COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest

 

Press material Tuesday 28 March 2023

● European Council   28/03/2023 13:29 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President Charles Michel following his meeting with President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu   Thank you, Madame President, ladies and gentlemen. It’s a great pleasure to be back in Moldova today. Moldova, a candidate country for EU membership. This is a historic opportunity — for your country and for your people. I am absolutely convinced that it must be seized, and it will be seized. Russia continues to attack the free people of Ukraine. And here in Moldova, you are heavily impacted by Russia’s war against Ukraine. You have increasingly become a target of Russia’s malign intelligence. In recent months, Russia and its proxies have increasingly tried to destabilise your country, using energy, cyber-attacks, staging protests, and other disruptive activities. And we strongly condemn these attempts to destabilise your country. You have responded to these threats — and Russia’s war — with courage and resolve. And we have full confidence in the government’s ability to tackle all these threats. The EU stands in full solidarity with the people of Moldova in these challenging times. You are not alone. We have mobilised over one billion euros in the past year to support Moldova’s resilience and stability. It means that we are not supporting just with words, but we are supporting with our actions and our concrete support. And we are ready to do more. At last week’s European Council meeting, the 27 EU leaders decided to send a strong message of solidarity to the people of Moldova, and we asked the European Commission to present a support package for your country before summer. I also want to thank you, dear President — and your country — for your solidarity since the beginning of the war. Moldova has hosted a high number of Ukrainian refugees. You have also supported our Solidarity Lanes — essential corridors for keeping Ukraine linked to the rest of Europe and to the rest of the world. These are powerful symbols of Moldova’s European solidarity. I would also like to commend the government’s strong commitment to reforms, especially in these challenging circumstances. These reforms are vital in meeting the expectations of the Moldovan people and in strengthening your overall resilience. Moldova has already made considerable efforts. And it is important to continue implementing the nine steps in the opinion of the European Commission. We discussed in depth those questions, particularly the comprehensive reform of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the de-politicisation of state institutions. Finally, we also discussed our preparations for the summit of the European Political Community on June 1st. This will be an important political moment to bring together countries that support stability and security on our continent. And it’s particularly significant that it will take place here in Chișinău. I am absolutely confident that it will be a successful summit. Dear President, I would like to thank you again for your warm welcome. Moldova can count on the full support of the European Union during these difficult times and on your path towards our EU family. I look forward to coming back to Chișinău on June 1st. Thank you.

Press material Wednesday 29 March 2023

● Council of the EU   29/03/2023 10:06 | Press release | Council adopts negotiating mandate on EU law on criminal finances   The ambassadors of the EU member states today agreed the Council’s negotiating mandate for a proposed EU law to ease the access of national authorities to financial information. Access to financial information is an important instrument in financial investigations and in efforts to trace and confiscate the proceeds of crime. "The sums generated by criminal activities are simply shocking. Financial information is crucial for enforcers in the EU in order to trace and confiscate illegal money and follow potential leads." Gunnar Strömmer, Swedish Minister for Justice In their fight against money laundering, EU countries will soon have to make information from centralised bank account registers available through a single access point. The centralised bank account registers contain data on who has which bank account and where. The proposed law would ensure that national authorities dealing with criminal offences would also have access to these registers through this single access point. The Council proposes going beyond the terms of the Commission’s draft and requiring that financial institutions share transaction records (i.e. bank statements) in a harmonised format when they are sharing them as part of an investigation.

Press material Wednesday 29 March 2023

● Council of the EU   29/03/2023 09:54 | Press release | Schengen visa: Council agrees negotiating mandate on the digitalisation of the visa procedure   The EU member states’ ambassadors today agreed the Council’s negotiating mandate for a proposal to digitalise the visa procedure. The proposal introduces the possibility to apply for a visa online and replaces the current visa sticker with a digital visa. It aims to make the visa application procedure more efficient and to improve the security of the Schengen area. "A digital Schengen visa will make it easier for legitimate travellers to apply and will at the same time help make the Schengen area safer. Online applications will reduce the number of trips to the consulate for travellers and make the process smoother for national administrations. At the same time, the digital visa will put an end to the risk of falsification and theft of the visa sticker." Maria Malmer Stenergard, Swedish Minister for Migration The proposed new rules will create a visa application platform. All applications for Schengen visas will be made through this platform, a single website, which will forward them to the relevant national visa systems. On this platform, visa applicants will be able to introduce all relevant data, upload electronic copies of their travel- and supporting documents, and pay their visa fees. They will also be notified of the decisions concerning their visa. In-person appearance at the consulate will only be necessary for first-time applicants, persons whose biometric data are no longer valid and those with a new travel document. When a person intends to visit several Schengen countries, the platform will automatically determine which one of them is responsible for examining the application on the basis of the duration of stay. However, the applicant will also have the possibility to indicate whether the application needs to be processed by a specific member state according to the purpose of travel. Under the proposed new rules, visas will be issued in digital format, as a 2D barcode, cryptographically signed. This will reduce security risks related to counterfeit and stolen visa stickers. Background and next steps Recent migration and security challenges have significantly transformed the context of the EU’s visa policy. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic considerably slowed down visa operations and created the need for more digital procedures. At the same time, technological developments provide new security features and opportunities to make procedures smoother and more effective, both for visa applicants and national authorities. In this context, the Commission submitted on 27 April 2022 a legislative proposal aimed at digitalising the visa procedure. On the basis of the negotiating mandate agreed today, the Council presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament to agree on the final wording. EU visa policy (background information) Visit the website

Meetings Tuesday 28 March 2023

● Council of the EU   28/03/2023 19:55 | MEETING | Main results - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 28 March 2023   Ministers reached a general approach on the gas and hydrogen package and a political agreement to extend the voluntary natural gas demand reduction target of 15% for one year. They held their first policy debate on the EU electricity market design reform. The Council adopted a regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans.

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Council of the EU
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 28 March 2023

Main results
Gas and hydrogen package

EU energy ministers agreed on the Council’s negotiating positions ('general approaches') on two proposals that set common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen.

The purpose of the legislation is to design the transition of the gas sector towards renewable and low-carbon gases, in particular biomethane and hydrogen, in view of reaching the EU’s goal of climate neutrality in 2050.



I’m glad we have found a balanced agreement on the gas package. Europe is on a journey to shift away from fossil natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases and we have to create the right market conditions for that to happen, in a way that promotes competitiveness, protects consumers and advances our climate-neutrality objective for 2050.Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for energy, business and industryGas package: member states set their position on future gas and hydrogen market (press release, 28 March 2023)
Watch the public session
Fit for 55 the EU's plan for a green transition (background information)
Gas demand reduction

Member states reached a political agreement on a proposal to extend their voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target for one year.

The purpose of the gas demand reduction is to make savings, in order to prepare for possible disruptions of gas supplies.


The EU is not completely out of the energy crisis and Russia continues to use energy as a weapon. EU member states need to stand solidary and be prepared ahead of next winter. The overall EU consumption of natural gas has dropped by 19.3% between August 2022 and January 2023. Reducing our gas demand has allowed us to fill our storages, keep prices down and secure more energy supplies. It’s important that we keep up the work and stay resilient.Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for energy, business and industry

The new regulation will maintain the possibility for the Council to trigger a ‘Union alert’ on security of supply, in which case the gas demand reduction would become mandatory.Member states agree to extend voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target (press release, 28 March 2023)
Energy prices and security of supply (background information)
Electricity market design

Ministers held their first policy debate on a proposal to revise the EU electricity market design.

The proposal aims to make the EU energy market more resilient and stable, to shield consumers and companies from short-term electricity price volatility, and to drive investments into renewable energies.

The purpose of the debate was to give guidance for further work on the proposal within the Council.

Ministers expressed their views on what changes to the existing market design would strike a balance between the need of improvements and keeping what works well, while protecting consumers and increasing investments in new production capacity.

Ministers were committed to advancing swiftly on the proposals and the presidency reiterated that the reform would be treated as a priority and that it will do its utmost to make quick progress on it.Watch the public session
Commission proposal on the electricity market design revision
Other business

Under any other business, the Commission updated ministers on winter preparedness. Denmark provided information on the nature restoration regulation. Greece gave ministers information on the EU electricity grid.Information note from Denmark
Information note from Greece
Energy situation in Ukraine

During lunch, ministers exchanged views on the energy situation in Ukraine with German Galuschchenko, Ukrainian Minister of Energy.Watch the doorstep
Other items adopted by the Council

The Council also adopted without discussion the legislative and non-legislative acts on the lists of A-items below.

In particular, the Council adopted four legislations stemming from the ‘Fit for 55’ package. These legislations concern CO2 emission performance standards for cars and vans, emission reductions in the land use, land-use change and forestry sector (LULUCF) and under the effort sharing regulation (ESR), as well as a decision amending the market stability reserve that supports the EU emission trading system.


Meeting information

Meeting n°3943
Brussels
28 March 2023
10:00
Preparatory documents

Provisional agenda
List of A items, non-legislative activities
List of A items, legislative deliberations
Background brief
Outcome documentsList of participants
Video footage
Meeting voting results

Press material Tuesday 28 March 2023

● Council of the EU   28/03/2023 17:29 | Press release | Gas package: member states set their position on future gas and hydrogen market   The Council today agreed on its negotiating positions ('general approaches') on two proposals that set common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen. The purpose of the legislation is to design the transition of the gas sector towards renewable and low-carbon gases, in particular biomethane and hydrogen, in view of reaching the EU’s goal of climate neutrality in 2050. "I’m glad we have found a balanced agreement on the gas package. Europe is on a journey to shift away from natural gas to renewable and low-carbon gases and we have to create the right market conditions for that to happen, in a way that promotes competitiveness, protects consumers and advances our climate-neutrality objective for 2050." Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for energy, business and industry The hydrogen and gas markets decarbonisation package consists of a proposal for a regulation and for a directive that set common internal market rules for renewable and natural gases and hydrogen. The proposals aim at creating a regulatory framework for dedicated hydrogen infrastructure and markets and integrated network planning. They also set rules for consumers protection and strengthen security of supply.

Press material Tuesday 28 March 2023

● Council of the EU   28/03/2023 15:52 | Press release | Member states agree to extend voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target   The Council today reached a political agreement on a proposal to extend the member states’ voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target, for one year. The regulation maintains the possibility for the Council to trigger a ‘Union alert’ on security of supply, in which case the gas demand reduction would become mandatory. "The EU is not completely out of the energy crisis and Russia continues to use energy as a weapon. EU member states need to stand solidary and be prepared ahead of next winter. The overall EU consumption of natural gas has dropped by 19.3% between August 2022 and January 2023. Reducing our gas demand has allowed us to fill our storages, keep prices down and secure more energy supplies. It’s important that we keep up the work and stay resilient." Ebba Busch, Swedish Minister for energy, business and industry The new regulation sets a voluntary target for member states to reduce their natural gas consumption by 15% between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, compared to their average consumption in the period between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2022. Member states can choose the measures by which they want to reach the target. In addition, member states agreed to modified reporting rules. Member states will keep reporting data on the savings achieved, at least every two months, with the possibility of submitting the reports earlier. If a Union alert is declared, they would report the data every month. Member states may, if they wish so, report the breakdown of energy consumption per sector. The Council added a new provision to address a specific issue of an increased consumption of gas in a member state due to a coal-to-gas switch used for district heating, in determining the reference gas consumption. The flexibilities foreseen for EU countries to meet the voluntary reduction target remain unchanged. Background The Commission presented a proposal on 20 March 2023, under article 122 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU, foreseen for emergency situations. The new regulation is an exceptional and extraordinary measure, valid for a limited time. The Council will now aim to formally adopt the regulation by written procedure. It will then be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force on 1 April 2023. Council political agreement on a proposal to extend the voluntary 15% gas demand reduction target Council regulation on coordinated demand-reduction measures for gas Council adopts regulation on reducing gas demand by 15% this winter (press release, 5 August 2022) Energy prices and security of supply (background information) How Russia's war in Ukraine has impacted markets (background information) EU response to Ukraine invasion (background information)

Press material Tuesday 28 March 2023

● Council of the EU   28/03/2023 13:17 | Press release | ‘Fit for 55’: Council adopts decision on market stability reserve   The Council today adopted a separate decision amending the market stability reserve. The market stability reserve aims to address the surplus of emission allowances that has built up in the EU emission trading system (EU ETS) since 2009 and to improve the system's resilience to major shocks by adjusting the supply of allowances to be auctioned. The decision on the market stability reserve has been revised in the ‘Fit for 55’ package that aims to enable the EU to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. The change to the market stability prolongs beyond 2023 the increased annual intake rate of allowances (24%). In addition, further changes to the market stability reserve will be adopted as part of the revision of the EU ETS expected to be adopted shortly.