COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

 

Press material Friday 9 December 2022

● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 14:49 | Press release | Human Rights Day 10 December 2022: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union   10 December is Human Rights Day which marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This day serves as an opportunity to recall that human rights are universal, indivisible, inalienable, interdependent and interrelated. Whilst their promotion and protection is an imperative to uphold human dignity, the genuine respect and fulfilment of human rights is also indispensable for peace, democracy and sustainable development. Yet, this year we have witnessed particularly serious attacks on human rights, on a massive scale, ranging from Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine that has caused and continues to cause inconceivable human suffering, to the grave human rights violations and abuses in Afghanistan, Belarus, Ethiopia, and Myanmar/Burma. The EU has also expressed deep concern about the further deteriorating human rights situation in Russia and addressed the human rights situation in China as well as the on-going violent crackdown on peaceful protesters in Iran. Women and girls have been particularly targeted by repression and restrictive policies in many countries, and have suffered disproportionately from human rights abuses in conflict settings. Freedom of assembly, freedom of expression online and offline, freedom of the media remain under serious threat. This adds to an ever-growing list of violations across the world that remain the focus of our attention. The EU will continue to monitor, raise attention to and take decisive action in international fora to combat and prevent human rights violations and abuses, and to support international initiatives to hold all perpetrators to account. Under the Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, the EU is making use of its wide range of instruments to uphold and advance human rights around the world. Among those are bilateral and multilateral cooperation in human rights, the imposition of sanctions on persons and entities involved in serious violations and abuses of human rights, as well as program and project support under the Thematic Programme on Human Rights and Democracy 2021-2027. The EU stands by and supports human rights defenders and civil society organizations around the world. In the same vein, the 24th EU-NGO Human Rights Forum this year will again serve as a platform to engage with human rights defenders across the globe. We will discuss possibilities and best practices of putting an end to impunity and ensuring access to justice and accountability for human rights violations and abuses. On Human Rights Day, we commit to re-double our efforts to stand with and speak out for the oppressed and those under threat, wherever they may live.

Press material Friday 9 December 2022

● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 12:23 | Press release | Vaccination: Council calls for combatting vaccine hesitancy and closer EU cooperation   EU ministers of health approved Council conclusions on vaccination as one of the most effective tools for preventing disease and improving public health. They highlight that member states could benefit from an even more coordinated EU approach on vaccination to prevent and limit the spread of epidemics and vaccine-preventable diseases. The conclusions focus on two areas of action: combatting vaccine hesitancy and preparing for upcoming challenges through EU cooperation. "Vaccines work. They prevent countless cases of illness and save millions of lives every year. When EU countries work more together – to boost public confidence or speed up vaccine development – citizens and public health systems will be better off." Vlastimil Válek, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of health COVID-19 learning The conclusions highlight the need to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to be better prepared for future public health crises. During the pandemic the EU has seen the development of a number of solutions and tools which can be beneficial to fight vaccination-preventable diseases. Digitalisation, with the collection and exchange of data at EU level as well as the establishment of the EU Digital COVID Certificate, and cooperation in procurement, purchase and distribution of vaccines at EU level have been important public health milestones. The COVID-19 pandemic did also showcase the size and scope of the problems related to vaccine hesitancy. The risk of dis- and misinformation The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the threats and challenges of mis- and disinformation for society. To counter the ensuing risks to human health, health systems and effective crisis management, the conclusions invite: the Commission to establish an expert forum on vaccine hesitancy the Commission to strengthen the coordination between EU policies on vaccination and on fighting disinformation member states and the Commission to develop training opportunities for health professionals to become more versed in techniques and tools for countering vaccine mis- and disinformation Strengthening EU cooperation In terms of strengthened EU cooperation the conclusions propose additional actions such as: exploring the added value and possibilities of overcoming the legal and technical barriers to the interoperability of (sub-)national immunisation information systems developing exchange of information on possible surpluses and shortages of essential vaccines. This would enable a possible resell or donation among member states making use of the possibility for the joint procurement of vaccines

Υλικό για τον Τύπο Παρασκευή 9 Δεκεμβρίου 2022

● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ   09/12/2022 12:23 | Δελτίο τύπου | Εμβολιασμός: Να καταπολεμηθεί η επιφυλακτικότητα απέναντι στον εμβολιασμό και η ΕΕ να συνεργαστεί στενότερα   Οι Υπουργοί Υγείας της ΕΕ ενέκριναν συμπεράσματα του Συμβουλίου σχετικά με τον εμβολιασμό ως ένα από τα αποτελεσματικότερα μέσα για την πρόληψη των ασθενειών και τη βελτίωση της δημόσιας υγείας. Τονίζουν ότι τα κράτη μέλη θα μπορούσαν να επωφεληθούν από μια περισσότερο συντονισμένη προσέγγιση στην ΕΕ όσον αφορά τον εμβολιασμό, για την πρόληψη και τον περιορισμό της εξάπλωσης επιδημιών και νόσων που προλαμβάνονται με εμβολιασμό. Τα συμπεράσματα επικεντρώνονται σε δύο τομείς δράσης: καταπολέμηση της επιφυλακτικότητας απέναντι στον εμβολιασμό και προετοιμασία για επερχόμενες προκλήσεις μέσω της συνεργασίας της ΕΕ. "Τα εμβόλια είναι αποτελεσματικά. Προλαμβάνουν αναρίθμητες περιπτώσεις νόσησης και σώζουν εκατομμύρια ζωές κάθε χρόνο. Εάν οι χώρες της ΕΕ συνεργαστούν στενότερα —για να ενισχύσουν την εμπιστοσύνη του κοινού ή να επιταχύνουν την ανάπτυξη εμβολίων— θα είναι προς όφελος των πολιτών και των συστημάτων δημόσιας υγείας." Vlastimil Válek, Αντιπρόεδρος της Κυβέρνησης και Υπουργός Υγείας της Τσεχίας Διδάγματα από την COVID-19 Στα συμπεράσματα τονίζεται η ανάγκη να αξιοποιήσουμε τα διδάγματα από την πανδημία COVID-19 ώστε να είμαστε καλύτερα προετοιμασμένοι για μελλοντικές κρίσεις στον τομέα της δημόσιας υγείας. Κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας αναπτύχθηκαν στην ΕΕ διάφορες λύσεις και εργαλεία που μπορούν να αποβούν επωφελή για την καταπολέμηση νόσων που μπορούν να προληφθούν με εμβολιασμό. Η ψηφιοποίηση, με τη συλλογή και ανταλλαγή δεδομένων σε επίπεδο ΕΕ και τη θέσπιση του Ψηφιακού Πιστοποιητικού COVID της ΕΕ, και η συνεργασία για την προμήθεια, την αγορά και τη διανομή εμβολίων σε επίπεδο ΕΕ αποτελούν πλέον σημαντικά ορόσημα για τη δημόσια υγεία. Η πανδημία COVID-19 ανέδειξε επίσης το μέγεθος και την έκταση των προβλημάτων που σχετίζονται με την επιφυλακτικότητα απέναντι στον εμβολιασμό. Ο κίνδυνος παραπληροφόρησης και εσφαλμένης πληροφόρησης Η πανδημία COVID-19 ανέδειξε τις απειλές και τις προκλήσεις της παραπληροφόρησης και της εσφαλμένης πληροφόρησης για τις κοινωνίες μας. Για να αντιμετωπισθούν οι κίνδυνοι που αυτές συνεπάγονται για την ανθρώπινη υγεία, τα συστήματα υγείας και την αποτελεσματική διαχείριση κρίσεων, στα συμπεράσματα καλούνται: η Επιτροπή να δημιουργήσει φόρουμ εμπειρογνωμόνων για την επιφυλακτικότητα απέναντι στον εμβολιασμό η Επιτροπή να ενισχύσει τον συντονισμό μεταξύ των πολιτικών της ΕΕ για τον εμβολιασμό και για την καταπολέμηση της εσφαλμένης πληροφόρησης τα κράτη μέλη και η Επιτροπή να αναπτύξουν δυνατότητες κατάρτισης για τους επαγγελματίες του τομέα της υγείας ώστε να αποκτήσουν περισσότερη εξοικείωση με τεχνικές και εργαλεία για την αντιμετώπιση της παραπληροφόρησης και εσφαλμένης πληροφόρησης σε θέματα εμβολιασμών Ενίσχυση της συνεργασίας στην ΕΕ Όσον αφορά την ενισχυμένη συνεργασία της ΕΕ, στα συμπεράσματα προτείνονται πρόσθετες δράσεις, όπως: να διερευνηθεί η προστιθέμενη αξία και οι δυνατότητες υπέρβασης των νομικών και τεχνικών εμποδίων στη διαλειτουργικότητα (υπο-)εθνικών συστημάτων πληροφοριών σχετικά με την ανοσοποίηση να αναπτυχθεί η ανταλλαγή πληροφοριών σχετικά με τυχόν πλεονάσματα και ελλείψεις βασικών εμβολίων. Έτσι θα μπορούν να γίνονται μεταπωλήσεις ή δωρεές μεταξύ των κρατών μελών να αξιοποιηθεί η δυνατότητα της προμήθειας εμβολίων συλλογικά Press material Friday 9 December 2022   ● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 12:16 | Press release | Council updates its recommendation to screen for cancer   The Council proposes a new recommendation on cancer screening to bring down the mortality of cancer and cut the incidence of invasive cancers. Cancer is a major disease and cause of death throughout Europe. In 2020, an estimated 2.7 million people in the Union were diagnosed with cancer. "Cancer is a terrible scourge but we must not lose hope to fight it. Screening programmes to detect cancers at an early stage, before people even develop symptoms, can be an effective instrument to offer the best available treatment." Vlastimil Válek, Czech deputy prime minister and minister of health Screening of lung, prostate and gastric cancer Whereas the previous cancer screening recommendation from 2003 was limited to breast, cervical and colorectal cancer, member states agreed to broaden the focus: Lung cancer: countries should explore the feasibility and effectiveness of screening with use of low-dose computed tomography. Special attention should be given to the identification and targeting of high risk profiles Prostate cancer: considering the current state of knowledge and the amount of opportunistic screening, countries should evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the implementation of organised programmes Gastric cancer: those countries and regions with cases of high gastric incidence and death rates should consider cancer screening strategies On cervical cancer, the recommendation stipulates that member states should consider adapting ages and intervals to individual risk based on the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination history of the individuals. HPV can cause cervical (and other) cancers. As regards breast cancer the Council recommendation suggests a lower age limit of 45 years and an upper age limit of 74 years (in addition to the recommended screening for women aged 50 to 69 with mammography). Focus on implementation Screening for cancer being only one element, the Council also recommends to ensure adequate, timely and complementary diagnostic procedures and treatments for those individuals with a positive screening test. They should also consider the human and financial resources and their healthcare capacities when running cancer screening programmes. This focus on the feasibility of rolling out cancer screening programmes comes against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic which had disrupted health promotion and prevention programmes and negatively impacted access to early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Benefits and drawbacks of screening Screening makes it possible to detect cancers at an early stage or possibly even before they appear or become invasive. Some lesions can then be treated more effectively with a greater chance that patients can be cured. But there are also inherent limitations which can have negative effects for the screened population. These limitations include false positive or false negative results, overdiagnosis and subsequent overtreatment as well as risks originating from the screening and testing methods. Press material Friday 9 December 2022   ● European Council   09/12/2022 11:25 | Media advisory | Press briefings ahead of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit and European Council meeting   The press briefing ahead of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit will take place on Tuesday, 13 December 2022 at 10.00 followed by the press briefing ahead of the European Council meeting. These briefings will be "off the record". The press briefings will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Justus Lipsius press room or remotely. To attend the events remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for the previous high-level press events do not need to do it again. • Deadline for registration: Tuesday, 13 December 2022, 09.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Meeting page of the EU-ASEAN commemorative summit Meeting page of the European Council meeting

Press material Friday 9 December 2022

● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 11:23 | Press release | Digital justice: Council adopts negotiating mandates on two proposals to digitalise judicial cooperation and access to justice   The Council today adopted its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the proposed regulation on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and access to justice and proposed accompanying directive. These proposals will improve the effectiveness and speed of judicial procedures and facilitate citizens’ access to justice. "A modern and digital justice system is essential to make sure citizens and businesses can easily exercise their right to justice. The mandates agreed today aim to provide citizens and judicial authorities with tools for communicating and taking part in judicial proceedings, making the delivery of justice faster and more efficient." Pavel Blažek, Czech Minister for Justice Citizens and their lawyers will be able to access cross-border procedures in the EU through a European electronic access point, sending their requests to the competent authorities and receiving their replies electronically. Competent authorities will also be able to communicate between themselves and exchange case-related data in civil, commercial and criminal matters through secure, reliable digital channels. In concrete terms, the proposed texts include a series of improvements for cross-border procedures: establishing a European electronic access point, located on the European e-Justice Portal, through which persons can file claims, send, receive and store relevant information, and communicate with the competent authorities accepting electronic communication and documents from natural and legal persons in judicial procedures recognising documents with electronic signatures, seals or time stamps allowing parties and other relevant persons in civil, commercial and criminal hearings to participate by means of videoconferencing or other distance communication technology promoting the payment of fees through electronic means In addition, a decentralised system will be set up to facilitate electronic communication. It will consist of a software package developed by the Commission which can be used by member states, with e-CODEX serving as an interconnecting tool.

Press material Friday 9 December 2022

● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 11:22 | Press release | Council agrees its negotiating mandate on the environmental crime directive   The Council today agreed its mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the environmental crime directive. "Today, thanks to the Council's deliberations, we have moved a step closer to obtaining a legal instrument to protect the environment. We need to bring to justice those individuals and organisations who profit from activities that put our health at risk and damage our ecosystems. Protecting the environment is one of the main challenges of our generation, both in the EU and around the world." Pavel Blažek, Czech Minister of Justice This proposal aims to improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences. It defines environmental crime more precisely and adds new types of environmental criminal offences. It also harmonises the level of penalties for natural persons and for the first time for legal persons as well. Instead of the nine offences that currently exist under EU criminal law, the negotiating mandate defines 20 offences, broadening and clarifying the scope of conduct that is prohibited because it harms the environment. The new offences include timber trafficking, which is a major cause of deforestation in some parts of the world, the illegal recycling of polluting components of ships and serious breaches of legislation on chemicals. In the case of natural persons who commit one of the acts covered, the text sets out the following penalties: For intentional offences causing death to any person, a maximum prison term of at least ten years For offences committed with at least serious negligence causing death to any person, a maximum prison term of at least five years For other intentional offences included in the legislation, a maximum prison term of either at least five years or at least three years In the case of legal persons, the text sets out the following penalties: For the most serious offences, a maximum fine of at least 5% of the legal person’s total worldwide turnover, or alternatively €40 million For all other offences, a maximum fine of at least 3% of the legal person’s total worldwide turnover, or alternatively €24 million Additional measures may also be taken, including obliging the offender to reinstate the environment or compensate for the damage, excluding them from access to public funding or withdrawing their permits or authorisations. In addition to this, the text covers the need to provide training for those working to detect, investigate and prosecute environmental crime and to allocate adequate resources. It also includes provisions on support and assistance to persons reporting environmental crime, environmental defenders and persons affected by these crimes.

Υλικό για τον Τύπο Παρασκευή 9 Δεκεμβρίου 2022

● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ   09/12/2022 11:22 | Δελτίο τύπου | Το Συμβούλιο εγκρίνει τη διαπραγματευτική του εντολή σχετικά με την οδηγία για το περιβαλλοντικό έγκλημα   Το Συμβούλιο συμφώνησε σήμερα την εντολή του για διαπραγματεύσεις με το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο σχετικά με την οδηγία για το περιβαλλοντικό έγκλημα. "Σήμερα, χάρη στις εργασίες του Συμβουλίου, κάναμε ένα ακόμα βήμα προς την υλοποίηση ενός νομικού μέσου για την προστασία του περιβάλλοντος. Πρέπει να παραπέμπουμε στη δικαιοσύνη τα άτομα και τους οργανισμούς που αντλούν οφέλη από δραστηριότητες που θέτουν σε κίνδυνο την υγεία μας και βλάπτουν τα οικοσυστήματά μας. Η προστασία του περιβάλλοντος αποτελεί μία από τις κύριες προκλήσεις για τη γενιά μας, στην ΕΕ και σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο." Pavel Blažek, Υπουργός Δικαιοσύνης της Τσεχίας Η σχετική πρόταση στόχο έχει να βελτιώσει την έρευνα και τη δίωξη αδικημάτων περιβαλλοντικού εγκλήματος. Δίνει ακριβέστερο ορισμό του περιβαλλοντικού εγκλήματος και προσθέτει νέους τύπους περιβαλλοντικών ποινικών αδικημάτων. Επίσης εναρμονίζει το επίπεδο των κυρώσεων για τα φυσικά πρόσωπα, για πρώτη δε φορά και για τα νομικά πρόσωπα. Αντί των εννέα αδικημάτων που καταγράφονται στο υφιστάμενο ποινικό δίκαιο της ΕΕ, η διαπραγματευτική εντολή ορίζει είκοσι αδικήματα διευρύνοντας και αποσαφηνίζοντας έτσι το εύρος των συμπεριφορών που απαγορεύονται επειδή βλάπτουν το περιβάλλον. Τα νέα αδικήματα περιλαμβάνουν το λαθρεμπόριο ξυλείας, το οποίο αποτελεί σημαντική αιτία αποψίλωσης σε ορισμένα μέρη του κόσμου, την παράνομη ανακύκλωση ρυπογόνων μερών πλοίων και σοβαρές παραβιάσεις της νομοθεσίας για τα χημικά προϊόντα. Στην περίπτωση φυσικών προσώπων που επιδίδονται σε μία από τις εκεί περιλαμβανόμενες ενέργειες, το κείμενο προβλέπει τις ακόλουθες κυρώσεις: Για εκ προθέσεως αδικήματα που προκαλούν τον θάνατο προσώπου, μέγιστη ποινή φυλάκισης τουλάχιστον δέκα ετών Για αδικήματα που διαπράττονται από τουλάχιστον βαριά αμέλεια που προκαλεί τον θάνατο προσώπου, μέγιστη ποινή φυλάκισης τουλάχιστον πέντε ετών Για άλλα εκ προθέσεως αδικήματα που περιλαμβάνονται στη νομοθεσία, μέγιστη ποινή φυλάκισης τουλάχιστον πέντε ετών ή τουλάχιστον τριών ετών Όσον αφορά τα νομικά πρόσωπα, το κείμενο προβλέπει τις ακόλουθες ποινές: Για τις πιο σοβαρές μορφές αδικημάτων το ανώτατο πρόστιμο ανέρχεται σε τουλάχιστον 5 % του συνολικού παγκόσμιου κύκλου εργασιών του νομικού προσώπου ή εναλλακτικά σε 40 εκατ. € Για όλα τα άλλα αδικήματα το ανώτατο πρόστιμο ανέρχεται σε τουλάχιστον 3 % του συνολικού παγκόσμιου κύκλου εργασιών του νομικού προσώπου ή εναλλακτικά σε 24 εκατ. € Είναι επίσης δυνατό να λαμβάνονται πρόσθετα μέτρα, για παράδειγμα να υποχρεώνεται ο παραβάτης να αποκαταστήσει το περιβάλλον ή να επανορθώσει τη ζημία, να αποκλείεται από την πρόσβαση σε δημόσια χρηματοδότηση ή να ανακαλούνται οι άδειες ή οι εγκρίσεις του. Επιπροσθέτως το κείμενο καλύπτει την ανάγκη για την παροχή κατάρτισης σε όσους εργάζονται για την ανίχνευση, τη διερεύνηση και τη δίωξη του περιβαλλοντικού εγκλήματος και για τη διάθεση επαρκών πόρων. Περιλαμβάνει επίσης διατάξεις σχετικά με την παροχή στήριξης και συνδρομής σε πρόσωπα που καταγγέλλουν περιβαλλοντικά εγκλήματα, σε υπερασπιστές του περιβάλλοντος και σε πρόσωπα που θίγονται από τα εγκλήματα αυτά.

Press material Friday 9 December 2022

● Council of the EU   09/12/2022 11:22 | Press release | Council adopts conclusions on the fight against impunity in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine   The Council today adopted conclusions on the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In its conclusions, the Council calls on member states to adopt measures to fully implement the definition of core international crimes and modes of liability enshrined in the Rome Statute. It also asks member states to allow the exercise of universal jurisdiction or other forms of domestic jurisdiction over core international crimes, and to enable close judicial cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The conclusions call on member states to provide adequate support for the creation and functioning of specialised units dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of core international crimes at national level. Member states should also raise awareness among the Ukrainian refugee community of the possibility of giving testimony in member states, and should strengthen the support and protection of victims of core international crimes in criminal proceedings. The Council also calls on member states to support the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office and to consider participating in the rotation model coordinated by the ICC. It also asks them to strengthen cooperation with EU stakeholders such as Eurojust, Europol or EUAM Ukraine to enhance successful investigation and prosecution. The European Commission is asked to enhance financial, logistical, technical and substantive support to member states and to promote the exchange of best practices, knowledge and expertise. The Commission should also continue supporting national and international investigative and evidence-gathering mechanisms, specifically with respect to battlefield evidence. The Council calls on relevant EU bodies, including Eurojust, Europol, the Genocide Network and EUAM Ukraine to continue providing their support and guidance. Finally the Council calls on Ukraine to accede to the Rome Statute. Council conclusions on the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine Support in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes (background information)