COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,EUROGROUP,update

 

Financing European defence – second day of the informal ECOFIN Council in Warsaw 12/04/2025 | Article Financing European defence – second day of the informal ECOFIN Council in Warsaw The two-day informal meeting of the EU Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs reached its conclusion on Saturday. The second day of the meeting was devoted to the topic of financing Europe's defence and security. 11/04/2025 | Article EU Ministers of Finance discuss competitiveness and geopolitical challenges – first day of the informal ECOFIN Council in Warsaw On Friday, 11 April, a two-day informal meeting of the ECOFIN Council began in Warsaw. The Ministers of Finance and the Presidents of the Central Banks of the EU Member States discussed the key challenges for the European economy. The event was chaired by Minister Andrzej Domański. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Ministers Paweł Karbownik and Jurand Drop. ● Eurogroup   11/04/2025 16:37 | Meetings | Main results - Eurogroup, 11 April 2025   The Eurogroup prepared for the upcoming Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group by discussing exchange rate and inflation trends. In inclusive format, ministers reviewed global economic prospects, fiscal developments, and euro area policy coordination, with input from the Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament, Ms Aurore Lalucq. Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe also presented key takeaways from the March Euro Summit. ● Council of the EU   11/04/2025 19:27 | Meetings | Foreign Affairs Council, 14 April 2025   Background brief - Foreign Affairs Council of 14 April 2025 ● Council of the EU   11/04/2025 18:10 | Media advisory | Media advisory – 1st EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue of 14 April 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Chairs: Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mohammad Mustafa, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Palestinian Authority 18.00 Beginning of the EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue At the end of the meeting (+/- 19.00) press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference 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 ECCL Luxembourg 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: Monday, 14 April 2025, 18.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event ● Council of the EU   11/04/2025 17:53 | Media advisory | Media advisory – Fourth Accession Conference with Albania of 14 April 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change From 17.00 Arrivals and doorsteps 18.00 Roundtable Beginning of the Fourth Accession Conference with Albania At the end of the meeting (+/- 19.15) press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference 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 ECCL Luxembourg 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 General Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Monday, 14 April 2025, 18.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event ● Council of the EU   11/04/2025 17:12 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Foreign Affairs Council of 14 April 2025   Indicative programme  All times are approximate and subject to change Place: ECCL building, Luxembourg Chair: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy From 07.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 07.45 Doorstep by Kaja Kallas (live streaming) 08.00 Beginning of the Foreign Affairs Council Adoption of the agenda +/- 08.15 Russian aggression against Ukraine +/- 10.10 Situation in the Middle East, including Syria +/- 11.40 EU-Africa relations: immediate priorities and strategic outlook +/- 12.55 Current Affairs and AOBs +/- 13.30 Working lunch discussion on Western Balkans At the end of the meeting (+/- 15.00), press conference in live streaming. Arrangements for the press conference The press conference 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 ECCL Luxembourg 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: Monday, 14 April 2025, 14.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Videos and photos from the event ● General Secretariat of the Council   11/04/2025 19:54 | Press release | Forward look: 14 - 27 April 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. There are no formal Council meetings taking place on the second half of April. The next issue of the forward look will be published on 2 May 2025. Foreign Affairs Council, 14 April 2025 The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, including Syria, EU-Africa relations and Western Balkans, and will be informed about current affairs. Read more Other meetings 1st EU-Palestine High-Level Political Dialogue, 14 April 2025 Fourth Accession Conference with Albania, 14 April 2025 Informal meeting of social affairs ministers, 14-15 April 2025 Informal meeting of gender equality ministers, 16 April 2025 Informal meeting of environment ministers, 28-29 April 2025 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Polish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2025) Polish presidency

● Council of the EU

Career opportunities at the General Secretariat, 11/04/2025   Temporary agent (TA AD5) – English-language linguist Reference: CONS/5/2025/TA-AD/LING.1.EN Closing date for applications: 09/05/2025 AT 17:00 (CEST)   ● Council of the EU   11/04/2025 11:47 | Press release | Gas storage rules: Council agrees its negotiating mandate   Today, member states' representatives (Coreper) approved the Council’s position on amending the gas storage regulation. The Council agreed to extend gas storage rules by two years while providing additional flexibilities for member states to adapt to constantly evolving market conditions and to address possible market manipulations. This text will serve as the negotiating mandate for the presidency to start talks with the European Parliament on the final shape of the law. Two-year extension of gas storage rules The Commission proposed to extend by two years member states’ existing obligations to have their gas storage facilities 90% full before the winter season, in order to provide predictability and transparency. This extension, also kept in the Council’s position, would reduce the EU’s exposure to volatile prices, including due to the current geopolitical instability. It would also help to improve energy security and gas market stability until a potential EU-wide framework on energy security is established in the upcoming years. More flexibility for member states The Council mandate introduces a series of changes to provide additional flexibilities for member states. This would help them react swiftly to constantly changing conditions and to take advantage of the best purchasing conditions, while ensuring security of gas supply and the correct functioning of the internal market. In particular: the already existing binding 90% filling targets should be reached anytime between 1 October and 1 December instead of the current 1 November deadline the Council mandate clarifies that intermediary storage targets for each member state in February, May, July and September are indicative, in order to achieve storage filling and predictability while leaving sufficient flexibility for market participants throughout the year in case of unfavourable market conditions (such as possible market manipulations), member states may deviate by up to 10% from the filling target the Commission may further increase this deviation (with a delegated act), in case of persistent unfavourable market conditions if the national gas production of member states exceeds the average annual consumption over the preceding two years or in the event of slow injection rates of storage facilities with a capacity of over 40 TWh, member states may deviate by up to 5% from the filling target the latter flexibility can be used as long as it does not impact negatively the functioning of the internal gas market or the ability of directly connected member states to supply gas to their protected customers Next steps Negotiations on the new regulation are expected to start in May, once the Parliament has voted on its mandate. Once a provisional agreement is reached between the two co-legislators, it will be formally endorsed by both institutions before being published and entering into force. Background information Thanks to the gas storage targets established in 2022, Europe’s energy security situation has improved since the energy crisis provoked by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. These gas storage obligations are set to expire at the end of 2025. However, the continuing tight situation in the global gas market calls for an extension of these provisions beyond 2025. Gas storage facilities provide for 30% of the Union's gas consumption during the winter months. Moreover, well-filled underground gas storage facilities can help provide additional gas in the event of high demand or supply disruptions. Report on the functioning of the gas storage regulation Recommendation on the implementation of the gas storage filling targets in 2025 Council adopts regulation on gas storage (press release, 27 June 2022) ● Council of the EU   10/04/2025 21:38 | Press release | Child protection: Council and Parliament strike a deal on a law to make toys safer   The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional deal on a regulation updating the safety requirements for toys sold on the EU single market. The agreement reached today on the toy safety regulation reinforces the already stringent safety rules, aligns the obligations of economic operators (both from the EU and third countries) to existing EU legislation, clarifies the rules for the EU digital product passport, and bans or restricts the chemicals products that can be dangerous for children if present in toys. “Children's safety must always come first. While the EU's toy safety rules are among the strictest in the world, we must remain vigilant, adapt the rules to emerging risks and ensure that safety standards are met for all toys – whether made in Europe or abroad. The agreed regulation is an example of a modern and balanced legislative approach that shows that the safety of children, the interests of consumers and the competitiveness of the European market can and should be pursued together.” — Krzysztof Paszyk, Polish Minister for Economic Development and Technology Safer toys The new rules are covering in particular new harmful chemical products. The regulation expands the ban on carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction chemicals (CMRs) to include other hazardous substances like endocrine disruptors. The agreement forbids skin sensitisers and toys treated with biocidal products (except for toys intended to be always kept outdoors). Biocidal products are substances used to control unwanted organisms that are harmful to health or the environment, or that can cause damage to human activities. The agreement also limits the use of preservatives and prohibits the use of fragrance allergens in toys intended for use by children under the age of three or in other toys intended to be placed in the mouth of children. The text introduces also a limited ban on the intentional use of PFAS in toys (with exemptions for toy components necessary for electronic or electric functions of the toy where the substance or mixture is fully inaccessible to children). PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are chemicals used in many products. Some PFAS have been classified as carcinogenic and/or as endocrine disruptors. The regulation grants the Commission the authority to remove toys from the market if new risks emerge. Digital product passport The agreement strengthens the enforcement of toy safety rules, especially for imported toys, by introducing a digital product passport containing safety information that can be scanned by border control authorities using a new IT system. A digital product passport will allow easier access to key information for both consumers and customs and surveillance authorities, without compromising business confidentiality. Obligations for economic operators The provisional agreement reached today aligns the obligations of economic operators present in toys value chain – from manufacturers to distributors or sellers (including on-line marketplaces) – with those stemming from new legislative framework and imposed by the EU legislation applicable to toys. Likewise, the digital product passport has been aligned with the eco-design regulation (ESPR), and the warning signs on toys will be clearer and more visible. Transition periods Bearing in mind the need to give entrepreneurs time to adapt to the new rules transition, the agreement establishes a period of 4,5 years to enable the industry to implement the new requirements effectively. Next steps The provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions. Background Until now, toy safety has been regulated by Directive 2009/48/EC, which establishes the safety requirements that toys – whether EU-made or imported – must meet to be placed and sold on the EU market. The new regulation was presented by the Commission in July 2023 in response to the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, which calls for the strengthening of the protection of consumers and vulnerable groups from the most harmful chemicals. The Council has adopted its position (negotiating mandate) on 15 May 2024.     Council negotiation mandate (press release, 15 May 2024) Council’s negotiating mandate Commission proposal