EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EU,update

Meetings Friday 14 July 2023

● Eurogroup   14/07/2023 00:02 | MEETING | Main results - Eurogroup, 13 July 2023   The Eurogroup discussed the fiscal policy guidance for the euro area for 2024 and the future of European capital and financial markets. Ministers also exchanged views on the international role of the euro and took stock of the digital euro project. Press material Thursday 13 July 2023   ● European Council   13/07/2023 15:20 | Statements and remarks | EU–Japan summit 2023: joint statement   President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan met in Brussels on 13 July 2023 for the 29th summit between the European Union and Japan and issued the following statement. Read the joint statement Press material Thursday 13 July 2023   ● European Council   13/07/2023 15:20 | Statements and remarks | EU–Japan summit 2023: joint statement   President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan met in Brussels on 13 July 2023 for the 29th summit between the European Union and Japan and issued the following statement. Read the joint statement Meetings Wednesday 12 July 2023   ● European Council   12/07/2023 15:42 | MEETING | EU-Japan summit, 13 July 2023   Background brief - EU-Japan summit of 13 July 2023

Library blog Friday 14 July 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank reports on the invasion of Ukraine   How to end Russia’s war on Ukraine by safeguarding Europe’s future; Russian logistics and sustainment failures in the Ukraine conflict; what NATO’s Vilnius summit means for Ukraine and the Alliance’s future; Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and how nuclear blackmail became Russia’s new export item; challenges and opportunities of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine, and the Ukrainian war economy are some of the topics discussed in the present update.

Highlights of the agenda of the informal ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs 13/07/2023 | Article Highlights of the agenda of the informal ministerial meeting on justice and home affairs The working sessions of the home affairs ministers will focus on progress towards the Migration and Asylum Pact and on stepping up the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime. Justice ministers will focus on strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice, the protection of victims of crime and the fight against organised crime. ents and €141.167 billion in payments. Overall, the Council takes a prudent approach. The Council stresses the importance for the budget for 2024 to continue showing the Union’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine and to respond to crises. The Council recalls the principle of solidarity and underlines that effective use of the EU budget will bolster the credibility of the EU with the European citizens. The Council also calls for common measures to contain administrative expenditure that has been increasing over what was initially planned due to the high inflation and energy prices . A summary of the Council's position is set out in the table below. Download the full table (pdf) Download the full table (Excel) Commitments are legal promises to spend money on activities whose implementation extends over several financial years. Payments cover expenditure arising from commitments entered into the EU budget during current and preceding financial years. In addition, the Council also issues two statements: one on payments in 2024 and one on administrative expenditure. Next steps The Council aims to formally adopt its position on the draft general budget for 2024 via a written procedure ending on 5 September 2023. This will then serve as a mandate for the Spanish presidency to negotiate the 2024 EU budget with the European Parliament. Background This is the fourth annual budget under the long-term EU budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The 2024 budget is complemented by actions to support the COVID-19 recovery under Next Generation EU, the EU's pandemic recovery plan. Council position on the 2024 EU budget Statements accompanying the Council position Technical annex Budget 2024: Council agrees on its guidelines for the establishment of next year’s EU budget (press release 14 March 2023) European Council conclusions, 17-21 July 2020 (press release) EU budget for 2024 (background information)

 12/07/2023 | Article

EU energy ministers consolidate will to build Open Strategic Autonomy

The informal meeting of EU energy ministers in Valladolid addressed two of the main challenges of this European Semester: open strategic autonomy and the development of an integrated and digitalised internal energy market.

Press material Friday 14 July 2023

● European Council   14/07/2023 16:00 | Press release | Press release: new spokesperson of the President of the European Council   Barend Leyts, spokesman of the President of the European Council, will join the cabinet of the Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo where he will take on the role of Director of Communications. Barend Leyts and the President of the European Council have worked 8 years together. The President is grateful for his excellent work and wishes him all the best in his new position. Mr. Leyts thanks President Michel for the excellent cooperation and extraordinary experiences he has enjoyed over the years. Barend Leyts will be replaced by Ecaterina Casinge. Mrs Casinge has worked as a Senior Strategy and Communication advisor in the European parliament. She is currently Head of Cabinet of the President of Moldova Maia Sandu. She will start as President Michel’s spokeswoman in August.

Press material Friday 14 July 2023

● Council of the EU   14/07/2023 14:08 | Press release | Syria: EU extends humanitarian exemption for another six months   On 23 February 2023, the Council introduced an additional humanitarian exemption into the sanctions regime in view of the situation in Syria to facilitate the speedy delivery of humanitarian assistance, following the devastating earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria. To continue responding in a timely manner to the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and to keep facilitating the rapid delivery of aid, the Council has decided to extend the duration of this humanitarian exemption for a further six months until 24 February 2024. The exemption from the asset freeze and from the related prohibition on making funds and economic resources available to listed individuals and entities aims to further facilitate the operations of international organisations and certain defined categories of actors involved in humanitarian activities in Syria. The EU sanctions in place, regarding Syria since 2011 target the repressive Assad regime and its supporters, as well as sectors of the economy from which the regime profits. The sanctions do not stand in the way of the export of food, medicines, or medical equipment to Syria. The Council remains deeply concerned about the situation in Syria, where the conflict is far from over and remains a source of suffering for the civilian population, and instability for the country and the region. The European Union and its member states are leading donors of humanitarian aid to those affected by the conflict in Syria and have mobilised more than €30 billion in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation aid since the beginning of the crisis in 2011. This amount includes more than €3.7 billion in humanitarian aid to Syrians and vulnerable host communities in Syria and the region. At the Seventh Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region" (Brussels VII) hosted and chaired by the EU on 14 and 15 June 2023, the international community pledged €5.6 billion for 2023 and beyond, including €4.6 billion for 2023 and €1 billion for 2024 and beyond. The funding pledged will support people inside Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. €3.8 billion of grants were pledged by the EU amounting to 70% of the total grants. In addition, international financial institutions and donors announced €4 billion in loans (in concessional terms), bringing the total of grants and loans to €9.6 billion. Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: EU amends restrictive measures in place regarding Syria to facilitate the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid (press release 23 February 2023) Syria: EU response to the crisis (background information)

Library blog Friday 14 July 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Readers of Europe 2023 - French recommendation   Over the course of the summer, the Council Library, in collaboration with the permanent representations to the EU, will recommend books to read from across the EU. It’s the fourth instalment of our Readers of Europe initiative, and this year, the spotlight is placed on female authors. Today’s recommendation is from the Permanent Representation of France to the EU: 'Le Village des Sourds' by Léonore Confino. Library blog Thursday 13 July 2023   ● General Secretariat of the Council   Library guide on EU relations with Japan   The European Union and Japan have a deep and dynamic relationship. To mark the EU-Japan summit on 13 July, the Council Library has compiled a guide to relevant and authoritative resources on EU-Japan relations. This includes Council website pages, EU publications, books, articles, podcasts, videos, and databases. Read on to find out more… Library blog Thursday 13 July 2023   ● General Secretariat of the Council   Readers of Europe 2023 - Greek recommendation   Over the course of the summer, the Council Library, in collaboration with the permanent representations to the EU, will recommend books to read from across the EU. It’s the fourth instalment of our Readers of Europe initiative, and this year, the spotlight will be placed on female authors. Today’s recommendation is from the Permanent Representation of Greece to the EU. ‘Εργαζόμενο Αγόρι’ by Lena Divani.