COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Monday, 23 September 2024

● Council of the EU   23/09/2024 22:32 | Meetings | Main results - Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 23 September 2024   Agriculture ministers assessed the second year of implementation of the strategic plans of the common agricultural policy, in order to identify possible improvements for the post-2027 period. The Council also discussed the situation of agricultural markets and commodities, based on information provided by the member states and an update from the Commission. Furthermore, during an informal lunch discussion, ministers exchanged views on the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture. Fisheries ministers held an exchange of views on the management in 2025 of fish stocks shared with the United Kingdom. They also discussed the upcoming consultations with Norway on fishing opportunities in 2025, in order to provide political guidance to the Commission on the EU’s position. Finally, fisheries ministers also discussed a Commission proposal to update the fishing opportunities for 2024 and 2025 for certain fish stocks.

Press material Monday, 23 September 2024

● Council of the EU   23/09/2024 10:00 | Press release | Recovery fund: Council greenlights Luxembourg’s amended plan that includes a RepowerEU chapter   The Council today approved the Commission’s positive assessment of Luxembourg’s amended recovery and resilience plan. The amended plan, including a new REPowerEU chapter, is now worth €241.1 million in grants. Luxembourg’s RepowerEU chapter will focus on the deployment of renewable energy, increasing energy efficiency, and sustainable transport. The modified plan allocates 80% of available funds to measures that support climate objectives, up from 69% in the original plan. The digital ambition and social dimension of the plan are maintained. Background Luxembourg’s original national recovery and resilience plan was approved on 13 July 2021. On 16 May 2024, Luxembourg submitted an amended plan, including a REPowerEU chapter. The Commission adopted a proposal on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Luxembourg on 23 July 2024. The RRF is the EU’s large-scale financial support programme in response to the challenges the COVID-19 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 pandemic. To benefit from the facility, member states must submit recovery and resilience plans (RRPs) to the Commission, setting out the reforms and investments they intend to implement by the end of 2026. Regulation (EU) 2023/435 as regards REPowerEU chapters, in force since 1 March 2023, aims to end the EU’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels by saving energy, diversifying energy supplies and accelerating the clean energy transition. Under the REpowerEU regulation, EU countries have added specific chapters to their national RRPs in order to finance key investments and reforms which will help achieve the REPowerEU objectives. RepowerEU 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, 68 payment requests have been received and €265 billion have been disbursed. Council implementing decision on the approval of the assessment of the recovery and resilience plan for Luxembourg A recovery plan for Europe (background information) REPowerEU: energy policy in EU countries’ recovery and resilience plans (background information)

Meetings Tuesday, 24 September 2024

● Council of the EU   24/09/2024 15:06 | Meetings | Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 26 September 2024   Background brief - Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) of 26 September 2024

Meetings Tuesday, 24 September 2024

● Council of the EU   24/09/2024 17:39 | Meetings | Main results - General Affairs Council, 24 September 2024   Ministers heard a presentation on the priorities of the Hungarian presidency and started preparations for the October European Council. They also discussed general rule of law trends in the EU and in selected candidate countries.

Meetings Thursday, 26 September 2024

● Council of the EU   26/09/2024 17:15 | Meetings | Main results - Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 26 September 2024   Ministers responsible for the internal market and industry met in Brussels to hold three policy debates: on the future of EU competitiveness, the future of the state aid framework and SMEs reaping the benefits of the single market.   View meeting page       Council of the European Union:: +32 22816319 | Press European Council / President:: +32 22815150 | Press President www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/

Press material Thursday, 26 September 2024

● Council of the EU   26/09/2024 16:01 | Press release | Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the military escalation between Israel and Hezbollah   The European Union is extremely concerned with the military confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah, which started on 8th of October and escalated in the recent strikes in densely populated areas. We deplore the heavy price paid by civilians, including children and UN staff, and urge the respect of International Humanitarian Law in all circumstances. Any further escalation would have dramatic consequences for the region and beyond. UN Security Council resolution 2749, adopted unanimously on 28 August 2024, urges that all relevant actors implement immediate measures towards de-escalation. We urge both parties to urgently implement a ceasefire across the Blue Line that effectively and immediately ends all cross-border threats, and to work towards the full and symmetrical implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1701, so as to ensure the safe return of displaced populations on both sides as part of a broader negotiated settlement. The European Union calls on the international community to mobilise in support of ongoing diplomatic efforts to that end. We commend and strongly support the efforts of France and the United States to achieve a negotiated ceasefire. We call on all parties to protect and support the important mission of UNIFIL. The EU reiterates its strong support for the state institutions of Lebanon, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, and stands ready to help Lebanon to get out of its political impasse. EU member states have a long tradition of supporting Lebanon. Now that the country is facing dramatic moments, the Lebanese people can rest assured that member states and the EU will continue supporting them.

Press material Thursday, 26 September 2024

● Council of the EU   26/09/2024 12:46 | Press release | Bern Convention: EU will propose changing the conservation status of wolves   Today, the Council adopted a decision to submit, on behalf of the European Union, a proposal to amend the conservation status of the wolf from strictly protected fauna species to protected fauna species, with a view to the 44th meeting of the Standing Committee to the Bern Convention. The Standing Committee is responsible for assessing the conservation status of species and will convene in December 2024. The proposed amendment will give more flexibility in addressing the socio-economic challenges arising from the continued expansion of the wolf’s range in Europe, while maintaining a favourable conservation status for all wolf populations in the EU. Coexistence with human activities: addressing challenges  The wolf species is currently listed as a strictly protected species (appendix II to the Bern Convention). Parties to the convention must have in place measures for its conservation. The conservation status of the wolf has shown a positive trend over the last few decades. The species has successfully recovered across the European continent, and the estimated population has almost doubled in 10 years (from 11,193 in 2012 to 20,300 in 2023). This continued expansion has led to socio-economic challenges, in particular as regards coexistence with human activities and damage to livestock. According to the latest available data from member states, wolves are estimated to kill at least 65,500 heads of livestock each year in the EU. The proposed amendment aims to list the wolf as a protected species (by moving the species to appendix III of the Bern Convention). This means that its protection must be ensured by means of appropriate and necessary measures. Any exploitation of the species must keep the wolf population out of danger and align with scientific and ecological requirements, among others. Next steps The Commission will now submit the proposal to the secretariat of the Bern Convention. Any amendment to the Bern Convention must be adopted by two thirds of its contracting parties. Amendments to the appendices enter into force three months after adoption. The change to the level of protection would not be immediately applicable in the EU. Once the amendment of the appendices of the Bern Convention enters into force, the EU would be allowed to modify the corresponding annexes of the Habitats directive – the EU law that implements the Bern Convention – in order to adapt the protection level of wolves in its internal legal order. Background  The Bern Convention, which was adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1982, is an international treaty under the aegis of the Council of Europe which aims to ensure the conservation and protection of wild plant and animal species and their natural habitats. To this end, the convention imposes legal obligations on contracting parties, protecting over 500 wild plant species and more than 1,000 wild animal species. Its decision-making body, the Standing Committee, meets every year in Strasbourg. The EU and its member states are parties to the Bern Convention. On 20 December, the Commission forwarded to the Council a proposal for a decision to adapt the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention. Changing the protection status of the wolf under the Bern Convention is a prerequisite for any corresponding changes to its status at EU level. Biodiversity: how the EU protects nature (background information)

Press material Thursday, 26 September 2024

● Council of the EU   26/09/2024 12:08 | Press release | Single sky reform: Council adopts first reading position to improve efficiency of air space management in the EU   With a view to improving the overall efficiency of the way in which European airspace is organised and managed, today the Council adopted its position at first reading on the reform of the Single European Sky. The aim of the reform is to improve the performance, organisation, and management of airspaces in the EU and the provision of the air navigation services to increase capacity, lower costs, and increase the system’s adaptability, while also trying to reduce aviation’s impact on environment and climate. The Council’s position at first reading retains the key objectives of the Single European Sky: reinforce safety, respond to capacity needs, and help cut CO₂ emissions, while being cost-effective. Main elements of the Council position The Council's position at first reading contains the following main elements in line with the provisional agreement between the co-legislators: regarding the scope of the new legislative framework, the application of the regulation is without prejudice to member states' sovereignty over their airspace and to the requirements of the member states relating to public order, public security, and defence matters consequently, the new regulation does not cover military operations and training. As far as the provision of air navigation and air traffic services and the organisation of their regulation are concerned: a national supervisory authority is designated by each member state to assess compliance of air navigation service providers with certain requirements, such as financial sustainability and organisational structure, in cooperation with the national competent authority in charge of the certification of air navigation service providers member states may decide to assign those tasks to one or the other authority the air navigation service providers and the national supervisory authority can be part of the same organisation provided they are functionally separated and meet independence requirements it will also be possible for member states to merge economic and safety oversight functions in the same administrative entity, as this solution cuts red tape and adapts to existing organisational models air traffic service providers may open certain air navigation services to market conditions on a voluntary basis and member states may decide to authorise the opening of air traffic services for aerodrome and/or approach control to market conditions national supervisory authorities and the Commission will together assess the performance of air navigation services, in accordance with the subsidiarity and proportionality principles the Commission is assisted in this process by an independent performance review board (PRB), which has an advisory role, is established as a stable and permanent entity, and will be funded by the EU budget. Moreover, measures were introduced to reduce the aviation sector’s CO₂ footprint, mainly the possibility for a mandatory modulation of en route charges to encourage airspace users to support improvements in climate and environmental performance, such as the use of the most fuel-efficient available routing or increased use of alternative clean propulsion technologies. These would be subject to a feasibility study that will determine the contribution and the added value of such a modulation, and will assess its impact on air traffic, service provision, administrative costs, and stakeholders. Finally, the network perspective is strengthened by adding new network functions and by giving the current network manager, Eurocontrol, additional, clearly delineated tasks so that it can better contribute to the sustainable and efficient use of the airspace, whereas member states shall be fully involved in decisions of strategic importance for the network.

Press material Thursday, 26 September 2024

● Council of the EU   26/09/2024 12:01 | Press release | Crisis preparedness: Council adopts the internal market emergency and resilience act   The Council has today given its final approval to a regulation establishing a framework of measures on the emergency and resilience of the internal market, better known as the internal market emergency and resilience act (IMERA). This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. The regulation adopted today is intended to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to any future emergencies by monitoring any possible upcoming crises, activating vigilance or emergency modes as and when they happen and coordinating responses at EU and member state level. The Council has also adopted a package of measures (the 'IMERA omnibus') that amend existing legislation in areas relating to the internal market and update them with regard to crisis situations. Preparing for the next crisis IMERA creates an 'advisory group' formed by the Commission and the member states to assess a given situation and recommend responses whenever the vigilance or emergency modes are activated. IMERA provides for emergency last-resort measures such as targeted information requests to economic operators, priority-rated requests for crisis-relevant products, a fast-track procedure to bring certain products on to the market and derogations from product-specific rules. The Commission will undertake stress tests and simulations of different crisis situations to assess the possible impact on the free movement of goods, services and persons. Economic operators are also encouraged to develop protocols and to conduct training and crisis simulations. Next steps Following the Council’s approval today, the legislative act has been adopted. After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication. Member States will have a period of 18 months to implement the new rules once the regulation comes into force. Background The European Council conclusions of 1-2 October 2020 stated that the EU would draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and address the remaining fragmentation of, barriers to and weaknesses of the Single Market in facing emergency situations. In the update of the industrial strategy communication, the Commission announced an instrument to ensure the free movement of persons, goods and services, as well as greater transparency and coordination in times of crisis. On 19 September 2022, the Commission submitted to the European Parliament and to the Council a proposal for a regulation on a single market emergency instrument (SMEI). The Council adopted its general approach on 6 June 2023, and the Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on 1 February 2024. One of the outcomes of the negotiations was a change to the name of the regulation, which has since become known as the internal market emergency and resilience act (IMERA). European Council conclusions (1 and 2 October 2020) Council’s negotiating mandate Commission’s proposal SMEI / IMERA: Council and Parliament strike a provisional deal on crisis preparedness (press release, 1 February 2024)     Press material Wednesday, 25 September 2024     ● European Council   25/09/2024 23:14 | Speech | Speech by President Charles Michel at the UN Security Council open debate on leadership for peace   A new world is being born outside these windows. A world where the biggest gun, the sharpest knife, the fastest warplane, the heaviest bomb, and the loudest voice win out, and the peaceful lose out. As we sit in this hall of diplomacy, a world of raw force and brute power rages outside, in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan. Look down at your hands. Do you see fingers made to pull the trigger of a gun? Or hands made to build a bridge, a school, a hospital? And when you look at your neighbour, do you see an enemy to conquer? Or a fellow human being? We are all responsible for what is happening outside these windows. But some clearly more than others. A permanent seat on this Security Council is not a privilege, it is a responsibility — a grave responsibility bestowed on only five nations: to be the guardians of world peace. Today some of these members are not living up to their responsibility.  Back in 1945, the world wanted peace at all costs. We accepted your right to veto in exchange for securing global peace. This was the founding pact between the most powerful nations and the rest of the world, underpinned by the UN Charter and the new multilateral institutions.  But today, this pact is under constant assault. Every bomb that falls in Kyiv, every hospital demolished in Gaza, every village destroyed in Sudan, each of these tragedies is one more attack on our humanity.  When these crimes go unpunished, they become ‘normal’, they become the way of the world, they become the law. When crimes go unpunished, the victims lose faith, we all lose faith. And a new, more brutal world is born. This is not the world I want to hand over to my children, to our children. The Security Council must be reformed, to make it more inclusive, more legitimate, and more effective. When Russia invades Ukraine to wipe out Ukraine’s culture and language, this does not build Russia up, it tears Russia down in the eyes of the world. When Hamas kills and kidnaps Israelis, this does not give Palestinians a state, it causes unspeakable suffering. When Israel illegally occupies Palestinian soil for decades, and kills tens of thousands of innocent women and children, this does not strengthen Israel’s security, it makes Israel less safe. The latest military escalation in Lebanon is more than irresponsible, it makes the region and the world less safe. And when two warring generals in Sudan take an entire nation hostage, millions go hungry, millions flee their homes, millions lose hope. The worth of a nation — the worth of a community — is not measured by its capacity for violence, nor by the strength of its armies. The worth of a nation is measured by its willingness to lift others up and to take the next small step to make the world more peaceful. The European Union is a power for peace and security, and that will never change. In all the darkness, we must be a spark bringing more light and more hope to the world. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can again change the course of history. But it will take courage, daring, and leadership. It is time for all the permanent members of this Council to live up to their historic responsibility.    Press material Wednesday, 25 September 2024     ● Council of the EU   25/09/2024 16:29 | Press release | European Peace Facility: Council adopts the second EU assistance measure in support of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia   The Council has adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) worth €13 million with the aim of strengthening the capacities and capabilities of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia. The assistance measure will strengthen North Macedonia’s capacities with respect to its participation in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions and other international missions. Today’s decision further illustrates the growing association with North Macedonia on security and defence. It reflects the consistent commitment of the partners to enhance their cooperation in this policy area, in full alignment of North Macedonia’s with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. The EPF will provide equipment not designed to deliver lethal force and, related supplies and services, including technical training as appropriate. The Assistance Measure will include support on technologies related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare and signal intelligence, logistics and engineering equipment, as well as communication and information systems. Background and next steps The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the EPF allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third states and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. European Peace Facility (background information) EU cooperation on security and defence (background information)   Press material Wednesday, 25 September 2024     ● General Secretariat of the Council   25/09/2024 12:06 | Press release | Change in the senior management in the Council's General Secretariat   The Secretary-General of the Council, Thérèse Blanchet, has decided to entrust the management of the Directorate-General for Organisational Development and Services (DG ORG) to Cesare Onestini, the current Director-General for Agriculture, Fisheries, Social Affairs and Health in the Council’s General Secretariat. He will take up his new post as Director-General of DG ORG on 1 January 2025 when the incumbent, William Shapcott, retires. Mr Onestini will remain the acting Director-General in his current post until a successor has been selected. Cesare Onestini is an Italian national who combines a background in education and training policy with extensive experience in policy development and management. Prior to his appointment as Director-General in the Council’s General Secretariat on 16 February 2022, he was Director of the European Training Foundation and he has served in various positions in the EEAS, both in EU delegations abroad and at the seat in Brussels, as well as in the European Commission, in areas such as transport and trade. Biography of Cesare Onestini The Directorate-General for Organisational Development and Services is responsible for the organisational development of the GSC and the provision of key support services: protocol and meeting organisation, human resources, building and logistics, finance as well as safety and security.   Press material Wednesday, 25 September 2024     ● Council of the EU   25/09/2024 11:08 | Press release | Consumer rights: Council adopts position on measures to facilitate dispute resolution   The Council has today adopted its negotiating mandate on a package of measures to adapt the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework to the challenges of the digital world. Many consumers facing a disagreement with a company refuse to litigate due to the small sums involved, lengthy procedure times or a lack of confidence in the possibility of reaching a satisfactory solution. ADR mechanisms allow consumers to settle their disputes with companies before going to court. The position of the Council covers the revision of the ADR directive and the regulation on the discontinuation of the online dispute resolution (ODR) platform. The legislative proposals aim to expand the scope of issues that can be resolved out of court, make ADR mechanisms easier, faster and more attractive for both consumers and companies.  The negotiating mandate adopted today limits the scope of the directive to contractual disputes and to the European territory. It proposes several measures to reduce the burden on all actors and empowers the Commission to replace the existing ODR platform with a new digital tool. Dispute resolution tools adapted to the digital era The Commission’s proposal expands the scope of the directive to include all dimensions of EU consumer protection laws and all kinds of companies, including non-EU traders. The revised directive aims to cover new kinds of unfair practices (e.g. interfaces and advertising that are manipulative, or geo-blocking mechanisms) that the current directive does not cover. The Commission’s proposal protects the freedom of businesses to engage in ADR or go to court. But if a consumer asks for ADR, businesses will have to reply to a request by an ADR entity within 20 working days which will incentivise companies to engage in ADR. The Commission proposal provides for a number of measures to protect the most vulnerable consumers, including assistance with launching a case, translation aids and guidance throughout the procedure. Council mandate Scope of the directive For reasons of legal certainty and to ensure effective implementation, the Council position limits the scope of the ADR directive to disputes stemming from a contract, rather than allowing it to include non-contractual disputes as proposed by the Commission. However, the mandate makes clear that contractual obligations include the stages before the conclusion of a contract (e.g. advertising, information provision) and after the end of a contract (e.g. use of digital content). Reduced burden for ADR entities When it comes to geographical scope, the Council position allows member states on their national legislation to decide on the application of ADR procedures to disputes with third-country traders. The objective of this measure is to preserve the effectiveness and practical functioning of the system and avoid disproportionate administrative and financial burden on ADR entities. The negotiating mandate clarifies that ADR can be accessed in both digital and non-digital format, to maintain a high level of consumer protection. Furthermore, the mandate makes clear that companies will have to inform consumers in advance when non-high-risk automated systems (i.e. bots or artificial intelligence) are used in ADR decision-making processes, as is the case for high-risk systems covered by the Artificial Intelligence Act. The Council position gives member states the flexibility to set the conditions for the bundling of cases at national level. This will allow the directive to be adapted to the different national systems for handling complaints. The Council mandate extends the period in which traders must reply to a request by an ADR entity from 20 to 40 working days in the event of complex disputes or in exceptional circumstances. The consumer will have to be informed of the extension. After that period, if the trader has not replied, the ADR entity can consider the trader to have refused to participate. Traders do not have to reply where their participation is mandatory, where ADR outcomes can be reached without their consent to participate, or where they have already committed to ADR contractually, since their reply is unnecessary in such cases. Reporting obligations The Council position delays the deadline for submission of the four-yearly report on the development and functioning of ADR entities from 9 July 2024 to 1 November 2024. This will give ADR entities more time to submit their reports to the competent authorities. ODR platform The Commission proposed discontinuing the ODR platform and replacing it with a digital interactive tool to ensure continuity. The Council mandate sets a deadline of three months after the entry into force of the revised ADR directive for the Commission to develop this tool. The Commission is also required to promote this tool and to provide its technical maintenance. Finally, the Commission will have to create a network of ADR contact points. Transposition deadline The negotiating mandate gives member states an additional year to set out all the necessary national legislative procedures. This additional year will also help other actors to adapt to the new requirements. Next steps The negotiating mandate agreed today formalises the Council's position and provides the Council presidency with a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament. Background According to the 2023 Consumer Conditions Scoreboard, 25% of consumers experience a problem worthy of complaint, but one third of them do not act. As a result, there are only 300 000 eligible disputes solved via ADR annually in the EU. According to the Commission’s impact assessment, this figure could be increased to 500 000 by extending the scope of ADR and the obligation on companies to respond to consumers complaints. The Commission will maintain the current multilingual list of ADR entities. It has been awarding yearly grants to ADR entities to improve awareness raising and case management. The Commission presented its proposals on 17 October 2023. The European Parliament adopted its first-reading positions on 13 March 2024. Commission proposal on alternative dispute resolution Commission proposal for a regulation with regards to the discontinuation of the ODR Platform List of quality ADR entities (European Commission) Consumer protection (background information)     Library blog Tuesday, 24 September 2024     ● General Secretariat of the Council   Library guide on EU-UN relations   Over the years the EU has established a strong relationship with the UN. Cooperation takes place on a broad range of areas covered by the different UN bodies and organisations. To help readers gain a deeper understanding of this relationship, the Council Library has compiled a library guide containing a wide variety of useful resources.