COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

Meetings Friday 8 September 2023

● Eurogroup   08/09/2023 13:15 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - Eurogroup, 15 September 2023   The Eurogroup will discuss macroeconomic developments and the candidacy for a new ECB Executive Board member. Ministers will also take a stock of progress on the ESM treaty ratification.

Press material Friday 8 September 2023

● Council of the EU   08/09/2023 15:39 | Press release | Human rights violations in Ukraine : EU sanctions six individuals under Global Sanctions Regime   The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures on six individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in the Russian Federation and in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression. The individuals listed today include prosecutors and judges active in courts established by Russia’s occupying force in illegally annexed Crimea. They took part in the politically motivated court proceedings against Vladyslav Yesypenko, a journalist who was sentenced to 6 years in prison, and Nariman Dzhelyalov, a Crimean Tatar. The Russian regime is using the judiciary of the country as a tool in numerous serious human rights violations. The justice system is not independent and is used to systematically and severely violate the human rights of individuals opposed to the ruling regime by violating their freedom of opinion and expression. Furthermore, today’s listings include two members of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) that either took part in torturing Vladyslav Yesypenko, or conducted the investigations in his case, and those of members of the Crimean Tatar community, and of the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Crimea. EU restrictive measures under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime now apply to a total of 67 individuals and 20 entities. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories. The EU does not recognise the attempted illegal annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol as well as parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions of Ukraine, which violate international law including the UN Charter. The Union remains steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and is dedicated to fully implementing its non-recognition policy. The EU is concerned about the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Background On 7 December 2020, the Council established a global human rights sanctions regime which applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious human rights violations or abuses (e.g. torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions). The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights are fundamental values of the Union and its common foreign and security policy. Official Journal of the EU, 8 September 2023 (including a list of the sanctioned individuals)

Press material Saturday 9 September 2023

● European Council   09/09/2023 11:09 | Statements and remarks | Address by President Charles Michel at the opening session of the G20 summit in New Delhi   I would also like to join in the warm words of thanks for your hospitality, but also for your leadership during the Presidency of the G20. This comes at a time when the world is facing Herculean challenges. On the one hand, climate change is having a daily impact all over the world. And on the other hand, the digital transformation is changing the way economic development is envisaged in the future. The COVID crisis has put humanity to the test, revealing weaknesses and vulnerabilities. And for some time now, a war unleashed by a permanent member of the Security Council against Ukraine. A war that is putting to the test a rules-based world that is the legacy of the United Nations Charter, which considers sovereignty and territorial integrity to be principles that guarantee peace, security and stability. At One Earth, we want a better future for the generations that follow us. We must fight for peace with nature, the fight against climate change. But we must also fight against those who start wars completely irresponsibly. This has an impact beyond the security of the European continent. It has an impact around the world. It affects energy, inflation, and worsens energy security. And I would like to emphasise the exemplary mobilisation of the United Nations, of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, with the support of Turkish President Erdogan to put in place an agreement in the Black Sea to ensure that this crossroads for the transit and export of food products can be preserved. And what cynicism, Mr Russian Representative, you did not accept this because not only have you decided to pull out of this agreement on the Black Sea, but at the same time you are attacking the port infrastructures. You are blocking the ports that give access to the Black Sea, and even to the Danube. And to add insult to injury, Russia is offering 1 million tonnes of grain to African countries in a parody of generosity. What cynicism and contempt for African countries, when we know that the Black Sea agreement has so far delivered more than 30 million tonnes of exports, mainly to the most vulnerable countries. And that the solidarity routes, alternative routes developed by the EU and with the EU, have already enabled 40 million tonnes of grain to be exported. 1 million tonnes offered — as if it were a gift. This is absolutely appalling cynicism. On the other hand, there are those who are really fighting to come to the aid of the most fragile and vulnerable populations. So you have understood why we firmly support the United Nations Charter and the just peace proposed by President Zelenskyy and inspired by the United Nations Charter. I would like to mention one final point. You can count on the EU. Climate change and the fight against poverty are two challenges that we must address together, in parallel, and we know that more resources and more funding are needed. The EU fully supports the initiatives put forward by Antonio Guterres for the reform of the multilateral development banks — more inclusiveness, private sector involvement, more financial capacity and more inclusiveness. Mr President of the AU, Mr President of the Comoros, the EU did not hesitate and immediately supported your candidacy as soon as it was announced. That is why we are happy, with my colleagues around the table, to welcome you to the G20. Thank you again, Prime Minister, for your leadership.

Υλικό για τον Τύπο Παρασκευή 8 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023

● Γενική Γραμματεία   08/09/2023 17:31 | Δελτίο τύπου | Προσεχώς: 11-24 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023   Επισκόπηση των κυριότερων θεμάτων και εκδηλώσεων του Συμβουλίου της ΕΕ και του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου για τις επόμενες δύο εβδομάδες. Συμβούλιο Γεωργίας και Αλιείας, 18 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Οι υπουργοί θα εστιάσουν στις γεωργικές πτυχές της οδηγίας για την υγεία του εδάφους, σε θέματα γεωργίας που σχετίζονται με το εμπόριο, στο μακρόπνοο όραμα για τις αγροτικές περιοχές της ΕΕ, καθώς και στις ετήσιες διαβουλεύσεις σχετικά με την αλιεία για το 2024. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες Συμβούλιο Γενικών Υποθέσεων, 19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Οι υπουργοί θα επικεντρωθούν στο αίτημα της Ισπανίας για τροποποίηση του γλωσσικού καθεστώτος της ΕΕ, στον ετήσιο διάλογο για το κράτος δικαίου, τις προετοιμασίες για το Ευρωπαϊκό Συμβούλιο του Οκτωβρίου και τον νομοθετικό προγραμματισμό. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες Άλλες εκδηλώσεις Σύνοδος κορυφής της G20, 9-10 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Eurogroup, 15 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Άτυπη σύνοδος των υπουργών Οικονομικών και Δημοσιονομικών Θεμάτων, 15-16 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Άτυπη σύνοδος των υπουργών Παιδείας και Νεολαίας, 18-19 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Άτυπη σύνοδος των υπουργών Μεταφορών, 21-22 Σεπτεμβρίου 2023 Ενδεικτικό χρονοδιάγραμμα συνόδων υπό την ισπανική Προεδρία (1η Ιουλίου – 31 Δεκεμβρίου 2023) Ιστότοπος της ισπανικής Προεδρίας