COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Press material Friday, 03 May 2024

● Council of the EU   03/05/2024 12:25 | Press release | Cyber: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on continued malicious behaviour in cyberspace by the Russian Federation   The European Union and its Member States, together with international partners, strongly condemn the malicious cyber campaign conducted by the Russia-controlled Advanced Persistent Threat Actor 28 (APT28) against Germany and Czechia. Today, Germany has shared publicly its assessment on APT28 compromise of various e-mail accounts of the German Social Democratic Party executive. At the same time, Czechia announced its institutions have been a target of this cyber campaign. State institutions, agencies and entities in Member States, including in Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Sweden have been targeted by the same threat actor before. In 2020, the EU imposed sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for the APT28 attacks targeting the German Federal Parliament in 2015. The malicious cyber campaign shows Russia’s continuous pattern of irresponsible behaviour in cyberspace, by targeting democratic institutions, government entities and critical infrastructure providers across the European Union and beyond. This type of behaviour is contrary to the UN norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace, such as impairing the use and operation of critical infrastructure. Disregarding international security and stability, Russia has repeatedly leveraged APT28 to conduct malicious cyber activities against the EU, its Member States and international partners, most notably Ukraine. The EU will not tolerate such malicious behaviour, particularly activities that aim to degrade our critical infrastructure, weaken societal cohesion and influence democratic processes, mindful of this year’s elections in the EU and in more than 60 countries around the world. The EU and its Member States will continue to cooperate with our international partners to promote an open, free, stable and secure cyberspace. The EU is determined to make use of the full spectrum of measures to prevent, deter and respond to Russia’s malicious behaviour in cyberspace. End plastic pollution: Ottawa prepares the ground for the final round of negotiations 02/05/2024 | Press release End plastic pollution: Ottawa prepares the ground for the final round of negotiations The fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-4) was held from 23 to 29 April in Ottawa, Canada. Organised under the auspices of the United Nations, the Committee's goal is to conclude an international treaty on plastic pollution by the end of the year. The Belgian presidency and the European Union supported an ambitious position covering the entire plastic life cycle and limiting the use of chemicals of concern. 02/05/2024 | Press release European Child Guarantee: what is the situation three years after its adoption? The "European Child Guarantee: from engagement to reality" conference, opened by the Minister for Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty, took place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels on 2 and 3 May 2024. The event was attended by H.M. Queen Mathilde, demonstrating the royal commitment to the fight against child poverty. Meetings Friday, 03 May 2024   ● Council of the EU   03/05/2024 10:30 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 7 May 2024   The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, will meet in Brussels and discuss Ukraine, situation in Palestine* and EU engagement in fragile contexts.

Meetings Friday, 03 May 2024

● Council of the EU   03/05/2024 11:55 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 7 May 2024   At the next meeting of employment and social affairs ministers, the focus will be on equality. Ministers will hold a policy debate on the participation of women in public life. They are also expected to approve conclusions on the economic empowerment and financial independence of women as a pathway to gender equality, and will discuss the state of play of the equal treatment directive.

Press material Friday, 03 May 2024

● Council of the EU   03/05/2024 17:31 | Press release | Forward look: 6-19 May 2024   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 7 May 2024 At the next meeting of employment and social affairs ministers, the focus will be on equality. Ministers will hold a policy debate on the participation of women in public life. They are also expected to approve conclusions on the economic empowerment and financial independence of women as a pathway to gender equality, and will discuss the state of play of the equal treatment directive.  Read more Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 7 May 2024 The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, will meet in Brussels and discuss Ukraine, Palestine* and EU engagement in fragile contexts. Read more Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 13-14 May 2024 Ministers for education, youth, culture and sport will meet in Brussels to discuss the rise of influencers, learning mobility opportunities, and inclusive societies for young people, including the outcome of the recent EU Youth Conference. They will also address topics such as the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the education and cultural sectors, and the contribution of self-organised sport to healthy lifestyles. Read more Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 14 May 2024 The Council will seek a political agreement on the proposal on faster and safer relief of excess withholding taxes (FASTER) and on the value added tax (VAT) in the digital age package. The package consists of three proposals that aim to tackle VAT fraud, support businesses and promote digitalisation. Ministers will exchange views on the state of play of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The Council will aim to adopt implementing decisions approving modified recovery and resilience plans, submitted by some member states. Ministers will proceed to discuss the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. They will be informed of the state of advancement of the implementation of the Ukraine Facility. Under items without discussion, the Council will aim to adopt a Council implementing decision on the assessment of the Ukraine plan. The Council will seek to approve conclusions on financial literacy and on the fiscal sustainability challenges arising from ageing. The Presidency and the Commission will inform ministers on the outcome of the G20 finance ministers’ and central bank governors’ meeting and the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of 17-19 April 2024. The Presidency will present the state of play of legislative proposals in the field of financial services. Under other business, the presidency and the Dutch minister of finance will present the work programme of the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action for 2024-2025 and inform ministers about the outcome of the annual meeting of the IMF. In the margins of the meeting, a macroeconomic dialogue at political level (MEDPOL) with social partners will take place on 13 May. An economic and financial dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans partners, Türkiye, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as an observer, will also take place in the margins of the meeting on 14 May.  Read more Other meetings Eurogroup, 13 May 2024   Indicative calendar of meetings under the Belgian presidency (1 January - 30 June 2024) Belgian presidency website

Press material Thursday, 02 May 2024

● Council of the EU   02/05/2024 14:05 | Press release | World Press Freedom Day: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union   Every day, journalists and media workers bravely exercise their freedom of expression, often at great personal risk. Independent, fact-based journalism helps protect our democracies by exposing injustices, holding leaders to account and allowing citizens to make informed decisions. In 2024, with elections taking place in over 60 countries around the globe, the work of journalists is more significant than ever. On this World Press Freedom Day, we honour their work and courage. As our eyes and ears on the ground, journalists must be protected at all times, everywhere. The EU firmly condemns all acts of violence, including threats, against journalists for exercising their profession, whether perpetrated by states, organised groups or individuals. There must be no impunity for such crimes, no matter where they take place. Journalists and media workers reporting from armed conflict must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. The EU deplores the dramatic increase in the number of journalists killed or injured while reporting on the devastating consequences of war. Far too many journalists have lost their lives in recent months while bringing us the news from Gaza. Journalists also continue to be at risk on a daily basis as they report on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as from conflicts in Myanmar, Sudan and elsewhere. The EU expresses serious concern about the practice of denying independent media access to conflict zones, as a way to control the information space and restrict the public’s access to factual and objective reporting. Around the world, independent media faces a number of existential threats. More than ever, we must take decisive action to ensure that the media can operate in viable political, economic and legal conditions. At home, the EU has taken a significant step to this end with the adoption of the European Media Freedom Act. This landmark legislation seeks to enhance editorial freedom, protect journalistic sources and improve the transparency of media ownership in the EU. The EU remains steadfast in its commitment to protect media freedom and pluralism across the world. In defending media freedom, we protect not just our right to know, but our very ability to shape a future guided by truth and accountability.