| ● Council of the EU | | | 11/10/2024 10:06 | Meetings | | | | | The October Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.
Over lunch, EU Foreign Affairs Ministers will have an informal exchange of views with the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy. |
| ● European Council | | | 11/10/2024 10:01 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing before the EU-GCC summit of 16 October 2024 and the press briefing on the European Council meeting of 17-18 October 2024, will take place on Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 11.00. These briefings will be "off the record". The press briefings will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Justus Lipsius press room or remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use this form to register and have the possibility to ask questions. • Deadline for registration: Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 10.00. Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. |
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13/10/2024 | Article Weekly Presidency Newsletter - 13 October 2024Welcome to the tenth issue of Weekly Presidency Newsletter, the weekly newsletter of the Hungarian presidency, in which we take a look at the events of the second week of October. This week the focus was on the presentation of the priorities by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the ECOFIN Council and the Home Affairs Council. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 14/10/2024 10:21 | Press release | | | | | The Council has adopted two new directives that will make it easier for persons with disabilities to travel within the EU. The directive establishing the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities will ensure equal access to special conditions or preferential treatment for persons with disabilities during short stays throughout the EU. Examples include reduced or zero entry fees, priority access, assistance, and reserved parking spaces. Furthermore, ministers have adopted a directive extending these provisions to non-EU citizens who legally reside in EU countries, meaning they will also be able to use these cards during short-term stays in other member states. National authorities will be responsible for issuing physical and digital European disability cards in an accessible format. The cards will be recognised throughout the EU as proof of disability or entitlement to specific services based on a disability. The European parking cards for persons with disabilities will be produced in physical format, with member states having the option to also issue them in digital format. Next stepsThe directives will now be signed by both the Council and the European Parliament and will enter into force following publication in the EU’s Official Journal. For both directives, member states will have two and a half years to adapt their national legislation and three and a half years to apply the measures. BackgroundThe Commission published a proposal for a directive establishing a European disability card and a European parking card for persons with disabilities in September 2023. The Council reached an agreement with the European Parliament on 8 February 2024. The Commission’s proposal for a directive extending the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities to non-EU citizens legally residing in EU member states was published in October 2023. The Council and the Parliament reached an agreement on 4 March 2024. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 14/10/2024 10:15 | Press release | | | | | The Council has adopted new rules that aim to improve working conditions for the more than 28 million people working in digital labour platforms across the EU. The platform work directive will make the use of algorithms in human resources management more transparent, ensuring that automated systems are monitored by qualified staff and that workers have the right to contest automated decisions. It will also help correctly determine the employment status of persons working for platforms, enabling them to benefit from any labour rights they are entitled to. Member states will establish a legal presumption of employment in their legal systems that will be triggered when certain facts indicating control and direction are found. Next stepsThe directive will now be signed by both the Council and the European Parliament and will enter into force following publication in the EU’s Official Journal. Member states will then have two years to incorporate the provisions of the directive into their national legislation. BackgroundThe Commission’s proposal was published on 9 December 2021. Employment and social affairs ministers agreed on the Council’s general approach at their meeting on 12 June 2023. Negotiations with the European Parliament began on 11 July 2023, and were concluded with an agreement reached on 8 February 2024. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 11/10/2024 18:25 | Meetings | | | | | The second meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania at ministerial level will be held in Luxembourg on 15 October 2024. It will serve to open negotiations with Albania on Cluster 1: Fundamentals. |
| ● European Council | | | 11/10/2024 10:01 | Media advisory | | | | | The press briefing before the EU-GCC summit of 16 October 2024 and the press briefing on the European Council meeting of 17-18 October 2024, will take place on Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 11.00. These briefings will be "off the record". The press briefings will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Justus Lipsius press room or remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use this form to register and have the possibility to ask questions. • Deadline for registration: Tuesday 15 October 2024 at 10.00. Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 14/10/2024 10:13 | Press release | | | | | The Council has today adopted a regulation on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (CLP). This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. The CLP regulation updates the existing 2008 EU legislation, clarifies the rules on labelling chemical substances, and adapts them to different forms of trade (such as online trade or bulk sales at refill stations). The regulation also promotes the circularity of chemical products, makes labelling (including digital labelling) clearer and easier to read, and ensures a higher level of protection against chemical hazards. Protection adapted to take account of new hazardsThe risks associated with chemical products requires specific legislation for their classification, labelling and packaging. The 2008 CLP regulation was insufficiently adapted to the emergence of new hazards (e.g., the presence of endocrine disruptors or the long-life effect of certain substances), new trends in digital and circular economy sales, such as online shopping or bulk purchasing, and digital labelling. The newly adopted revision of the CLP regulation facilitates the reporting on new hazards related to chemicals that are placed on the market and gives the Commission and the other stakeholders new powers to classify harmful substances and accelerate their identification. It also codifies the requirements for a voluntary digital labelling. The new regulation introduces specific rules at the refill stations for chemical products. The regulation will apply to all solid-state chemicals, although there will be a five-year derogation for substances with more than one constituent (MOCS) of botanical origin which have not been chemically modified. Once that period expires, the Commission can propose new legislation based on latest scientific knowledge. Next stepsFollowing the Council's approval today, the legislative act has been adopted. After the signing of the act by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the new CLP regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force three days later. BackgroundThe revision of the CLP, alongside the planned revision of the REACH Regulation, is an important element of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which is a key building block of the European Green Deal. The Commission proposal was presented on 19 December 2022, and the Council concluded a mandate to launch negotiations with the European Parliament on 30 June 2023. Both co‑legislators reached a provisional agreement on 5 December 2023. Since then, the provisional agreement followed the corrigenda procedure during the EU elections. It has finally been adopted at first reading. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 14/10/2024 11:23 | Press release | | | | | The Council has today adopted a decision to conclude the trade agreement between the European Union and its member states, on one hand, and Colombia and Peru, on the other, as well as a decision to conclude the protocol concerning Ecuador's accession to this agreement. This is the final step of the ratification process of the agreement, through which the EU and these Andean countries commit to a close, long-term trade relationship, also covering services, intellectual property, public procurement, and human rights. The agreement allows the gradual opening of markets, which will increase trade and investment between the parties. Although most of the agreement has been provisionally applied since 2013, the conclusion will allow the full implementation of the agreement from 1 November 2024, thus giving an increased degree of legal certainty to this trading relationship. “The goal of the Hungarian Presidency is to foster closer cooperation between European and South American countries. This effort aims to prevent the world from becoming fragmented again and to safeguard our fundamental interest in maintaining free world trade and a strong global economy. The entry into force of this agreement will strengthen trade and investment relations with Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. It will further stimulate growth and job creation, while improving conditions for businesses on both sides.” | | — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó |
The EU is the third-largest trading partner and a major investor in the Andean countries. In 2023, total trade of the EU with the Andean countries was worth around €33 billion. Benefits of the trade agreement include:- opening markets for goods, services, government procurement and investment
- better conditions for trade through new rules on non-tariff barriers, competition, transparency and intellectual property rights
- a more stable and predictable environment for businesses with a bilateral dispute settlement mechanism and a mediation system for non-tariff barriers
- arrangements for cooperation on competitiveness, innovation, production modernisation, trade facilitation and technology transfer
- a comprehensive Trade and Sustainable Development chapter with commitments aimed to ensure high levels of labour and environmental protection, which includes a transparent arbitration system and procedures to engage with civil society
Accession of EcuadorThe Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru anticipated the possibility that other Andean countries could join. Ecuador decided to join the trade agreement, and the protocol of accession for Ecuador was signed in November 2016 and has been provisionally applied since 1 January 2017. Today, the Council has also adopted a decision on the conclusion of the protocol of accession of Ecuador to the trade agreement between the EU and Colombia and Peru, which is as well the final step of this ratification procedure. Next stepsThe Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru, and the referred Protocol to take into account the accession of Ecuador, are set to enter into force on 1 November 2024. BackgroundThe trade agreement with Colombia and Peru was signed on 26 June 2012 in Brussels. The European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the trade agreement on 11 December 2012. The agreement has been provisionally applied with Peru and Colombia since 1 March and 1 August 2013, respectively, with the exception of Articles 2, 202(1), 291 and 292, related to the parts of the agreement referred to disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the rights and obligations existing under the Paris Convention and the TRIPS Agreement, administrative proceedings and review and appeal. On 6 May 2024, the ratification procedures of the trade agreement by member states were finalised. The protocol of accession to the trade agreement with Colombia and Peru to take account of the accession of Ecuador was signed on 11 November 2016 in Brussels. The European Parliament gave its consent on the conclusion of the protocol on 14 December 2016. The protocol has been provisionally applied between the EU and Ecuador since 1 January 2017 and with Colombia and Peru since 1 December 2017 and 1 November 2017 respectively, with the exception of Article 2, Article 202(1) and Articles 291 and 292 of the Agreement. On 15 July 2024, the ratification procedures of the protocol by member states were finalised. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 14/10/2024 11:12 | Press release | | | | | Today the Council formally adopted a directive setting updated air quality standards across the EU. The new rules will contribute to the EU's objective on zero pollution by 2050 and will help prevent premature deaths due to air pollution. EU citizens will be able to seek compensation for damage to their health in cases where EU air quality rules are not respected. Strengthening air quality standardsThe revised directive prioritises the health of EU citizens: it sets new air quality standards for pollutants to be reached by 2030 which are more closely aligned with the WHO air quality guidelines. Those pollutants include, among others, particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, all known to cause respiratory problems. Member states may request that the 2030 deadline be postponed if specific conditions are met. Air quality is assessed using common methods and criteria across the EU, and the revised directive brings further improvements to air quality monitoring and modelling. The revised directive will also ensure early action, with air quality roadmaps that need to be prepared ahead of 2030 if there is a risk that the new standards will not be attained by that date. The air quality standards will be reviewed regularly in line with latest scientific evidence to assess whether they continue to be appropriate. Access to justice and right to compensationThe new directive ensures fair and equitable access to justice for those affected or likely to be affected by the implementation of the directive. Member states need to ensure that citizens have the right to claim and obtain compensation when their health has been damaged due to a violation of air quality rules set in the directive. Next stepsThe text will be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force on the twentieth day following publication. Member states will have two years after the entry into force to transpose the directive into national law. By 2030, the European Commission will review the air quality standards and every five years thereafter, in line with latest scientific evidence. BackgroundAir pollution is the biggest environmental health risk in Europe, as pollutants can be extremely harmful to both humans and the environment. Around 300 000 premature deaths in Europe every year are due to air pollution. To address the issue, the European Commission put forward the revision and consolidation of two ambient air quality directives in October 2022, as part of the EU’s zero pollution action plan. An agreement between the two co-legislators on the final shape of the text was found in February 2024. This new directive simplifies EU rules on ambient air quality by merging the two existing EU directives into one. Its goal is to bring quality standards in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. |
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