EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 13 March 2025

● European Council   13/03/2025 16:48 | Statements and remarks | EU - South Africa Summit Declaration   1. We, the Leaders of South Africa and the European Union, met today to re-affirm our unwavering support for our Strategic Partnership based on shared values of democracy, human rights, equality and sovereignty. 2. Our meeting took place against the backdrop of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflict, deepening inequality, increasing global economic uncertainty, and fragmentation, as well as climate emergency. In the face of this challenging political and socio-economic environment, we underscored our belief in multilateral cooperation to collectively address shared challenges. We affirmed our unwavering commitment to act in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and its Purposes and Principles, including the principle of a peaceful settlements of disputes. We further reaffirmed that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety, which includes the prohibition of the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. 3. We agreed that, guided by these principles, we support a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Ukraine, the Occupied Palestinian territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and other major wars and conflicts around the globe.   Read the whole declaration

● Council of the EU

13/03/2025 17:15 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 17 March 2025   Energy ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the action plan for affordable energy and to exchange views on the EU’s energy security architecture. They will receive information on the energy situation in Ukraine, on EU electricity and gas market developments, on the successful synchronisation of the Baltic electricity systems with the Continental E ● European Council   13/03/2025 17:06 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the EU-South Africa summit   It is a true pleasure to be here today in Cape Town, together with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Together we have just concluded a highly successful EU-South Africa summit — the first one in seven years, but one that could not have come at a more crucial moment. The world has changed significantly since our last meeting. We have faced a global pandemic and devastating conflicts — including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, and dramatic conflicts on the African continent. In these turbulent times, trusted partnerships are more important than ever. The EU is, and will remain, a strong, reliable and predictable partner for South Africa. Today’s discussions have reaffirmed the strength and depth of our enduring and strategic partnership — one built on shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and a fairer, more sustainable world. We believe in strong multilateral institutions, a rules-based order, open dialogue, and global cooperation to tackle common challenges — whether in security, trade, climate action, or innovation. This summit has demonstrated that our partnership is not only strategic but also essential. And we are fully committed to working together to strengthen our multilateral institutions by reforming them in a way that they are more representative, and also by reforming the international financial institutions to have a fairer world in the future. To address global instability and insecurity, we have decided to launch a dedicated EU-South Africa Peace, Security, and Defence Dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting peace efforts in Ukraine, the occupied Palestinian Territories, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and beyond. In order to fight climate change, inequality, and poverty, today we have reaffirmed our commitment to the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Pact for the Future. We need to act on this — not only for the well-being of today’s citizens but for future generations as well. This is also a summit with concrete deliverables as the President Ramaphosa has stressed and certainly President von der Leyen will develop. I am confident that this partnership can be a driving force for global prosperity, a beacon for climate solutions, and a pillar of stability and security for the world. As South Africa holds the G20 Presidency in 2025 — the first on African soil — I can assure you that the EU stands firmly behind your efforts to strengthen multilateralism and drive meaningful global action. We fully support your agenda, focused on solidarity, equality, and sustainable development. Wonderful words! The achievements of the G20 will be crucial not only for its members but for the rest of the world. This summit has paved the way for even deeper cooperation and new opportunities for engagement. It is my hope that we will maintain the regularity of our summits. And dear President Ramaphosa, thank you for your hospitality and for hosting this landmark summit. And we are waiting for you, next year, in Brussels. Thank you very much.   ● Council of the EU   13/03/2025 12:31 | Media advisory | (CHANGE OF TIME) Press briefing - General Affairs Council of 18 March 2025   The press briefing ahead of the General Affairs Council will take place on Thursday, 13 March 2025 at 15.00, in the Europa building press room. 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. Further instructions will be sent to all participants who already registered to this briefing.   ● Eurogroup   13/03/2025 11:20 | Press release | "A strong euro area economy is an anchor for stability and security across our continent" - Eurogroup President Donohoe's report to the President of the Euro Summit   The President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, has sent a letter to the President of the Euro Summit, António Costa, to report on the recent work by the Eurogroup and upcoming work priorities. The report takes stock of the economic situation in the euro area, fiscal policy and coordination, the importance of a coordinated strategy to enhance competitiveness, boost productivity and growth, and moving forward with the Capital Markets Union as a key driver. It also highlights the need to accelerate progress on the digital euro to maintain Europe’s strategic autonomy. “The euro area economy remains resilient amidst global uncertainty. Maintaining stable public finances is key to securing the resources we need for our strategic priorities. To meet future financing needs, we must move from words to action on the Capital Markets Union. We need ambition, implementation, and impact. Delivering a digital European payment solution is now imperative to securing Europe's strategic autonomy. A strong euro area economy is an anchor for stability and security across our continent.” — Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup Letter of the President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, to the President of the Euro Summit, António Costa, of 12 March 2025 ● European Council   14/03/2025 08:31 | Press release | Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council   I would like to invite you to our March European Council. The centrepiece of the agenda for this meeting will be competitiveness. We will also follow up on the Special European Council held on 6 March, notably by addressing recent developments in relation to Ukraine and the next steps on defence following the presentation of the White Paper on the Future of European Defence, ahead of the June European Council. On Thursday, we will also hold a working lunch with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Our continued support to Ukraine, the need to invest in our defence and our competitiveness are closely interlinked. A more competitive Union will be a stronger Union, better able to protect its citizens, its interests and its values on the global stage. In the light of my consultations with you and of our exchange during the informal retreat on 3 February, I have identified three priority areas for our competitiveness debate on which we should now decisively move forward: simplification, energy, and the Savings and Investments Union. Of course, building our competitiveness requires advancing also in other areas, including improving the Single Market, fostering talent and skills, and working on our industrial policy. We will specifically address the Action Plans for the automotive, and the steel and metal sectors.  In addition, we will hold a first exchange of views on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and new own resources. We need an overarching approach to expenditure and revenue. Given the challenges that we face, it is important that we all approach this debate with an open mind and in a spirit of collective responsibility. My objective is that this input can be taken into account by the Commission ahead of its proposals for the MFF package, expected before the summer. In this light, I would suggest the following guiding questions: How do we address the main financial equation of the next MFF, i.e. how do we ensure that the budget will have the necessary resources for the European Union to achieve the goals it has set itself? What will be the role of new own resources in the next MFF, particularly in light of the future reimbursement of Next Generation EU? We will also have a number of other important topics on the agenda, including migration, which remains a key priority for us: we will review the ongoing progress, such as on returns, on the basis of the input from the President of the Commission in her letter. We will also discuss the latest developments in the Middle East. During our working lunch with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, we will address multilateralism and other global issues, in particular preparations for the Third UN Ocean Conference and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. We will start our meeting on Thursday at 11:00 with our traditional exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament. We will also have the possibility to hear from President Zelenskyy. After lunch, President Christine Lagarde of the European Central Bank and Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe will join our discussions on economic issues and competitiveness in the framework of a Euro Summit in inclusive format. Over dinner we will hold an exchange of views on the next MFF and new own resources. I will endeavour to hold our meeting in one day, but given the uncertainty surrounding possible international developments, I cannot rule out the possibility that we may need to continue on Friday morning. I look forward to our meeting. Invitation letter 14/03/2025 13:07 | Press release | Trade: Council adopts negotiating position on tariffs for a number of agricultural products and fertilisers from Russia and Belarus   The Council has adopted its position, in view of negotiations with the European Parliament, on a regulation that will impose tariffs on the remaining agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, as well as certain nitrogen-based fertilisers. The tariffs are expected to reduce Russian export revenues, thereby limiting Russia’s ability to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine. The agricultural products affected by the new tariffs constitute 15% of all agricultural imports from Russia (in 2023). Once the new tariffs come into force, all agricultural imports from Russia will be subject to EU tariffs. In 2023, the imports of the concerned fertilisers from Russia represented over 25% of the Union’s total imports (around 3.6 million tonnes (worth EUR 1.28 billion). “We will carefully monitor the implementation of these tariffs to ensure that the EU fertiliser industry and farmers are protected, while simultaneously reducing EU dependencies, preserving global food security, and further weakening Russia’s war economy.” — Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Development and Technology of Poland The tariffs aim to reduce the dependency from Russia and Belarus and boost domestic production and support the EU’s fertiliser industry, while ensuring that Russia does not benefit commercially from continuing to export to the Union. They will also allow for the diversification of supply from third countries to create a stable fertiliser supply and, crucially, to ensure that fertilisers remain affordable for EU farmers. The tariff increases for the fertilisers will take place gradually, over a transition period of three years. The proposal also includes measures to mitigate the impact on EU farmers, should there be a significant rise in fertiliser prices. Next Steps Once the European Parliament has adopted its position, both institutions will need to agree on a common text. The Council will then formally adopt the regulation by qualified majority. Background On 28 January 2025, the Commission proposed the introduction of tariffs to reduce dependencies on imports from Russia and Belarus and to reinforce EU food security. This trade measure aligns with the objective of weakening Russia’s war economy, as well as that of third countries involved in the aggression against Ukraine. Council mandate Commission proposal EU sanctions against Russia (background information) Russia's war against Ukraine (background information) ● Council of the EU   14/03/2025 13:03 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Foreign Affairs Council, 17 March 2025   Ministers will exchange views on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference. They will then hold discussions on the situation in the Middle East, Syria, Iran and EU-US relations. They will be also informed about current affairs. ● Council of the EU   14/03/2025 12:02 | Meetings | Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 17 March 2025   Background brief - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy) of 17 March 2025   ● Council of the EU   14/03/2025 11:48 | Press release | New genomic techniques: Council agrees negotiating mandate   Today, member states' representatives (Coreper) endorsed the Council's negotiating mandate on the regulation on plants obtained by new genomic techniques (NGTs) and their food and feed. The proposal aims to boost innovation and sustainability within the agrifood sector, while contributing to food security and reducing external dependencies. The regulation would ensure robust protection for human, animal, and environmental health, while guaranteeing that the plant breeding sector is safe, transparent and competitive. Main elements of the proposal The new legislation aims to adapt EU rules to the technological developments of the past decades. The proposal creates two distinct pathways for NGT plants to be placed on the market: category 1 NGT plants: could occur naturally or through conventional breeding methods; they would be exempted from the rules currently set out in the GMO legislation and would not be labelled; however, seeds produced through those techniques would have to be labelled category 2 NGT plants: all other NGT plants; rules under GMO legislation would apply (including a risk assessment and authorisation before they are placed on the market); they would be labelled as such In addition, the proposal excludes the use of NGTs in organic production. Main changes agreed by the Council The Council supports the above main elements of the NGTs proposal, which was published by the European Commission. However, the Council suggests a number of changes in its negotiating mandate, taking into account environmental and health objectives, as well as concerns regarding patenting. These include: Cultivation and presence of new genomic techniques plants opt-out from cultivation: under the Council's mandate, member states can decide to prohibit the cultivation of category 2 NGT plants on their territory optional coexistence measures: member states can take measures to avoid the unintended presence of category 2 NGT plants in other products and will need to take measures to prevent cross-border contamination the Council's position also clarifies that, in order to avoid the unintended presence of category 1 NGT plants in organic farming on their territories, member states can adopt measures, in particular in areas with specific geographical conditions, such as certain Mediterranean island countries and insular regions Category 1 new genomic techniques plants and patenting Under the Council's mandate, when applying to register a category 1 NGT plant or product, companies or breeders must submit information on all existing or pending patents. The patenting information must be included in a publicly available database set up by the Commission which lists all NGT plants that have obtained a category 1 status. The database aims to ensure transparency regarding NGT 1 plants. If necessary, the information about patents included in this database must be updated. Furthermore, on a voluntary basis, companies or breeders can also inform of the patent holder's intention to licence the use of a patented NGT 1 plant or product under equitable conditions. Patenting expert group The Council's mandate provides for the creation of an expert group on the effect of patents on NGT plants, with experts from all member states and the European Patent Office. Study on patenting According to the Council's mandate, one year after the entry into force of the regulation, the Commission will be required to publish a study on the impact of patenting on innovation, on the availability of seeds to farmers, and on the competitiveness of the EU plant breeding sector. The study will also have a special focus on how breeders can have access to patented NGT plants. To produce the study, the Commission will take into account the findings of the patenting expert group and input from the plant breeding sector. If appropriate, the Commission will indicate what follow-up measures are needed or publish a legislative proposal to address any issues found in the study. If the first study does not foresee any follow-up measures or a new legislative proposal, the Commission would be required to issue a second study four to six years after the publication of the first one. Labelling Category 2 NGT plants must contain a label indicating them as such, in line with the Commission proposal. The Council proposes that, in case information on modified traits appears on the label, it must cover all the relevant traits (e.g. if a plant is both gluten-free and drought-tolerant owing to genomic changes, either both of those features or neither of them should be mentioned on the label). The Council proposes this to ensure that consumers have access to accurate and comprehensive information. Traits The Council negotiating mandate states that tolerance to herbicides cannot be one of the traits for category 1 NGT plants. The Council proposes this change in order to ensure that such plants remain subject to the authorisation, traceability and monitoring requirements for category 2 NGT plants. Next steps The agreement on the Council's negotiating mandate allows its presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the final text of the regulation. The final outcome will need to be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament before the regulation can enter into force. Background NGTs are innovative tools that can contribute to the sustainability and resilience of our food systems. The term NGTs covers a variety of techniques that adapt the seeds in a way that can also occur in nature or through conventional breeding techniques. By using those techniques, improved plant varieties can be developed faster and with specific features that can respond to the challenges the agrifood sector is facing. For instance, those new varieties can be more resilient to the effects of climate change and require less fertilisers and pesticides. In the last decade, a variety of NGTs have been developed based on advances in biotechnology. Those new technologies did not exist in 2001, when the EU legislation on GMOs was adopted. That is why plants obtained through NGTs are currently subject to the same rules as GMOs. The new rules would ensure that NGT plants available on the EU market are as safe as conventionally bred varieties. The proposal covers plants that contain small modifications to their genetic material (targeted mutagenesis) or insertions of genetic material from the same plant or from crossable plants (cisgenesis, including intragenesis). GMOs continue to be regulated by the EU legislation on GMOs, which remain unchanged. The Commission adopted its proposal for regulating new genomic techniques on 5 July 2023. Technical work within the Council started in July 2023. The European Parliament reached its position on the proposal in April 2024. Council negotiating mandate Commission proposal ● Council of the EU   14/03/2025 15:06 | Press release | Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine: EU individual sanctions over territorial integrity prolonged for a further six months   The Council decided today to prolong the restrictive measures targeting those responsible for undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine for another six months, until 15 September 2025. The existing restrictive measures provide for travel restrictions for natural persons, the freezing of assets, and a ban on making funds or other economic resources available to the listed individuals and entities. Sanctions will continue to apply to nearly 2400 individuals and entities targeted in response to Russia’s ongoing unjustified and unprovoked military aggression against Ukraine. In the context of the sanctions' review, the Council also decided not to renew the listings of 4 individuals and to remove 3 deceased persons from the list. After 24 February 2022, in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the EU massively expanded sanctions against Russia with the aim of significantly weakening Russia's economic base, depriving it of critical technologies and markets, and significantly curtailing its ability to wage war. In its conclusions of 19 December 2024, the European Council reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirmed its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council also reconfirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Russia must not prevail. The European Council reaffirmed its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law and underlined the principle that no initiative regarding Ukraine be taken without Ukraine. To this end, the EU and its member states will maintain their intensive global outreach efforts and will participate in the discussions affecting Europe’s security. The European Union remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including by adopting further sanctions. Consolidated text (29.01.2025): Council Decision 2014/512/CFSP of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine European Council conclusions, 19 December 2024 EU response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine   ● European Council   14/03/2025 10:35 | Media advisory | Press briefing - European Council meeting of 20-21 March 2025   The press briefing ahead of the European Council meeting of 20-21 March 2025 will take place on Tuesday 18 March 2025 at 16.00.  This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists or journalists accredited for the summit 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 18 March 2025 at 15.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.