COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Monday 13 November 2023

● Council of the EU   13/11/2023 12:43 | Press release | Council adopts decision on funding for firefighting planes and helicopters   Today, the Council agreed to the extension, until the end of 2027, of a transitional measure which will allow member states to continue to benefit from EU financing to lease firefighting planes and helicopters, until a future, permanent EU firefighting fleet becomes operational. "The fight against the effects of climate change and forest fires must be a priority for the EU and its member states, as was made clear last summer. It is great news that the necessary financing has been obtained to invest in the improvement of aerial capabilities, both planes and helicopters, for firefighting." Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, acting Spanish minister for the interior Next steps The decision will now be published in the Official Journal of the EU. It will enter into force on the twentieth day following publication. Background In 2019, rescEU was created as a reserve of European civil protection capacities which steps in to help member states protect citizens when disasters – such as wildfires – overwhelm the existing response capacities. These rescEU capacities will include a fleet of firefighting planes and helicopters. To ensure a smooth transition until the full availability of the rescEU firefighting fleet, the Commission can, for a transitional period until 31 December 2024, provide financing to member states to lease firefighting planes. Since the purchase of highly specialised aircrafts cannot be completed before the end of 2024, the transition period to lease forest fire planes and helicopters had to be extended. EU civil protection (background page)

Press material Monday 13 November 2023

● Council of the EU   13/11/2023 12:39 | Press release | Council gives green light to the digitalisation of the visa procedure   The Council adopted new rules today which will allow people who plan to travel to the Schengen area to apply online for a visa. The Schengen area is a zone of 27 European countries which have abolished many types of internal border controls. "The possibility of applying for a Schengen visa online will be a great improvement for citizens and for the processing of the application. It will simplify the application process for travelers and, at the same time, will ease the burden on national administrations, which will be able to respond more quickly and effectively." Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, acting Spanish minister for the interior The two regulations adopted today: will create an EU visa application platform. With a few exceptions, applications for Schengen visas will be made through that platform. On the platform, visa applicants will be able to enter all the relevant data, upload electronic copies of their travel documents and supporting documents, and pay their visa fees render in-person appearance at the consulate redundant. In principle, in-person appearance will only be necessary for first-time applicants, people whose biometric data are no longer valid and people with a new travel document replace the current visa sticker with a cryptographically signed barcode

Συναντήσεις Δευτέρα 13 Νοεμβρίου 2023

● Συμβούλιο της Ε.Ε   13/11/2023 10:13 | ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ | Τα κυριότερα σημεία της ατζέντας - Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων (Ανάπτυξη), 21 Νοεμβρίου 2023   Το Συμβούλιο Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων, στην αναπτυξιακή του σύνθεση, θα κληθεί να ανταλλάξει απόψεις σχετικά με τη δέσμευση της Ομάδας Ευρώπης σε πολύπλοκα περιβάλλοντα στην Αφρική. Οι Υπουργοί θα πραγματοποιήσουν επίσης τηλεδιάσκεψη για ανταλλαγή με τον Πρόεδρο του Ομίλου της Παγκόσμιας Τράπεζας, Ajay Banga.

Υλικό τύπου Δευτέρα 13 Νοεμβρίου 2023

● Συμβούλιο της Ε.Ε   13/11/2023 09:44 | Δελτίο τύπου | Καταπολέμηση της υπεραλίευσης: Το Συμβούλιο εγκρίνει αναθεωρημένους κανόνες για το σύστημα ελέγχου της αλιείας της ΕΕ   Σήμερα, το Συμβούλιο έδωσε το τελευταίο του πράσινο φως στην αναθεώρηση του συστήματος ελέγχου της αλιείας της ΕΕ , εκσυγχρονίζοντας τον τρόπο ελέγχου της αλιείας. "Ο κανονισμός που εγκρίναμε σήμερα θα διασφαλίσει ότι το σύστημα ελέγχου της αλιείας μας παραμένει ενημερωμένο με τις πιο πρόσφατες εξελίξεις στην τεχνολογία για να διασφαλίσουμε ότι μπορούμε να αποτρέψουμε αποτελεσματικά την υπεραλίευση. Αυτό είναι προς όφελος του περιβάλλοντος και τελικά θα ωφελήσει επίσης τις αλιευτικές κοινότητες και θα συμβάλει στη διασφάλιση την κοινωνική και οικονομική βιωσιμότητα του κλάδου». Luis Planas Puchades, ασκών καθήκοντα Υπουργού Γεωργίας, Αλιείας και Τροφίμων της Ισπανίας

Press material Monday 13 November 2023

● Council of the EU   13/11/2023 09:45 | Press release | Council adopts Farm Sustainability Data Network regulation   Today, the Council gave its final green light to the Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN) regulation. The aim of the newly adopted regulation is to improve the sustainability of the EU’s food systems through an enhanced data collection process that takes into account environmental and social data, along with the economic data already collected via the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). "Without the necessary data, we cannot track our progress or draw the right conclusions. The Farm Sustainability Data Network regulation will allow us to put our farming data to good use, so we can monitor the progress we make in terms of working towards achieving our sustainability goals." Luis Planas Puchades, acting Spanish Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Υλικό τύπου Δευτέρα 13 Νοεμβρίου 2023

● Συμβούλιο της Ε.Ε   13/11/2023 09:45 | Δελτίο τύπου | Το Συμβούλιο εγκρίνει τον κανονισμό για το δίκτυο δεδομένων βιωσιμότητας των αγροκτημάτων   Σήμερα, το Συμβούλιο έδωσε το τελικό του πράσινο φως στον κανονισμό του Farm Sustainability Data Network (FSDN). Στόχος του πρόσφατα εγκριθέντος κανονισμού είναι να βελτιωθεί η βιωσιμότητα των συστημάτων τροφίμων της ΕΕ μέσω μιας βελτιωμένης διαδικασίας συλλογής δεδομένων που λαμβάνει υπόψη περιβαλλοντικά και κοινωνικά δεδομένα, μαζί με τα οικονομικά δεδομένα που έχουν ήδη συλλεχθεί μέσω του Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN). "Χωρίς τα απαραίτητα δεδομένα, δεν μπορούμε να παρακολουθήσουμε την πρόοδό μας ή να βγάλουμε τα σωστά συμπεράσματα. Ο κανονισμός του Farm Sustainability Data Network θα μας επιτρέψει να αξιοποιήσουμε σωστά τα γεωργικά μας δεδομένα, ώστε να μπορούμε να παρακολουθούμε την πρόοδο που σημειώνουμε όσον αφορά την εργασία για την επίτευξη των στόχους βιωσιμότητας». Luis Planas Puchades, ασκών καθήκοντα Υπουργού Γεωργίας, Αλιείας και Τροφίμων της Ισπανίας Press material Sunday 12 November 2023   ● Council of the EU   12/11/2023 19:12 | Press release | Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on humanitarian pauses in Gaza   The EU is gravely concerned about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The EU joins calls for immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors, including through increased capacity at border crossings and through a dedicated maritime route, so that humanitarian aid can safely reach the population of Gaza. In line with the European Council conclusions of 26 October, the EU re-emphasizes Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law. The EU calls for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need through all necessary measures including humanitarian corridors and pauses for humanitarian needs. In this regard, we welcome the results of the November 9 humanitarian conference held in Paris. The EU reiterates its call on Hamas for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. It is crucial that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is granted access to the hostages. The EU condemns the use of hospitals and civilians as human shields by Hamas. Civilians must be allowed to leave the combat zone. These hostilities are severely impacting hospitals and taking a horrific toll on civilians and medical staff. The EU emphasizes that international humanitarian law stipulates that hospitals, medical supplies and civilians inside hospitals must be protected. Hospitals must also be supplied immediately with the most urgent medical supplies and patients that require urgent medical care need to be evacuated safely. In this context, we urge Israel to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the protection of civilians. The EU and its member states, will continue to work closely with international partners, the UN and other agencies as well as countries in the region to provide a sustained flow of assistance and facilitate access to food, water, medical care, fuel and shelter.