COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 16:06 | Press release | Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 12th package of economic and individual sanctions   The Council adopted today a twelfth package of economic and individual restrictive measures in view of the continued Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures deliver a further blow to Putin’s ability to wage war by targeting high-value sectors of the Russian economy and making it more difficult to circumvent EU sanctions. "With this 12th package, we are putting forward a robust set of new listings and economic measures which will further weaken Russia’s war machine. Our message is clear, as I already stated when I chaired the informal Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv: we remain steadfast in our commitment to Ukraine and will continue to support its fight for freedom and sovereignty." Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The agreed package includes the following measures: Diamonds The EU is imposing a prohibition on the direct or indirect import, purchase or transfer of diamonds from Russia. This prohibition applies to diamonds originating in Russia, diamonds exported from Russia, diamonds transiting Russia and Russian diamonds when processed in third countries. A direct ban applies to non-industrial natural and synthetic diamonds as well as diamond jewellery, as of 1 January 2024. Furthermore, an indirect import ban of Russian diamonds when processed (i.e. cut and/or polished) in third countries, including jewellery incorporating diamonds originating in Russia, will be phased in progressively as of 1 March 2024 and be completed by 1 September 2024. This phasing-in of indirect import bans is justified by the need to deploy a traceability mechanism that enables effective enforcement measures and minimises disruptions for the EU market. The ban of Russian diamonds is part of a G7 effort to develop an internationally coordinated diamond ban that aims at depriving Russia of this important revenue source. No Russia clause Today’s decision requires that EU exporters contractually prohibit re-exportation to Russia and re-exportation for use in Russia of particularly sensitive goods and technology, when selling, supplying, transferring or exporting to a third country, with the exception of partner countries. The clause covers prohibited items used in Russian military systems found on the battlefield in Ukraine or critical to the development, production or use of those Russian military systems, as well as aviation goods and weapons. Import-export controls and restrictions The Council added 29 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. They will be subject to tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector. Some of these 29 entities belong to third countries involved in the circumvention of trade restrictions, or are Russian entities involved in the development, production and supply of electronic components for Russia’s military and industrial complex. Furthermore, today's decision expands the list of restricted items that could contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector to include: chemicals, lithium batteries, thermostats, DC motors and servomotors for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), machine tools and machinery parts. Lastly, the EU introduced further restrictions on imports of goods which generate significant revenues for Russia and thereby enable the continuation of its war of aggression against Ukraine, such pig iron and spiegeleisen, copper wires, aluminium wires, foil, tubes and pipes for a total value of €2,2 billion per year. A new import ban is introduced on liquefied propane (LPG) with a 12-month transitional period. Lastly, the Council decided to introduce some exemptions to import restrictions concerning personal use items, such as personal hygiene items, or clothing worn by travellers or contained in their luggage, and for cars that have a diplomatic vehicle registration plate to enter the EU. Additionally, in order to facilitate the entry into the Union of EU citizens living in Russia, member states can authorise the entry of their cars provided that the cars are not for sale and are driven for strictly personal use. Enforcement and anti-circumvention measures The transit ban that currently applies to dual use goods and technologies exported from the EU to third countries via the territory of Russia will be extended to all battlefield goods. In order to further limit circumvention, today’s decision includes a ban on Russian nationals from owning, controlling or holding any posts on the governing bodies of the legal persons, entities or bodies providing crypto-asset wallet, account or custody services to Russian persons and residents. Additionally, the existing prohibition on the provision of services will be extended to also include the provision of software for the management of enterprises and software for industrial design and manufacture. Lastly the EU is imposing notification requirements for the transfer of funds outside the EU by any entity established in the EU that is owned or controlled by an entity established in Russia, or by a Russian national or natural person residing in Russia. Enforcement of oil price cap The Council is introducing tighter compliance rules to support the implementation of the oil price cap and clamp down on circumvention. Furthermore a strengthened information sharing mechanism will allow better identification of vessels and entities carrying out deceptive practices, such as ship-to-ship transfers used to conceal the origin or destination of cargo and AIS manipulations, while transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products. The Council also decided to introduce notification rules for the sale of tankers to any third country in order to make more transparent their sale and export, in particular in the case of second-hand carriers that could be used to evade the import ban on Russian crude or petroleum products and the G7 Price Cap. Iron and steel Today’s decision adds Switzerland to a list of partner countries which apply a set of restrictive measures on imports of iron and steel from Russia, and a set of import control measures that are substantially equivalent to those of the EU. It also extends the wind-down periods for the import of specific steel products. Individual listings In addition to economic sanctions, the Council decided to list a significant amount of additional individuals and entities. Background In the European Council conclusions of 26-27 October 2023, the EU reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter and reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression. The European Union will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. The relevant legal acts will soon be published in the Official Journal of the EU. G7 Leaders’ Statement, December 6, 2023 European Council conclusions, 26 and 27 October 2023 EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information)

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 15:33 | Media advisory | Press briefing ahead of the Informal video conference of economy and finance ministers of 20 December 2023   The press briefing ahead of the Informal video conference of economy and finance ministers will take place on Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 18.30. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place online: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Tuesday, 19 December 2023 at 17.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 23:54 | Press release | Trans-European transport network (TEN-T): Council and Parliament strike a deal to ensure sustainable connectivity in Europe   The Council presidency and European Parliament’s negotiators have reached a provisional agreement on a revised regulation regarding EU guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). The new legislation aims to build a reliable, seamless, and high-quality transport network that ensures sustainable connectivity across Europe without physical interruptions, bottlenecks, and missing links. "Today´s agreement is a milestone for better and sustainable connectivity in Europe. The guidelines on the TEN-T network are a key instrument of the EU’s transport policy which will contribute greatly to strengthening the EU’s cohesion and to stimulating growth and jobs." Óscar Puente, Spanish minister of transport and sustainable mobility This network will contribute to the achievement of the EU's sustainable mobility objectives, the proper functioning of the internal market and the economic, social, and territorial cohesion of the EU. The network will be developed or upgraded step by step with the new regulation setting clear deadlines for the completion of the 3-layer TEN-T network: the core network should be completed by 2030, newly added extended core network by 2040 and comprehensive network by 2050.

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 20:40 | Press release | 12th package of sanctions on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: additional 61 individuals and 86 entities included in the EU’s sanctions list   As part of the comprehensive twelfth package of sanctions adopted earlier today, the Council decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 61 individuals and 86 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Today’s new listings target primarily the military and defence sectors. The Council is listing more than 40 companies taking part in the Russian military industrial complex, 7 Russian private military companies and one of their founders, 12 Belarusian individuals involved in the military support to Russia’s war against Ukraine, and further Russian officials and Russian businesspersons in the defence sector. Furthermore, restrictive measures will apply to important economic actors: AlfaStrakhovanie Group, one of the biggest insurance companies in Russia, Rosfinmonitoring, the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring, four telecom companies in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied: LLC Mirtelecom, LLC SC Lyukstrans, JSC Krymtelecom, and JSC Beto and further Russian businesspersons. Among the listed individuals and entities, there are also 14 members of the Central Election Committee of the Russian Federation, and 2 members of regional committees which have been responsible for organising illegal referenda in 2022 and the so-called illegal elections in September 2023 in the territories of Ukraine that Russia has temporarily occupied, along with those responsible for the military re-education of Ukrainian children, including the movement “Volunteers of Victory, the Avangard Center and the Crimea Patriot Centre. Lastly, listings will also cover the Russian IT sector, 2 entities and 2 individuals responsible for circumventing EU sanctions, as well as actors spreading disinformation and propaganda in support of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, including Tsargrad TV Channel, and Spas TV Channel, Russian propaganda media outlets. The Council also extended the listing criteria so as to include individuals and entities responsible for the forced take-over of EU companies established in Russia, and those benefiting from it. Moreover, the Council set out the conditions for the possibility to maintain deceased persons on the list if it considers there is a likelihood that the assets concerned would otherwise be used to finance Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or other actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Altogether, EU restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to almost 1,950 individuals and entities altogether. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU territories. The relevant legal acts, including the names of the listed individuals and entities, have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background In the European Council conclusions of 26-27 October 2023, the EU reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter and reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression. The European Union will continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes. Council decision amending decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine (including the list of sanctioned individuals and entities) Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: EU adopts 12th package of economic and individual sanctions (press release 18 December 2023) European Council conclusions, 26 and 27 October 2023 EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information)

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 19:38 | Press release | Euro 7: Council and Parliament strike provisional deal on emissions limits for road vehicles   Today the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a regulation for the type-approval of motor vehicles and engines, and of the systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles, with respect to their emissions and battery durability, better known as Euro 7. The new regulation sets more adequate rules for vehicle emissions and aims to further lower air pollutant emissions from road transport, and for the first time it covers cars, vans, and heavy-duty vehicles in one single legal act. The provisional agreement reached today will retain the Euro 6 emissions limits for cars and vans but reduce the limits for buses and lorries. It also introduces limits for particles emitted by brakes (in electric vehicles in particular) and lifetime requirements. "With Euro 7 we aim to reduce road vehicle emissions, not only from exhaust, but also from brakes or tyres. At the same time, we aim to help our industry make the big leap to near-zero emissions vehicles by 2035." Jordi Hereu i Boher, Spanish minister for industry and tourism A regulation for all kind of vehicles The Euro 7 regulation establishes rules for the exhaust gas emissions of road vehicles, but also for other types of emissions such as tyre abrasion and brake particle emissions. It also sets limits for battery durability. The new legislation replaces the previously separate emissions rules for cars and vans (Euro 6) and lorries and buses (Euro VI). The Euro 7 standard rules bring emissions limits for both light and heavy-duty vehicles, i.e., cars, vans, buses, and lorries under a single set of rules. Exhaust emission limits The provisional agreement reached today maintains the existing Euro 6 exhaust emission limits for cars and vans. However, the agreement limits the emission of solid particles with a diameter starting from 10 nm (PN10), instead of 23 nm as in Euro 6. This improvement reflects the latest developments in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Exhaust emission for buses and trucks In the case of heavy-duty buses and trucks, the deal reached today establishes more stringent limits for various pollutants, including for pollutants that were not regulated in Euro VI, such as nitrous oxide (N2O). Limits for braking emissions The compromise text agreed by the co-legislators includes, for cars and vans, a specific limit of 3 mg/km in the standard driving cycle for pure electric vehicles and 7 mg/km for all the rest of powertrains. Specific limits for heavy vans are included in the agreement, namely 5 mg/km for pure electric vehicles and 11 mg/km for other powertrains. Lifetime requirements The co-legislators introduced stricter lifetime requirements for all vehicles in terms of both mileage and lifetimes; that now goes up to 200 000 km or 10 years for cars and vans. Application dates The deal foresees different dates of application after the regulation enters into force: 30 months for new types of cars and vans, and 42 months for new vehicles 48 months for new types of buses, trucks and trailers, and 60 months for new vehicles 30 months for new systems, components, or separate technical units to be fitted in cars and vans, and 48 months for those to be fitted in buses, trucks, and trailers. Background The Euro 7 regulation, which is part of the Commission’s 2020 Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the 2021 Zero-Pollution Action Plan, was presented by the Commission on 10 November 2022.The Council adopted its position or ‘general approach’ on 25 September 2023. On 19 April 2023 the European Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/851 to strengthen the CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and new light commercial vehicles that sets a 100% reduction target for both cars and vans from 2035 onwards. While industry is preparing for this change, which means that new combustion cars and vans will be banned in the internal market, they will still be available until 2035. Other internal combustion vehicles (trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles) will continue to be produced after that date. The Euro7 rules will cover the emissions of cars and vans until that date, while other rules contained in the regulation (concerning brakes, tyres, and battery life, for instance) will continue to apply to new cleaner cars and vans after 2035. Next steps The provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions. European Commission Proposal on Euro 7 Council’s general approach/negotiating mandate Clean and sustainable mobility (background information)

Meetings Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 18:47 | MEETING | Main results - Environment Council, 18 December 2023   The Council adopted a general approach on the proposal for a packaging and packaging waste regulation. Ministers also held policy debates on the proposed soil monitoring law and the proposal for an EU forest monitoring framework. Ministers were informed on the outcome of the main recent international meetings, including COP28. They also discussed the EU climate target for 2040 over lunch.

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 17:44 | Press release | Anti-money laundering: Council and Parliament agree on procedure to select seat for new authority   Today, the Council and the European Parliament representatives reached a common understanding on the process for selecting the seat of the future European authority for countering money laundering and terrorist financing (AMLA). The new authority is the centrepiece of the reform of the EU’s anti-money laundering framework. The authority will have direct and indirect supervisory powers over obliged entities and the power to impose sanctions and measures. Last week, the co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on the design of AMLA. Regarding the location of the authority, the Council and the Parliament have worked together to ensure a selection process that is transparent, fair and equitable to all candidates. The co-legislators agreed on the principle of organising joint public hearings to allow representatives of member states’ candidacies to present their applications. The co-legislators will assess each application according to the selection criteria included in the call for applications, the information provided by candidates in their application forms, the Commission’s assessment of those forms as well as the outcome of the joint public hearings. The final decision on the location of AMLA’s seat should be made by the co-legislators in an informal inter-institutional meeting at political level, where the Parliament’s and the Council’s representatives will vote together at the same time with the same number of votes attributed to each co-legislator. The location of the seat resulting from the process will be included in the AMLA regulation and formally adopted as part of the text. Background and next steps On 20 July 2021, the Commission presented a package of legislative proposals to strengthen the EU’s rules on anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing (AML/CFT). This package includes a regulation establishing a new EU anti-money laundering authority. In its judgments of 14 July 2022 concerning the seat of the European Medicines Agency and the European Labour Authority, the EU Court of Justice held that the competence to determine the location of the seat of those agencies lies with the EU legislature, which must act to that end in accordance with the procedures laid down by the substantively relevant provisions of the Treaties, in this case the ordinary legislative procedure. The process agreed by the co-legislators will be now applicable for selecting the seat of AMLA, the first agency to be set up after the judgments of 14 July 2022. The discussions to agree on a selection procedure for the location of the seat took place between the Parliament, the Council and the Commission. In June 2023, the co-legislators agreed on joint criteria for the selection of the seat of AMLA. On 28 September, the Commission launched the call for applications, with the deadline of 10 November for member states to send applications. Nine member states submitted applications to host AMLA: Belgium (Brussels), Germany (Frankfurt), Ireland (Dublin), Spain (Madrid), France (Paris), Italy (Rome), Latvia (Riga), Lithuania (Vilnius) and Austria (Vienna). The Commission was tasked to assess the eligibility of the candidacies. The release of the assessment is expected for January 2024. The next step is to proceed with the selection. Once the location of the seat has been selected, it will be included in the regulation. Anti-money laundering: Council and Parliament agree to create new authority (press release, 13 December 2023) Selection of the seat of the Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AMLA) (background information) Fight against money laundering and terrorist financing (background information)

Press material Monday 18 December 2023

● Council of the EU   18/12/2023 14:09 | Press release | Packaging and packaging waste: Council adopts its negotiating position on new rules for more sustainable packaging in the EU   Today the Council has reached an agreement ('general approach') on a proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The aim is to tackle the increase in packaging waste generated in the EU, while harmonising the internal market for packaging and boosting the circular economy. "190kg of packaging waste was generated by each European in 2021. And this figure will grow by nearly 20% in 2030, if things stay the same. We cannot let that happen. Today’s general approach gives a strong message that the EU is committed to reducing and preventing packaging waste from all sources. This regulation is crucial in our path to a circular economy and a climate-neutral Europe." Teresa Ribera Rodríguez, Spanish third vice-president of the government and minister for the ecological transition and the demographic challenge The proposal considers the full life cycle of packaging. It establishes requirements to ensure that packaging is safe and sustainable, by requiring that all packaging is recyclable and that the presence of substances of concern is minimised. It also sets labelling requirements to improve consumer information. In line with the waste hierarchy, the proposal aims to minimise the generation of packaging waste by setting binding re-use targets, restricting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to minimise the packaging used. Once the packaging becomes waste, the proposal aims to ensure that packaging is collected, sorted and recycled to the highest possible standard. To this end, it sets criteria for the extended producer responsibility schemes, and lays down provisions on waste management, while ensuring that member states have sufficient flexibility to maintain existing well-functioning systems. The general approach will serve as a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the legislation. Main changes agreed by the Council The Council’s text strikes a balance between keeping the proposal's ambition to reduce and prevent the generation of packaging waste, and allowing member states sufficient flexibility in the implementation of the regulation. Scope of the regulation The Council maintained the scope of the Commission’s proposal, covering all packaging, regardless of the material used, and all packaging waste, regardless of its origin (including industry, manufacturing, retail, households). Sustainability requirements and recyclable packaging The text of the general approach maintains most of the sustainability requirements for all packaging placed on the market and headline targets proposed by the Commission. It strengthens the requirements for substances in packaging by calling on the Commission, assisted by the European Chemicals Agency, to prepare a report by 2026 on the presence of substances of concern in packaging, to determine whether they negatively affect the re-use or recycling of materials or have an impact on chemical safety. The Council amended the proposal on recyclable packaging. While maintaining that all packaging placed on the market must be recyclable as proposed by the Commission, member states agreed that packaging will be considered recyclable when designed for material recycling, and when the waste packaging can be separately collected, sorted and recycled at scale (the latter condition will apply from 2035). The general approach maintains the headline 2030 and 2040 targets for minimum recycled content in plastic packaging. By 2034, the Commission will have to review the implementation of the 2030 targets and assess the feasibility of the 2040 targets. The Council also agreed that tea bags and sticky labels on fruit and vegetables must be compostable, introducing the option for member states to require other packaging (e.g. coffee pods and lightweight plastic carrier bags) to be compostable under specific conditions. The new rules would reduce unnecessary packaging by requiring manufacturers and importers to ensure that the weight and volume of packaging are minimised, except for protected packaging designs. Packaging waste reduction targets In line with the Commission’s proposal, the general approach sets overall headline targets for reducing packaging waste, based on 2018 quantities: 5% by 2030, 10% by 2035, and 15% by 2040. These targets will be subject to a review by the Commission eight years after the entry into force of the regulation. The Council introduced the possibility for member states to set out packaging waste prevention measures exceeding the abovementioned minimum targets. Reusable packaging and re-use targets The Council maintained the Commission’s criteria to define reusable packaging, introducing a minimum number of trips or rotations in its use, with a lower minimum number of rotations for cardboard due to the different characteristics of this material. The text sets new re-use and re-fill targets for 2030 and 2040. Different targets apply to large household appliances, take-away packages for food and beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding wine), transport packaging (excluding packaging used for dangerous goods or large-scale equipment and flexible packaging in direct contact with food) and grouped packaging. Cardboard packaging is also exempted from these requirements. A new possibility has been introduced for economic operators to form pools to meet the re-use targets on beverages. The Council required the Commission to review the 2030 targets and, on that basis, assess the targets for 2040 and the exemptions laid out in the provision. Deposit return schemes (DRS) Under the new rules, by 2029, member states must ensure the separate collection of at least 90% annually of single-use plastic bottles and metal beverage containers. To achieve this target, they are required to set up deposit return systems (DRS) for those packaging formats. The minimum requirements for DRS will not apply to systems already in place before the entry into force of the regulation, if the systems in question achieve the 90% target by 2029. The Council added an exemption from the requirement to introduce a DRS for member states with a rate of separate collection above 78% reached in 2026. Restrictions on certain packaging formats The new rules introduce restrictions on certain packaging formats, including single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables, for food and beverages, condiments, sauces within the HORECA sector, and for small cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector (e.g., shampoo or body lotion bottles). The Council introduced the possibility for member states to set out exemptions under certain circumstances, including for organic fruit and vegetables. Other provisions Other amendments agreed by the Council include further clarifications on the labelling of packaging, ensuring that consumers are well informed about the material composition of packaging and its proper disposal when it become waste. The Council also introduced some flexibility to take into account the labelling systems already existing in some member states. Moreover, the Council maintained most of the obligations for operators, manufacturers, importers and distributors as set out by the Commission’s proposal. It strengthened the obligations for logistical service providers to ensure producers using such services do not avoid their extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations. The Council extended the date of application of the regulation to 18 months after its entry into force