COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest news

 

Press material Friday 5 May 2023

● General Secretariat   05/05/2023 17:48 | Press release | Forward look: 8-21 May 2023   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 15-16 May 2023 Ministers for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels to discuss the social dimension of a sustainable Europe for youth, respect for human rights in international sporting events, the European Education Area, automatic mutual recognition of education and training qualifications, and the state of play of the European Media Freedom Act. Read more Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 16 May 2023 The Council will aim to agree its position on the ‘DAC8’ directive on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation. It may adopt amending implementing decisions approving updated national recovery and resilience plans. Read more Other events Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers - Gymnich, 12 May 2023 Eurogroup, 15 May 2023 G7 summit, Hiroshima, Japan, 19-21 May 2023 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Swedish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2023)

Press material Saturday 6 May 2023

● Council of the EU   06/05/2023 17:30 | Statements and remarks | Iran: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the execution of Mr Habib Chaab   The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the execution in Iran of Swedish-Iranian national Habib Chaab and recalls yet again its strong opposition against the application of capital punishment in any circumstance. The European Union offers its condolences to Mr Chaab’s family and expresses its full solidarity with Sweden. The death penalty violates the inalienable right to life enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The European Union calls on Iran to refrain from any future executions and to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment. The increasing number of EU and dual EU-Iranian nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran, the restrictions imposed on consular access to EU nationals, the denial of consular protection and the right to a fair trial, stand in direct violation of international law. Press material Friday 5 May 2023   ● Council of the EU   05/05/2023 16:56 | Press release | EU joint procurement of ammunition and missiles for Ukraine: Council agrees €1 billion support under the European Peace Facility   The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth €1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) that will further contribute to strengthening the capabilities and resilience of Ukraine to defend its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protect the civilian population against the ongoing Russian military aggression. The assistance measure will finance the provision to the Ukrainian Armed Forces of 155-mm-calibre artillery rounds and, if requested, missiles which will be jointly procured by EU member states from the European defence industry. "Today’s decision is another major step to deliver more ammunition to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Armed Forces need substantial amounts of ammunition to defend the Ukrainian people and territory. They need it fast. Together with the previous decision to swiftly provide ammunition from existing stocks, we are committing €2 billion to this purpose, bringing the total EU military support to Ukraine to €5.6 billion." Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The measure will support joint procurement of ammunition and missiles from economic operators established in the EU or Norway, and producing these ammunition and missiles in the EU or Norway. The supply chains of these operators may include operators established or having their production outside of the EU or Norway. The measure will also cover deliveries of ammunition and missiles which have undergone an important stage of their manufacturing in the EU or Norway which consists of final assembly. To be eligible for EPF reimbursement, procurement contracts or purchase orders will need to be concluded before 30 September 2023 in the context of an existing European Defence Agency (EDA) project or through complementary joint acquisition projects led by a member state. Today’s decision implements track 2 of the Council agreement of 20 March 2023 on a three-track approach intended to speed up the delivery and joint procurement of artillery ammunition with a view to providing one million rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine within twelve months following the Council agreement. It was preceded by the approval of another support package under the EPF worth €1 billion that allowed the EU to reimburse member states for ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition as well as missiles donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from the reprioritisation of existing orders during the period 9 February to 31 May 2023 (track 1). Track 3 of the ammunition package, in the form of an Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), has been adopted by the European Commission on 3 May 2023. The Council will receive regular updates on the implementation of the assistance measure in order to monitor progress in the implementation of the Council agreement on the three-track approach. Together with the previous packages of military support, the assistance measure adopted today brings the total EU contribution for Ukraine to support the delivery of military equipment under the EPF to €5.6 billion. On top of that, the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) continues to enhance the military capability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reinforced with two EPF assistance measures worth €61 million to finance the provision of equipment necessary for the training. These efforts prove once more that the EU remains steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian military in defending the country against the illegal Russian aggression.

Press material Thursday 4 May 2023

● Council of the EU   04/05/2023 18:26 | Press release | Corruption as an obstacle to development: Council approves conclusions   The Council today approved conclusions highlighting the importance of incorporating a strong anti-corruption perspective in all development efforts. The negative economic impact of corruption is estimated to equal nine times global Official Development Assistance (ODA). Corruption erodes democracy, trust in institutions, the rule of law and the realisation and enjoyment of human rights. It is also a key obstacle to eradicating poverty as it hits the poor, and the persons and groups in the most vulnerable situations, the hardest. It also exacerbates inequalities and disproportionately affects women, girls and persons with disabilities. Furthermore, corruption supports the existence of organised crime and has a negative impact on security and stability at all levels.

Press release

5 May 20238:00
Energy, sustainability and inflation in focus on European Competition Day
© Government Offices of Sweden


‘Competition Policy in Times of Crisis’ is the overall theme of European Competition Day, which will be held on 5 May. Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President and European Commissioner for Competition, and Erik Thedéen, Governor of the Riksbank, will attend the conference, as will Sara Modig, State Secretary at the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise. The conference will be livestreamed and questions can be posted in the chat.


The conference is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise and the Swedish Competition Authority within the framework of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. During the conference, representatives of European competition authorities, the business sector and international research will discuss issues relating to the overall theme – times of crisis – including developments in energy markets, inflation and the climate transition.

“Effective competition is necessary to create competitive companies, which in turn is necessary for growth in both the short and the long term. The better the competition is at home, the greater the opportunities successful EU-based companies have to succeed in global markets. That’s why promoting effective competition and competitive companies is a priority issue for the Swedish Presidency,” says Ms Modig.

“The role of the Swedish Competition Authority is to protect and develop competition in the market. Safeguarding effective competition is one of several ways to meet and combat the crises currently shaping our time,” says Rikard Jermsten, Director General of the Swedish Competition Authority.

Read moreEvent page: European Competition Day
Livestream from the conference

Swedish Presidency commemorates Europe Day


Article

4 May 202312:45
Swedish Presidency commemorates Europe Day


Sweden’s commemoration of Europe Day 2023 is focused on support to Ukraine. The sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower.© Pixabay


Peace and cohesion in Europe is celebrated every year on 9 May. Europe Day 2023 will focus on support for Ukraine, and the Swedish Presidency will commemorate the day in Brussels, Stockholm and online.

Brussels

In Brussels, the General Secretariat of the Council will organise an open house at the Council’s Justus Lipsius building ahead of Europe Day. The event will held on 6 May from 10.00 until 18.00 and is intended for anyone interested in learning more about the EU and its institutions. No pre-registration is required and attendance is free of charge.

All 27 EU Member States will have exhibition stands with interactive activities, informative content to explore and much more.

The Swedish exhibition stand will focus on EU support to Ukraine, and there will be an opportunity to meet staff from Sweden’s Permanent Representation to the EU.

Read more about the open house and how the Council is commemorating Europe Day on the Council website.

Information on how other EU institutions are commemorating Europe Day is available here.
Stockholm

The official Swedish celebration of Europe Day will be held at Kulturhuset in Stockholm. The Swedish Presidency of the Council will be on hand with an exhibition stand. A number of seminars will be held at Kulturhuset during the day, and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström will deliver the opening address.

A concert in support of Ukraine will also held at Kulturhuset in Stockholm in the evening of 9 May, the proceeds from which will go directly to Radiohjälpen (Radio Aid). The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Ukrainian music never before played in Sweden under the direction of conductor Jaroslav Shemet.
Online

You can follow updates from the Swedish Presidency on Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin, and you can participate in the discussion on social media by using the hashtag #EuropeDay.

Why we celebrate Europe Day

Europe Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the signing of the historic Schuman Declaration, presented by then French foreign minister Robert Schuman on 9 May 1950. The Declaration contained a detailed plan to ensure long-term peace in Europe following the Second World War. The idea was that European political cooperation would make a new war unthinkable. The EU we know today has its roots in the Declaration.

Structures to protect human rights in times of crises


Article

5 May 202315:00
Structures to protect human rights in times of crises


Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life© Josefine Stenersen/Government offices


The Conference on Institutional Protection of Fundamental Rights in Times of Crises took place in Lund on 20–21 April. The Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights organised the conference.


Some 100 participants from EU Member States and Ukraine discussed topics such as lessons learned from previous and current crises, disinformation, the rule of law and how to enhance institutional protection of human rights in times of crises.

Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life Paulina Brandberg opened and concluded the conference. She emphasised that governments are responsible for ensuring that human rights are upheld and the importance of not resting on one’s laurels. “We must never back away from our responsibility to protect democratic values,” she said.

Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights Michael O’Flaherty said that much has been achieved in embedding human rights awareness within governance structures but that a lot remains to be done. He also said that there is a lack of evidence-based, well-coordinated human rights policies and strategies to uphold human rights in times of crises. This became apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, for example. “The crises we face today must be confronted by a resilient human rights system that never ceases to learn, grow and adapt.”
Three new challenges

On the first day, Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley spoke. Ms Barley was also a Rapporteur for the European Parliament report on the situation of fundamental rights in the European Union in 2022 and 2023. She highlighted three challenges that are different now compared to 10–20 years ago. The first is that threats to human rights are conveyed in new ways, and in different ways depending on the Member State. The second is that ongoing crises are restricting human rights, and certain states use these crises as an excuse to restrict people’s rights in various ways. The third challenge is the development of disinformation in society and how it affects democracy.
Important step

Director of the newly established Swedish Institute for Human Rights Fredrik Malmberg opened the second day of the conference. He emphasised that the Institute is an important step in structuralising the protection of human rights in Sweden.

In addition, parallel seminars were held to allow participants to share experiences and lessons learned on three different themes: How to strengthen institutional protection for fundamental rights in times of crises for persons in vulnerable situations?
Tackling disinformation against our democratic values and structures with a human rights lens
Rule of law and fundamental rights in times of crises

Images from the conference are free to use and can be found on Flickr

Read more

Conference on Institutional Protection of Fundamental Rights in times of Crises

Discussions on secure access to medicinal products as Europe recovers from pandemic


Press release

5 May 202316:00
Discussions on secure access to medicinal products as Europe recovers from pandemic
© Johannes Frandsen/Government Offices


EU health ministers met in Stockholm on 5 May at an informal ministerial meeting to discuss challenges related to securing access to medicinal products in times of crises. Other topics included daily work in healthcare and how EU Member States can further strengthen the accessibility and affordability of medicines.

Secure access to medicinal products is paramount for ensuring well-functioning and reliable health care in the EU. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the immense pressure our national health systems may come under. Access to medicines, both well-established products and innovative treatments, is important in situations of crisis, but also in everyday life.Acko Ankarberg JohanssonMinister for Health Care



The health ministers discussed the role supply preparedness plays in building the resilience of communities and the needs of Member States to have the ability to build both short- and long-term supply preparedness as an essential part of health care preparedness. The discussion also included an exchange of views on the aggravated situation of medicine shortages throughout Europe.

The second session focused on how Member States can support access to both innovative and well-established products while maintaining the sustainability of the health care system. The ministers discussed the importance of restoring a balance between accessibility and affordability of medicinal products in the European Union. This includes access to innovative treatments as well as established medicinal products. Among the questions raised was how to ensure affordable access to new and innovative drugs, which often target small populations and enter the market at high prices.

Among the keynote speakers at the sessions were representatives from the Bulgarian Diabetes Association, who spoke about consequences for patients of diabetes medicine shortages, a patient representative who shared his personal experience, representatives from academia as well as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), who shared policy recommendations on affordable access to medicines.

See the programme for the full list of speakers.
Working lunch with focus on Ukraine

The ministers also had a working lunch at which the health care situation in Ukraine during the Russian aggression was discussed. The ministers shared their views on the issue of Member State’s support for recovery and further development of health care capacities.

I am glad we also had the chance to discuss the dire situation in Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukrainian health care. The EU stands united in its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression.Acko Ankarberg JohanssonMinister for Health Care


Read moreEvent page: Informal meeting of health ministers