COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 17 December 2024

● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 23:43 | Press release | Better data sharing: Council and Parliament strike deal on financial reporting requirements   The Council and Parliament today reached a provisional agreement to simplify certain reporting requirements in the field of financial services and investment support (better data sharing). The new regulation will reduce administrative burden for authorities in the financial sector, by simplifying existing rules on data sharing between the European Supervisory authorities (ESAs) and other financial sector authorities and by limiting new reporting requirements. The Council and Parliament agreed that the Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) with all relevant authorities, would prepare a report on possibly setting up an integrated reporting system. The integrated reporting system would include a common data dictionary and a data space for collecting and exchanging information. The report would be drawn up to 5 years after the entry into force of the regulation. The Commission would then assess whether to submit a legislative proposal to establish such a system. The provisional agreement specifies that the scope of information sharing would be limited to information stemming only from EU law. The national competent authorities will be involved in information sharing on a voluntary basis. Data sharing will function on the principle of ‘reporting once’, where public sector authorities would check whether the information is already available to other authorities before seeking information from financial institutions, except for time sensitive requests. The Council and Parliament agreed to include the Single Resolution Board (SRB), European Central Bank’s Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) and the newly created Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AMLA) in the set of authorities that are allowed to issue a request for data sharing. The exchange of information should lie with the ESAs and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), which should share the information received from the national competent authorities with other ESAs and Union and national authorities. The provisional agreement also introduces amendments to the InvestEU regulation, changing the reporting frequency from biannual to annual, which reduces the workload and administrative burden across all InvestEU windows with negligible implications on the implementation of the programme. Next steps The provisional agreement will now have to be confirmed by the Council and Parliament, before being formally adopted. Once adopted, the final text will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force. Background The Commission submitted the proposal to review EU legislation on reporting in the fields of financial services and investment support on 17 October 2023. This aims to promote a more efficient collection of data and avoid double reporting with a direct benefit to European and national authorities and an indirect benefit for those financial sector entities having to provide information. Council agrees its position on simpler financial reporting requirements (press release, 19 June 2024) Council negotiating mandate on reporting requirements European capital markets (background information)

● Council of the EU

17/12/2024 20:11 | Meetings | Main results - General Affairs Council, 17 December 2024   Ministers focused on preparations for the upcoming European Council, EU relations with the UK and Switzerland, legislative planning and the future of Europe. The Council also approved conclusions on enlargement and endorsed its next 18-month programme. ● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 20:10 | Meetings | Main results - Environment Council, 17 December 2024   EU environment ministers met in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They also discussed the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles and the communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target. ● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 13:22 | Press release | Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova: Council agrees its negotiating position   The Council today agreed its negotiating position on the Reform and Growth Facility for the Republic of Moldova. The proposed facility is the financial pillar of the Moldova Growth Plan, presented by the Commission in October 2024. It will support Moldova during the period from 2025 to 2027 and is expected to provide up to €285 million in grants and €1.5 billion in loans. These loans will be highly concessional, with long repayment time and advantageous interest rates. The facility will also support Moldova in its EU accession process and in undertaking EU-related reforms as well as stimulate economic convergence with the EU. Payments will be subject to strict conditions in terms of the achievement of reforms set out in the agreed Reform Agenda. “The Hungarian presidency has been determined to deliver progress on Moldova’s EU accession. This package is a concrete result of those efforts, helping Moldova implement key reforms, strengthen its economy, and advance its EU integration process.” — Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trade of Hungary Main elements of the Council’s mandate The Council’s negotiating position closely reflects the Commission proposal on establishing the facility. At the same time, in its mandate, the Council places additional focus on helping Moldova manage and mitigate the challenges stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its attempts to destabilise Moldova. Other adjustments to the Commission proposal aim to strengthen the role of the EU member states in the governance of the facility. This concerns, in particular, their role in the assessment of the fulfilment of payment conditions. Next steps The agreement on the Council’s negotiating position will allow the Council presidency to begin negotiations with the European Parliament once the Parliament has voted on its mandate. Background On 10 October 2024, the European Commission presented a Moldova Growth Plan, which is based on three pillars: supporting Moldova's socio-economic and fundamental reforms, enhancing Moldova’s access to the EU's single market, and increasing financial support over the next three years through a dedicated Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova. The envelope of up to €1.8 billion provided by the facility is the largest EU financial support package to Moldova since its independence and comes on top of the EU’s other substantial support to Moldova. In its conclusions on enlargement approved today, the Council welcomed the Commission’s communication on the new Growth Plan for Moldova and looked forward to reaching political agreement on the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova as soon as possible. Council’s negotiating position (general approach) on the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova Commission adopts €1.8 billion support package to underpin Moldova's economic growth plan on its path to the EU (European Commission press release, 10 October 2024)   ● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 13:12 | Press release | Council approves enlargement conclusions   The Council today approved conclusions on enlargement covering the six Western Balkans partners, Türkiye, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Georgia. Council conclusions on enlargement, 17 December 2024 ● International Summit   17/12/2024 12:35 | Meetings | EU-Western Balkans summit, 18 December 2024   Background brief - EU-Western Balkans summit   ● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 11:32 | Press release | Zero pollution: Council agrees its position on reducing plastic pellets losses, including in maritime transport   Today, the Council adopted its position ('general approach') on a regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets – the industrial raw materials used to make plastic products – to the environment. The general approach provides the Council presidency with a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the regulation. The new rules will help to improve the handling of plastic pellets at all stages of the supply chain. This could reduce plastic losses to the environment by up to 74%. Building on the Commission's original proposal, the Council's general approach strikes a balance between introducing ambitious and effective measures to minimise plastic pellet losses and avoiding unnecessary administrative burden. The text also ensures a level playing field between EU and non-EU carriers and introduces obligations for sea-going vessels transporting plastic pellets, in line with the recommendations of the International Maritime Organization. “Plastic pellet losses to the environment are the third largest source of all unintentional microplastic releases. The new rules, the first of their kind in the EU, will help companies to minimise plastic pellet losses, contributing to the fight against microplastic pollution, which knows no borders or boundaries.” — Anikó Raisz, Hungarian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs and the Circular Economy Scope of the regulation This regulation applies to: economic operators handling plastic pellets in quantities above 5 tonnes in the EU EU and non-EU carriers transporting plastic pellets in the EU companies in charge of cleaning plastic pellet containers and tanks (added by the Council in its general approach) shippers, operators, agents and masters of sea-going vessels when leaving or calling at a port of a member state (added by the Council in its general approach) The Council maintains the Commission's approach in that the new rules will apply at all stages of the supply chain. Best handling practices When plastic pellets are unintentionally released into the environment, it is often due to a lack of awareness and poor handling practices by economic operators, carriers and sea-going vessels. Once lost to the environment, it is almost impossible to recapture plastic pellets, and they are easily scattered over large distances by wind and water streams. In accordance with the new rules and depending on the size of the installation or transport activity, operators will have to follow best handling practices. Both EU and non-EU carriers would be obliged to prevent plastic pellet losses, as well as to clean them up should they occur. According to the Council's general approach, both EU and non-EU carriers will have to inform authorities about their establishment and their involvement in the transport of plastic pellets. To ensure compliance with these obligations and a level playing field, the Council has introduced an obligation for non-EU carriers to designate an authorised representative in the EU. Maritime transport The persistence of a plastic pellet in an aquatic environment can be measured over decades or more, since plastic pellets are not biodegradable. Moreover, maritime transport accounted for around 38% of all pellets transported in the EU in 2022. Therefore, the Council has introduced specific obligations regarding the transport of plastic pellets by sea (in freight containers), including ensuring good quality packaging and providing cargo-related and other technical information. This is in addition to the obligations related to the transport of plastic pellets by road, rail and inland waterways, as set out in the Commission's proposal. To facilitate compliance with the rules on maritime transport, the Council agreed to postpone their application by one year (compared to the rest of the rules set out in the regulation). Moreover, if the International Maritime Organization adopts measures to address marine pollution by plastic pellets from ships, the regulation should be amended accordingly, upon a proposal by the Commission. Mandatory certification and self-declaration According to the new rules, national authorities will have to conduct environmental inspections and take other verification measures as part of a risk-based approach. To prove their compliance with these rules, larger operators will have to obtain a compliance certificate issued by an independent third party. According to the general approach, all companies (excluding microentreprises) are covered by this obligation if they handle more than 1 000 tonnes annually. The Council has given small enterprises four years to comply with this obligation. Companies handling less than 1 000 tonnes annually will have to issue a self-declaration of conformity. Alternatively, the general approach allows member states to ensure compliance through established national permit systems. Furthermore, the Council has added an obligation on authorities to provide free and public access to information regarding the handling of plastic pellets. Next steps The general approach agreed today formalises the Council's negotiating position. Negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the regulation are expected to start in early 2025. Background It is estimated that between 52 140 and 184 290 tonnes of pellets were lost to the environment in the EU in 2019. Pellet losses can occur at various stages along the value chain. So far, microplastics have not been covered by EU law in a comprehensive manner and there are no EU rules specifically on plastic pellet losses, despite their adverse impacts on the environment, the climate, the economy and potentially on human health. In its conclusions on making the recovery circular and green (December 2020), the Council supported the Commission in restricting intentionally added microplastics as soon as possible and tackling pollution from plastic pellets. In 2021, the Commission proposed that the EU should reduce (intentional and unintentional) microplastic releases into the environment by 30% by 2030 (in its 'towards zero pollution for air, water and soil' action plan). Plastic pellets rank third among the largest sources of unintentional microplastic releases, after paints and tyres. On 16 October 2023, the Commission presented its proposal on a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. General approach on a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution Council conclusions on making the recovery circular and green Zero pollution action plan (European Commission) ● Council of the EU   17/12/2024 10:27 | Press release | Third meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania at ministerial level   The third meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania at ministerial level was held today in Brussels. The European Union delegation was led by Mr Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the participation of Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The Albanian delegation was led by Mr Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania. The meeting served to open negotiations with Albania on Cluster 6: External relations, including the following negotiating chapters: Chapter 30 – External relations Chapter 31 – Foreign, security and defence policy The EU also set benchmarks for the provisional closure of these chapters. This follows the opening of the first cluster, on ‘Fundamentals’, at the Accession Conference with Albania on 15 October 2024. “Today, we held the second Intergovernmental Conference with Albania under the Hungarian presidency, taking another concrete step forward in its accession process. This progress reflects our strong focus on the integration of the Western Balkans, which is essential for the stability and future of the European Union.” — Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis and relevant European standards will continue throughout the negotiations. The Accession Conference will return to this cluster at an appropriate moment. Background Following the introduction of the revised methodology for the accession negotiations in 2020, negotiating chapters are divided in six thematic clusters: Fundamentals Internal market Competitiveness and inclusive growth Green agenda and sustainable connectivity Resources, agriculture and cohesion External relations Negotiations on the Fundamentals cluster are the first to be opened and the last to be closed, and progress under this cluster will determine the overall pace of negotiations. EU common position on Cluster 6: External relations First meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 19 July 2022 Second meeting of the Accession Conference with Albania, 15 October 2024   ● Council of the EU   16/12/2024 21:30 | Press release | Cohesion policy: EU co-legislators strike a deal on a new instrument to promote the development of cross-border regions (BRIDGEforEU)   The Council presidency and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional agreement on a new Border Regions’ Instrument for Development and Growth in the EU – BRIDGEforEU. The regulation on the instrument seeks to support the development of cross-border regions by making it easier to find solutions to their challenges, such as infrastructure development and the management of cross-border public services. According to the provisional agreement, the new legal framework will complement existing possibilities and cover the land border regions of neighbouring member states, as well as maritime borders. Member states will be free to decide whether to set up cross-border coordination points responsible for handling cross-border files and how to resolve cross-border obstacles. Those member states who do not wish to set up cross-border coordination points will have limited reporting obligations. Island member states will be exempt from these requirements. Although the regulation will not apply to border regions with third countries, it opens up the possibility for member states to set up equivalent procedural frameworks under national law to address cross-border issues in their cooperation with third countries. The co-legislators have also agreed that only public or private law entities would be able to initiate cross-border files, while natural persons would not be able to do so. Next steps The provisional agreement will now need to be endorsed by both institutions in their entirety and undergo legal-linguistic revision before formal adoption. Member states’ EU ambassadors will be invited to confirm the agreement at their meeting on 20 December. Cohesion policy: Council agrees negotiating mandate for a regulation on facilitating cross-border solutions (press release, 23 October 2024)

● Council of the EU

16/12/2024 20:44 | Meetings | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council, 16 December 2024   The Foreign Affairs Council exchanged views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and Georgia. Ministers then discussed the situation in the Middle East, including Syria. Under current affairs, EU ministers touched on the latest developments in Belarus.

● Council of the EU

16/12/2024 20:06 | Press release | Seventeenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at ministerial level   The seventeenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at ministerial level was held today in Brussels. The European Union delegation was led by Mr Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the participation of Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos. The Montenegrin delegation was led by Mr Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro. The meeting served to provisionally close negotiations on the following negotiating chapters: Chapter 7 - Intellectual property law Chapter 10 - Information society and media Chapter 20 - Enterprise and industrial policy This follows the sixteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro on 26 June 2024, where the EU confirmed that Montenegro has, overall, met the interim benchmarks set for the rule of law chapters (Chapters 23 and 24), paving the way for the country to start the process of closing chapters in the accession negotiations. “Montenegro has been waiting for EU membership for 16 years, with all chapters opened but no chapters closed in the past seven years. Under the Hungarian presidency, we have now successfully closed three negotiation chapters, marking a significant step forward in Montenegro's accession process.” — Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on behalf of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union Monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the EU acquis will continue throughout the negotiations. The EU will, if necessary, return to these chapters at an appropriate moment. Background Currently, 33 chapters in Montenegro’s EU accession negotiations have been opened. With the provisional closure of three chapters today, a total of six negotiating chapters have been provisionally closed. According to the negotiating principles endorsed by the Accession Conference, agreements reached in the course of negotiations on specific chapters, even partial ones, may not be considered as final until an overall agreement has been reached for all chapters. EU common position regarding chapter 7 EU common position regarding chapter 10 EU common position regarding chapter 20 Montenegro (background information) ● Council of the EU   16/12/2024 18:34 | Meetings | Main results - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 December 2024   EU energy ministers approved conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of an International Energy Agency report on the future of geothermal energy. They also exchanged views on the future of energy policy in view of a genuine energy union, discussing priorities for the next legislative cycle.