COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 12:10 | Press release | European Health Union: Council calls on Commission to keep health as a priority   The Council is calling on the European Commission to keep health as a priority in its upcoming five-year term. In conclusions approved today, member states acknowledge the work already carried out to improve health policy coordination at EU level, highlight the ongoing challenges facing the EU’s health system, and set out the key areas of focus for strengthening the European Health Union. “ European health systems are set to face ten difficult years, with the growing needs of an ageing population, rising chronic diseases, shortages of medicines and medical devices, and retiring health workers straining our resources. The climate crisis and the rise of artificial intelligence further complicate the situation. To manage these challenges, Europe must step up. Over the past half year, EU health ministers have outlined an ambitious programme, aiming to reshape the European Health Union and ensure resilient, high-quality healthcare in all member states. ” —  Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Social Affairs Tacking ongoing challenges In its conclusions, the Council notes that the EU’s health system faces significant challenges. These include health workforce shortages, which member states and the Commission are encouraged to address through investment, digital tools, knowledge sharing, cooperation at EU level and adapted regulatory frameworks.  Another key challenge is improving the security of supply of medicines and medical devices. The Council calls on member states and the Commission to continue work on mitigating shortages of critical medicines, including via the Critical Medicines Alliance, and invites the Commission to consider proposing a critical medicines act, which would provide a legal framework for addressing supply-chain vulnerabilities. Addressing priority needs The Council notes that priority needs in healthcare should be addressed.  Setting up an independent, needs-evidenced database can help to identify unmet health-related patient and societal needs. As next steps, the establishment of a voluntary, member-state driven mechanism for evaluating and prioritising such needs and the EU level coordination of public support to address the most pressing health-related unmet needs could be considered. The Council also calls on member states and the Commission to strengthen action in priority areas by improving the EU’s implementation tools, including EU4Health, and developing new ones such as an EU health investment hub. Disease prevention The Council’s conclusions also point to areas where further action needs to be taken. These include prevention of non-communicable diseases, which are responsible for nearly 90% of all deaths in the EU. The Council calls on member states and the Commission to promote healthy lifestyles and environments, including  through adopting the legislative proposals announced under Europe’s Beating Cancer plan and strengthening the work on the ‘Healthier Together’ initiative.  Likewise, action in the area of preparedness and communicable diseases should include keeping cross-border health threats high on the EU’s agenda, strengthening the fight against mis- and disinformation, and improving security of supply of relevant medicines and medical devices. Background In a communication published in November 2020, the European Commission announced the establishment of a European Health Union (EHU). The aim of the EHU is to facilitate closer cooperation among member states at EU level on matters relating to health care, including: a collective response to health crises at EU level  available, affordable and innovative medical supplies better prevention, treatment and aftercare for diseases such as cancer The Future of the European Health Union: a Europe that cares, prepares and protects (Council conclusions) EU health policy (background information)

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 12:18 | Press release | Council adopts recommendation to help combat vaccine-preventable cancers   The Council has adopted a recommendation that aims to combat vaccine-preventable cancers in the EU by boosting the uptake of vaccinations against Human papillomaviruses (HPV) and Hepatitis B virus (HBV). “ A high proportion of cancer cases are preventable. Next to tackling risk factors like alcohol, tobacco and nutrition, vaccination can play a key role in this regard. The recommendation adopted today will help member states boost cancer prevention by increasing the uptake and coverage of key vaccinations, raising awareness among target groups, and combatting mis- and disinformation. ” —  Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Social Affairs According to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), around 40% of cancer cases are the result of environmental factors. These factors include infection from oncoviruses such as HPV and HBV.  Vaccination against HPV and HBV can considerably reduce the risk of a person developing cancers related to these viruses. However, the uptake and monitoring of HPV and HBV vaccines varies across member states, and is affected by issues such as data protection concerns and parental consent, as well as mis- and disinformation related to infections and vaccination. The recommendation adopted today aims to support member states in increasing vaccination rates and improving monitoring of vaccination coverage. In particular, it encourages member states to: increase efforts towards fully vaccinating at least 90% of girls against HPV at EU level by 2030, in line with the objective set out in Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan aim to significantly increase the vaccination of boys against HPV over the same period, so as to reduce the risk of transmission strengthen efforts to achieve the WHO’s 2030 targets for Europe of 95% HBV vaccination coverage for children and newborns and 95% screening rate for pregnant women, and improve monitoring of progress towards these targets In order to achieve these aims, the recommendation encourages member states to: ensure that vaccination against HPV and HBV is free of charge and easily accessible improve communication about vaccination among parents and young people, and combat mis- and disinformation integrate immunisation against vaccine-preventable cancers into their national cancer plans Background On 31 January 2024, the Commission published a proposal for a Council recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers. The recommendation forms part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, an EU approach to cancer prevention, treatment and care announced in February 2021 as a key pillar of the European Health Union. Council Recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers EU health policy (background information)

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 12:47 | Press release | Recovery fund: Council greenlights Ireland’s amended plan   The Council today approved the Commission’s positive assessment of Ireland’s amended recovery and resilience plan. The amended recovery and resilience plan now includes a new REPowerEU chapter. This will contribute to accelerating Ireland’s transition towards clean energy, diversifying their energy supplies and improving their energy efficiency. The modified plan has a strong focus on the green and digital transition, allocating 50.2% of funds to support climate objectives and 34.2% dedicated to the digital transition. The plan is now worth €1.15 billion (in grants) and covers 11 reforms and 19 investments. Background The recovery and resilience facility (RRF) is the EU’s programme of large-scale financial support in response to the challenges the pandemic has posed to the European economy. It is the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU, a temporary recovery instrument that allows the Commission to raise funds to help repair the immediate economic and social damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To benefit from the facility, member states submit recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) to the Commission, setting out the reforms and investments they intend to implement by the end of 2026. The reforms and investment in Ireland’s plan were approved by the Council on 8 September 2021. The Council approved amendments to the plan on 14 July 2023. Ireland presented the latest amendments with the RepowerEU chapter on 22 March 2024. Regulation 2023/241 as regards REPowerEU chapters, in force since 1 March 2023, increases the RRF financial envelope by €20 billion in new grants. In addition, member states are able to voluntarily transfer up to €5.4 billion from the Brexit Adjustment Reserve to the RRF to finance REPowerEU measures. This comes on top of the existing transfer possibilities of 5% from the cohesion policy funds (up to €17.9 billion). So far, €648 billion have been committed to this end. To date, all RRPs have been approved, 58 payment requests have been received and €240 billion have been disbursed. Council implementing decision approving the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Ireland A recovery plan for Europe (background information) REPowerEU: energy policy in EU countries’ recovery and resilience plans (background information)

Meetings Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 14:45 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - General Affairs Council, 25 June 2024   Ministers will continue preparations for the June European Council. They will exchange views on the directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries and hold a hearing under the Article 7 procedure concerning Hungary.  In the margins of the meeting, Accession Conferences with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro are scheduled to take place.

 

Meetings Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 16:27 | Meetings | Main results - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 21 June 2024   In Luxembourg today, EU health ministers approved conclusions on the future of the European Health Union and discussed the state of play of the pharmaceutical package. They also adopted a recommendation on vaccine-preventable cancers as part of Europe's Beating Cancer Plan.

Meetings Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 16:50 | Meetings | Main results - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 21 June 2024   The Council discussed the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Ministers also discussed the latest G7 decision to make available from 2025 onwards approximately $50 billion by leveraging the extraordinary revenues stemming from the immobilisation of Russian sovereign assets. The Council exchanged views on the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ministers approved a report to the European Council on tax issues as well as conclusions on the progress achieved by the Code of Conduct Group during the Belgian presidency. The Council exchanged views on the value added tax (VAT) in the digital age package.

Meetings Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 17:11 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council, 24 June 2024   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council, 24 June 2024

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 17:52 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Foreign Affairs Council of 24 June 2024   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: ECCL building, Luxembourg Chair: Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy From 07.30 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.15 Doorstep by Josep Borrell (live streaming) 08.30 Beginning of the Foreign Affairs Council Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items • non-legislative list - Russian aggression against Ukraine - Current affairs - Situation in the Middle East - Western Balkans - Georgia - Great Lakes Region - Current affairs - Any other business At the end of the meeting (+/- 18.15) - Press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the ECCL Luxembourg 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: Monday, 24 June 2024, 17.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 16:38 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 24 June 2024   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: ECCL building, Luxembourg Chairs: David Clarinval, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Self-Employed, SMEs and Agriculture, Institutional Reforms and Democratic Renewal Hilde Crevits, Belgian Flemish Minister for Welfare, Public Health and the Family, and responsible for Fisheries From 07.30 Arrivals and doorsteps (live streaming) 08.40 Doorstep by Hilde Crevits (live streaming) 11.30 Doorstep by David Clarinval (live streaming) 10.00 Beginning of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting Adoption of the agenda Communication on sustainable fishing in the EU: state of play and orientations for 2025 (+/- 10.05 public session) Any other business: Russia’s actions in the Baltic Sea (+/- 11.20 public session) Future fisheries relations with Norway Approval of 'A' items: Non-legislative list Legislative activities (+/- 12.25 public session) Any other business: Current legislative proposals - Forest monitoring framework – state of play (+/- 12.30 public session) Conclusions on the future of agriculture in the EU Any other business: Current legislative proposals - Regulation on plant reproductive material and Regulation on forest reproductive material - state of play (+/- 15.20 public session) - Regulation on the protection of animals during transport - state of play (+/- 15.35 public session) Front-of-pack nutrition labelling systems (Brussels symposium, 25 April 2024) (+/- 15.50 public session) Purchase of breeding animals (+/- 16.35 public session) European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (+/- 17.05 public session) Temporary crisis and transition framework for state aid (+/- 17.35 public session) Adverse weather conditions (+/- 18.05 public session) At the end of the meeting (+/- 18.50) - press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the ECCL Luxembourg 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 the previous press events of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Monday, 24 June 2024, 17.50 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event

Press material Friday, 21 June 2024

● Council of the EU   21/06/2024 15:47 | Media advisory | Press briefing - General Affairs Council of 25 June 2024   The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council and the accession conferences in the margins of the meeting will take place on Monday, 24 June 2024 at 13.30. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the ECCL building press room, Luxembourg. 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 General Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Monday, 24 June 2024 at 12.00 Further instructions