COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 11:20 | Press release | Council Conclusions on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)   The European Union (EU) and its Member States welcome the convening of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS)1 on 27-30 May 2024 in Antigua and Barbuda. The theme, ‘Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity’ is highly relevant to both SIDS and the EU. The EU welcomes the designation of 2024 as the International Year of SIDS, providing a key opportunity to mainstream SIDS perspectives on the international agenda. The EU has been stepping up its partnership with the SIDS at political level, as well as with representatives from civil society and business. The EU is fully committed to developing its cooperation with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and its Bureau, currently chaired by Samoa. Island States in the Caribbean, the Pacific, the Atlantic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea occupy a crucial position. Because they are predominantly small – geographically and in terms of population – any shock may have disproportionate, even existential consequences for their societies, economies and cultures, in particular for women and girls, as well as others in vulnerable situations such as Indigenous peoples and local communities. Because they are islands – often low lying and remote – they are particularly exposed to the adverse impacts of extreme weather and slow onset events associated with climate change such as rising sea levels and salt-water intrusion. SIDS rely on the ocean even more than other countries for their economy, regulation of their microclimate, culture and recreation. They are therefore extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, food and nutrition insecurity, marine pollution, loss of marine biodiversity, diminishing fresh water resources, desertification, coastal erosion, land degradation, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities. Though SIDS are on the front line, these issues are a challenge and responsibility for the whole UN membership, which in September 2023 gathered at the SDG Summit to reaffirm its “commitment to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and uphold all principles enshrined in it.” The EU is committed to supporting work in this direction. The UN membership will also consider the specific challenges faced by SIDS at the Sea-level Rise Summit in September 2024 and at the next UN Ocean Conference, in June 2025. The EU acknowledges the role of SIDS in leading positive developments, notably in the fight against climate change and protection of the environment. SIDS have been at the forefront in tackling global environmental crises, for example through the creation of ‘marine protected areas’ in their waters, thereby restoring habitats and protecting biodiversity, and by ensuring sustainable blue economies. SIDS have also been paving the way for more inclusive climate action, policy frameworks and capacities. The 2014 SAMOA (SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action) Pathway has provided a clear framework for action through its 15 Priority Areas. The EU looks forward to working with the SIDS on implementation of the priorities to be set in Antigua and Barbuda. The period between now and the next conference (in 2034) demands focused and sustained action. The EU welcomes the proposed Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) and calls for its swift endorsement, as SIDS face development challenges and vulnerabilities insufficiently reflected in the common national income indexes such as GDP and GNI per capita. By collecting more and disaggregated data, the MVI should give greater understanding to inform decisions. The EU encourages all development institutions to build on this new tool, to better integrate factors for vulnerability into their analysis and action. The EU hopes to work with all its partners to ensure that the specific needs of developing countries are recognised and met. The EU welcomes the Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 21 December 2020, concerning the ‘Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system’, and is ready to engage in the negotiations on the next review to ensure that the UN development system continues to enhance support for SIDS. The EU and its Member States are committed to playing a constructive role before, during and after the 4th International Conference on SIDS (SIDS4), across priorities identified in the draft outcome document. To this end, they will further cooperate with partners also committed to working for the benefit of SIDS, in particular, the United Nations Under Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The EU welcomes establishment by the UN Development Coordination Office (DCO) in October 2021 of a resident coordinator office and United Nations country team for Micronesia, covering the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and the Marshall Islands. The EU commends the work of the UN Steering Committee on Partnerships for SIDS in promoting partnerships. Given the diversity of SIDS, engagement at regional level and with SIDS regional organisations is also important. The EU expresses strong appreciation for the close partnership with SIDS in the UN Climate negotiations. The EU values SIDS as key partners in highlighting the need for immediate, urgent, accelerated action, as underlined by the reports of the IPCC, IPBES and IRP. The EU welcomes the COP28 decision on the Global Stocktake (GST). The EU and its Member States worked closely with SIDS to achieve the COP28 outcomes, including transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. The EU and its Member States will continue to strengthen collaboration with partners in developing and implementing ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that effectively address commitments taken in the GST, including economy-wide emission reduction targets aligned with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as well as implementing the Enhanced Lima Work Programme. The EU welcomes the decision on operationalising new funding arrangements, including a fund for assisting developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to loss and damage. The EU and its Member States have pledged significant support to the fund, as well as to existing funding arrangements supporting countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to loss and damage. The EU is committed to working closely with partners to accelerate and benefit from the green transition and support the implementation of global commitments. The EU is convinced of the potential of renewable energies, including marine renewable energies, for the ocean-based economy and other areas significant to sustainable development. The EU urges G20 members to take leadership in this regard, as they represent nearly 80% of global emissions and have a key role in tackling environmental challenges. Through our Green Partnerships and cooperation assistance, the EU supports SIDS in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Our views align on protecting and restoring the oceans, including through the swift ratification, entry into force and implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, and by preparing for ambitious commitments at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference in Nice in June 2025. The EU and its Member States recognise the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.All EU Member States co-sponsored UN General Assembly Resolution 77/276 requesting an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. The EU will also work closely with SIDS, whose livelihoods are especially affected by plastic pollution, towards concluding by the end of 2024 negotiations on an ambitious International Legally Binding Instrument to end this scourge. The EU and its Member States highlight the importance of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030, and welcome COP16 to the UNCCD in Saudi Arabia as the moment for accelerating national and global action on land restoration, soil health, drought resilience and green transition. Equal access to the benefits of digitalisation, the digital transformation of societies, science, technology and innovation (STI), together with equitable quality education, offer great prospects to advance inclusive socio-economic development, including through the expansion of commerce to overcome the adverse impacts of remoteness; it may also help to define, implement and monitor ambitious NDCs and support adaptation to climate change. The EU and its Member States are working through the Digital for Development Hub (D4D Hub) to advance dialogue with partner regions, including the Caribbean and Pacific, to foster a human-centered and sustainable digital transformation. The EU and its Member States support ongoing efforts to reform the International Financial Architecture and multilateral development banks, building on the roadmap of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P) and the Bridgetown Agenda 2.0. We look forward to discussions on reform, including in the context of the Summit of the Future and the 4th International Conference on Financing For Development, to be held in Spain in 2025. The aim must be to mobilise, in a global effort, the necessary resources from all sources for full and accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement, including increasing liquidity and making the best possible use of scarce concessional financing. There is a shared interest in better addressing global challenges and inequalities, and safeguarding global public goods, to ensure that no country has to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for the planet. In this regard, the EU and its Member States support the development of innovative financing instruments such as climate resilience debt clauses for the most vulnerable countries. The EU is a longstanding partner of SIDS, supporting them to achieve the SDGs. Already, the EU and its Member States together as Team Europe constitute the largest donor to the SIDS, funding more than EUR 1.2 billion in the form of bilateral ODA, and contributions channelled through multilateral organisations in 2022. Under its Global Gateway strategy, the EU and its Member States in a Team Europe approach, are partnering with SIDS through investments in digital, environment, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. The EU is funding selected strategic flagships that benefit SIDS, such as the Global Green Bonds Initiative, the ‘Green Blue Alliance for the Pacific’, and efforts to address the threat of the Sargassum algae plague in the Caribbean. The European Investment Bank funds (as of December 2022), EUR 3.47 billion to the SIDS, in the form of credit lines to local credit institutions to support SMEs, financing infrastructure investments, and in energy, services, health, education, agriculture and fisheries. The EU is also funding a EUR 35 billion programme of support for African, Caribbean and Pacific SIDS and coastal countries, including the Biospace programme in the Caribbean, the Bioscape programme in the Pacific, and support to the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund in the Western Indian Ocean. Under its humanitarian Disaster Preparedness Programme, the EU has been supporting for three decades the reinforcement of national authorities and local communities’ capacities to anticipate, respond and recover from the impacts of natural disasters, to which SIDS are particularly exposed. Cooperation in this area will be stepped up through the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster Risk Management between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean to be signed in 2024 and the launch of a series of EU-LAC dialogues on disaster preparedness. The EU recalls the importance of supporting the UN Secretary General’s call for the ‘Early Warnings for All’ initiative, in particular closing major data gaps for weather and climate observations from SIDS, ensuring that warnings are appropriate to local needs, and disseminating them to local populations. Beyond this, the EU is working through Global Gateway to attract and leverage private sector investments in SIDS. Leveraging the investment capacity of the private sector is a strategic priority, pursued by improving the business environment and investment climate, eliminating technical trade barriers, ensuring a level playing field and using financial tools to crowd in funds. Through this framework of action, the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) provides guarantees to private sector investors through development financing institutions. The new Partnership Agreement between the EU and its Member States with Members of the Organisation of the African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) was signed in November 2023. This Agreement is particularly relevant for SIDS, as almost all are members of the OACPS. It sets a high level of ambition for EU-OACPS cooperation on key common principles such as human rights, democracy, peace and security, human and social development, climate change and the environment, and migration and mobility. For the SIDS, the Partnership Agreement offers a framework to influence and drive global initiatives, and to harness and build consensus on matters most critical to them, with the EU and on the global scale, in a spirit of partnership. The three new regional Protocols – part of the Partnership Agreement – will facilitate exchanges and cooperation that are tailored to the needs and dynamics of each region. This new approach allows for enhanced cooperation across all regions in key issues for SIDS, such as climate change, environment protection, and ocean governance. The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) that the EU has signed with partners have shown a positive impact on the economies of the countries concerned. Of the 33 OACPS States that have EPAs with the EU, 21 are SIDS. The EU welcomes Niue, Tonga and Tuvalu to the EU-Pacific EPA, who are about to complete their accession process. The EU looks forward to developing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial relationship with SIDS beyond existing cooperation. The EU will work to promote the cooperation between SIDS and other islands, notably with the EU’s Outermost Regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), with which they share some common characteristics. Looking ahead, the EU will build its partnership with SIDS through cooperation and dialogue, including on global challenges, technical assistance and support for capacity development, building on agreements at the 2023 SDG Summit and SIDS4 to ensure a successful Summit of the Future in September 2024, and to bring the results to the 4th Conference on Financing for Development. The EU looks forward to the SIDS4 conference and the next SIDS Action Programme with meaningful engagement of all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, academia and youth. We stand ready to contribute to implementation of the Action Programme, through cooperation on priority areas such as climate change, energy and environment, the blue and green economy, inclusion of SIDS in global markets, Official Development Assistance, easier access to climate, development and adaptation finance and investments. 1 39 States: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Cook Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mauritius, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Singapore, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. 18 Associate Members of United Nations Regional Commissions: American Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Guadeloupe, Guam, Martinique, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Commonwealth of Northern Marianas, French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 10:55 | Press release | Council conclusions on European Court of Auditors’ Special Report No 04/2023 on the Global Climate Change Alliance (+)   The Council welcomes European Court of Auditors’ Special Report No 04/2023 on the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus). The Council reiterates the EU’s commitment to support all persons in vulnerable situations, leaving no-one behind, and to reinforce the existing assistance to developing countries inpreparing for and responding to climate impacts, notably through resilience and capacity building, as well as adaptation measures. In this context, the Council acknowledges thatLeast Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States contribute the least to greenhouse gas emissions yet are among the most affected by the impacts of climate change. The Council reiterates the EU’s commitment to take determined and decisive action to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions and recalls the commitment made by the EU and its Member States to continue to deliver on the collective USD 100 billion per year climate finance mobilisation goal as soon as possible, through to 2025, and from a wide variety of sources, and expects the goal to be met in 2023. The Council reiterates its commitment to respond to the Glasgow Climate Pact’s call to developed country Parties to at least double, by 2025, their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries, compared to 2019. The Council also recalls that the EU, its Member States and the European Investment Bank are jointly the largest contributor of public climate finance worldwide, with EUR 23.04 billion in 2021, and stresses that more than 50 percent of the contribution was allocated to climate adaptation or to cross-cutting actions. In this context, the Council stresses that the EU provided EUR 729 million between 2007 and 2020 through the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus) initiative as part of its efforts to scale up climate finance levels, with particular regard to adaptation. The Council stresses the EU's strong support to the Paris Agreement, the United Nations2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goal no 13 which sets out ‘to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts’, and acknowledges the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus) as one of the instruments through which such a goal has been pursued in the past. The Council also reiterates its call for the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its support for the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Council recognises certain limitations of global initiatives such as the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus), as flagged by the European Court of Auditors. At the same time, it highlights that the lessons learned from the implementation of such initiatives have beeninstrumental in devising the new approach to climate action established in the NDICI Global Europe instrument, with an ambitious spending target of 30 percent for climate objectives, and the push to drive meaningful resources to climate-related initiatives through geographical programmes that support the external dimension of the European Green Deal and the Global Gateway. The Council welcomes the Court’s findings, especially those relating to the need to increase the efficiency of climate actions in the field by striking a careful balance between delivery of outputs and their budgeted costs, as well as the findings which address the shortcomings in the process of scaling up adaptation actions from the pilot and capacitybuilding stage. In this respect, the Council acknowledges in particular the Court’s recommendation to improve, in the case of successive actions, the balance between capacity building and other activities, with a view to scaling up concrete adaptation actions which reach more people directly affected by the impacts of climate change. In this regard the Council also stresses that adaptation actions should focus on building community and institutional capacity grounded in local and indigenous knowledge and science. The Council takes particular note of the Court’s finding that the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus) did not sufficiently focus on the needs of those most affected by climate impacts, notably the poorest households and women. In this respect, the Council underlines the importance of continuously measuring the impact and results of EU-funded climate actions in partner countries through a robust monitoring and evaluation system and calls on the Commission to select appropriate indicators and define baselines and targets to measure the outcomes of activities, including by making full use of the Global Europe Monitoring Performance System to that effect. The Council acknowledges the importance of attracting additional funding from Member States, the private sector and other donors, including through non-traditional sources and innovative financing mechanisms, in order to deploy transformational climate actions in the field. At the same time, the Council stresses that Climate and Energy Diplomacy is a core component of EU foreign policy, and that the EU is determined to engage and work with partners worldwide to support the most vulnerable, in particular in the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, in adapting to climate change effects. The Council emphasises the Team Europe approach to external action, which provides a solid framework for creating meaningful and equal partnerships, and further stresses the need to collectively communicate and raise awareness of the Team Europe approach. The Council also highlights the need for climate actions to address gender equality and the rights and needs of women and girls in a more systematic way, as they are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, while also being primary users and managers of natural resources. In this regard, the Council takes note of the ambitious targets on gender equality in NDICI-Global Europe stating that at least 85 percent of new actions implemented should have gender equality as a principal or significant objective, as well as the Commission’s intention to implement the relevant recommendations of the Court. In this context, the Council also takes note of the institutional and strategic targets set out in the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III ‘An Ambitious Agenda for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in EU External Action’, which was welcomed through Presidency Conclusions. The Council recalls its commitment to support the full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of women and youth, in all their diversity, including in all spheres of public and political life, as perthe EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024. The Council supports the call to focus on the poorest households in the implementation of global initiatives and welcomes the Commission’s intention to act accordingly in the framework of the activities it has planned to address structural fragilities and inequalities. When funding climate change actions in developing countries, the Council calls on the Commission services and the EEAS to set and report on ambitious targets at action level for the proportion of women and girls directly benefiting from such actions and to increase the focus on the poorest households, taking into account the context in each country. The Council notes in particular the recommendations of the Court to incorporate the lessons learned from the Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus) experience in future global initiatives, including the implementation of the NDICI-Global Europe climate target. In this respect, the Council calls on the Commission services and the EEAS to: review the objectives regularly and revise them when it is apparent during implementation that sufficient funding is not available; allocate funding strategically by applying objective criteria that also take account of financial support for the same sector received by partner countries from other sources; systematically analyse and document the budgeted costs of actions to ensure that they are reasonable and in order to avoid duplication of support facilities and funding streams; promote general awareness of such initiatives through communication activities, including joint missions, targeting beneficiary countries and potential donors, in a Team Europe approach.

Υλικό τύπου Τρίτη, 07 Μαΐου 2024

● Συμβούλιο της Ε.Ε   07/05/2024 10:55 | Δελτίο τύπου | Συμπεράσματα του Συμβουλίου σχετικά με την ειδική έκθεση αριθ. 04/2023 του Ευρωπαϊκού Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου για τη Συμμαχία για την Παγκόσμια Κλιματική Αλλαγή (+)   Το Συμβούλιο χαιρετίζει την ειδική έκθεση αριθ. 04/2023 του Ευρωπαϊκού Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου σχετικά με τη Συμμαχία για την Παγκόσμια Κλιματική Αλλαγή (Plus). Το Συμβούλιο επαναλαμβάνει τη δέσμευση της ΕΕ να υποστηρίξει όλα τα άτομα σε ευάλωτες καταστάσεις, χωρίς να αφήνει κανέναν πίσω, και να ενισχύσει την υπάρχουσα βοήθεια προς τις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες που προετοιμάζονται και ανταποκρίνονται στις κλιματικές επιπτώσεις, ιδίως μέσω της ανθεκτικότητας και της ανάπτυξης ικανοτήτων, καθώς και μέτρων προσαρμογής. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, το Συμβούλιο αναγνωρίζει ότι οι λιγότερο ανεπτυγμένες χώρες και τα αναπτυσσόμενα μικρά νησιωτικά κράτη συμβάλλουν λιγότερο στις εκπομπές αερίων του θερμοκηπίου, ωστόσο είναι μεταξύ των πιο επηρεασμένων από τις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Το Συμβούλιο επαναλαμβάνει τη δέσμευση της ΕΕ να αναλάβει αποφασιστική και αποφασιστική δράση για τη μείωση των καθαρών εκπομπών αερίων του θερμοκηπίου και υπενθυμίζει τη δέσμευση που ανέλαβαν η ΕΕ και τα κράτη μέλη της να συνεχίσουν να εκπληρώνουν τον συλλογικό στόχο κινητοποίησης της χρηματοδότησης για το κλίμα το συντομότερο δυνατό , έως το 2025, και από μια ευρεία ποικιλία πηγών, και αναμένει ότι ο στόχος θα επιτευχθεί το 2023. Το Συμβούλιο επαναλαμβάνει τη δέσμευσή του να ανταποκριθεί στην έκκληση του Συμφώνου της Γλασκώβης για το κλίμα προς τα συμβαλλόμενα μέρη των αναπτυγμένων χωρών να διπλασιάσουν τουλάχιστον, έως το 2025, το σύνολο τους παροχή χρηματοδότησης για το κλίμα για την προσαρμογή στις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες, σε σύγκριση με το 2019. Το Συμβούλιο υπενθυμίζει επίσης ότι η ΕΕ, τα κράτη μέλη της και η Ευρωπαϊκή Τράπεζα Επενδύσεων είναι από κοινού ο μεγαλύτερος συνεισφέρων στη δημόσια χρηματοδότηση για το κλίμα παγκοσμίως, με 23,04 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ το 2021, και τονίζει ότι περισσότερο από το 50 τοις εκατό της συνεισφοράς διατέθηκε στην προσαρμογή του κλίματος ή σε οριζόντιες ενέργειες. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, το Συμβούλιο τονίζει ότι η ΕΕ παρείχε 729 εκατομμύρια ευρώ μεταξύ 2007 και 2020 μέσω της πρωτοβουλίας Global Climate Change Alliance (Plus) ως μέρος των προσπαθειών της να αυξήσει τα επίπεδα χρηματοδότησης για το κλίμα, ιδίως όσον αφορά την προσαρμογή. Το Συμβούλιο τονίζει την ισχυρή υποστήριξη της ΕΕ στη Συμφωνία του Παρισιού, την Ατζέντα των Ηνωμένων Εθνών 2030 και τον Στόχο Αειφόρου Ανάπτυξης αριθ. ως ένα από τα όργανα μέσω των οποίων επιδιώχθηκε ένας τέτοιος στόχος στο παρελθόν. Το Συμβούλιο επαναλαμβάνει επίσης την έκκλησή του για αποτελεσματική εφαρμογή του Παγκόσμιου Πλαισίου Βιοποικιλότητας Κουνμίνγκ-Μόντρεαλ και την υποστήριξή του για την εφαρμογή του Πλαισίου Σεντάι για τη μείωση του κινδύνου καταστροφών. Το Συμβούλιο αναγνωρίζει ορισμένους περιορισμούς παγκόσμιων πρωτοβουλιών, όπως η Παγκόσμια Συμμαχία για την Αλλαγή του Κλίματος (Plus), όπως επισημαίνεται από το Ευρωπαϊκό Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο. Ταυτόχρονα, υπογραμμίζει ότι τα διδάγματα που αντλήθηκαν από την εφαρμογή τέτοιων πρωτοβουλιών ήταν καθοριστικής σημασίας για τη χάραξη της νέας προσέγγισης για τη δράση για το κλίμα που καθιερώθηκε στο μέσο NDICI Global Europe, με φιλόδοξο στόχο δαπανών 30 τοις εκατό για τους κλιματικούς στόχους και την ώθηση να προωθήσει σημαντικούς πόρους σε πρωτοβουλίες που σχετίζονται με το κλίμα μέσω γεωγραφικών προγραμμάτων που υποστηρίζουν την εξωτερική διάσταση της Ευρωπαϊκής Πράσινης Συμφωνίας και της Παγκόσμιας Πύλης. Το Συμβούλιο χαιρετίζει τα πορίσματα του Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου, ιδίως εκείνα που σχετίζονται με την ανάγκη να αυξηθεί η αποτελεσματικότητα των δράσεων για το κλίμα επιτόπου με την επίτευξη προσεκτικής ισορροπίας μεταξύ της παράδοσης των αποτελεσμάτων και του προϋπολογισμένου κόστους τους, καθώς και τα πορίσματα που αντιμετωπίζουν τις ελλείψεις στη διαδικασία κλιμάκωση των ενεργειών προσαρμογής από το πιλοτικό στάδιο και την ανάπτυξη ικανοτήτων. Από την άποψη αυτή, το Συμβούλιο αναγνωρίζει ιδίως τη σύσταση του Συνεδρίου να βελτιωθεί, σε περίπτωση διαδοχικών δράσεων, η ισορροπία μεταξύ της ανάπτυξης ικανοτήτων και άλλων δραστηριοτήτων, με σκοπό την κλιμάκωση των συγκεκριμένων δράσεων προσαρμογής που απευθύνονται σε περισσότερα άτομα που επηρεάζονται άμεσα από τις επιπτώσεις κλιματική αλλαγή. Εν προκειμένω, το Συμβούλιο τονίζει επίσης ότι οι δράσεις προσαρμογής θα πρέπει να επικεντρωθούν στην οικοδόμηση κοινοτικής και θεσμικής ικανότητας με βάση την τοπική και γηγενή γνώση και επιστήμη. Το Συμβούλιο σημειώνει ιδιαίτερα τη διαπίστωση του Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου ότι η Παγκόσμια Συμμαχία για την Αλλαγή του Κλίματος (Plus) δεν εστίασε επαρκώς στις ανάγκες εκείνων που πλήττονται περισσότερο από τις κλιματικές επιπτώσεις, ιδίως των φτωχότερων νοικοκυριών και των γυναικών. Από την άποψη αυτή, το Συμβούλιο υπογραμμίζει τη σημασία της συνεχούς μέτρησης του αντίκτυπου και των αποτελεσμάτων των δράσεων για το κλίμα που χρηματοδοτούνται από την ΕΕ στις χώρες εταίρους μέσω ενός ισχυρού συστήματος παρακολούθησης και αξιολόγησης και καλεί την Επιτροπή να επιλέξει κατάλληλους δείκτες και να καθορίσει βασικές γραμμές και στόχους για τη μέτρηση των αποτελεσμάτων των δραστηριοτήτων, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της πλήρους χρήσης του Παγκόσμιου Συστήματος Παρακολούθησης της Ευρώπης για τον σκοπό αυτό. Το Συμβούλιο αναγνωρίζει τη σημασία της προσέλκυσης πρόσθετης χρηματοδότησης από τα κράτη μέλη, τον ιδιωτικό τομέα και άλλους δωρητές, μεταξύ άλλων μέσω μη παραδοσιακών πηγών και καινοτόμων μηχανισμών χρηματοδότησης, προκειμένου να αναπτυχθούν δράσεις μετασχηματισμού για το κλίμα στο πεδίο. Ταυτόχρονα, το Συμβούλιο τονίζει ότι η διπλωματία για το κλίμα και την ενέργεια αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό της εξωτερικής πολιτικής της ΕΕ και ότι η ΕΕ είναι αποφασισμένη να δεσμευτεί και να συνεργαστεί με εταίρους σε όλο τον κόσμο για την υποστήριξη των πιο ευάλωτων, ιδίως στις λιγότερο ανεπτυγμένες χώρες και τις μικρές Νησιωτικές αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες, στην προσαρμογή στις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Το Συμβούλιο τονίζει την προσέγγιση Team Europe στην εξωτερική δράση, η οποία παρέχει ένα σταθερό πλαίσιο για τη δημιουργία ουσιαστικών και ισότιμων εταιρικών σχέσεων, και τονίζει περαιτέρω την ανάγκη συλλογικής επικοινωνίας και ευαισθητοποίησης σχετικά με την προσέγγιση Team Europe. Το Συμβούλιο υπογραμμίζει επίσης την ανάγκη για δράσεις για το κλίμα για την αντιμετώπιση της ισότητας των φύλων και των δικαιωμάτων και των αναγκών των γυναικών και των κοριτσιών με πιο συστηματικό τρόπο, καθώς επηρεάζονται δυσανάλογα από τις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής, ενώ είναι επίσης κύριοι χρήστες και διαχειριστές φυσικών πόρων . Από την άποψη αυτή, το Συμβούλιο σημειώνει τους φιλόδοξους στόχους για την ισότητα των φύλων στο NDICI-Global Europe, δηλώνοντας ότι τουλάχιστον το 85% των νέων δράσεων που υλοποιούνται θα πρέπει να έχουν την ισότητα των φύλων ως κύριο ή σημαντικό στόχο, καθώς και την πρόθεση της Επιτροπής να εφαρμόσει σχετικές συστάσεις του Συνεδρίου. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, το Συμβούλιο σημειώνει επίσης τους θεσμικούς και στρατηγικούς στόχους που ορίζονται στο σχέδιο δράσης της ΕΕ για την ισότητα των φύλων (GAP) III «Μια φιλόδοξη ατζέντα για την ισότητα των φύλων και την ενδυνάμωση των γυναικών στην εξωτερική δράση της ΕΕ», ο οποίος χαιρετίστηκε μέσω των συμπερασμάτων της Προεδρίας. Το Συμβούλιο υπενθυμίζει τη δέσμευσή του να υποστηρίξει την πλήρη, ισότιμη, αποτελεσματική και ουσιαστική συμμετοχή των γυναικών και των νέων, σε όλη την ποικιλομορφία τους, συμπεριλαμβανομένων όλων των τομέων της δημόσιας και πολιτικής ζωής, σύμφωνα με το σχέδιο δράσης της ΕΕ για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα και τη δημοκρατία 2020-2024. Το Συμβούλιο υποστηρίζει την έκκληση να επικεντρωθούν στα φτωχότερα νοικοκυριά κατά την εφαρμογή παγκόσμιων πρωτοβουλιών και χαιρετίζει την πρόθεση της Επιτροπής να ενεργήσει ανάλογα στο πλαίσιο των δραστηριοτήτων που έχει προγραμματίσει για την αντιμετώπιση των διαρθρωτικών αδυναμιών και ανισοτήτων. Κατά τη χρηματοδότηση δράσεων για την κλιματική αλλαγή στις αναπτυσσόμενες χώρες, το Συμβούλιο καλεί τις υπηρεσίες της Επιτροπής και την ΕΥΕΔ να θέσουν και να αναφέρουν φιλόδοξους στόχους σε επίπεδο δράσης για το ποσοστό γυναικών και κοριτσιών που επωφελούνται άμεσα από τέτοιες δράσεις και να αυξήσουν την εστίαση στα φτωχότερα νοικοκυριά , λαμβάνοντας υπόψη το πλαίσιο σε κάθε χώρα. Το Συμβούλιο σημειώνει ιδίως τις συστάσεις του Ελεγκτικού Συνεδρίου να ενσωματωθούν τα διδάγματα από την εμπειρία της Παγκόσμιας Συμμαχίας για την Αλλαγή του Κλίματος (Plus) σε μελλοντικές παγκόσμιες πρωτοβουλίες, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της εφαρμογής του κλιματικού στόχου NDICI-Global Europe. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, το Συμβούλιο καλεί τις υπηρεσίες της Επιτροπής και την ΕΥΕΔ: επανεξετάζει τακτικά τους στόχους και τους αναθεωρεί όταν είναι εμφανές κατά την εφαρμογή ότι δεν υπάρχει επαρκής χρηματοδότηση· να κατανέμει τη χρηματοδότηση στρατηγικά εφαρμόζοντας αντικειμενικά κριτήρια που λαμβάνουν επίσης υπόψη τη χρηματοδοτική στήριξη για τον ίδιο τομέα που λαμβάνουν οι χώρες εταίροι από άλλες πηγές· να αναλύει και να τεκμηριώνει συστηματικά το προϋπολογισμένο κόστος των δράσεων για να διασφαλίσει ότι είναι λογικό και προκειμένου να αποφευχθεί η επανάληψη των διευκολύνσεων υποστήριξης και των ροών χρηματοδότησης· προώθηση της γενικής ευαισθητοποίησης για τέτοιες πρωτοβουλίες μέσω δραστηριοτήτων επικοινωνίας, συμπεριλαμβανομένων κοινών αποστολών, με στόχο τις δικαιούχους χώρες και τους πιθανούς δωρητές, σε μια προσέγγιση Team Europe.

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 10:04 | Press release | Council adopts first-ever EU law combating violence against women   The Council has given the green light to an EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Taking decisive action against these acts of violence is essential to ensure the values and fundamental rights of equality between women and men and of non-discrimination. The law requires all EU countries to criminalise female genital mutilation, forced marriage and cyber violence such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The new law also contains measures to prevent violence against women and domestic violence and sets standards for the protection of victims of these crimes. Violence against women and domestic violence is a persisting crime. This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need. Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea This is a groundbreaking moment in boosting women’s rights. Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen. Marie-Colline Leroy, Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality Main elements The law that was adopted today criminalises the following offences across the EU: female genital mutilation, forced marriage, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyber stalking, cyber harassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence. Committing these crimes will be punishable by prison sentences ranging from at least one to five years. The directive also comes with an extensive list of aggravating circumstances, such as committing the offence against a child, a former or current spouse or partner or a public representative, a journalist or a human rights defender, which carry more severe penalties. The directive also contains detailed rules on the measures of assistance and protection that member states should provide to victims. It will become easier for victims of violence against women and domestic violence to report a crime. As a minimum, it will be possible to report cybercrimes online. EU countries must also put measures in place to ensure that children are assisted by professionals. When children report a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, authorities will have to take measures to protect the safety of the child before informing the alleged perpetrator. In order to protect a victim’s privacy and prevent repeat victimisation, member states must furthermore ensure that evidence relating to the victim’s past sexual conduct should only be permitted in criminal proceedings when it is relevant and necessary. With the idea of building a safer future, preventive measures aim to increase awareness on the root causes of violence against women and domestic violence and to promote the central role of consent in sexual relationships. Next steps Member states have three years from the entry into force of the directive to transpose it into national law. Background The Commission (Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourová and Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli) submitted the proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence on 8 March 2022. Frances Fitzgerald and Evin Incir were the European Parliament’s rapporteurs for this file and the agreement between Council and Parliament was reached on 6 February 2024. Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 09:58 | Press release | Council commends 2022 external actions and calls for further steps on climate and biodiversity   The Council approved today conclusions on the 2023 annual report on the implementation of the European Union’s External Action Instruments in 2022. It commends the steps taken by the EU in the current challenging geopolitical context, marked by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, among others. The Council also makes some recommendations for improvement, such as to further develop actions responding to climate change and protecting biodiversity to reach the agreed targets. The Council commends the efforts made to reach a share of 32.4% of commitments to support social protection and human development, 13.6% for migration-related projects, 9.2% in support of education, as well as the trend towards a share of 85 % of actions contributing to gender equality. Challenging geopolitical context The Council recalls the importance of strengthening the EU’s international partnerships, in particular in the current challenging geopolitical context. The EU’s external action instruments and Global Gateway strategy are key tools for cooperating with partners, delivering concrete results while strengthening multilateralism, upholding democratic values and human rights and advancing the EU’s geopolitical role and policy priorities, through a Team Europe approach. The EU and its Member States are collectively the world’s largest development partner and trading bloc, a leading global investor and the second-largest humanitarian donor. They provided collectively, in a Team Europe approach, EUR 92.1 billion in 2022, accounting for 42 % of global official development assistance (ODA). This contributes to the objectives of eradicating poverty, addressing the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, tackling inequalities, including gender inequality, and promoting sustainable development, peace and stability. The EU’s external instruments are key to increasing the coherence between the EU’s development, foreign, climate, trade and security policies, as well as demonstrating EU global leadership, responsibility and solidarity. Some recommendations The Council welcomes the report’s emphasis on the key support provided by the EU to Ukraine and neighbouring countries affected by Russia’s war of aggression, as well as efforts to address the regional and global consequences and its impact on the most vulnerable groups, in particular with regard to food and energy security. In this context, the Council encourages the Commission to continue highlighting the EU’s support to tackle global challenges. It underlines the necessity to continue working towards an integrated and coherent EU response to external crises and conflicts, including through the EU’s external action instruments. Preventing conflict through timely analysis and early action, supporting peace mediation and dialogue, building peace and resilience, and forging international and regional partnerships in the area of peace, security and defence are key aspects in this regard. Background On 23 November 2023, the Commission adopted its Annual Report on the implementation of the European Union's External Action Instruments in 2022 and accompanying Commission Staff working documents. Council Conclusions

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 09:57 | Press release | Council calls for better protection in humanitarian aid   The Council approved today conclusions on protection in humanitarian settings as a call to help reduce the lack of protection of affected people and constraints faced by protection actors, including but not limited to breaches of International Humanitarian Law and lack of access. The Council notes its deep concern that funding for protection does not match the needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises. The Council recalls in its conclusions that the aim of EU humanitarian aid is to provide a needs-based emergency response aimed at preserving life, preventing and alleviating human suffering and maintaining human dignity wherever the need arises if governments and local actors are overwhelmed, unable or unwilling to act. It is the primary role and responsibility of States to protect and ensure the safety and security of individuals. In this context, the Council highlights the importance of protection mainstreaming and targeted actions including but not limited to mine action, prevention of and response to gender-based violence, child protection, protection for persons with disabilities and/or legal assistance. The Council recognises that conflicts and natural disasters affect people unequally, placing them in different situations of vulnerability, with women and girls disproportionately impacted by persistent gender inequalities, the ultimate expression of which is sexual and gender-based violence. All activities must be inclusive, taking into account the multiple vulnerabilities and combination of factors that can affect the dignity, rights, safety and security of individuals, including refugees, forcibly displaced persons, stateless persons, children, persons with disabilities and persons at risk of being marginalised, such as LGBTI persons or specific ethnic or religious groups. The Council calls for development and peace actors to seize opportunities to identify and collaborate with humanitarian actors to tackle the root causes of protection risks and needs Action points and collective commitments The Council suggests in its conclusions some action points and collective commitments: invites the EU and its member states to increase funding specifically dedicated to protection interventions to respond, mitigate and reduce risks based on context specific protection analysis encourages the EU and its member states to invest in and support, whenever relevant, responsive activities aiming at preventing and/or interrupting the cycle of violence recognises that investments are needed to develop and increase humanitarian actors’ protection capacity, including national and international humanitarian workers and organisations and affected communities, in particular when it comes to preventing and interrupting the cycle of violence invites the EU and its member states to support proactive advocacy for the reduction of protection risks and threats by engaging directly in public and behind the scenes encourages humanitarian actors to better align with communities’ own identification of protection risks and ways to address them as the basis of protection programming Full text of the Conclusions

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 09:55 | Press release | Strengthening the role of equality bodies across the EU: Council adopts two directives   Today the Council formally adopted two directives to strengthen the role of equality bodies across the EU. Equality bodies were established to promote equal treatment, combat discrimination and offer assistance to victims. The new rules adopted today will improve the effectiveness of these bodies and guarantee their independence. The directives establish common EU-wide minimum requirements for equality bodies in a number of key areas, including:      enhanced competences for equality bodies to combat discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation in the area of employment, and discrimination based on sex in the area of social security      a legal requirement for equality bodies to be independent from external influence      a legal requirement to provide equality bodies with sufficient human, technical and financial resources      a requirement for public institutions to consult equality bodies on matters related to discrimination, and for equality bodies to be empowered to carry out activities to prevent discrimination and promote equal treatment, for example, by promoting positive action and equality mainstreaming      increased powers to conduct inquiries and engage in dispute resolution in discrimination cases, in line with national law and practice Next steps The directives will now be signed and will enter into force following publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will have two years to adapt their national legislation to the provisions of the directives. Background Equality bodies are public institutions that protect and provide assistance to victims of discrimination. The EU’s equality legislation stipulates that all member states must establish national equality bodies to deal with cases of discrimination on the grounds of sex, and racial or ethnic origin. Under the existing legislation on equality bodies, member states have a wide margin of discretion, leading to significant differences across the EU as regards the competences, independence, resources, accessibility and effectiveness of such bodies. On 7 December 2022 the Commission published two proposals to strengthen equality bodies: a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation, with Article 157 TFEU as the legal basis (ordinary legislative procedure) a proposal for a Council directive on standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment between persons irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, equal treatment in the field of employment and occupation between persons irrespective of their religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, equal treatment between women and men in matters of social security and in the access to and supply of goods and services, with Article 19(1) TFEU as the legal basis (consent procedure) Social rights in the EU (background information)

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 09:54 | Press release | Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans adopted   The Council today gave its final green light to setting up a Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans, a new instrument to support EU-related reforms and economic growth in the region. The facility is the financial pillar of the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. It will cover the period from 2024 to 2027 and is expected to provide up to €2 billion in grants and €4 billion in loans to the EU's six Western Balkan partners in the coming years. Objectives of the facility The main aim of the facility is to support Western Balkan partners’ alignment with the EU’s values, laws, rules, standards, policies and practices, with a view to future EU membership, as well as their progressive integration into the EU single market and socio-economic convergence with the EU. The facility will support a range of socio-economic and fundamentals reforms, including reforms related to the rule of law and fundamental rights. Reform Agendas In order to receive support under the facility, each partner in the region must prepare a Reform Agenda, setting out the reforms it plans to undertake in order to achieve the facility’s objectives.   The Western Balkan partners will also need to reflect on how the measures included in the Reform Agendas are expected to contribute to progressive and continuous alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.  EU member states will have a key role in approving the beneficiaries’ Reform Agendas and, if necessary, their amendments.  Financing aspects Support under the facility will be provided through:  the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), in the form of grants and loans, for investments underpinning the Reform Agendas, such as investments in infrastructure projects (€3 billion)  loans disbursed directly to Western Balkan partners’ budgets to accelerate growth based on key socio-economic reforms (€3 billion)  Payments will be made twice a year, provided that the partners meet the qualitative and quantitative steps set out in their respective Reform Agendas. Where the preconditions for support are not met or are no longer met, the EU may decide to withhold the release of funds. Preconditions for EU support General preconditions for EU support under the facility include that partners continue to uphold and respect effective democratic mechanisms, including a multi-party parliamentary system, free and fair elections, pluralistic media, an independent judiciary and the rule of law, and to guarantee respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. For Serbia and Kosovo*, another precondition is that they engage constructively with measurable progress and tangible results in the normalisation of their relations with a view to fully implementing all their respective obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation and its Implementation Annex, as well as all past Dialogue Agreements, and that they engage in negotiations on the Comprehensive Agreement on the normalisation of relations.  Transparency To increase transparency, the Western Balkan partners will be required to set up a web portal for publishing up-to-date data on final recipients receiving more than EUR 50 000 in total over the period of four years under this facility. Next steps The regulation on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans will now be signed, published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force on the following day.  Once in force, the Western Balkan partners will be invited to submit their respective Reform Agendas to the Commission, laying out the socio-economic and fundamentals reforms they plan to undertake between 2024 and 2027.     *  This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. Regulation on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans New Growth Plan for the Western Balkans (European Commission)

Meetings Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 16:24 | Meetings | Main results - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 7 May 2024   During the first ever EPSCO Council devoted to equality, ministers approved conclusions on the economic empowerment and financial independence of women. They also discussed representation of women in public life and the state of play of the Equal Treatment Directive.

Meetings Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 15:12 | Meetings | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 7 May 2024   The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, met in Brussels and discussed Ukraine, situation in Palestine* and EU engagement in fragile contexts.

Press material Tuesday, 07 May 2024

● Council of the EU   07/05/2024 10:04 | Press release | Council adopts first-ever EU law combating violence against women   The Council has given the green light to an EU directive to combat violence against women and domestic violence. Taking decisive action against these acts of violence is essential to ensure the values and fundamental rights of equality between women and men and of non-discrimination. The law requires all EU countries to criminalise female genital mutilation, forced marriage and cyber violence such as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images. The new law also contains measures to prevent violence against women and domestic violence and sets standards for the protection of victims of these crimes. Violence against women and domestic violence is a persisting crime. This law will guarantee EU-wide that its perpetrators will be strongly sanctioned and that its victims will receive all the support they need. Paul Van Tigchelt, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice and the North Sea This is a groundbreaking moment in boosting women’s rights. Real equality can only happen when women can live without fear of being harassed, violently attacked or physically harmed. This law is an important step to make this happen. Marie-Colline Leroy, Belgian Secretary of State for Gender Equality Main elements The law that was adopted today criminalises the following offences across the EU: female genital mutilation, forced marriage, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, cyber stalking, cyber harassment and cyber incitement to hatred or violence. Committing these crimes will be punishable by prison sentences ranging from at least one to five years. The directive also comes with an extensive list of aggravating circumstances, such as committing the offence against a child, a former or current spouse or partner or a public representative, a journalist or a human rights defender, which carry more severe penalties. The directive also contains detailed rules on the measures of assistance and protection that member states should provide to victims. It will become easier for victims of violence against women and domestic violence to report a crime. As a minimum, it will be possible to report cybercrimes online. EU countries must also put measures in place to ensure that children are assisted by professionals. When children report a crime committed by someone with parental responsibility, authorities will have to take measures to protect the safety of the child before informing the alleged perpetrator. In order to protect a victim’s privacy and prevent repeat victimisation, member states must furthermore ensure that evidence relating to the victim’s past sexual conduct should only be permitted in criminal proceedings when it is relevant and necessary. With the idea of building a safer future, preventive measures aim to increase awareness on the root causes of violence against women and domestic violence and to promote the central role of consent in sexual relationships. Next steps Member states have three years from the entry into force of the directive to transpose it into national law. Background The Commission (Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourová and Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli) submitted the proposal for a directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence on 8 March 2022. Frances Fitzgerald and Evin Incir were the European Parliament’s rapporteurs for this file and the agreement between Council and Parliament was reached on 6 February 2024. Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence