COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Ministers Responsible for Cohesion Policy Sign a Joint Declaration in Warsaw 21/05/2025 | Press release Ministers Responsible for Cohesion Policy Sign a Joint Declaration in Warsaw An informal meeting of European ministers in charge of cohesion policy, territorial development and urban policy was held on Wednesday, 21 May. The discussion focused on the importance of the territorial dimension and the need to maintain it as a key element of policies supporting development. A Joint Declaration by EU ministers on the importance of the territorial aspect and its consideration in post-2027 development policies was adopted during the meeting. 21/05/2025 | Article Informal Meeting of the Financial Services Committee of the Council of the EU in Gdańsk  On 21 May, a two-day informal meeting of the Financial Services Committee (FSC) of the Council of the EU concluded in Gdańsk. The meeting served as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between directors of departments responsible for financial services in the respective member states.    Visit the website   More news about the Polish presidency of the Council of the EU ● Council of the EU   22/05/2025 10:41 | Press release | Freedom of movement: Council adopts a position to reduce red tape for posting of workers   The Council has adopted its position (general approach) on the regulation to facilitate the e-declaration of posted workers. The regulation is expected to reduce the administrative burden for businesses by fully digitalising the submission of posting declarations and for national authorities by facilitating the monitoring of the compliance with the posting of workers directive. A 'posted worker' is a worker sent by the employer to provide a service in another member state on a temporary basis. The Council's position enhances the online interface by adding new features, clarifies the requirements for the single declaration form, and provides more details on how personal data in the form will be used. “Digitalising the administrative work for posted workers is a game changer in the internal market for services. Sending employees to another member state will be faster, cheaper and easier; workers will continue to enjoy their rights, and the single market for services will be closer to completion.” — Michał Baranowski, Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Better functionalities A key change in the Council’s position is the introduction of a new functionality in the public interface, allowing service providers to upload the relevant documents for posting workers. This will replace pre-existing national posting declarations for member states that chose to adopt the interface. The system also includes features for technical validation of data, communication between competent authorities and service providers, and access for posted workers to receive electronic extracts of their declarations, while respecting personal data protection rules. Standard form Member states that choose to use the public interface must notify the Commission at least six months in advance and will not be able to impose additional requirements for posting declarations beyond those stipulated by the regulation. However, they will still be allowed to request further information for inspection purposes. For those member states not using the interface, the public system will provide links to national declaration websites. The standard form for submitting declarations will align with the data categories outlined in the regulation but member states can request to waive certain information. Personal data protection Regarding personal data, the general approach clarifies that the personal data of relevant representatives can be processed and retained within the scope of the service provider's category. It also allows for retention periods longer than the standard 36 months under certain national laws. The council position requests that the Commission, in the evaluation that it will make five years after the implementation of the regulation, should consider the potential inclusion of third-country declarations. To further simplify obligations for service providers, the evaluation should also explore ways to integrate the posting declaration with the portable document A1 process. The A1 is the document that certifies the social security legislation applicable to a worker pursuing activities in more than one member state. Next steps The general approach 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 adopts its position. Background According to the European labour authority, approximately 3.6 million postings involving around 2.6 million workers are estimated in the EU. Around 1.2 million workers are active in two or more member states. The Commission estimates that companies can save 73% of the time required to complete posting declaration using the electronic standard form, compared to the average time currently required across the EU, and the costs savings for the burden reduction for service providers posting workers is estimated to be 58% compared to the current situation, even with the participation of a limited number of member states. If all 27 member states would decide to join this initiative, the burden reduction at EU level would further increase to 81% compared to the current baseline scenario. Commission's proposal on a public interface connected to the Internal Market Information System for the declaration of posting of workers Single market (background information) Meetings Thursday, 22 May 2025     ● Council of the EU   22/05/2025 09:11 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - General Affairs Council, 27 May 2025   EU affairs ministers will be invited to adopt a general approach on the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) regulation, and prepare the European Council of 26-27 June 2025. Ministers will also hold a hearing on the Article 7 procedure concerning Hungary, as well as a country-specific discussion in the framework of the annual rule of law dialogue, focusing on the rule of law situation in Belgium, Finland, Slovakia, and Sweden. Finally, the Council will discuss Spain's request to include Catalan, Basque, and Galician in the EU's language regime. ● Council of the EU   21/05/2025 23:43 | Press release | Crisis preparedness: Council and Parliament strike deal on last-resort patent licensing   The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the regulation on compulsory licensing for crisis management purposes. A Union compulsory licence is a crisis tool which provides for the use of an intellectual property right (i.e. a patent) without the authorisation of the rights holder to ensure the availability of critical products in the internal market. The provisional agreement reached today emphasises the last-resort nature of compulsory licensing, leaves gas, chips and defence products outside the scope of the regulation and ensures that there is no obligation to disclose trade secrets. “After the agreement reached today, Europe is better prepared to face the next crisis, while ensuring a high level of protection of intellectual property.” — Krzysztof Paszyk, Polish minister for economic development and technology Ensuring the supply of critical products In crisis situations (i.e. a pandemic or a natural disaster), compulsory licensing can help provide access to key products and technologies, when, for example, the holder of a patent does not have the capacity to produce the necessary amounts of a critical product, and voluntary agreements are not available or feasible. Currently, compulsory licensing mechanisms are regulated only at national level, which could result in a fragmented approach in the event of cross-border crises or emergencies. To address this problem, the Commission proposed a regulation providing for EU-wide compulsory licensing framework that would be triggered only after the activation of an emergency or crisis mode at EU level in accordance with the relevant crisis legislation (the proposal included a list of laws that could activate the compulsory licensing framework). Voluntary agreements first The provisional agreement reached today enshrines the last-resort nature of compulsory licensing and gives priority to voluntary agreements between intellectual property rights-holders and potential users of the license in the event of a crisis. However, to avoid endless negotiations, voluntary agreements must be concluded within a reasonable timeframe, otherwise compulsory licensing can be activated. Next steps The provisional agreement reached with the European Parliament now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions. Background In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis, the EU has tabled several crisis instruments at European level, such as the proposal for a regulation establishing a Single Market Emergency Instrument (SMEI, now IMERA) or the Council regulation on a framework of measures for ensuring the supply of crisis-relevant medical countermeasures in the event of a public health emergency at Union level. These instruments provide the EU with a means for ensuring access and the free movement of products needed to tackle a crisis in the Internal Market. The instruments focus on voluntary approaches, which remain the most efficient tool to enable rapid manufacturing of patent-protected products, including in crises. However, in some cases where such voluntary agreements are not available or appropriate, compulsory licensing can provide a way to allow the rapid manufacturing of products needed during a crisis. The Commission proposed an initiative on compulsory licensing for crisis management on 27 April 2023. The Parliament adopted its position on 13 March 2024 and the Council reached its negotiating mandate on 26 June 2024. Crisis preparedness: Council adopts position on compulsory licensing regulation (press release, 26 June 2024) Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament Commission’s proposal on compulsory licensing for crisis management SMEI / IMERA: Council and Parliament strike a provisional deal on crisis preparedness (press release, 1 February 2024) How the EU responds to crises and builds resilience (background information) EU single market (background information) Internal market emergency and resilience act ● International ministerial meetings   21/05/2025 18:41 | Press release | 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025 - Joint communiqué and Preliminary Monitoring Report   Joint communique and Preliminary Monitoring Report following the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025. Joint communique following the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025. Preliminary Monitoring Report   • Council of the EU ­ 21/05/2025 | Press release | Presidency press release - Ministers responsible for cohesion policy sign a joint declaration in Warsaw, 21 May 2025 An informal meeting of European ministers in charge of cohesion policy, territorial development and urban policy was held on Wednesday, 21 May.   The discussion focused on the importance of the territorial dimension and the need to maintain it as a key element of policies supporting development.    A joint declaration by EU ministers on the importance of the territorial aspect and its consideration in post-2027 development policies was adopted during the meeting.  Read the presidency press release in EN. Further information   media.communication@kprm.gov.pl Polish presidency website ● International ministerial meetings   21/05/2025 17:55 | Meetings | Main results - European Economic Area Council, 21 May 2025   The EEA Council discussed the overall functioning of the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) and held an orientation debate on ‘Economic Security and the European Economic Area’. ● European Council   21/05/2025 14:24 | Press release | President Costa to travel to Côte d'Ivoire to receive UNESCO peace prize on 22 May 2025   The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire to receive the UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize on 22 May 2025. In the margins of the ceremony, he will also meet the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, to discuss bilateral relations, regional stability and preparations for the upcoming EU-African Union summit later this year. “It is a great honour to receive the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize. This is not a reward, but a renewed call for action. In a world marked by instability, inequality and conflict, we must build bridges – not walls – between peoples and nations. Europe and Africa have a shared responsibility to advance peace, protect human rights and uphold the principles of multilateralism. Together, we must be a force for good for future generations.” — António Costa, President of the European Council Named after the first President of Côte d'Ivoire, the UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize honours individuals or institutions that have made a significant contribution to the cause of peace. On 7 October 2024, President Costa was awarded this prestigious prize for his continued efforts in promoting peace, dialogue and sustainable development. He will receive the prize during the official ceremony hosted by UNESCO in Abidjan on 22 May. In a symbolic gesture, President Costa will donate the financial value of the prize to an organisation whose action align with the values of solidarity and dignity that the award represents. In his talks with President Ouattara, the President will focus on strengthening the EU-Côte d'Ivoire partnership in key areas such as economic development, regional security and democratic governance. The European Union is Côte d'Ivoire's leading economic partner, investor and donor, with support exceeding €2 billion, including through the Global Gateway strategy and dedicated Team Europe initiatives. The visit highlights the European Union's commitment to a strong and enduring partnership with Côte d'Ivoire and the wider West African region. President Costa will reiterate the EU's commitment to accompanying Côte d'Ivoire in its pursuit of stability, peace and sustainable development. Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize (UNESCO) Sub-Saharan Africa (background information) ● International ministerial meetings   21/05/2025 18:41 | Press release | 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025 - Joint communiqué and Preliminary Monitoring Report   Joint communique and Preliminary Monitoring Report following the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025. Joint communique following the 3rd EU-AU Ministerial Meeting, 21 May 2025. Preliminary Monitoring Report 22/05/2025 11:32 | Press release | Trade: EU adopts UN convention on transparency for dispute settlement   The Council adopted today a decision on the conclusion of the United Nations ‘Mauritius’ Convention on transparency for Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). This decision will bring greater public access to documents and hearings, as well as the inclusion of civil society in disputes brought by investors against States under investment treaties. Greater transparency The Convention provides for the application of the United Nations Commission of International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) transparency rules to investment treaties signed before 1 April 2014. These rules require public access to all documents, including tribunal decisions and party submissions, mandate open hearings, and allow third parties, such as civil society organisations, to submit contributions to the tribunal. For treaties signed on or after 1 April 2014, the transparency rules automatically apply to disputes under the UNCITRAL arbitration rules, unless agreed otherwise by the parties. All EU agreements concluded after this date already incorporate enhanced transparency provisions. The Convention applies to the Energy Charter Treaty being the only EU-level treaty included. Today’s decision is an important step in the EU’s broader reform of investment dispute resolution, within the framework of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. Background The EU signature of the Convention took place on 2 July 2024. On 18 December 2024, the European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Convention. United Nations Convention on Transparency in Treaty-based Investor-State Arbitration Council decision on the conclusion Reform of the ISDS mechanism (European Commission)