COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Meetings Monday, 07 April 2025

● Council of the EU   07/04/2025 15:59 | Meetings | Main results - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 7 April 2025   The Foreign Affairs Council, in its trade configuration, held an exchange of views on EU-US trade relations, providing guidance for the forthcoming work. Ministers were also debriefed on the state of play of the EU-China trade relation.

● Council of the EU

07/04/2025 12:56 | Press release | Combatting unfair trading practices in the agrifood supply chain: Council agrees position on new rules for cross-border enforcement   Today member states' representatives in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) approved the Council’s negotiating mandate on a regulation concerning new rules aimed at combatting  cross-border unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. “Our farmers deserve to earn a fair standard of living from their work. With these rules we will better protect them against unfair trading practices across borders and strengthen their position in the food supply chain.” — Czesław Siekierski, Polish Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Main elements of the proposal The proposal aims to set up a comprehensive set of rules for cross-border cooperation against unfair trading practices in business-to-business relationships within the agricultural and food supply chain. It improves transnational cooperation in cases where suppliers and buyers are in different member states. The proposed regulation introduces a mutual assistance mechanism, which would enable national enforcement authorities to ask for and exchange information, and to request another enforcement authority to take measures on their behalf. It also introduces a mechanism for coordinated action in cases of large-scale cross-border unfair trading practices involving at least three EU countries. In such cases, a coordinator would be designated to facilitate the response. Main changes agreed by the Council The Council supports the main elements of the Commission’s proposal but suggests a series of improvements in its negotiating mandate. In particular, the Council agrees that the regulation should contain rules for cooperation between member states in cases of unfair trading practices by buyers from outside the EU, in order to better protect European farmers. Furthermore, the Council’s mandate introduces rules on covering costs incurred in cases of mutual assistance. The member state requesting information or asking for investigative or enforcement measures would cover the necessary costs incurred by the member state which carried out the investigation or enforcement. Additionally, any fines collected can be used to cover these costs. The mandate also clarifies the rules under which member states can refuse to comply with a request for information from the national authority of a different member state or refuse to participate in enforcement measures. The Council’s negotiation mandate also clarifies the data protection and confidentiality rules. Next steps With this agreement the presidency is ready to start negotiations with the European Parliament, once the latter has reached its position. Background In 2019, the directive on combatting unfair trading practices entered into force with the aim of addressing imbalances in bargaining power between suppliers and buyers of agricultural products. In particular, its goal was to protect farmers who, for instance, sell their products to big supermarkets and food processing companies. Based on the experience gained since the entry into force of the directive, the Commission considered that the cross-border dimension of unfair trading practices needed to be addressed. In fact, on average around 20% of agricultural and food products consumed in an EU member state come from another member state. The Commission published its proposal in December 2024, as part of the EU’s efforts to improve farmers’ position in the agrifood supply chain. The proposed rules also directly reflect several recommendations of the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture and respond to some of the most pressing challenges that the agricultural sector faces. Commission proposal 2019 directive on combatting unfair trading practices ● International ministerial meetings   04/04/2025 16:50 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - EU-Ukraine Association Council, 9 April 2025   The tenth meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council will take place in Brussels on 9 April 2025. ● General Secretariat of the Council   04/04/2025 18:15 | Press release | Forward look: 7 - 20 April 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. Foreign Affairs Council (Trade), 7 April 2025 The Foreign Affairs Council, in its trade configuration, will hold an exchange of views on EU-US trade relations and will be debriefed on the state of play of the EU-China trade relation. Read more 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 Informal meeting of culture and media ministers, 7-8 April 2025 EU-Ukraine Association Council, 9 April 2025 Eurogroup, 11 April 2025 Informal meeting of economic and financial affairs ministers, 11-12 April 2025 Informal meeting of social affairs ministers, 14-15 April 2025 Informal meeting of gender equality ministers, 16 April 2025 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Polish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2025) Polish presidency ● International ministerial meetings   08/04/2025 10:34 | Media advisory | Media advisory - EU-Ukraine Association Council, 9 April 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Chair: Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Head of the Ukrainian delegation: Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine 13.15 Bilateral meeting between EU High Representative Kaja Kallas and Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal (photo opp) +/- 13.45 Beginning of the EU-Ukraine Association Council At the end of the meeting (+/-16.30) - Press conference in live streaming.