sets out how the Commission has developed its work on enforcement, from prevention to sanctions, to ensure that people and businesses can benefit from the commonly agreed rules throughout the EU.Commission communication on the enforcement of EU law

The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the list of non-legislative A items.


Meeting information

Meeting n°3902
Luxembourg
18 October 2022
10:00
Preparatory documentsProvisional agenda
Background brief
List of A items, non-legislative activities
Outcome documentsList of participants
Video footage

Press material Thursday 3 November 2022

● Council of the EU   03/11/2022 18:12 | Press release | Joint press statement EU - Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Tirana, 3-4 November 2022)   The Minister of the Interior of the Czech Republic, representing the Presidency of the Council of the EU, together with the European Commission, represented by the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, met on 3 November 2022 in Tirana with their counterparts from the Western Balkans on the first day of the annual EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the incoming Swedish and Spanish presidencies of the Council of the EU. The following matters were discussed: DAY ONE: HOME AFFAIRS Cooperation in addressing the security impact stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine The EU and the Western Balkans stand in full solidarity with Ukraine. Ministers exchanged views on the security implications of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and measures undertaken to identify and counter the evolving criminal threats stemming from the conflict. They agreed to intensify their exchanges of information, in particular through Europol, and their operational cooperation through the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), and to fully seize the benefits and opportunities stemming from their collaboration with CEPOL. Both sides also agreed on the need to further invest in strategic analysis, relying on Europol’s capacity and expertise in this field, to identify crime threats in a timely manner and, in so doing, develop targeted operational actions. The Commission and the EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator highlighted ongoing regular contacts with the Ukrainian authorities on the matter. Ministers stated their readiness to step-up efforts to protect vulnerable people against the threat of trafficking in human beings, to enhance cooperation to address the threat of trafficking and to facilitate the sharing with Ukrainian authorities of lessons learnt in the Western Balkan region and best practice in that respect. Both sides agreed on the need to remain vigilant as regards implications for radicalisation and violent extremism. They agreed to intensify efforts to monitor travel, communication, and financing between violent extremists and to exchange information. The EU and Western Balkans underlined the need to step up efforts to prevent and monitor the spread of Russian disinformation in the region, offline and online, and concurred on the need for the Western Balkans to keep investing in cyber resilience and in the protection of critical infrastructure. The EU reiterated its commitment to continue to provide robust support for the Western Balkans in building their capacity in these areas. Strengthening migration, asylum and border management The EU and the Western Balkan partners discussed the pressing situation along the Western Balkan migratory route, which has seen a significant upsurge in irregular migrants since the beginning of 2022 that has put a significant strain on reception capacities. Ministers reaffirmed that migration management is a common challenge and a shared responsibility that needs to be addressed by close partnership. They agreed to strengthen the monitoring of trends along the route and to reinforce border management, including by the use of Frontex's presence and mandate in the region. The EU and the Western Balkans welcomed the signature of the Frontex Status Agreement with North Macedonia and affirmed that new Frontex Status Agreements with Western Balkan partners should be negotiated and concluded without delay. The EU welcomes that the Western Balkan partners have committed to swiftly align their visa policy with the visa policy of the EU, including a concrete commitment by Serbia to end several visa-free regimes by the end of 2022 and the first step it has taken in this regard. Additionally, the EU and the Western Balkan partners highlighted also the need to strengthen cooperation with relevant airlines as well as with countries of origin on the issue of migration. These measures are crucial to address the abuses that are currently impacting the migration and asylum systems of many EU Member States, and for the overall good functioning and sustainability of the visa-free regimes between the Western Balkans and the EU. This issue will be looked at closely by the EU, including in the context of the upcoming Commission report on the visa suspension mechanism. The EU and Western Balkans welcome all efforts to combat migrant smuggling, including the launch today of a regional Anti-Smuggling Operational Partnership to strengthen law enforcement and judicial cooperation against criminal smuggling networks, and to increase the border management capacity of Western Balkans. The Operational Partnership will build on several ongoing initiatives, including the Common Operational Partnership “SCOPE”, the operational activities under the EMPACT and the information and awareness raising campaigns on the risks of migrant smuggling and irregular migration, and will further strengthen cooperation through joint investigations, stronger exchange of information, joint training for law enforcement and the judiciary and capacity building. These activities will be supported by EU funds, including through a new regional programme worth EUR 30 million to combat migrant smuggling and trafficking of human beings, to be proposed for adoption by the end of the year the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) 2023. The Ministers welcomed enhanced cooperation to counter migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings through the EMPACT, Europol’s European Migrant Smuggling Centre, and joint initiatives such as the Joint Operational Office in Austria. The Western Balkans agreed to improve the accuracy and efficiency in the registration and identification of irregular migrants. Both sides agreed on the importance of carrying out returns and fully implementing relevant readmission agreements, and committed to exchanging best practices in relation to cooperation on readmission with third countries along the route. The EU committed to expanded financial support for supporting increased returns from the Western Balkans to third countries. The EU and the Western Balkans will continue their cooperation on return and readmission, and will monitor the implementation of the existing Readmission Agreements between the EU and the Western Balkans partners through Joint Readmission Committees. The Western Balkans acknowledged their obligation to readmit third country nationals who entered the EU illegally from the Western Balkans and agreed to step up efforts to expand and implement their own readmission agreements with countries of origin. Ministers highlighted the importance of enhancing asylum and reception systems across the Western Balkans in line with EU standards, including through cooperation with the EU Asylum Agency. The second day of the EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum, dedicated to Justice matters, will take place on 4 November 2022. 04/11/2022 11:00 | Press release Ministerial Conference on Cyber and Digital Security Being Held in Prague Prague, 4 November 2022 – Prague is currently hosting the second day of a unique international conference focusing on security in the digital space titled EU Secure and Innovative Digital Future. This is one of the main events of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Friday’s programme will focus on fostering innovation, cooperation with trusted partners, the development of safe artificial intelligence and the data economy, including cross-border data flows and the threat of disinformation in the online environment. The second day of the conference was opened by Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister of Regional Development Ivan Bartoš, and Deputy Minister for Digitalization and Innovation at Ministry of Industry and Trade Petr Očko.

02/11/2022 08:30 | Article Achievements of the Czech Presidency - October The Czech Republic has entered the second half of its EU Council Presidency. October was a busy month, during which the Presidency managed to broker agreements among Member States on sanctions against Russia and Iran, on further support for Ukraine and on how to phase out dependence on Russian fossil fuels under the REPowerEU plan. It also managed to negotiate several important compromises with the European Parliament, including the first proposal from the Fit for 55 package on CO2 emission performance standards for cars.