COUNCIL OF THE EU,update

 

Press material Wednesday 31 January 2024

● European Council   31/01/2024 11:02 | Press release | Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council   Dear colleagues, I would like to invite you to our special European Council meeting on 1 February to pursue discussions on some of the most pressing issues affecting us. First and foremost, the agreement on the mid-term revision of our Multiannual Financial Framework. At our last meeting in December, 26 Leaders firmly supported a balanced negotiating box which took into account a clear set of main priorities – support for Ukraine, management of migration and its external dimension, support for the Western Balkans and our response to natural disasters. This negotiating box sets the stage for finalising an agreement at 27. Securing agreement is vital for our credibility - and not least for our commitment to provide steadfast support to Ukraine. The onus lies squarely on us to find a solution and to deliver. Given the circumstances, we will also take this opportunity to further urgently address all aspects of our military assistance to Ukraine. This includes the delivery of ammunition, in line with our March 2023 European Council conclusions, and adjusting relevant EU instruments to deliver aid faster, while complementing bilateral efforts. To achieve this, we have to continue our donations, adapt orders and place new ones – which will also boost our European defence industry. The dramatic events in the Middle East demand our utmost focus. All hostages detained by Hamas have to be released without any pre-conditions. Our discussion should be framed around a number of key issues. In light of worrying regional developments, we need to address security issues, continue encouraging restraint and discuss measures to prevent further regional escalation, especially in the Red Sea. In addition, we must urgently contribute to remedying the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Lastly, we should discuss how to revive the political process for a two-state solution – the only viable option that can bring sustainable peace for both Israelis and Palestinians and enhanced regional security. Overall, our efforts should aim at ensuring that international law and international humanitarian law are upheld by all. Our meeting on Thursday will start at 10:00. I look forward to seeing you in Brussels. Invitation letter

Press material Tuesday 30 January 2024

● Council of the EU   30/01/2024 23:40 | Press release | Breakfast directives: Council and Parliament strike deal to improve consumer information for honey, fruit jams and fruit juices   Today the Belgian presidency of the Council and representatives of the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to improve consumer information requirements for honey, fruit jams, fruit juices and dehydrated milk. The deal concerns four of the so-called 'breakfast directives' and, once formally adopted, will update the rules concerning the composition, labelling, and naming of certain foodstuffs. The updated directives aim to promote a shift to healthier diets, help consumers make informed choices, and ensure transparency regarding the origin of products. "Marketing standards ensure that the food we consume is of high quality. The deal we have reached today on these revised standards will empower consumers to make well informed choices regarding the food they consume and will help combat food fraud." David Clarinval, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs and Agriculture, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Renewal Main elements of the provisional agreement Honey The provisionally agreed text maintains the proposal's ambition and goals and contains the following elements concerning honey: the countries of origin will be indicated on the label in descending order, based on weight; the label will also include the percentage that each country represents in the blend, thereby increasing transparency for consumers member states can decide that the obligation to indicate the percentage on the label only applies to the four largest shares, provided these represent more than 50% of the weight of the blend to ensure flexibility, in the case of packages of less than 30 grams, the names of the countries of origin may be replaced by a two-letter ISO code a platform of experts will support the Commission with developing methods to detect honey adulteration and enhancing controls; this would help combat honey fraud Fruit juices To reflect the growing demand for reduced-sugar products, the provisionally agreed text also foresees the addition of three new categories: ‘reduced-sugar fruit juice‘, ‘reduced-sugar fruit juice from concentrate‘ and ‘concentrated reduced-sugar fruit juice‘. Additionally, operators will be allowed to use the label 'fruit juices contain only naturally occurring sugars'. This will ensure that consumers are better informed about the products they consume. Fruit jams The Council and the Parliament have agreed to increase the minimum fruit content in jams and extra jams (100 g more per kg for jams, and 50 g more per kg for extra jams), while ensuring a significant distinction between the two categories: - 450 g as a general rule for jam - 500 g as a general rule for extra jam This increase in fruit content will help reduce the amount of sugar in jams, making it possible for consumers to make healthier choices. Milk In the case of dehydrated milk, the two co-legislators agreed to allow the use of treatments that produce lactose-free dehydrated milk products. Next steps Following today's provisional agreement, work will continue at a technical level in the coming weeks to flesh out the details of the revised directives. The provisional agreement will then be submitted to member states' representatives in the Special Committee on Agriculture for endorsement. It will then have to undergo a legal/linguistic review before being formally adopted by the co-legislators and entering into force. Background The revision of EU marketing standards for certain 'breakfast directives' was proposed by the Commission on 21 April 2023 to ensure marketing standards are up-to-date and reflect shifts in consumer demand. Council mandate Commission proposal From farm to fork (background information)

Press material Tuesday 30 January 2024

● Council of the EU   30/01/2024 12:13 | Press release | Mercury: Council ready to start talks with Parliament to completely phase out mercury in the EU   Today the Council adopted its negotiating mandate for talks with the European Parliament on a proposal to phase out the use of dental amalgam and prohibit the manufacturing, import and export of a number of mercury-added products, including certain lamps. The proposal addresses the residual remaining uses of mercury in products in the EU, with a view to establishing a mercury-free Europe. The negotiating mandate, which was agreed at Coreper level, sets out the Council’s position for the start of negotiations (‘trilogues’) with the Parliament to shape the final text of the legislation. While current rules already forbid the use of dental amalgam for treating teeth in children under 15 years old and pregnant or breastfeeding women, the amendments extend the prohibition to everybody in the EU. The Council maintained the Commission’s proposed date for the total phase-out in the EU, 1 January 2025, except when the use of dental amalgam is deemed strictly necessary by the dental practitioner to address specific medical needs of the patient. However, it introduced a two-year derogation for those member states where low-income individuals would otherwise be socio-economically disproportionally affected by a phase-out date of 1 January 2025. Those member states will have to well justify their use of the derogation and notify the Commission of the measures they intend to implement to achieve the phase-out by 1 January 2027. While the Council maintained the prohibition to export dental amalgam from 1 January 2025 as proposed by the Commission, it agreed to ban the manufacturing and import in the EU from 1 January 2027. Six additional mercury-containing lamps would be made subject to a manufacturing, import and export ban as from 1 January 2026 and 1 January 2028, depending on the type of lamps. Next steps The Council is now ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament to agree on the final shape of the amendments. Once a provisional agreement has been reached, the final text will need to be formally adopted by both institutions. Background The EU mercury regulation is one of the key EU instruments transposing the Minamata Convention, an international treaty signed in 2013 to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The 2017 regulation covers the full-life cycle of mercury, from primary mining to waste disposal, contributing to the ultimate EU objective to limit and phase out the use, manufacturing and export of mercury and mercury-added products over time, as spelled out in the EU strategy on mercury. In July 2023, the Commission proposed a targeted revision of the regulation to address the remaining use of mercury in the EU in line with the EU’s zero pollution ambition. The proposed amendments call for complete ban on the use, manufacture and export of dental amalgam for dental treatment and certain types of mercury-added lamps. Commission proposal on the revision of the Mercury Regulation Minamata convention on mercury (official website)

Press material Wednesday 31 January 2024

● Council of the EU   31/01/2024 15:01 | Press release | EU-Japan economic partnership agreement: EU and Japan sign protocol to include cross-border data flows   On behalf of the EU, the Belgian Presidency of the Council has signed the protocol to include provisions on cross-border data flows in the agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership. The protocol will provide greater legal certainty, ensuring that data flows between the EU and Japan will not be hampered by unjustified data localisation measures, and also ensuring the benefit from the free flow of data according to the EU and Japan’s rules on data protection and the digital economy. "This is a very important achievement as the EU and Japan are among the largest digital economies in the world. Data governance and cross-border data flows are crucial to the development of digitalisation and of the global economy and society." Hadja Lahbib, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade Background and next steps On 26 September 2022, the Council approved negotiating directives for the Commission to negotiate the inclusion of provisions on cross-border data flows in the agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership. The negotiations were concluded in principle on 28 October 2023. On 1 December 2023, the Commission transmitted proposals for Council decisions on the signature and conclusion, on behalf of the EU, of the protocol amending the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement regarding the free flow of data. On 29 January 2024, the Council adopted the decision on the signing of the protocol to include provisions on cross-border data flows in the agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership. The Council also decided to send the decision to ratify the protocol to the Parliament for its approval. Once the agreement has been ratified by Japan, and the two sides have notified each other about the completion of their internal procedures, it can enter into force. Council decision on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the European Union and Japan for an Economic Partnership EU trade agreements (background information) EU-Japan (background information) EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (background information) Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Protocol amending the Agreement between the EU and Japan for an Economic Partnership regarding free flow of data