COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

 

Meetings Thursday 8 December 2022

● Council of the EU   08/12/2022 11:15 | MEETING | Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 11-12 December 2022   Background brief - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 11-12/12/2022

Council of the EU
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 11-12 December 2022

Agenda highlights
Fisheries
2023 fishing opportunities

As is the case each year in December, Agriculture and Fisheries ministers will meet to reach a political agreement on fishing rights for 2023 in EU and non-EU waters, in the Atlantic, North Sea, Mediterranean and Black Sea, as well as for certain deep-sea stocks. The Council’s decision will be based on a proposal drawn up by the European Commission, taking into account the best available scientific advice, the aims of the common fisheries policy (CFP) and the EU’s multiannual plans for various sea basins.Management of the EU's fish stocks (background information)
Agriculture
Market situation

Ministers will discuss the current market situation in member states, particularly in light of the ongoing Russian war against Ukraine. Ministers are expected to stress the high input prices, as well as the energy and fertiliser crisis and the pressure the crisis is putting on both farmers and consumers.Food security and affordability (background information)
Impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the markets: EU response (background information)
CAP strategic plans

Ministers will exchange views on the strategic plans included in the common agricultural policy (CAP) against the background of the current situation in Ukraine and the new challenges this is posing to both the farming and fisheries sectors.Common agricultural policy (background information)
Animal welfare

Ministers will hear from the Commission on the evaluation of the EU animal welfare legislation, ahead of the Commission’s proposal in 2023. Ministers are expected to exchange views on the need to review the existing legislation as soon as possible, in order to reach an optimal level of animal welfare in the EU.
Other matters
Geographical indications

The presidency will inform ministers on the current state of play of the regulation on geographical indications and quality schemes across the EU.
Sustainable use of pesticides

Ministers will be briefed about the current state of the play of the directive on the sustainable use of pesticides.
Front of pack labelling

Ministers will hear about the outcome of the high-level conference on ‘Harmonized front of pack labelling and its impact on sustainable food labelling’, which took place in Brussels on 10 November 2022.


Meeting information

Meeting n°3921
Brussels
11 December 2022
10:00
Preparatory documentsProvisional list of A items
Provisional agenda
Background brief

Press material Thursday 8 December 2022

● Council of the EU   08/12/2022 14:24 | Press release | EU to launch negotiations on a new agreement with Tajikistan   The Council today adopted guidelines for the European Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with Tajikistan. "The EU is determined to deepen its relations with the Central Asian countries, even more so in the current geopolitical environment. The negotiation of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Tajikistan will be a significant step forward in this regard. It will provide a platform for improved political cooperation, trade and investment between the EU and Tajikistan, incentivising and supporting reforms. Progress in these negotiations will also depend on tangible improvements in Tajikistan’s human rights situation, including with regard to the freedom of expression, media and assembly." Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The new agreement will build on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 2010 and will reflect the ambitions of the EU and Tajikistan to strengthen their bilateral relationship, in the spirit of the 2019 "EU’s Central Asia Strategy - promoting resilience, prosperity and regional cooperation, for the future development of the region." The EU will negotiate an enhanced agreement that will support Tajikistan’s reform agenda. Closer and stronger bilateral ties must go hand in hand with adherence to common values of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as emphasised by the EU during the Human Rights Dialogue which took place on 7 December 2022 in Dushanbe. The EU is committed to continue supporting Tajikistan’s sustainable development, contributing to security, modernization, and creating employment opportunities for the young generation. Water, energy, the green transition and human development will continue to be joint priorities in mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Tajikistan.

Press material Thursday 8 December 2022

● Council of the EU   08/12/2022 13:34 | Press release | Asbestos: Council agrees to improve protection of workers   Ministers of employment settled their position on a proposal to tighten EU legislation protecting workers from the risks of asbestos. The Council position – on the basis of which it will negotiate with the European Parliament – is that the current exposure levels should be lowered and that asbestos fibre-counting should be carried out on the basis of a more modern method. This is part of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan. "Stronger protection of workers from the risks of asbestos will save lives. EU member states must drastically limit workers' exposure to the danger of asbestos and I am glad they are ready to do so." Marian Jurečka, deputy prime minister and minister of labour and social affairs Lower exposure level If agreed, the new rules would ensure that no worker is exposed to a concentration of more than 0.01 fibres of asbestos per cm³. This is a tenfold decrease compared to the value currently in force. Improved measuring method Member states also decided to use a more modern and sensitive method for counting asbestos fibres, i.e. electron microscopy (EM). Member states would have 7 years to comply with the new methodology requirements, in order to allow enough time for a successful transition from the current measuring method, phase-contrast microscopy (PCM), to the new EM method. The Commission would be tasked to support member states during this switch of measuring method. During the transition period the measuring methods currently in use may remain in place. Υλικό για τον Τύπο Πέμπτη 8 Δεκεμβρίου 2022   ● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ   08/12/2022 13:35 | Δελτίο τύπου | Αμίαντος: Συμφωνία του Συμβουλίου για τη βελτίωση της προστασίας των εργαζομένων   Οι υπουργοί Απασχόλησης καθόρισαν τη θέση τους σχετικά με πρόταση αυστηροποίησης της νομοθεσίας της ΕΕ για την προστασία των εργαζομένων από τους κινδύνους του αμιάντου. Η θέση του Συμβουλίου —βάσει της οποίας θα προβεί σε διαπραγματεύσεις με το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο— είναι ότι τα σημερινά επίπεδα έκθεσης θα πρέπει να μειωθούν και ότι η μέτρηση των ινών αμιάντου θα πρέπει να πραγματοποιείται με βάση μια πιο σύγχρονη μέθοδο. Αυτό αποτελεί μέρος του ευρωπαϊκού σχεδίου για την καταπολέμηση του καρκίνου. "Η ισχυρότερη προστασία των εργαζομένων από τους κινδύνους του αμιάντου θα σώσει ζωές. Τα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ πρέπει να περιορίσουν δραστικά την έκθεση των εργαζομένων στον κίνδυνο έκθεσης στον αμίαντο και χαίρομαι που είναι έτοιμα να το πράξουν." Marian Jurečka, Αντιπρόεδρος της κυβέρνησης και Υπουργός Εργασίας και Κοινωνικών Υποθέσεων της Τσεχίας Χαμηλότερο επίπεδο έκθεσης Εάν συμφωνηθούν, οι νέοι κανόνες θα διασφαλίσουν ότι κανένας εργαζόμενος δεν θα εκτίθεται σε συγκέντρωση άνω των 0,01 ινών αμιάντου ανά cm³. Πρόκειται για δεκαπλάσια μείωση σε σύγκριση με την ισχύουσα τιμή. Βελτιωμένη μέθοδος μέτρησης Τα κράτη μέλη αποφάσισαν επίσης να χρησιμοποιήσουν μια πιο σύγχρονη και ευαίσθητη μέθοδο για την καταμέτρηση των ινών αμιάντου, δηλαδή την ηλεκτρονική μικροσκοπία. Τα κράτη μέλη θα έχουν στη διάθεσή τους επτά έτη για να συμμορφωθούν με τις νέες μεθοδολογικές απαιτήσεις, προκειμένου να δοθεί επαρκής χρόνος για την επιτυχή μετάβαση από την τρέχουσα μέθοδο μέτρησης, τη μικροσκοπία αντίθεσης φάσης (PCM), στη νέα μέθοδο ηλεκτρονικής μικροσκοπίας. Η Επιτροπή θα επιφορτιστεί με την υποστήριξη των κρατών μελών κατά την εν λόγω αλλαγή μεθόδου μέτρησης. Κατά τη μεταβατική φάση, οι μέθοδοι μέτρησης που χρησιμοποιούνται επί του παρόντος ενδέχεται να παραμείνουν σε ισχύ.

Press material Thursday 8 December 2022

● Council of the EU   08/12/2022 15:33 | Press release | Schengen area: Council decides to lift border controls with Croatia   The Council today adopted a decision on the full application of the Schengen acquis in Croatia. "I am very pleased that during the Czech Presidency, Croatia was able to take two important steps in its European integration by joining both the euro and the Schengen areas. I am confident that these successes will pave the way for other member states who fulfil the conditions to take the next step in their European journeys, and my colleagues and I will continue to work hard to ensure that we can welcome Bulgaria and Romania into the Schengen family in the near future." Vít Rakušan, Czech Minister of Interior From 1 January 2023, checks on persons at internal land and sea borders between Croatia and the other countries in the Schengen area will be lifted. Checks at internal air borders will be lifted from 26 March 2023, given the need for this to coincide with the dates of IATA summer/winter time schedule. From 1 January 2023 Croatia will also start to issue Schengen visas and will be able to make full use of the Schengen Information System.

Press material Thursday 8 December 2022

● Council of the EU   08/12/2022 15:42 | Press release | The Gambia: Council increases the visa fee due to lack of cooperation on readmission   The Council today adopted an implementing decision increasing the visa fee applied to nationals of The Gambia to €120, seeking to improve The Gambia’s cooperation on the return and readmission of its own nationals. The decision is a response to the lack of substantial and sustained improvement in cooperation on readmission with The Gambia. In particular, cooperation on identification and return remains challenging, the timeframe set by the EU-Gambia readmission arrangement has not been adhered to, and a unilateral moratorium on returns by charter flights remained in place until March 2022. This decision comes on top of the measures already adopted by the Council in October 2021. Background The European Council and the Council have repeatedly highlighted the need to achieve real progress on return and readmission. They have called for consideration of the use of all necessary leverage, including visa policy. In 2019, the EU updated the visa code and introduced a mechanism which makes it possible to use visa processing as leverage in cooperation with third countries on readmission. The first Commission assessment under the new mechanism was adopted on 10 February 2021. On the basis of this assessment, the Council decided to temporarily suspend the application of certain provisions of the visa code to nationals of The Gambia due to the country’s lack of cooperation on readmission. The temporarily suspended provisions include the suspension of the possibility of waiving requirements with regard to the documents to be submitted by applicants, the suspension of the shorter processing period, the suspension of issuing of multiple entry visas and the suspension of the optional visa fee waiver for holders of diplomatic and service passports. In its second assessment under the visa code mechanism the Commission concluded that, despite the measures adopted, The Gambia’s cooperation on readmission continues to be insufficient, and further action is needed. Council implementing decision on the application of an increased visa fee with respect to The Gambia