COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 19 September 2024

● Council of the EU   19/09/2024 21:54 | Press release | Council adopts the list of candidates proposed for appointment as members of the Commission   The Council today adopted, by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, the list of persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission until 31 October 2029. The list of persons that the Council proposes as members of the Commission is the following: Mr Magnus BRUNNER (Austria) Ms Maria Luís CASANOVA MORGADO DIAS DE ALBUQUERQUE (Portugal) Mr Valdis DOMBROVSKIS (Latvia) Mr Raffaele FITTO (Italy) Mr Christophe HANSEN (Luxembourg) Mr Wopke Bastiaan HOEKSTRA (Netherlands) Mr Dan JØRGENSEN (Denmark) Mr Constantinos KADIS (Cyprus) Ms Marta KOS (Slovenia) Mr Andrius KUBILIUS (Lithuania) Ms Hadja LAHBIB (Belgium) Mr Michael MCGRATH (Ireland) Mr Glenn MICALLEF (Malta) Ms Roxana MÎNZATU (Romania) Ms Teresa RIBERA RODRÍGUEZ (Spain) Ms Jessika ROSWALL (Sweden) Mr Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ (Slovakia) Mr Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ (France) Mr Piotr Arkadiusz SERAFIN (Poland) Mr Jozef SÍKELA (Czechia) Ms Ekaterina SPASOVA GECHEVA-ZAHARIEVA (Bulgaria) Ms Dubravka ŠUICA (Croatia) Mr Apostolos TZITZIKOSTAS (Greece) Mr Olivér VÁRHELYI (Hungary) Ms Henna Maria VIRKKUNEN (Finland) in addition to: Ms Kaja KALLAS (Estonia), appointed High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on 24 July 2024 by the European Council, with the agreement of the President-elect of the Commission. The decision will now be forwarded to the European Parliament and published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background Under Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the Council, by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, adopts the list of the persons whom it proposes for appointment as members of the Commission. The President of the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the other members of the Commission are subject as a body to a vote of consent by the European Parliament. On the basis of this consent the Commission is appointed by the European Council, acting by a qualified majority. Council decision, taken by common accord with the President-elect of the Commission, adopting the list of the other persons whom the Council proposes for appointment as Members of the Commission

Press material Thursday, 19 September 2024

● Council of the EU   19/09/2024 13:18 | Press release | Financial Regulation: Council greenlights simpler rules for executing EU budget   The Council today adopted a revision of the EU’s financial regulation, which lays down the financial rules applicable to the EU budget. The main reason for this targeted revision is the need to align the financial regulation with the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027. Additional targeted improvements and simplifications are introduced, such as a better protection of the Union’s financial interests, provisions for procurement in times of crisis and simplified rules and procedures for beneficiaries. Main changes introduced by the new regulation The new regulation simplifies rules and procedures, to improve legal certainty and clarity for recipients while reducing administrative burden for applicants. Certain derogations from the budgetary principles set out in the sectoral basic acts will be reflected in the financial regulation in line with the ‘single rulebook’ approach. The new regulation ensures that any additional administrative burden remains limited for national administrations, and safeguards data protection in the process of digitalisation. Building on the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, the new regulation implements changes for a more efficient crisis management, by enabling EU institutions or bodies to publicly procure goods and services on behalf of member states or to act as a central purchasing body, to donate or resell supplies and services. The regulation also introduces the concept of negative revenues as  a solution until the end of the current MFF for the financing of negative interests stemming from the reduction or annulment of competition fines. Background and next steps On 16 May 2022, the Commission presented a proposal for a recast regulation on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union. A provisional political agreement was found between the Council and the European Parliament at the trilogue on 7 December 2023. The regulation has now been formally adopted by the European Parliament on 17 September and by the Council today. The regulation is expected to enter into force and apply on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Regulation on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union Votes and statements The EU long-term budget (background information)

Press material Thursday, 19 September 2024

● Council of the EU   19/09/2024 15:21 | Media advisory | Press briefing - General Affairs Council of 24 September 2024   The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council will take place on Monday, 23 September 2024 at 10.00. 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 Justus Lipsius 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 the previous press events of General Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Monday, 23 September 2024 at 9.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants after the deadline.   Visit the meeting page

PRESS MATERIAL Friday 20 September 2024

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• Council of the EU

­ 20/09/2024 | Press release | Presidency press release - Informal meeting of transport ministers The informal meeting of transport ministers took place on 19-20 September 2024 in Budapest.  Read the presidency press release in EN and in HU. Further information   media.presidency@hu24eu.hu