COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Documents destinés à la presse jeudi 9 novembre 2023

● Conseil européen   09/11/2023 14:31 | Discours | Intervention du président Charles Michel lors de la conférence humanitaire internationale pour la population civile de Gaza tenue à Paris   Merci, Monsieur le Président (Macron), pour cette initiative. Vous avez parfaitement dressé en introduction les trois piliers qui doivent nous mobiliser: d'une part, l'engagement humanitaire, la question sécuritaire et la lutte contre le terrorisme, et puis le pilier politique avec la paix. Quelques points simplement, pour indiquer que le Conseil européen, qui rassemble les 27 chefs d'État et de gouvernement, est uni et soudé sur quelques points absolument essentiels. Bien sûr, nous condamnons l'attaque immonde, ignoble qui a été menée par le Hamas, organisation terroriste, contre Israël et sa population. Et bien sûr, nous exigeons que les otages soient libérés sans conditions et le plus vite possible. Et dans le même temps, le Conseil européen soutient le droit d'Israël à se défendre, mais cela a été dit par beaucoup et je vais le dire avec force: il ne peut pas y avoir de double standard. Cela veut donc dire que le droit de se défendre doit s'exercer en lien avec le droit international et le droit international humanitaire. Chaque vie compte. L'Union européenne considère que la protection des civils doit être dans notre ADN et je voudrais aussi, comme d'autres l'ont fait avant moi, rendre hommage à l'engagement des Nations unies et des agences des Nations unies, qui paient un lourd tribut dans le cadre de ce conflit extrêmement grave, et remercier aussi les autres organisations internationales qui ont témoigné. Le témoignage, nous le connaissons, nous avons les yeux ouverts. On voit bien que la situation à Gaza est absolument désastreuse sur le plan humanitaire et il est de notre responsabilité collective d'être sincèrement engagés et mobilisés. C'est le sens de l'appel pour des pauses humanitaires, pour des corridors humanitaires. Je salue, comme d'autres, le travail très opérationnel qui est mené par beaucoup autour de cette table, singulièrement vous, cher président Macron, en lien avec Chypre, avec la Grèce par exemple, pour les corridors maritimes, pour les mobilisations, afin que l'aide puisse être réellement délivrée. Cela montre bien qu'au-delà des discours, il faut effectivement des solutions opérationnelles pour faire en sorte que les médicaments, la nourriture, l'eau, l'ensemble des équipements de première nécessité puissent arriver aux populations qui en ont besoin. Deux mots encore: un pour dire notre soutien pour l'Égypte, notre soutien pour la Jordanie et pour les pays de la région en général. On a pu parler beaucoup avec le président Al-Sissi et avec ses équipes, on comprend parfaitement la situation de l'Égypte et vous pouvez compter sur le soutien, dans toutes ses dimensions, de l'Union européenne. Il en va de même pour la Jordanie et pour d'autres pays dans la région. Et puis un point encore – et cela a été parfaitement dit par vous et par d'autres, Monsieur le Président: nous savons que nous voulons la paix et la sécurité, mais nous savons aussi que la sécurité n'est pas suffisante pour obtenir la paix. Seule la paix est la meilleure garantie de sécurité et c'est pour cela que l'on ne peut pas renoncer, que l'on doit être mobilisés pour la solution à deux États. Pour cela, il y a plusieurs paramètres indispensables. L'un d'entre eux, c'est le soutien à une Autorité palestinienne légitime et crédible. Cher Premier ministre (Shtayyeh), vous vous êtes exprimé il y a quelques instants, vous pouvez compter sur l'Union européenne pour ne pas baisser les yeux, pour ne pas relâcher la pression. Nous allons continuer à vous soutenir et à soutenir tous les efforts pour faire en sorte que vous puissiez être en mesure de travailler avec nous et avec d'autres pour qu'il y ait réellement un plan de paix pour la région. C'est notre objectif commun: un État d'Israël sûr, un État d'Israël qui dispose du droit à la sécurité et à l'existence, à côté d'un État palestinien qui est aussi en mesure d'offrir davantage d'espoir à son peuple. Voilà, Monsieur le Président, les quelques éléments que je voulais partager avec vous. Vous pouvez compter sur une Union européenne très engagée, y compris prête à participer activement à toute conférence internationale, je l'espère le plus vite possible, qui permettra d'amener la paix entre Israël et la Palestine, entre Israël et l'ensemble des États de la région. Je vous remercie.

Press material Thursday 9 November 2023

● Council of the EU   09/11/2023 22:58 | Press release | Nature restoration: Council and Parliament reach agreement on new rules to restore and preserve degraded habitats in the EU   Today, the Council presidency and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional political agreement on a regulation on nature restoration. The proposal aims to put measures in place to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030, and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. It sets specific, legally binding targets and obligations for nature restoration in each of the listed ecosystems — from agricultural land and forests to marine, freshwater and urban ecosystems. The regulation is an integral part of the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and will help the EU reach its international commitments, in particular the UN Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework agreed at the 2022 UN biodiversity conference (COP15). The provisional agreement will have to be endorsed and formally adopted by the co-legislators before entering into force. "We are faced with an increasingly dramatic reality: EU’s nature and biodiversity are in danger and need to be protected. I am proud of today’s indispensable agreement between the Council and Parliament on a nature restoration law, the first of its kind. It will help us rebuild healthy biodiversity levels across member states and preserve nature for the future generations, while fighting climate change and remaining committed to our climate goals." Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, acting third vice-president of the government and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge of Spain Scope and targets of the regulation The new rules will help to restore degraded ecosystems across member states’ land and sea habitats, achieve the EU’s overarching objectives on climate mitigation and adaptation, and enhance food security. The regulation requires member states to establish and implement measures to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030. The regulation covers a range of terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems, including wetlands, grasslands, forests, rivers and lakes, as well as marine ecosystems, including seagrass and sponge and coral beds (listed in Annexes I and II). It requires member states to put measures in place, by 2030, to restore at least 30% of the habitats types listed in both Annexes that are in poor condition. Until 2030, the co-legislators agreed that member states need to prioritise Natura 2000 sites when implementing the restoration measures set out in the regulation. Member states must also establish measures to restore at least 60% of habitats in poor condition by 2040 and at least 90% by 2050. An additional flexibility was added for very common and widespread habitats. Non-deterioration requirement The text includes a requirement to prevent significant deterioration of areas subject to restoration that have reached good condition and of areas where the terrestrial and marine habitats listed in Annexes I and II occur. The co-legislators agreed to make this requirement effort-based. The requirement will be measured at habitat type level. Restoring pollinators In recent decades, the abundance and diversity of wild insect pollinators in Europe have declined dramatically. To address this, the regulation introduces specific requirements for member states to set out measures to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030 at the latest. Based on delegated acts adopted by the Commission to establish a science-based method for monitoring pollinator diversity and populations, member states will have to monitor progress in this respect, at least, every six years after 2030. Ecosystem-specific obligations The regulation sets out specific requirements for different types of ecosystems. Agriculture ecosystems The text requires member states to put measures in place aiming to achieve increasing trends in at least two of the following three indicators: such as the grassland butterfly index the share of agricultural land with high-diversity landscape features (HDLFs) the stock of organic carbon in cropland mineral soil. It also sets timebound targets to increase the common farmland bird index at national level. The co-legislators agreed to provide flexibility to member states when rewetting peatlands, as some will be disproportionately impacted by these obligations. The text sets targets to restore 30% of drained peatlands under agricultural use by 2030, 40% by 2040 and 50% by 2050, although member states that are strongly affected will be able to apply a lower percentage. Restoration measures include the rewetting of organic soils constituting drained peatlands, which helps increase biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The co-legislators also agreed that the achievement of the rewetting targets does not imply an obligation for farmers and private landowners. Forest ecosystems Under the agreed text, member states will be required to put measures in place to enhance the biodiversity of forest ecosystems and achieve increasing trends at the national level of certain indicators, such as standing and lying deadwood and the common forest bird index, taking into account the risk of forest fires. The co-legislators also added a provision calling on member states to contribute to the planting of at least three billion additional trees by 2030 at the EU level. Urban ecosystems and river connectivity For urban ecosystems, the Council and Parliament agreed that member states should achieve an increasing trend in urban green areas until a satisfactory level is reached. They also agreed that member states should ensure that there is no net loss of urban green space and urban tree canopy cover between the entry into force of the regulation and the end of 2030, unless urban ecosystems already have over 45% of green space. The provisional agreement includes an obligation for member states to identify and remove man-made barriers to the connectivity of surface waters, in order to turn at least 25 000 km of rivers into free-flowing rivers by 2030, and maintain restored natural river connectivity. National restoration plans Under the new rules, member states must regularly submit national restoration plans to the Commission, showing how they will deliver on the targets. They must also monitor and report on their progress. The co-legislators opted for a stepwise approach. Member states would first submit national restoration plans covering the period until June 2032, with a strategic overview for the period beyond June 2032. By June 2032, member states would submit restoration plans for the ten years until 2042 with a strategic overview until 2050, and by June 2042 they would submit plans for the remaining period to 2050. The text allows member states to take into account their diverse social, economic and cultural requirements, regional and local characteristics and population density, including the specific situation of outermost regions, when establishing their plans. Financing restoration measures The provisional agreement introduces a new provision tasking the Commission with submitting a report, one year after the entry into force of the regulation, with an overview of the financial resources available at EU level, an assessment of the funding needs for implementation, and an analysis identifying any funding gaps. Where appropriate, the report would also include proposals for adequate funding, without prejudging the next multiannual financial framework (MFF, 2028–2034). The co-legislators also agreed to introduce a provision encouraging member states to promote existing private and public schemes to support stakeholders implementing restoration measures, including land managers and owners, farmers, foresters and fishers. The text also clarifies that national restoration plans do not entail an obligation for countries to re-programme the common agricultural policy (CAP) or the common fisheries policy (CFP) funding under the 2021–2027 MFF in order to implement this regulation. Review and emergency brake The provisional agreement sets the date of 2033 for the Commission to review and assess the application of the regulation and its impacts on the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, as well as its wider socio-economic effects. The text also introduces a possibility to suspend the implementation of those provisions of the regulation related to agricultural ecosystems for up to one year via an implementing act, in the event of unforeseeable and exceptional events outside of the EU’s control and with severe EU-wide consequences for food security.

Press material Friday 10 November 2023

● General Secretariat   10/11/2023 18:03 | Press release | Forward look: 13 - 26 November 2023   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Foreign Affairs Council, 13 November 2023 The Council will exchange views on the situation in Israel and the region, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the foreign policy dimension of economic security. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 14 November 2023 The defence configuration of the Foreign Affairs Council will be informed about current affairs and discuss EU support to Ukraine. Read more General Affairs Council, 15 November 2023 Ministers will exchange views on European electoral law, the future of Europe and the Commission’s work programme for 2024. They will also start preparations for the December European Council and take stock of developments concerning the Article 7 procedures, the EU-UK relations, and the request by Spain regarding Catalan, Basque and Galician. Read more Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 20 November 2023 Agriculture and fisheries ministers will hold their first discussion on the fishing opportunities for 2024 in the Atlantic and the North Sea, and in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Ministers will seek to approve a set of conclusions on a long-term vision for the EU's rural areas and, among other topics, they will discuss the state of play of the proposal for a regulation on new genomic techniques. Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 21 November 2023 The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, will be invited to exchange views on the Team Europe engagement in complex environments in Africa. Ministers will also hold a video conference to exchange with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. Read more Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 23-24 November 2023 Ministers for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels to discuss digital education and skills, youth and mental health, and to reflect on ways to attract female talent to science and technology. They will focus on youth mainstreaming, including the role of young people in decision-making processes in the European Union, and on strengthening European values through education and training. They will also address topics such as improving working conditions for artists, supporting the cultural and creative dimension of videogames, as well as equality and safety in sport. Read more Other events Informal meeting of housing ministers, 13-14 November 2023 European Economic Area Council, 20 November 2023 African Union - European Union ministerial meeting, 20 November 2023 EU-Canada summit, 23-24 November 2023 Informal meeting of equality ministers, 23-24 November 2023

Meetings Saturday 11 November 2023

● Council of the EU   11/11/2023 02:54 | MEETING | Main results - Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget), 10 November 2023   The Council and the European Parliament today reached agreement on the EU’s annual budget for 2024. Total commitments are set at €189 385,4 million and total payments amount to €142 630,3 million.

Press material Saturday 11 November 2023

● Council of the EU   11/11/2023 02:33 | Press release | EU budget for 2024: Council and Parliament reach agreement   The Council and the European Parliament today reached agreement on the EU’s annual budget for 2024. Next year’s budget strongly focuses on the EU's main policy priorities and reacts to the currently difficult geopolitical context. Total commitments are set at €189 385,4 million. €360 million have been kept available under the expenditure ceilings of the current multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, allowing the EU to react to unforeseeable needs. Total payments amount to €142 630,3 million. "I’m glad we have come to an agreement on next year's budget. This will give us the means to focus on the EU's priority areas, while keeping enough financial leeway to respond to unforeseen circumstances. It also ensures a realistic approach, taking into account the current economic and geopolitical context, the interests of taxpayers and the need to cater for new challenges that may arise in 2024." Esperanza Samblás, Spanish Secretary of State and chief Council negotiator for the 2024 EU budget

Συνεδριάσεις Παρασκευή 10 Νοεμβρίου 2023

● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ   10/11/2023 14:25 | ΣΥΝΕΔΡΊΑΣΗ | Κύρια σημεία της ημερήσιας διάταξης - Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων (Άμυνα), 14 Νοεμβρίου 2023   Το Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων, υπό τη σύνθεση «Άμυνα», θα ενημερωθεί για θέματα επικαιρότητας και θα συζητήσει για τη στήριξη της ΕΕ προς την Ουκρανία.

Συνεδριάσεις Παρασκευή 10 Νοεμβρίου 2023

● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ   10/11/2023 14:25 | ΣΥΝΕΔΡΊΑΣΗ | Κύρια σημεία της ημερήσιας διάταξης - Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων, 13 Νοεμβρίου 2023   Το Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων θα ανταλλάξει απόψεις σχετικά με την κατάσταση στο Ισραήλ και την ευρύτερη περιοχή, την επίθεση της Ρωσίας κατά της Ουκρανίας, την Αρμενία και το Αζερμπαϊτζάν, καθώς και την πτυχή της οικονομικής ασφάλειας που αφορά την εξωτερική πολιτική.

Meetings Friday 10 November 2023

● Council of the EU   10/11/2023 10:53 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - General Affairs Council, 15 November 2023   Ministers will exchange views on European electoral law, the future of Europe and the Commission’s work programme for 2024. They will also start preparations for the December European Council and take stock of developments concerning the Article 7 procedures, the EU-UK relations, and the request by Spain regarding Catalan, Basque and Galician.

Meetings Friday 10 November 2023

● Council of the EU   10/11/2023 10:13 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - 46th ACP-EU Council of Ministers, 15 November 2023   The 46th session of the ACP-EU Council of Ministers that will take place in Apia, Samoa, on 15 November 2023 will be the last such meeting under the current framework established by Cotonou Agreement and will allow for an exchange of views on a number of issues of importance for the Partnership, before the signature of the new Partnership Agreement.

Meetings Friday 10 November 2023

● Council of the EU   10/11/2023 09:04 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - Foreign Affairs Council (Defence), 14 November 2023   The defence configuration of the Foreign Affairs Council will be informed about current affairs and discuss EU support to Ukraine.

Meetings Friday 10 November 2023

● Council of the EU   10/11/2023 09:03 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - Foreign Affairs Council, 13 November 2023   The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the situation in Israel and the region, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the foreign policy dimension of economic security.

Press material Thursday 9 November 2023

● Council of the EU   09/11/2023 17:52 | Press release | Unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean: Council prolongs restrictive measures   The Council today renewed its restrictive measures imposed in view of Türkiye's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019, for an additional year, until 30 November 2024. The restrictive measures consist of an asset freeze for listed persons and entities and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds or economic resources available to those listed. In addition, a travel ban to/through the European Union applies to listed persons. Currently, two individuals are listed. The European Union, therefore, maintains its ability to impose targeted restrictive measures on persons or entities responsible for, or involved in, unauthorised drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean. Background On 11 November 2019, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2019/1894 concerning restrictive measures in view of Türkiye's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. This sanctions regime is a direct follow-up to the Council conclusions of 14 October 2019, which were endorsed by the European Council on 17-18 October 2019. Council Decision (CFSP) 2019/1894 (consolidated version of 11 November 2019) Turkey's illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean: Council adopts framework for sanctions (press release, 11 November 2019) How and when the EU adopts sanctions (background information) Turkey's illegal drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean: Council adopts conclusions (14 October 2019)

Meetings Thursday 9 November 2023

● Council of the EU   09/11/2023 16:12 | MEETING | Main results - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 9 November 2023   The Council discussed the proposed reform of the economic governance framework. Ministers approved the modified recovery and resilience plans of Denmark, Lithuania, Austria and Sweden. Ministers discussed the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as well as the European Semester and adopted conclusions on EU statistics.

Press material Thursday 9 November 2023

● Council of the EU   09/11/2023 14:58 | Press release | Council approves conclusions on statistics   The Council approved conclusions on EU statistics that welcome progress made on keeping comparable and reliable statistics for better policy-making and provide guidance for further work. The conclusions welcome the progress reached on information requirements in the Economic and Monetary Union and on the quality of statistics for the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure and the Stability and Growth Pact. In addition, the conclusions feature the achievements in relation to the provision of statistical indicators for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, the progress made on business statistics and the statistical response to crises. In particular, they welcome that the European Statistical System (ESS) and European System of Central Banks have continued to provide timely and effective statistical support for the EU’s response to the Russian military aggression against Ukraine, notably on energy-related statistics. Looking forward, the conclusions encourage the swift and complete implementation of the amended Energy Statistics Regulation and the timely adoption of the revision of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 on European statistics. They also take note of Commission proposal for amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2011 to expand the range of environmental economic accounts to new modules and the recent Commission proposal for a new regulation on Labour Market statistics on Businesses (LMB). Background and next steps Given the importance of high quality, comparable and reliable statistics for EU economic policy-making, and especially for the economic policy coordination, the Council approves conclusions on EU statistics in autumn each year. In its conclusions, the Council reviews the progress made on the statistical priorities set in the ECOFIN Council in the previous year and provides guidance for further work. EU Statistics - DRAFT 2023 Council conclusions on EU statistics