COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Press material Wednesday 21 February 2024

● Council of the EU   21/02/2024 20:40 | Press release | Safer roads & safer workers: Council and Parliament strike provisional deal on the non-road mobile machinery regulation   Today the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the regulation on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) circulating on public roads. The amended legislation creates harmonised road safety requirements for the circulation of self-propelled machinery (e.g. lawn mowers, harvesters or bulldozers) that needs to circulate on public roads and which, up to now, has been regulated by the member states. The regulation will replace the existing national regulatory regimes and will reduce costs, administrative burdens and delays for businesses. The provisional agreement reached today between the two co-legislators frames the scope of the regulation in some important elements such as the types of mobile machinery concerned, the cases in which member states can limit the circulation of certain machineries, or the production threshold that exempts producers from asking for EU type-approval. Safer roads, protected workers While many technical aspects of non-road mobile machinery are harmonised at EU level, the safety requirements for their circulation on public roads are regulated by national rules only. This results in market fragmentation, additional costs, and administrative burdens for the sector. The proposed regulation simplifies the procedures for all actors. Manufacturers and distributors of non-road mobile machinery will only have to request road approval once, in one EU country, for the machinery to be accepted for road use in all EU countries. Users (e.g. rental companies) will benefit from a reduction in the compliance costs, and it will be easier for them to use and re-sell machinery across intra-EU borders. Drivers, in turn, will benefit from harmonised rules that ensure a high level of road safety across the EU. The regulation proposes a simplified one-step procedure that takes into account the specific characteristics of non-road mobile machinery (i.e. the fact that they are not normally on roads). It also establishes more effective market surveillance: it provides for clear procedures, including safeguard measures against non-compliant machinery, that are aligned with those used in the wider EU legislative framework on products. Main elements of the agreement The agreement reached today creates a new category of vehicles (category U) for non-road mobile machinery, which will be added to the existing categories of vehicles (i.e. L for mopeds and motorbikes, M for passenger cars, and N for vans). The text also clarifies the different variants and types that will come under this new category, depending on criteria such as essential construction and design characteristics. The provisional agreement reached today allows the authorities of the member states to limit the circulation of fully automated non-road mobile machinery (i.e. machinery which has no driver and is operated remotely). The authorities can also limit the circulation of machines when the excessive dimensions of a machine hamper manoeuvrability. Furthermore, member states can restrict circulation when the mass of the machine, the load of each of its axles, or the pressure on the surface can damage the roads they circulate on or other infrastructure such as bridges or viaducts. To align the text with the regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles, the agreement gives member states the power to act if the type-approval granted to that machine does not comply with this regulation. In those cases, national approval authorities can refuse to recognise the approval of a non-road machinery. Producers of non-road machinery will be exempted from asking for an EU type-approval (and may limit approval to approval under national legislation) when they produce small series (the number of units per type does not exceed 70 per year and in each Member State). Next steps The provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions. Background The Commission presented the proposal for a regulation on 30 March 2023. This legislative text completes the EU legal framework for non-road mobile machinery, which up to now included certain harmonised rules, such as directive 2006/42/EC on safety as regards the design and construction of machinery, directive 2014/30/EU on electromagnetic compatibility, and regulation (EU) 2016/1628 on pollutant limits. A 2019 study indicated that laying down uniform requirements at EU level could help the sector save between 18% and 22% in compliance costs. It is expected that over a period of 10 years, this proposal could generate up to €846 million in savings for all stakeholders. Since the administrative cost is estimated at 4% of the total, the overall administrative saving is calculated at €3.38 million per year. EU production of non-road mobile machinery is estimated at a value of €12.5 billion per year. The sector is a significant producer and strong exporter of non-road mobile machinery globally. Out of the annual production value, 42% is exported to non-EU countries and 54% is traded within the EU, while only 4% is sold in the EU country where production takes place. Commission proposal Council Mandate

 

Press material Thursday 22 February 2024

● Council of the EU   22/02/2024 14:41 | Press release | Republic of Moldova: six individuals and one entity listed for undermining the rule of law, stability and security in the country   The Council has imposed today restrictive measures against six individuals and one entity responsible for actions aimed at destabilising, undermining or threatening the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova. "Moldova is one of the countries most affected by the fallout of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. There are serious, increased and continued attempts to destabilise the country. Today’s listings send another important political signal of the EU’s unwavering support to Moldova, its stability, independence and sovereignty. The EU remains determined to continue to crack down on those who destabilise our direct neighbourhood." Josep Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The Council is sanctioning the paramilitary organisation: the Association of People with Epaulettes "Scutul Poporului", which has made repeated attempts to undermine Moldova’s democratic government including through inciting riots and violent demonstrations, as well as its leader. The other sanctioned individuals include the Deputy Head of the Russian Federal Security Service Department of Operational Intelligence responsible for Russia’s covert operations in the Republic of Moldova notably in the Transnistrian region since 2016. Furthermore, the Council is sanctioning executives of media trusts owning several media channels in the country, that frequently promote messages aimed at obstructing and undermining the democratic political process. The list also includes other individuals engaged in the dissemination of disinformation and inciting violence and fear, or linked to the "Bank Fraud" case. All those listed today are subject to an asset freeze. The EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Additionally, the six individuals are subject to a travel ban, which prohibits them from entering and transiting through EU territories. The efforts to destabilise Moldova have significantly increased since the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and represent a direct threat to the stability and security of the external borders of the EU. The EU remains unwavering in its support to Moldova, its resilience, security, stability, economy and energy supply in the face of destabilising activities instigated by external actors. Background On 28 April 2023, the EU established, at the request of Moldova a framework for targeted restrictive measures against persons responsible for supporting or implementing actions which undermine or threaten the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Moldova, as well as the country’s democracy, the rule of law, stability or security. On 30 May 2023 , the Council adopted the first set of 5 listings under the new framework. On 14 December 2023 the European Council agreed to open accession negotiations with Moldova, having granted the status of candidate country on 23 June 2022. Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/739 of 22 February 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/888 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova (including a list of sanctioned individuals and entity) Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/740 of 22 February 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/891 concerning restrictive measures in view of actions destabilising the Republic of Moldova (including a list of sanctioned individuals and entity) Republic of Moldova: 7 individuals listed for their destabilising actions and for undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine (press release, 30 May 2023) Republic of Moldova: EU adopts a new sanctions framework to target actions aimed at destabilising the country (press release, 28 April 2023)

Meetings Thursday 22 February 2024

● Council of the EU   22/02/2024 09:11 | MEETING | Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 25-29 February 2024   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 25-29 February 2024

Meetings Thursday 22 February 2024

● Council of the EU   22/02/2024 08:43 | MEETING | Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 February 2024   Background brief - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 26 February 2024 Meetings Wednesday 21 February 2024   ● Council of the EU   21/02/2024 17:37 | MEETING | Agenda highlights - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 26 February 2024   Based on information from the Belgian presidency and the European Commission, agriculture ministers will exchange views on ways of ensuring rapid and structural responses to the current crisis that the agricultural sector is facing

Press material Wednesday 21 February 2024

● Council of the EU   21/02/2024 16:50 | Press release | Ukraine and Moldova: Council adopts its negotiating mandate to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas   The ambassadors of the EU member states agreed today on the Council’s negotiating mandate on two legislative proposals which aim to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports to the EU for another year. The proposal concerning autonomous trade measures for Ukraine aims to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year (from 6 June 2024 to 5 June 2025), while reinforcing protection for sensitive agricultural products, by beefing up the safeguard measures already included in the current regulation (EU) 2023/1077 and including a new automatic safeguard for certain sensitive products. The proposal concerning autonomous trade measures for Moldova aims to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas for another year (from 25 July 2024 to 24 July 2025), while reinforcing protection for sensitive agricultural products, by beefing up the safeguard measures already included in the current regulation (EU) 2023/1524. "Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine continues to have a profound negative impact on Ukraine as well as Moldova. By agreeing to renew these measures, we are showing our steadfast support to Ukraine and Moldova, while protecting the internal market from excessive increases in imports of certain sensitive agricultural products." Hadja Lahbib, Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade By renewing these measures, the EU will continue to support and foster the trade flows from Ukraine to the EU and the rest of the world, and will contribute to establishing the conditions for enhanced economic and trade relations leading towards Ukraine’s gradual integration in the EU internal market. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine also continues to have a negative impact on Moldova’s ability to trade with the rest of the world. The renewal of these measures will help to maintain the conditions necessary to enable Moldova continue its trade relations with the EU and with the rest of the world via the EU. Background and next steps On 31 January 2024, the European Commission (Commissioner for Trade, Valdis Dombrovskis) submitted to the Council the two proposals to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian and Moldovan exports to the EU for another year. The Permanent Representatives Committee approved the text of the Commission's proposal without any modifications, with a view to reaching an agreement at first reading with the European Parliament. The European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) intends to hold a vote on the proposal at its meeting on 7 March 2024. The European Parliament aims to adopt its position at first reading in one of its plenary sessions in April 2024. The regulations are then to be adopted by the Council, signed by the representatives of the Council and the European Parliament and published in the Official Journal, before entering into force. Ukraine: Council adopts renewal of temporary trade liberalisation and other trade concessions (press release, 25 May 2023) EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine (background information) EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, European Commission