COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 12 December 2024

● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 13:37 | Press release | Labour market statistics on businesses: Council and Parliament reach agreement   The Council and the Parliament have reached a provisional agreement, pending approval by EU member states’ permanent representatives, on a new law that aims to improve collection of labour market statistics on businesses at EU level. In particular, the new rules will ensure that these statistics are more up-to-date and comparable across countries. They also provide for better coverage of the economy, and ensure that data is collected on the gender pay gap. EU lawmakers need access to timely, reliable, and comparable labour market statistics on businesses (LMB statistics) in order to effectively design, implement, evaluate and coordinate a wide range of EU policies, for example in areas such as coordination of economic and employment policies, social policy, and equal pay for men and women. LMB statisticsare used to monitor the Sustainable Development Goals, the European employment strategy, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the European Semester. The new rules agreed today update the existing legislation to improve comparability of LMB statistics and increase coverage of the economy. The regulation also ensures that data will be collected on the annual unadjusted gender pay gap, in line with the new pay transparency rules. Next steps The provisional agreement reached between the Council and the Parliament today now needs to be approved by member states’ permanent representatives. Following legal checks, it will then enter into force once it has been adopted by both co-legislators. Background The term “labour market statistics on businesses” (LMB) refers to official statistics on the functioning of businesses in relation to labour markets, particularly as regards labour costs, earnings (including the gender pay gap), and statistics on job vacancies. The Commission’s proposal for a regulation on EU labour market statistics on businesses was adopted on 28 July 2023. It covers statistics on earnings, labour costs, the gender pay gap and job vacancies in the EU, which the European Statistical System (Eurostat) publishes regularly. Gender pay gap: Council adopts new rules on pay transparency (press release, 24 April 2023)

● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 13:24 | Press release | Fighting terrorism: Council approves conclusions on future priorities for countering terrorism   Terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose a significant threat to the EU and its member states. Today the Council approved the first of two sets of conclusions on strengthening joint counterterrorism efforts. The conclusions set strategic goals and highlight key areas where increased efforts are needed to enhance operational efficiency. The aim of the conclusions is to shape EU counterterrorism policies and measures for the next five years. To further enhance counterterrorism measures, on 16 December 2024 the Council will approve conclusions on reinforcing external-internal connections in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. “The fight against terrorism in the EU is a joint effort of all member states. From information sharing and border security to hindering terrorist financing and preventing radicalisation, EU countries have a range of common tools at their disposal to keep citizens safe.” — Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs In the Council conclusions, member states note that global unrest has heightened the terrorism threat level in some member states. Those external conflicts have contributed to intensifying radicalisation and social polarisation across the Union, which may in turn potentially lead to terrorism and violent extremism. The Council calls on member states to enhance their preparedness and response capabilities in order to prevent terrorist and violent extremist attacks. The conclusions highlight three key areas of intervention for strengthening counterterrorism efforts: information exchange; detecting and preventing the infiltration of persons posing a terrorist threat; and countering terrorism and violent extremism online. In order to detect and prevent the infiltration of persons posing a security threat, the Council invites member states to continue inserting alerts based on return decisions in the Schengen Information System, and calls on the Commission and member states to operationalise the effective return of persons posing a security threat. As the digital sphere has increasingly become a breeding ground for radicalisation, the Council invites the Commission to take further steps to address the challenges posed by non-compliant online platforms, by strictly enforcing the Digital Services Act. Next steps In accordance with his mandate, the EU counterterrorism coordinator is tasked with following up the implementation of these Council conclusions. The political guidelines of the European Commission foresee the development of a new EU agenda for preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Background National security remains the sole responsibility of member states, but member states need to work together to effectively prevent terrorist attacks and ensure the security of citizens. EU measures to tackle terrorism include the establishment of the Schengen Information System to improve information flows between countries, rules on the transfer and processing of personal data provided by air passengers and the creation of the European counterterrorism centre at Europol. A new anti-money laundering law was adopted in 2024 to protect EU citizens against terrorist financing. In addition, based on an EU regulation from 2022, terrorist content must be taken down within one hour after it is identified online. The EU Counterterrorism Coordinator, whose role was established in 2004 following the Madrid terrorist attacks, plays a key role in coordinating counterterrorism work within the EU and reinforcing the EU’s counterterrorism relations with third countries. The EU’s response to terrorism (background information) ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 12:47 | Press release | Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption   Today the Council decided to remove Vanuatu from the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from having a visa when travelling to the EU. The EU is revoking the visa exemption, which had already been suspended since 2022, because Vanuatu runs an investor citizenship scheme which has resulted in security and migration risks for the EU. Background The visa exemption for nationals of Vanuatu has applied since 28 May 2015. Since 25 May 2015, Vanuatu has been operating investor citizenship schemes. These schemes enable third-country nationals who would otherwise be required to have a visa when travelling to the EU to receive Vanuatu citizenship in exchange for an investment, thereby obtaining visa-free access to the EU. Even though the European Commission established a dialogue with Vanuatu to remedy the situation, the concerns in relation to the investor citizenship scheme have persisted. Therefore the Council today decided to amend the EU's visa regulation (Regulation (EU) 2018/1806) by adding Vanuatu to the list of countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing an EU border. EU visa policy (background information) ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 12:26 | Press release | EU Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO): Council appoints European prosecutors for Poland and Sweden   The Council today appointed two new European prosecutors to the European Public Prosecutor's Office: Ms Grażyna STRONIKOWSKA for Poland and Mr Martin BRESMAN for Sweden. Role and mandate European prosecutors supervise investigations and prosecutions and, together with the European Chief Prosecutor, form the EPPO College. They are appointed for a non-renewable term of six years. The Council may decide to extend their term for a maximum of three years at the end of this period. Selection process Each member state nominates candidates for the position of European prosecutor. These must be candidates who are active members of the public prosecution service or judiciary of their member state, whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to high prosecutorial or judicial office in their member state. They must have relevant practical experience of national legal systems, of financial investigations and of international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. Following the nomination phase, a selection panel draws up reasoned opinions and ranks the nominated candidates for each member state who fulfilled the conditions. The Council then selects and appoints one of the candidates to be the European prosecutor for their member state. Background The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is an independent body of the EU responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the Union (e.g. fraud, corruption, cross-border VAT fraud above 10 million euros). The EPPO carries out acts of prosecution and exercises the functions of prosecutor in the competent courts of the member states. In 2019 the Council and the European Parliament appointed Laura Codruţa Kövesi to be the first European chief prosecutor. Currently 24 member states participate in the EPPO (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden). The EPPO started its operation at the end of 2020. It is based in Luxembourg. European Public Prosecutor's Office (background information) ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 13:13 | Media advisory | Press briefing - General Affairs Council of 17 December 2024   The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council will take place on Monday, 16 December 2024 at 11.30. 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. 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, 16 December 2024 at 10.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 11:22 | Press release | Justice and home affairs ministers define priorities for next five years   The Council is shaping the direction of EU policy in the area of freedom, security and justice. To this end, the Council today approved the strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice. “These strategic guidelines demonstrate the unified position of EU member states in addressing migration challenges, restoring the normal functioning of the Schengen area, providing security to EU citizens and fighting crime. A decade has passed since the last strategic guidelines were defined, and after ten years we have successfully reached a shared position. The Hungarian Presidency played a driving role in shaping the future direction of migration and security. This is a significant agreement, demonstrating a shared vision for meaningful action and policy.” — Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs “Cooperation on judicial matters is key to protect our fundamental freedoms and sustain prosperity. The strategic guidelines that we approved today are our common plan of action in this area for the next five years. This significant agreement represents the Council’s unified vision on the future of judicial cooperation.” — Bence Tuzson, Hungarian Minister of Justice The strategic guidelines underline the importance of the free movement of persons and recall that a well-functioning Schengen area, where internal border controls remain a temporary measure of last resort, underpins the freedom and security of EU citizens. At the same time, the guidelines recall the need for external border controls and member state cooperation on security and migration. As regards migration, the text highlights that member states decide who enters Europe, not smugglers or hostile external actors. In the field of justice, the document emphasises that judicial cooperation is a key objective of the area of freedom, security and justice, based on the cornerstone of the mutual recognition of judgments and judicial decisions between member states. Other key points of the strategic guidelines include: Making strategic use of the EU’s visa policy and preventing abuse of the EU’s visa regime Developing ambitious, durable and comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit, including in the area of border and security partnerships, and considering new ways to prevent and counter irregular migration Making our societies more resilient against organised crime and, in order to tackle serious and organised crime effectively, depriving criminal groups of their resources An invitation to the Commission to develop a roadmap for the implementation of the recommendations of the high-level group on access to data for effective law enforcement Engaging in a reflection on all aspects of EU criminal and civil law in order to ensure consistency and focus on the implementation of the existing acquis Next steps The strategic guidelines will be endorsed by EU leaders at the European Council meeting on 19 December. Strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice, 3 December 2024 ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 12:43 | Press release | Passenger information: EU adopts regulations to improve border security and fight terrorism   The Council has given the final green light to two regulations that will strengthen EU border security and enhance the fight against terrorism and serious crime. These regulations establish the framework for the collection and transfer of advance passenger information (API). “We cannot afford any blind spots about air passengers arriving in the EU. Thanks to the two laws adopted today, law enforcement authorities and border guards will get more accurate and timely advance information about everyone on EU-bound flights.” — Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs Common rules for the collection and transfer of passenger data Under the new regulation on the collection and transfer of API, airlines must transmit passenger data – including travel document data, flight details and baggage information – to the authorities before passengers reach the EU’s external borders. This ensures that the authorities can conduct advance checks, assess potential security risks and manage them effectively. It allows for smoother border checks and ensures that the necessary action is taken in advance to secure the EU’s external borders. The regulation on the use of API for law enforcement will support the prevention, detection and prosecution of terrorism and serious crime. This will be achieved by linking API data with PNR data, allowing authorities to track criminal activities and prevent the movement of criminals and terrorists across EU borders. A centralised system (router) for data transmission will be established to ensure more accurate data sharing and reduce administrative burden. Airlines will be required to use automated systems to transmit API data, with a transitional period for manual data collection if needed. Next steps The new regulation will replace the 2004 advance passenger information directive. It will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. As a first step, eu-LISA (the EU agency overseeing IT systems in the area of security and justice), member states and the Commission will undertake the necessary actions to prepare the router for operation. Background In 2019, over half a billion air passengers entered or left the EU, highlighting the importance of air travel in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism. As air travel is increasingly used by criminals and terrorists, ensuring timely access to passenger data is crucial for maintaining security. These regulations address gaps in existing laws, establishing more uniform practices for the collection and processing of API and PNR data. Air passenger data: Council and European Parliament reach provisional agreement to increase security and enhance border management (press release, 1 March 2024) Passenger data (background information) ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 10:09 | Press release | Access to data: Council calls for challenges for law enforcement to be addressed   Technological developments and the digitalisation of our societies have led to significant challenges for law enforcement authorities in carrying out their tasks. This is the case in particular when it comes to retaining and accessing data necessary to investigate and prosecute crime. In conclusions approved today, the Council calls on the EU and member states to take action to ensure effective and lawful access to data for judicial and law enforcement authorities. “We cannot allow digitalisation to give a competitive edge to criminals over law enforcement. Access to data is essential so that law enforcement authorities can fulfil their mission of keeping citizens safe.” — Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 09:59 | Press release | Schengen: Council decides to lift land border controls with Bulgaria and Romania   EU member states have decided to remove checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between Bulgaria and Romania from 1 January 2025. “It is a historic moment to finally welcome Bulgaria and Romania as full Schengen members. Lifting checks on persons at the internal land borders with and between those member states has been a top priority for the Hungarian presidency, and today we have made it a reality. This step will benefit not only Bulgarian and Romanian citizens, but also the EU as a whole.” — Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for Home Affairs Background Since their accession to the EU, Bulgaria and Romania have applied parts of the Schengen legal framework (the Schengen acquis), including those relating to external border controls, police cooperation and the use of the Schengen Information System. On 30 December 2023 the Council adopted a decision to apply, from 31 March 2024, the remaining parts of the Schengen acquis and to abolish checks on persons at internal air and sea borders. Schengen is the largest free travel area in the world. Border checks between France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg were first dropped in 1985. The Schengen area now covers 29 countries (25 of the 27 member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and 420 million people. Controls at the internal borders with Cyprus have not yet been lifted, and Ireland is not part of the Schengen area. Schengen area: Council agrees to lift air and maritime internal border controls with Bulgaria and Romania (press release, 30 December 2023) The Schengen area explained (background information) ● Council of the EU   12/12/2024 08:40 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Environment Council, 17 December 2024   EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They will also discuss the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles and the communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target. ● Council of the EU   11/12/2024 16:28 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12-13 December 2024   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: Europa building, Brussels Chairs: Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for the Interior Bence Tuzson, Hungarian Minister for Justice Thursday, 12 December - HOME AFFAIRS +/- 08.30 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.30 Doorstep by Sándor Pintér, Hungarian Minister for the Interior (live streaming) 09.30 Beginning of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs) Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items: Non-legislative list Council Decision setting the date for the lifting of checks on persons at internal land borders with and between the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania +/- 10.00 Implementation of interoperability Overall state of the Schengen area - Implementation of the priorities of the annual Schengen Council cycle: Increasing overall security through digitalisation Approval of "A" items: Legislative items (+/- 12.30 public session) Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse (+/- 12.40 public session) Any other business: Current legislative proposals (+/- 13.10 public session) Preparedness of the Union Migration and Asylum: Implementation of migration and asylum reforms +/- 14.00 Working lunch: Migration and Asylum +/- 15.45 Countering security challenges: assessment by European domestic security and inteligence services Legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice Access to data for effective law enforcement: concluding report of the High-Level Group The fight against drug trafficking and organised crime Any other business: EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Budva, 28-29 October 2024) 7th Ministerial Conference of the Budapest Process (Budapest, 11-12 November 2024) Work programme of the incoming Presidency At the end of the meeting (+/- 17.30 in the Justus Lipsius press room) press conference Home Affairs in live streaming. Friday, 13 December - JUSTICE +/- 08.30 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.45 Doorstep by Bence Tuzson, Hungarian Minister of Justice (live streaming) 09.45 Continuation of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice) Directive on minimum rules to prevent migrant smuggling (+/- 09.45 public session) Directive on combating the sexual abuse and the sexual exploitation of children (+/- 10.00 public session) Directive harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law (+/- 10.15 public session) Any other business: Current legislative proposals (+/- 10.30 public session) The future of EU criminal law Access to data for effective law enforcement: concluding report of the High-Level Group The fight against drug trafficking and organised crime Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: fight against impunity Enhancing the European Investigation Order: results from the final report on mutual evaluations (10th Round) +/- 13.15 Working lunch: Developing AI systems in the field of justice +/- 14.45 Legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice Any other business: EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum on Justice and Home Affairs (Budva, 28-29 October 2024) EU-US negotiations on an e-evidence agreement Fight against antisemitism - developments in the area of combatting antisemitism Work programme of the incoming Presidency At the end of the meeting (+/- 15.45 in the Justus Lipsius press room) press conference Justice in live streaming. Meeting page - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 12 December 2024 Meeting page - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 13 December 2024   ● Council of the EU   11/12/2024 15:28 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 December 2024   EU energy ministers will seek to approve conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of a report on the future of geothermal energy. They will also exchange views on the future of energy policy in view of a genuine Energy Union. ● Council of the EU   11/12/2024 12:52 | Press release | Tackling non-sustainable fishing practices allowed by non-EU countries: Council endorses negotiating mandate   Member states' EU ambassadors today agreed on the Council’s negotiating position on a proposal to improve the EU tools that can be used against non-EU countries allowing non-sustainable fishing practices in relation to fish stocks of common interest. “The revised rules will help tackle overfishing by non-EU countries and improve the long-term sustainability of the fish stocks we share with countries outside of the EU. Thanks to the improved framework, we are also ensuring fair competition between EU and non-EU fishers and operators.” — István Nagy, Hungarian Minister for Agriculture Main elements The Council’s negotiating mandate retains the main elements of the Commission proposal, which amends the current rules for tackling situations when third countries fail to cooperate in the management of stocks of common interest or fail to adopt necessary fishery management measures. The targeted revision clarifies the rules used to identify a country as being one that allows non-sustainable fishing, thus increasing legal certainty. More specifically, the proposal clarifies the notion of 'failure to cooperate' and specifies that a country can be considered as allowing non-sustainable fishing if it does not implement the necessary measures, including control measures. Once a country is identified as allowing non-sustainable fishing practices, the EU can impose restrictions, such as import bans. Another objective of the proposal is to improve cooperation with the relevant non-EU country before and after the EU takes appropriate action. The Council improves the Commission's proposal, in particular by further specifying the cases that are examples of 'failure to cooperate' in the management of a fish stock of common interest. Next steps The agreement reached today will allow the Council presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament, once the Parliament votes on its mandate. Background Regulation (EU) 1226/2012 sets out a framework for the EU to adopt measures against non-EU countries that allow non-sustainable fishing practices. These measures can include identifying a country as such and the imposition of quantitative restrictions on imports from that country of fish and fishery products from the stock concerned or associated species. The objective of the proposal, published by the Commission on 13 September 2024, is to improve the clarity and legal certainty of the current legislation. Council negotiating mandate Commission proposal ● Council of the EU   11/12/2024 11:41 | Media advisory | Press briefings - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) of 16 December 2024 and Environment Council of 17 December 2024   The press briefing ahead of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council will take place on Friday, 13 December 2024 at 11.00, followed by the press briefing ahead of the Environment Council. These back-to-back and "off the record" press briefings 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 Europa 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 previous press events of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy or the Environment Council meetings do not need to do it again: Deadline for registration: Friday, 13 December 2024, 10.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Meeting page - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 December 2024 Meeting page - Environment Council, 17 December 2024 ● Council of the EU   11/12/2024 10:04 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Foreign Affairs Council of 16 December 2024   The press briefing ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council will take place on Friday, 13 December 2024 at 14.30. This press briefing will be 'off the record' and will be given by a senior EEAS official in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa 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 previous press events of the Foreign Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 13 December 2024, 13.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.