COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,THINK TANK, update

 

Library blog Thursday 19 October 2023

● General Secretariat of the Council   Think Tank Review - October 2023   Preparing for the next EU enlargement and related choices ahead; reforming and enlarging the EU for the 21st century; fundamental decarbonisation through sufficiency by lifestyle changes; the European chips act in relation with Europe’s quest for semiconductor autonomy; navigating between inflation and growth and European Central Bank’s role to serve European power and strategic autonomy; explaining European Commission’s fiscal governance reform plan; the European health union readiness for the challenges of the 21st century; the role of nuclear energy in the energy transition; EU support for ammunition production in member states; the rise of China as an international mediator; and the BRICS evolution are some of the topics featured in the October Think Tank Review.

Press material Thursday 19 October 2023

● Council of the EU   19/10/2023 13:24 | Press release | Middle East: Council presidency triggers activation of the Integrated Political Crisis Response   On 17 October, EU leaders meeting in a videoconference to discuss the situation in the Middle East, identified important and urgent areas of work including humanitarian assistance, engagement with partners, domestic security issues and migration. They highlighted the importance of constant monitoring, exchange of information and coordination. In this context the Spanish Presidency has today proceeded to the activation of the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements in full mode. The IPCR monitoring function had already been activated on 16 October. The IPCR is the Council’s crisis response mechanism. It supports fast and coordinated decision-making at EU political level for major and complex crises, bringing together member states, the EU institutions, and other key partners, including relevant external actors such as the UN and third countries. The activation of the IPCR will support the constant monitoring of the situation and coordination efforts. Background The IPCR is the Council’s crisis response mechanism. In times of crisis, the presidency of the Council brings together key actors, notably from EU institutions and affected member states, to ensure coordination and address gaps. The IPCR mechanism supports the Council presidency, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) and the Council, by providing concrete tools to: streamline information sharing facilitate collaboration coordinate crisis response at political level The main tools include informal roundtables, analytical reports to provide decision makers with a clear picture of the current situation, and exchange of information. The IPCR was in monitoring mode since 16 October and is now activated in full mode, involving the preparation of proposals for EU action to be decided upon by the Council of the EU or the European Council. The IPCR has been activated multiple times, including for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic and the migration crisis and has tackled diverse challenges in response. How the Council coordinates the EU response to crises (background information)

Meetings Thursday 19 October 2023

● Council of the EU   19/10/2023 13:19 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - General Affairs Council, 24 October 2023   Ministers will focus on preparations for the upcoming European Council, annual rule of law dialogue, the Commission’s demography toolbox and the request by Spain regarding Catalan, Basque and Galician.