COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,latest

 

Press material Tuesday 21 November 2023

● European Council   21/11/2023 18:38 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President Charles Michel following his meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of Moldova Maia Sandu   First, let me thank you for your warm welcome to Ukraine. It's good to be here with you, dear President, dear Volodymyr, and with you, dear President of Moldova, dear Maia Sandu. Today, we discussed a number of very important topics and challenges. Ten years ago, on Maidan Square, the people of Ukraine spoke out for freedom, for Europe and for democratic principles. The Maidan uprising is a landmark in our shared European history. Ukrainians said loud and clear: “We are Europeans” and this historic message is guiding Ukraine through its challenges and towards a better future. Ten years ago, Ukrainians took to the streets to defend their country, their European future and our shared values against Russian aggression. First, in 2014, and now against Russia's full-scale invasion. The 'Revolution of Dignity’ shows the power of solidarity and freedom. It also shows the strength and resilience of your people — it launched your country on its European path. The European Council granted Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status. Ukraine's progress has been remarkable, especially during a full-blown war. You continue to get closer to the EU. Since day one of Russia's war, the EU has stood by Ukraine, united and determined. This will continue for as long as it takes. I repeat, this will continue for as long as it takes. We have also sent a powerful message of unity and determination to Russia. The Kremlin is not only attacking a free and sovereign neighbour. Russia is also targeting the world's most vulnerable countries, denying them access to fuel and food. Russia is also attacking the global rules-based order, and all that we believe in - freedom, democracy, cooperation, dignity. With our member states, the EU has provided almost €85 billion of support to Ukraine, and we are now working to mobilise an additional €50 billion for the next four years. We have also tabled our 12th package of hard-hitting sanctions against Russia. This will help to prevent the circumvention of existing sanctions, it will further deny access to dual-use goods used for military purposes and extend sanctions into other areas, such as the diamond sector. We are also continuing our strong support for Moldova to reinforce, dear Maia Sandu, the resilience of your country, your institutions, your economy, your energy supply and security. Ukraine is and will remain a top priority for the European Union. Russia's war is a fundamental threat to our European security and values. And that is why we continue our support and step up our long-term security commitments to Ukraine, including ramping up joint strategic defence production. We have already trained 30 000 Ukrainian military personnel and this figure will reach 40,000 by the end of the year. The recent withdrawal of the Russian fleet from Sevastopol is a major strategic military success and frees your waters in the Black Sea. We also discussed Ukraine’s and Moldova's path to the European Union. EU leaders will discuss the opening of accession negotiations at our European Council in December. Dear President Zelenskyy, dear President Sandu, dear people of Ukraine, dear people of Moldova, I will spare no effort in supporting your legitimate ambitions and aspirations. Both Ukraine and Moldova's progress is impressive. EU membership does not happen overnight. Enlargement is, and will remain, a merit-based process. It is demanding. It can be frustrating at times and work needs to continue, especially on the rule of law. Even on today's symbolic anniversary, you continue to make progress on important anti-corruption reforms. You have just voted today, in the Rada, three very important laws. I congratulate you because this shows your strong determination to do what is needed. In the EU, we also need to get ready to welcome new members. It is not only about making the EU bigger, but it is also about becoming stronger, more effective, and in a better position to defend our interests and to promote our fundamental values. We must be ready on both sides to enlarge by 2030. Today, the ‘Revolution of Dignity’ shows the power of European values and principles. Ten years ago, EU membership seemed a distant dream, and Ukraine was under huge pressure from Russia. Your people made a clear choice — sovereignty. The European Union will continue to stand by you. Your European path is our shared journey. Thank you. Slava Ukraini. Longue vie à l'Europe.

Press material Tuesday 21 November 2023

● Council of the EU   21/11/2023 16:53 | Press release | Waste from electrical and electronic equipment: Council and Parliament agree on deal to align with Court ruling   The Council and the European Parliament’s negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on proposed amendments to EU law on the collection and management of waste from electrical and electronic equipment which includes a range of products such as computers, fridges and photovoltaic panels. "The waste generated from devices we use every day is increasing at a worryingly rapid pace. The agreement we found today will bring the necessary legal certainty as to who is to bear the costs of management of such high-risk waste and ensure an environmentally sound treatment of electrical and electronic waste, while not overburdening EU consumers." Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Spanish third vice-president of the government and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge The amendments aim to bring the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) directive into line with an EU Court of Justice judgment on the unjustified retroactive application of extended producer responsibility to waste from photovoltaic panels placed on the market between 13 August 2005 and 13 August 2012. Court ruling on the WEEE directive The matter dates back to 2012, when the then new WEEE directive entered into force, bringing photovoltaic panels into the scope of the previous directive. It also implemented an ‘open scope’ as of 15 August 2018, meaning that all electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) products were considered to be within the directive’s scope unless specifically excluded. In its judgment in case C-181/20 of 25 January 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union declared some parts of the WEEE directive as being partially invalid owing to non-justified retroactive effects. The Court held that, according to the new directive, the financing of waste collection, treatment, recovery and disposal costs (extended producer responsibility) retroactively applied to photovoltaic panels placed on the market since 13 August 2005. The conclusion to be drawn from the judgement was that extended producer responsibility also applied retroactively to products which were added to the scope in 2018. The Court therefore found the new directive to be liable to violate the principle of legal certainty. Amendments to the directive agreed by Council and Parliament The provisional agreement reached by the co-legislators endorses the content of the Commission’s initial proposal and further clarifies the links to relevant provisions in the waste framework directive. The proposed amendments clarify that: the costs of the management and disposal of waste from photovoltaic panels placed on the market after 13 August 2012 rest with the producer of the EEE extended producer responsibility for EEE products that were added to the scope of the directive in 2018 should apply to those e-products that were put on the market after that date The agreement introduces a review clause by which the Commission must assess, no later than 2026, the need for a revision of the directive. If appropriate, the Commission will have to present a legislative proposal, accompanied by a socio-economic and environmental impact assessment. The text of the agreement specifies that the Commission should also ensure that the costs of managing WEEE are not disproportionately transferred on to consumers or citizens. The co-legislators also agreed to extend the transposition period of the new directive from 12 to 18 months. It is the same transposition period that was applied when the directive entered into force 2012.

Meetings Tuesday 21 November 2023

● Council of the EU   21/11/2023 16:02 | MEETING | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 21 November 2023   The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, exchanged views on the Team Europe engagement in complex environments in Africa. Ministers also held a video conference to exchange with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga.