COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

The European Political Community and EU leaders to discuss the EU’s future strategy in Granada 04/10/2023 | Article The European Political Community and EU leaders to discuss the EU’s future strategy in Granada On 5 and 6 October, Granada will host two important meetings, that of the European Political Community (EPC) and the informal meeting of EU Heads of State or Government, which will address the continent's strategic priorities.

Press material Thursday 5 October 2023

● European Council   05/10/2023 17:10 | Statements and remarks | Statement by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia, President Michel of the European Council, President Macron of France and Chancellor Scholz of Germany   The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz met in Granada with Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz underlined their unwavering support to the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of Armenia. They also expressed their support to the strengthening of EU-Armenia relations, in all its dimensions, based on the needs of the Republic of Armenia. They agreed on the need to provide additional humanitarian assistance to Armenia as it faces the consequences of the recent mass displacement of Karabakh Armenians. They stressed that these refugees must be free to exercise their right to return to their homes and their places of living, without any conditions, with international monitoring, and with due respect for their history, culture and for human rights. They remain committed to all efforts directed towards the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, based on mutual recognition of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of Armenia (29.800 km2) and Azerbaijan (86.600 km2), as mentioned in President Michel’s statements of 14 May and 15 July 2023. They called for the strict adherence to the principle of non-use of force and threat of use of force. They stressed the urgent need to work towards border delimitation based on the most recent USSR General Staff maps that have been provided to the sides, which should also be a basis for distancing of forces, and for finalizing the peace treaty and addressing all humanitarian issues. They called for greater regional cooperation and for the re-opening of all borders, including the border between Armenia and Türkiye, as well as for the opening of regional connectivity links based on full respect of countries’ sovereignty and jurisdiction, as well as on the principles of equality and reciprocity. The European leaders called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to release all detainees, and to cooperate to address the fate of missing persons and to facilitate demining work.

Press material Thursday 5 October 2023

● Council of the EU   05/10/2023 11:09 | Press release | Guatemala: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the situation after elections   The European Union (EU) has been closely following developments in Guatemala since the second round of the Presidential election held on 20 August. This election, observed by the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM), as well as other international and national observers, resulted in a clear victory for Bernardo Arévalo of the party Movimiento Semilla (MS), as certified by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the country’s highest electoral authority. The EU is deeply concerned over the continuing and persistent attempts to undermine these election results through selective and arbitrary legal and procedural actions that are not in line with Guatemala’s constitution nor with the international and regional standards that Guatemala has subscribed to. These unacceptable actions led, in particular, by the office of the Chief Prosecutor (Ministerio Público) are trying to intimidate officials and judges and posing a grave threat to democracy in Guatemala. Of particular concern in this regard are the recent raids carried out in the offices of the TSE and seizure of electoral registers by the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI), the legal actions against magistrates of the TSE and attempts to secure the suspension of MS as a political party. The EU reiterates its call on all Guatemalan institutions to fully respect the integrity of the electoral process and its outcome as clearly expressed by Guatemalan citizens. In addition, the EU calls on all Guatemalan state institutions and officials to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition of power, halt any actions that could jeopardise this, and to act in line with their responsibilities as enshrined in the Guatemalan Constitution and the fundamental principle of the separation of powers. Accountability should be sought for those obstructing a democratic transition. Further actions to overturn the outcome of the elections and continued instrumentalisation of judicial and prosecutorial institutions to undermine democracy and the rule of law would have an impact on Guatemala’s relations with the EU. The EU as a long-standing partner of Guatemala, remains fully committed to support inclusive and sustainable development in the country to the benefit of all. The EU stands ready to work closely with the administration of President-elect Arévalo on these and other shared priorities like the promotion of democratic governance and the rule of law, when he takes office in January 2024.

Press material Thursday 5 October 2023

● Council of the EU   05/10/2023 08:48 | Press release | Fluorinated gases and ozone depleting substances: Council and Parliament reach agreement   The Council and the Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement to phase down substances that cause global warming and deplete the ozone layer. This provisional agreement finalises negotiations on fluorinated gases and confirms an informal agreement found in June on ozone depleting substances. While existing EU legislation has already limited the use of these gases significantly, the new rules would further reduce their emissions into the atmosphere and contribute to limiting global temperature rise, in line with the Paris Agreement. "I am extremely satisfied with the agreement that we reached today on fluorinated gases, which goes hand-in-hand with the work we have carried out on ozone depleting substances. Such substances have highly negative impacts on the health of our planet and must be phased down. The agreement is an important step in our common goal to fight climate change and will help us reach our ambitious climate goals." Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Spanish minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge Fluorinated gases According to the provisional agreement, the consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) will be completely phased out by 2050. On the other hand, the production of HFC, in terms of production rights allocated by the Commission to produce HFC, will be phased down to a minimum (15%) as of 2036. Both the production and consumption will be phased down according to a tight schedule with a degressive quota allocation (Annexes V and VII). The agreement introduces a higher quota allocation in the first two periods compared to the Commission proposal. Semi-conductors would be exempted from the HFC quota allocation system, as proposed by the Commission, and the feasibility of the phase out for the consumption of HFC and the need for HFC in sectors where they are still used would be reviewed in 2040, taking into account technological developments and the availability of alternatives to HFCs for the relevant applications. The text introduces a full ban on placing the products and equipment containing HFC on the market for several categories, including certain domestic refrigerators, chillers, foams and aerosols (Annex IV). It brings forward some deadlines for the bans and extends them to products that use F-gases with a lesser global-warming potential (GWP). For all the new bans an exemption is foreseen if there are safety concerns. The provisional agreement introduces a full F-gas ban on small (<12kW) monoblock heat pumps and air conditioning that contain F-gases with a GWP of at least 150 starting in 2027, and a complete phase-out in 2032. In regard to split air conditioning and heat pumps, the co-legislators agreed on a full f-gas ban starting in 2035, with earlier deadlines for certain types of split systems with higher global-warming potential. Exemptions are foreseen in case this equipment is needed to meet safety requirements. The provisional agreement also includes the possibility to release a limited number of additional quotas for heat pumps if the proposed bans were to endanger the attainment of the heat pump deployment target required under REPowerEU. The text also sets a new full ban for medium voltage switchgears relying on F-gases, with a gradual phase out by 2030, and a ban for high voltage switchgears by 2032. It introduces a cascading principle that sets potential derogations for the bans depending on the bidding process for F-gas-free alternatives. It includes a possibility for high voltage switchgear to use the very potent greenhouse gas SF6 as a last resort in the cascading principle and adds a number of safeguards in order to avoid that the bans endanger the functioning of the electric grids. The provisional agreement introduces a ban on some equipment needed to repair and service existing equipment. From 2025 servicing equipment for refrigeration equipment that use F-gases with high global warming potential will be banned unless the gases are reclaimed or recycled, in which case they benefit from a derogation until 2030. A similar ban is introduced for servicing equipment for air conditioning and heat pump equipment for 2026 with a derogation for reclaimed or recycled gases until 2032. A servicing ban for stationary refrigeration equipment designed to cool products to temperatures below -50°C, would apply for F-gases with lower global warming potential starting in 2032, including a permanent derogation when using recycled or reclaimed gases. The text sets the HFCs quota allocation price at €3, adjustable for inflation. Part of the revenues would be used to cover the administrative costs of the implementation of the F-gas Regulation and the rest will go to general EU budget. The text sets a mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme from 1 January 2028 for F-gases in products and equipment which fall under the categories of electrical and electronic equipment according to the Directive 2012/19/EU (on waste electrical and electronic equipment, WEEE). The provisional text provides that member states will set rules on effective, proportionate and dissuasive penalties applicable to infringements. The penalties should include at least fines, confiscation of products, temporary exclusion of public procurement, and temporary trade bans. They should be compatible with the Environmental Crime Directive and with national legal systems. They should be above a set minimum quantitative threshold if member states decide to set a threshold. Ozone depleting substances The provisional agreement confirmed that ODS are prohibited in almost all uses with strictly limited exemptions. The text includes an exemption for the use of ODS as feedstock to produce other substances. The Commission will be tasked to regularly update a list ODS for which the use as feedstock is banned. An assessment of the availability of alternatives for feedstocks is primarily done at the international level, under the Montreal Protocol. However, as a safeguard, if the international expert panel fails to do so in a certain time-frame, the Commission would make an assessment of viable alternatives. The text would also allow ODS under strict conditions as process agents, in laboratories and for fire protection in special applications such as military equipment and airplanes. The provisional agreement extends the requirement to recover ODS for destruction, recycling or reclamation to new sectors compared to the Commission proposal. The requirement will cover refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment, equipment containing solvents or fire protection systems and fire extinguishers and other equipment if technically and economically feasible. The text also extends to all ODS the requirement on undertakings to take precautions to prevent and minimise an unintentional release of ozone depleting substances and to ensure that any detected leakage is repaired without undue delay. Next steps Both provisional agreements will now be submitted to the member states representatives within the Council (Coreper) and to the Parliament’s environment committee for endorsement. If approved, the text will be formally adopted by both institutions, before it can be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force. Background On 5 April 2022, the Commission adopted its proposals for a Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases and for a Regulation on ozone depleting substances. The Parliament adopted its stance on the proposal on 30 March 2023 and the Council reached a general approach on 5 April 2023. The effects of fluorinated gases on global warming are up to several hundred thousand times stronger than CO2. Ozone depleting substances on the other hand create a hole in the ozone layer, which offers protection from cancer-causing UV rays. Fluorinated greenhouse gases, or F-gases and are included in a wide range of products used in everyday life, such as fridges, air conditioning and medicines. They are also used in heat pumps and switchgear devices in electric power systems. The proposal for a revised regulation prolongs and tightens the free allocation quota system for the placing in the market of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) beyond 2030 and introduces a new quota system for their production. It introduces new restrictions for more types of equipment and products containing F-gases, strengthens provisions on the implementation and enforcement with penalties. Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on substances that deplete the ozone layer Mandate for negotiations with the European on fluorinated greenhouse gases Climate neutrality (background information)