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The Council and the European Parliament negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on the regulation for machinery products. The proposed legislation transforms the 2006 machinery directive into a regulation. The 2006 directive is one of the main pieces of legislation governing the harmonisation of essential health and safetyrequirements for machinery at EU level. It promotes the free movement of machinery within the single market and ensures a high level of safety for EU workers and citizens.
"The updated machinery rules will help us to protect EU workers and consumers better and will harmonise safety rules across EU countries. This will also greatly enhance the credibility and good name of the European industry and increase its competitiveness on the global stage." Jozef Síkela, Czech minister for industry and trade
Transforming the directive into a regulation will constitute the legal framework that is directly applicable in all members states and is clear for all economic operators. The regulation will also cover new risks linked to emerging technologies.
The Czech presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on pay transparency rules. The new EU law will empower women to enforce the principle of equal pay for equal work through a set of binding measures on pay transparency.
"There is no doubt men and women deserve to be paid the same salary if they do the same job. But unfortunately this is still not the case so far. Today, we are making a big leap forward to close the gender pay gap. With this new pay transparency law we empower workers to enforce their right of equal pay for equal work." Marian Jurečka, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of labour and social affairs commented
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, for the Council of the European Union, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed the Joint Declaration on EU legislative priorities for 2023 and 2024, building on the solid progress over the last year.
The Joint Declaration sets out a shared European vision for a stronger and more resilient Europe in the face of Russia’s unprovoked, brutal aggression against Ukraine and its wide-ranging impact – all the while tackling other serious challenges such as the climate crisis and economic headwinds. The European Union will continue standing by Ukraine and its people while accelerating the twin green and digital transitions.
Council, Parliament and Commission sign the European declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade.
To ensure that the EU reaches its objectives for a digital transformation in line with its values, the Council, the European Parliament, and the Commission signed today at the highest political level the European declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade.
"Today, we commit to an inclusive, fair, safe and sustainable digital transformation that puts people in the centre. Preserving the core EU values online is as important as in the real world. The declaration will serve as a reference point for policy makers, businesses and other relevant actors when developing and deploying new technologies." Petr Fiala, Czech Prime Minister
The declaration embeds, among others, references to digital sovereignty in an open manner, respect for fundamental rights, rule of law and democracy, inclusion, accessibility, equality, sustainability, resilience, security, improving quality of life, the availability of services and respect of everyone’s rights and aspirations. It should contribute to a dynamic, resource efficient, and fair economy and society in the EU.
The text recalls all pertinent rights in the context of the digital transformation and should serve as a reference point for businesses and other relevant actors when developing and deploying new technologies.
The declaration should also guide policy makers when reflecting on their vision of the digital transformation: putting people at the centre of digital transformation; supporting solidarity and inclusion, through connectivity, digital education, training and skills, fair and just working conditions, as well as access to digital services online; restating the importance of freedom of choice in interactions with algorithms and artificial intelligence systems and in a fair digital environment; fostering participation in the digital public space; increasing safety, security and empowerment in the digital environment, in particular for children and young people, while ensuring privacy and individual control over data; promoting sustainability.
The Council contributed to giving prominence to the international dimension, notably by promoting references to universal human rights in the chapeau of the declaration, also with a view to inspiring partners beyond the EU borders.
A balanced compromise is reflected on social aspects, such as by means of upholding workers' rights in relation to surveillance at the workplace, and through a commitment on combating forced labour.
Regarding privacy issues, the declaration states that citizens should be guaranteed the confidentiality of their communications and be protected against unlawful tracking or interception.
Finally, a common understanding on Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the workplace now ensures an alignment of the declaration with ongoing negotiations on the AI Act and with the directive on safety and health at work.
Ten years ago, on 10 December 2012, the European Union received the Nobel Peace Prize ‘for contributing to peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe’. To mark the occasion, the Council archives have written a blog post about the ceremony and are running an exhibition in the Council Visitors’ Centre.
Nobel Peace Prize for the European Union – 10th Anniversary
On 12 October 2012, Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, announced the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union:
‘The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2012 is to be awarded to the European Union (EU). The union and its forerunners have for over six decades contributed to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe‘.
Thorbjørn Jagland, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee
The award ceremony
On 10 December 2012, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso accepted the award from the Norwegian Nobel Committee in a ceremony at Oslo City Hall.
Today, you can step back in time and relive that award ceremony.
Thanks to documents deposited by the Protocol Service and stored in the Council Archives, we know the details of the programme, the laureate speech, the table plan. We even know the songs performed during the ceremony, such as ‘Mattinata’ by R. Leoncavallo and ‘Dein ist mein ganzes Herz’- Das Land des Lächelns by F. Lehár, performed by Norwegian pianist Håvard Gimse and Swedish tenor Daniel Johansson.
The award consists of:
the Nobeldiploma, a calligraphed text in Norwegian and an original artwork created by Norwegian artist Gerd Tinglum in 2012
the Peace Prizemedal, an 18-carat gold piece created by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland and the Swedish engraver Erik Lindberg
a financial reward worth SEK 8 million, equivalent to approximately €930 000
The 18-carat gold medal
The medal
The ‘original’medal is 18-carat gold, it weighs 196 grams and its diameter is 6.6 centimetres.
On the front of the medal is a portrait in relief of Alfred Nobel, while his name and the years of his birth and death are engraved along the edge.
The reverse shows three naked men embracing as a symbol of international fraternity. The Latin inscription reads ‘Pro pace et fraternitate gentium’, which translates as ‘For the peace and brotherhood of men’.
Around the 5 mm-thick edge are engraved the words Prix Nobel de la Paix, the year and the name of the laureate.
The young European citizens' contest
To mark the occasion, the European institutions and the European Youth Forum organised a contest entitled 'Peace, Europe, Future: What does Peace in Europe mean to you?' for young people from EU member states and candidate countries.
Children aged 8 to 12 submitted their answers in the form of drawings, young people aged 13 to 24 wrote a short text in any of the 23 official EU languages.
The four winners – Ana from Spain (12 years old), Elena from Italy (16 years old), Ilona from Poland (21 years old), and Larkin from Malta (23 years old) – joined the presidents of the European institutions and the heads of state and government as part of the official EU delegation in Oslo.
Herman Van Rompuy, José Manuel Barroso and Martin Schulz
The EU Children of Peace initiative
The European Commission formally accepted the prize money (SEK 8 million, or approximately EUR 930,000) on behalf of the EU and decided to top it up to EUR 2 million to be allocated to children in need. The prize money fundedthe EU Children of Peace initiative, four projects that reached out to over 23,000 conflict-affected children worldwide and provided access to basic education and child-friendly spaces.
The EU Children of Peace initiative was inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize, and the European Union has been increasing the initiative’s funding every year since its creation.
‘It was obvious for us that the Nobel Peace Prize money should be allocated to the most vulnerable who are often the hardest hit by wars: the children of this world. We want all children to enjoy the constant protection of their rights. Each and every girl and boy in the world should have the opportunity to develop their talents. Promoting education is also giving peace a chance to be a lasting peace. We want children of war to become children of peace.’
José Manuel Barroso, Former President of the European Commission
‘In situations of conflict children are often the most vulnerable, so it is only right that this award should benefit young victims of armed conflicts. I am glad that this initiative will continue beyond this first year, and hope that ‘EU Children of Peace projects’ can become a symbol of the European Union’s commitment to those in need around the world’.
Herman Van Rompuy, Former President of the European Council
‘Children are the most vulnerable victims of conflict. They are our future and it is their personal future which is at stake. Anything we can contribute to help to make them overcome the traumas and suffering endured during conflict is welcome’.
Martin Schulz, Former President of the European Parliament
Visit the Council, see the medal in real life
To mark the tenth anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the European Union, an exhibition showcasing a series of objects and documents linked to the award and the award ceremony is on display in the Council’s Visitors’ Centre for the next few months.
The exhibition was jointly organised by the Council’s Archives Service and Outreach and Engagement Unit.
To visit the Council's Visitors' Centre you need to register in advance. It is open from Monday to Friday between 10:30 to 16:00.
