COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Library blog Thursday, 19 December 2024

● General Secretariat of the Council   1974-2024: the 50th European Council’s anniversary   The European Council, originally established as a summit forum for the leaders of the European Communities, has since evolved into one of the European Union’s most crucial institutions. On 9 and 10 December 1974 the nine leaders of the European Communities met for a summit in Paris. This would come to be seen as the founding moment of the European Council. To mark its 50th anniversary, the Council’s archives invite you to explore this significant event through their documents.

● European Council

18/12/2024 23:00 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels   The timing of today’s summit could not have been better. It was the first meeting I chaired as President of the European Council. This highlights the political priority that enhancing cooperation with the Western Balkans has for me and for the European Union. We are sending a strong signal with the Brussels Declaration that we adopted today. And I am glad that the Western Balkans partners aligned with it. So I would like to express my satisfaction that we have agreed on a declaration that is different from those of previous summits, more concise, and that can be more easily understood by citizens. During today’s summit, it was clearer than ever that the European Union and the Western Balkans belong to the same European family. The Western Balkans’ place is at the heart of our European project. Although this summit was not about enlargement, it is also clearer than ever that enlargement is our common driving force. It is a fact that each country that has joined the European Union is much more prosperous thanks to its membership. This is Europe’s prosperity promise. Enlargement is also the best geostrategic investment in our peace, security, and stability that we all can make. And gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union is already advancing, in a merit-based way. Today’s declaration underscores the fact that our Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is a real gamechanger. Citizens in the region will see a doubling of economic growth translated into new jobs and better services over the next decade. There is no other region in the world into which the European Union has invested so many resources - financial resources, human resources and expertise. This is how more integration builds real strategic partnership. A strategic partnership that sees the Western Balkans aligned with the European Union in condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression, and support for Ukraine, including military support. And a strategic partnership in which we reinforce security and resilience in the Western Balkans, through the European Peace Facility. The European Union is already the biggest economic partner of and investor in the Western Balkans. It is and will remain their most reliable partner for the future. We all know that some challenges persist. Bilateral disputes and neighbourhood dilemmas still need to be addressed. We need to stay focused on credible and sustainable reforms. And accession will be merit-based. Tonight we heard about the frustrations from the region, but I believe we can overcome them. Together. We now have a new momentum. We have seen significant progress in the past year, particularly in Montenegro and Albania. And during this summit, I noticed a collective sense of responsibility and a new drive to work harder and faster. So we should use the new momentum to the fullest and create all the conditions necessary for enlargement. Because there is no doubt that the future of the Western Balkans is in our Union. Thank you.

● Council of the EU

18/12/2024 17:09 | Press release | Council gives final green light to package of measures to assist member states affected by natural disasters   The Council today adopted a set of two regulations aimed at helping member states affected by natural disasters. The measures are a direct response to the devastating floods and wildfires that ravaged Central, Eastern and Southern Europe this autumn. The regulation on Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) will ensure that EU cohesion policy funds can rapidly and flexibly be mobilised to assist the affected member states in post-disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts. The amendments to the regulation governing the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) will give member states more flexibility to provide emergency support and targeted liquidity to farmers, forest holders, and related businesses affected by natural disasters. Both regulations were adopted by the Council by written procedure. Main elements RESTORE regulation The RESTORE regulation amends the regulation governing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, and the regulation establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for the 2021-2027 programming period, to enable member states to reprogramme funds for RESTORE priorities. It offers additional assistance for member states affected by natural disasters occurring in 2024 and 2025, covering measures such as repairing damaged infrastructure and equipment, and providing food and basic material assistance and social and healthcare support. Such measures will benefit from an increased maximum co-financing rate of 95%, along with an additional pre-financing rate of 25% to help ease the budgetary pressure on the impacted member states. The overall resources available for reprogramming under RESTORE are capped at 10% of the initial total national allocation for the ERDF and ESF+. European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development The regulation concerning the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development will enable member states to reallocate unused 2014-2020 funds via a modification of their rural development programmes. This will permit them to swiftly provide emergency assistance to farmers, forest holders, and small and medium-sized enterprises in those sectors that have been affected by climate-related disasters that have occurred since 1 January 2024. The assistance can be 100% financed through unused EU funds from the 2014-2020 EAFRD, coming in the form of lump sums of up to €42 000 per beneficiary. Moreover, member states will have the flexibility to introduce and reinforce measures to restore the production potential of affected farms and forests. The measures do not modify existing budgetary commitments, and thus will not have an impact on the EU budget. Next steps Today's adoption marks the final step in the legislative process. The RESTORE regulation will enter into force on the day following the date of its publication in the Official Journal, while the amendments to the regulation governing the EAFRD will enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal. Once the regulations have entered into force, the member states concerned will be able to remobilise funding to deal with recent disasters, based on their specific needs. They will then be required to submit programme amendments to the Commission for review and adoption. Background The Commission published its proposals for the regulations on 21 October 2024. The Council and the Parliament have fast-tracked their work and consultations, in order to finalise the EU support measures for the affected member states as soon as possible, and to enable member states to swiftly support affected citizens. The European Parliament approved the regulations as agreed with the Council yesterday. RESTORE regulation Amendments to the regulation governing the EAFRD Assistance to member states affected by natural disasters: Council agrees its position on the RESTORE proposal (press release, 27 November 2024) Assistance to member states affected by natural disasters: Council gives go-ahead to proposal (press release, 12 November 2024) ● Council of the EU   18/12/2024 16:14 | Press release | EU deforestation law: Council formally adopts its one-year postponement   Today, the Council formally adopted the regulation on the postponement of application of the EU deforestation law by one year. This postponement will allow third countries, member states, operators and traders to be fully prepared in terms of their due diligence obligations, in order to ensure that certain commodities and products sold in the EU or exported from the EU are deforestation-free. This includes products made from cattle, wood, cocoa, soy, palm oil, coffee, rubber and some of their derived products. The deforestation regulation has already been in force since 29 June 2023 and its provisions are to be applied from 30 December 2024. Following this targeted amendment, its rules will start to apply on 30 December 2025. This will give legal certainty, predictability and sufficient time for the smooth and effective implementation of the rules. Next steps The formal adoption by the Council today marks the final step in the ordinary legislative procedure.  The regulation will now be signed and published in the Official Journal of the EU, so that it can enter into force before the end of the year. Background The deforestation regulation was adopted in 2023. The Commission submitted its proposal on postponing the application date of the deforestation regulation in response to concerns raised by member states, third countries, traders and operators that they might not fully comply with the rules by 31 December 2024. On 16 October 2024, the Council agreed on its position on the amendment of the EU deforestation regulation, postponing its date of application by 12 months. On 20 November 2024, the Council reiterated its support for the proposed targeted amendment of the EU deforestation regulation. On 3 December 2024, the Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the targeted amendment of the regulation. Regulation amending the EU deforestation regulation as regards provisions relating to the date of application Voting results and statements EU deforestation law: Council and Parliament agree on its targeted amendment (press release, 3 December 2024) EU deforestation law: Council reconfirms its agreement to extend application timeline (press release, 20 November 2024) EU deforestation law: Council agrees to extend application timeline (press release, 16 October 2024) Deforestation (background information)

● Council of the EU

18/12/2024 11:47 | Press release | Better protection for travellers: Council adopts position on the revised package travel directive   Today the Council adopted its position (negotiating mandate) on a revised directive on package travel to make the protection of travellers more effective and to simplify certain aspects of the 2015 Directive. The revised text aims to strengthen travellers’ rights and clarify the obligations of package organisers on issues such as refunds, insolvency protection or on the use of vouchers. Events like the Thomas Cook bankruptcy in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on both the travel industry and travellers. These events brought to light the weaknesses in the business models and traveller protection mechanisms in the existing package travel directive. The Council position clarifies the scope of the package travel directive by giving a better definition of ‘package’ and by leaving out the so-called ‘linked travel arrangements’ from the scope for the sake of legal certainty. It introduces an information obligation which travel companies have to comply with. It also extends the right of travellers to cancel packages without paying termination fees, sets the rules on the use of vouchers as an alternative to a refund, and strengthens the protection of travellers in case of insolvency of a travel organiser. Reinforced traveller rights Package travels are a popular choice for tourists. In package travels, the organiser combines different travel or touristic services such as flights, transfers, meals, accommodation, excursions, etc. They are bought both online and offline, and can be offered by tour operators, travel agencies, carriers, and other operators. The range of different products and operators (both organisers and service providers) that intervene in a package travel make it complicated for travellers to recover their payments when for example the package, or part of it, is cancelled in case of an unexpected situations like an epidemic, a war, or a natural disaster. The bankruptcy of big package travel company, such as Thomas Cook in 2019, and the COVID-19 crisis made it clear that traveller protection in case of major unexpected events needed to be reinforced. In October 2023, the Commission submitted a revision of the 2015 package travel directive, with strengthened traveller protection. The measures suggested in the proposal include the following: Package organisers will have the right to a refund from service providers (airlines, hotels, transfer companies, etc.) within seven days of cancellation. This will enable them to refund their clients within two weeks, as imposed by the 2015 directive. Advance payments by travellers may not be more than 25% of the package price, except in justified circumstances (e.g. when the package organiser must pay the full flight-ticket price to the airline in advance) and organisers may not ask for the total payment any earlier than 28 days before the start of the package. If cancellation occurs, companies can offer travellers a voucher. Travellers should receive clear information on the characteristics and advantages of the voucher before accepting it, and they will retain the right to insist on a refund. Vouchers are automatically refundable and covered by insolvency protection. Council's mandate The Council’s negotiating mandate supports the main objectives of the Commission’s proposal but introduces some improvements by clarifying the scope of the 2015 directive and strengthening the protection and rights of travellers. In particular, the Council’s mandate limits the scope of the directive by giving a clearer definition of ‘package travel’ and by leaving out the so-called ‘linked travel arrangements’ (LTAs) from the scope to improve legal certainty of the text. The Council’s position enhances the protection of travellers who are invited to conclude an additional contract of a different type of travel service (e.g. car rental or a transfer) when buying it online. In these cases, the trader is required to inform the traveller by a clear, visible notice before the new contract is concluded that the second booking does (or does not) constitute a package. The negotiating mandate also strengthens the rights of travellers when they decide to cancel the package due to extraordinary and unavoidable circumstances, in either the place of departure or the destination. In such cases, travellers should be able to cancel the package without paying a termination fee. For vouchers, the Council’s position describes their amounts and the arrangements for their use in detail to make them more attractive and to harmonise the rules at EU level. Furthermore, member states must ensure that if a trader becomes insolvent, travellers should be informed that refunds will be provided, at the latest, nine months after the organiser’s insolvency. Member states may choose to make this period even shorter. The directive will also cover the publication of information about organisers that comply with their insolvency protection obligations. Next steps The negotiating mandate agreed today formalises the Council's negotiating position. It provides the Council presidency with a mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament, which will start as soon as the Parliament has adopted its position. Background On 29 November 2023, the Commission adopted a package of proposals (the ‘passenger mobility package’) to improve the experience of passengers and travellers by strengthening their rights. They included a revision of the regulations on passenger rights, a proposal on passenger rights in the context of multimodal journeys, and the revision of the 2015 package travel directive (Directive (EU) 2015/2302). Tourism plays an important role in the global economy, directly and indirectly accounting for over 10% of global gross domestic product. Driven by rising incomes, falling travel-related costs and an increasing range of available tourism activities, the global number of tourists rose from 680 million in 2000 to over 1.5 billion in 2019. The European Union is the world’s main tourist destination, receiving approximately two-thirds of all international tourist arrivals in 2022. The tourism industry plays a key role in the EU economy, with some 2.3 million tourism businesses and 10.9 million people working in the industry in 2020. Commission’s proposal ● European Council   18/12/2024 10:01 | Meetings | European Council, 19 December 2024   Background brief - European Council, 19 December 2024   ● General Secretariat of the Council   Library guide on the Council Bibliographies Collection   To mark the 50th anniversary of the European Council, the General Secretariat of the Council looks back on its key achievements and the developments and key moments in its history. In marking this occasion, the Council Library has a role to play as a treasure hunter. Over the years, the Council Library has built up a valuable repository, the Council Bibliographies Collection.