COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Wednesday, 17 April 2024

● Council of the EU   17/04/2024 10:04 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Foreign Affairs Council of 22 April 2024   The press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council will take place on Friday, 19 April 2024 at 10.00. This press briefing will be "off the record" and will be given by senior EEAS officials in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. 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 Foreign Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 19 April 2024, 09.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.

Press material Wednesday, 17 April 2024

● European Council   17/04/2024 09:26 | Media advisory | Press conference by President Charles Michel and Enrico Letta on the report on the future of the single market.   A press conference by European Council President Charles Michel and Enrico Letta on the High-Level Report on the future of the Single Market will take place today Wednesday 17 April 2024 at 12.00. The press conference will be live streamed and will take place at the Europa Building press room. Due to European Council security measures applying, summit press accreditation is required to access this press conference.

Meetings Tuesday, 16 April 2024

● Council of the EU   16/04/2024 21:24 | Meetings | Main results - Informal video conference of foreign affairs ministers, 16 April 2024   EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs held an informal video teleconference to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.

Press material Tuesday, 16 April 2024

● Council of the EU   16/04/2024 19:31 | Press release | EU support to Somalia: Council approves further support under the European Peace Facility to the Somali National Army and to the military component of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia   The Political and Security Committee of the Council of the EU has approved additional support for the Somali National Army (SNA) and for the military component of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Both actions aim at contributing to the handover of security responsibilities from ATMIS to the SNA, by allowing the former to fulfil its mandate while strengthening the capacities of the latter. The EU will add €70 million to the resources already mobilised for ATMIS in previous years, and €40 million for the SNA. For ATMIS, the agreed support will mostly contribute to the troop allowances of the African soldiers deployed in Somalia. Over the period 1 July 2021 – 31 December 2023, previous support under the EPF amounted to €270 million. For the SNA, it will focus on the provision of non-lethal equipment. Previous support to the SNA under the EPF amounts to €50 million. Background The EU is the largest direct contributor to ATMIS with nearly €2.7 billion since 2007. In line with the EU’s Integrated Approach to external conflicts and crises, EPF funding for ATMIS is one element of a broader, coordinated and coherent engagement of the EU to support security and peace in Somalia, and in the Horn of Africa at large. It is notably paired with capacity-building support to the SNA, with the aim of allowing a handover of security responsibilities. The EU support to Somalia in this regard is in line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions and with the Somali Transition Plan. Currently, the support for the military component of ATMIS and for the SNA are financed under the  Assistance Measure in support of African-led Peace Support Operations worth €600 million under the EPF covering the period 2022-2024. European Peace Facility: €600 million for support to the African Union (press release, 21 April 2022) European Peace Facility (background information)