COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Friday, 06 June 2025

● Council of the EU   06/06/2025 10:34 | Press release | EU adopts blueprint to better manage European cyber crises and incidents   Telecom ministers adopted today the EU Blueprint for cyber crisis management, which gives guidance for the EU’s response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents or cyber crises. “Today, we take a decisive step forward in strengthening Europe’s cybersecurity resilience. The EU Blueprint for cyber crisis management clarifies how member states can detect, respond to, recover and learn from large-scale cybersecurity incidents and cyber crises that could affect the whole EU. The EU Blueprint shows our clear commitment to a safer, more resilient and better prepared Europe – an important priority of the Polish Presidency.” — Krzysztof Gawkowski, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Affairs The EU Cyber Blueprint is an important guideline for member states to enhance their preparedness, detection capabilities and response to cyber security incidents, while building on the foundations laid by the 2017 Cybersecurity Blueprint and taking on board important recently adopted legislation such as the NIS2 directive and the Cyber Solidarity Act. The EU Cyber Blueprint aims to tackle an increasingly complex cyber threat landscape by strengthening existing EU networks, fostering cooperation between member states and actors involved, and overcoming hurdles that may exist. Essentials of the EU Cyber Blueprint The EU Cyber Blueprint highlights the importance of digital technology and global connectivity as the backbone of the EU’s economic growth and competitiveness. However, an increasingly interconnected and digital society also increases the risks of cybersecurity incidents and cyberattacks. Hybrid campaigns and cyberattacks can directly affect the EU’s security, economy and society. While member states have the primary responsibility in managing cybersecurity incidents and cyber crises, large-scale incidents could cause such a level of disruption that it exceeds a member state’s capacity to respond, or they can have an impact on several member states. As such an incident could evolve in a fully-fledged crisis, affecting the functioning of the EU’s internal market or posing serious public security and safety risks, cooperation at technical, operational and political level is essential for effective crisis management for this kind of incidents. To identify concretely what large-scale incidents or a Union-level cyber crises are, the EU Cyber Blueprint provides a clear explanation when the crisis framework should be triggered and what the roles of the relevant Union level networks, its actors and mechanisms are (such as ENISA, the EU’s Agency for Cybersecurity or EU-CyCLONe, the European cyber crisis liaison organisation network). The text also points to the importance of coordination of public communication before, during and after crisis incidents. The EU Cyber Blueprint highlights the importance of civilian-military cooperation in the context of cyber-crisis management, including with NATO, through enhanced information-sharing mechanisms where possible and when needed. Finally, the EU Cyber Blueprint also contains chapters on recovery, while trying to enhance the exchange of lessons learned between member states. Background Since 2017, the threat landscape and the EU’s cybersecurity framework changed significantly with several instruments considering cybersecurity management, such as the NIS2 directive or the Cyber Solidarity Act. This required changing the 2017 Blueprint. The discussions on the EU Cyber Blueprint were intensified during the Polish Presidency, including during the informal TTE Council on 4-5 March in Warsaw, which was entirely dedicated to the issue of cybersecurity. Cyber Blueprint – Draft Council Recommendation (Publication – European Commission – 24 February 2025) Commission launches new cybersecurity blueprint to enhance EU cyber crisis coordination (Press release – European Commission -24 February 2025) Cybersecurity (background information) Cyber defence (background information)

● Συμβούλιο της ΕΕ

06/06/2025 10:34 | Δελτίο τύπου | Η ΕΕ υιοθετεί σχέδιο για την καλύτερη διαχείριση των ευρωπαϊκών κρίσεων και συμβάντων στον κυβερνοχώρο   Οι υπουργοί Τηλεπικοινωνιών ενέκριναν σήμερα το Σχέδιο Δράσης της ΕΕ για τη διαχείριση κρίσεων στον κυβερνοχώρο, το οποίο παρέχει καθοδήγηση για την αντίδραση της ΕΕ σε μεγάλης κλίμακας περιστατικά κυβερνοασφάλειας ή κρίσεις στον κυβερνοχώρο. «Σήμερα, κάνουμε ένα αποφασιστικό βήμα προς την ενίσχυση της ανθεκτικότητας της Ευρώπης στην κυβερνοασφάλεια. Το Σχέδιο της ΕΕ για τη διαχείριση κρίσεων στον κυβερνοχώρο διευκρινίζει πώς τα κράτη μέλη μπορούν να ανιχνεύουν, να αντιδρούν, να ανακάμπτουν και να μαθαίνουν από μεγάλης κλίμακας περιστατικά κυβερνοασφάλειας και κυβερνοκρίσεις που θα μπορούσαν να επηρεάσουν ολόκληρη την ΕΕ. Το Σχέδιο της ΕΕ δείχνει τη σαφή μας δέσμευσή για μια ασφαλέστερη, πιο ανθεκτική και καλύτερα προετοιμασμένη Ευρώπη – μια σημαντική προτεραιότητα της πολωνικής Προεδρίας.» — Κριστόφ Γκαβκόφσκι, Αντιπρόεδρος της Κυβέρνησης, Υπουργός Ψηφιακών Υποθέσεων Το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοασφάλειας της ΕΕ αποτελεί σημαντική κατευθυντήρια γραμμή για τα κράτη μέλη, ώστε να ενισχύσουν την ετοιμότητά τους, τις δυνατότητες ανίχνευσης και την αντιμετώπιση περιστατικών κυβερνοασφάλειας , βασιζόμενοι παράλληλα στα θεμέλια που τέθηκαν από το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοασφάλειας του 2017 και λαμβάνοντας υπόψη σημαντική πρόσφατα εγκριθείσα νομοθεσία, όπως η οδηγία NIS2 και ο Νόμος περί Κυβερνοασφάλειας. Το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοχώρου της ΕΕ στοχεύει στην αντιμετώπιση ενός ολοένα και πιο περίπλοκου τοπίου κυβερνοαπειλών, ενισχύοντας τα υπάρχοντα δίκτυα της ΕΕ, ενθαρρύνοντας τη συνεργασία μεταξύ των κρατών μελών και των εμπλεκόμενων φορέων και ξεπερνώντας τυχόν εμπόδια. Βασικά στοιχεία του σχεδίου κυβερνοασφάλειας της ΕΕ Το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοχώρου της ΕΕ υπογραμμίζει τη σημασία της ψηφιακής τεχνολογίας και της παγκόσμιας συνδεσιμότητας ως ραχοκοκαλιάς της οικονομικής ανάπτυξης και της ανταγωνιστικότητας της ΕΕ. Ωστόσο, μια ολοένα και πιο διασυνδεδεμένη και ψηφιακή κοινωνία αυξάνει επίσης τους κινδύνους περιστατικών κυβερνοασφάλειας και κυβερνοεπιθέσεων . Οι υβριδικές εκστρατείες και οι κυβερνοεπιθέσεις μπορούν να επηρεάσουν άμεσα την ασφάλεια, την οικονομία και την κοινωνία της ΕΕ. Ενώ τα κράτη μέλη έχουν την πρωταρχική ευθύνη για τη διαχείριση συμβάντων κυβερνοασφάλειας και κυβερνοκρίσεων, τα συμβάντα μεγάλης κλίμακας θα μπορούσαν να προκαλέσουν τέτοιο επίπεδο διαταραχής που να υπερβαίνει την ικανότητα αντίδρασης ενός κράτους μέλους ή να έχουν αντίκτυπο σε πολλά κράτη μέλη. Δεδομένου ότι ένα τέτοιο περιστατικό θα μπορούσε να εξελιχθεί σε μια ολοκληρωμένη κρίση, επηρεάζοντας τη λειτουργία της εσωτερικής αγοράς της ΕΕ ή θέτοντας σοβαρούς κινδύνους για τη δημόσια ασφάλεια και προστασία, η συνεργασία σε τεχνικό, επιχειρησιακό και πολιτικό επίπεδο είναι απαραίτητη για την αποτελεσματική διαχείριση κρίσεων για τέτοιου είδους περιστατικά. Για να προσδιοριστεί με ακρίβεια τι είναι τα μεγάλης κλίμακας περιστατικά ή οι κυβερνοκρίσεις σε επίπεδο Ένωσης, το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοχώρου της ΕΕ παρέχει μια σαφή εξήγηση για το πότε θα πρέπει να ενεργοποιείται το πλαίσιο αντιμετώπισης κρίσεων και ποιοι είναι οι ρόλοι των σχετικών δικτύων σε επίπεδο Ένωσης, των φορέων και των μηχανισμών τους (όπως ο ENISA, ο Οργανισμός της ΕΕ για την Κυβερνοασφάλεια ή το EU-CyCLONE, το ευρωπαϊκό δίκτυο οργανισμών σύνδεσης για τις κυβερνοκρίσεις). Το κείμενο επισημαίνει επίσης τη σημασία του συντονισμού της δημόσιας επικοινωνίας πριν, κατά τη διάρκεια και μετά από περιστατικά κρίσης. Το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοχώρου της ΕΕ υπογραμμίζει τη σημασία της πολιτικοστρατιωτικής συνεργασίας στο πλαίσιο της διαχείρισης κρίσεων στον κυβερνοχώρο, μεταξύ άλλων με το ΝΑΤΟ, μέσω ενισχυμένων μηχανισμών ανταλλαγής πληροφοριών, όπου είναι δυνατόν και όταν χρειάζεται. Τέλος, το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοχώρου της ΕΕ περιέχει επίσης κεφάλαια σχετικά με την ανάκαμψη, ενώ παράλληλα προσπαθεί να ενισχύσει την ανταλλαγή διδαγμάτων μεταξύ των κρατών μελών. Φόντο Από το 2017, το τοπίο των απειλών και το πλαίσιο κυβερνοασφάλειας της ΕΕ άλλαξαν σημαντικά, με διάφορα μέσα να εξετάζουν τη διαχείριση της κυβερνοασφάλειας, όπως η οδηγία NIS2 ή ο νόμος περί κυβερνοασφάλειας. Αυτό απαιτούσε την αλλαγή του σχεδίου δράσης του 2017. Οι συζητήσεις σχετικά με το Σχέδιο Κυβερνοασφάλειας της ΕΕ εντάθηκαν κατά τη διάρκεια της πολωνικής Προεδρίας, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του άτυπου Συμβουλίου Μεταφορών και Τηλεπικοινωνιών στις 4-5 Μαρτίου στη Βαρσοβία, το οποίο αφιερώθηκε εξ ολοκλήρου στο ζήτημα της κυβερνοασφάλειας. Σχέδιο Κυβερνοασφάλειας – Σχέδιο Σύστασης του Συμβουλίου (Δημοσίευση – Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή – 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2025) Η Επιτροπή λανσάρει νέο σχέδιο κυβερνοασφάλειας για την ενίσχυση του συντονισμού της ΕΕ σε θέματα κυβερνοκρίσεων (Δελτίο Τύπου – Ευρωπαϊκή Επιτροπή - 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2025) Κυβερνοασφάλεια (γενικές πληροφορίες) Κυβερνοάμυνα (γενικές πληροφορίες) ● Council of the EU   06/06/2025 12:16 | Media advisory | Press briefing ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council of 12 and 13 June 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Justice and Home Affairs Council will take place on Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 9.00. 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 at the Europa building 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 Justice and Home Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Tuesday, 10 June 2025, 08.00.  Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline. Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 12 June 2025 Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 13 June 2025  Council of the EU   05/06/2025 22:18 | Meetings | Main results - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 5 June 2025   The Council addressed a reform of current air passenger rights regulations and held an exchange of views on updating the roadworthiness package. ● Council of the EU   05/06/2025 19:26 | Press release | Council sets position on clearer and improved rules for air passengers   Ministers for transport today reached a political agreement on the revision of the regulations on air passenger rights and on airline liability. The new framework seeks to establish simpler and clearer rules for air passengers, while striking a better balance between a high level of protection for passengers and preserving connectivity and a level playing field for the aviation sector within the EU’s internal market. “The position finally adopted today answers to an urgent call by air passengers and airlines for up-to-date, clearer and more straightforward rules. The revised rules will bring over 30 new rights to the air passengers, applicable from the moment when they buy a ticket, until they arrive at their destination, and in some cases even beyond. It is a historical milestone as an agreement couldn’t have been reached in the last 12 years.” — Dariusz Klimczak, Minister of Infrastructure of Poland Specifics of the Council position The Council position aims to strengthen and clarify several existing air passengers rights, together with the introduction of certain new rights. Key rights in the text include: The right to be rerouted Airlines must offer passengers rerouting at the earliest opportunity, including the possibility to be rerouted through flights operated by other carriers or alternative transport modes where suitable. Additionally, if an airline fails to provide an appropriate rerouting within three hours of a disruption, passengers may arrange their own rerouting and claim reimbursement of up to 400% of the original ticket cost. The right to assistance In addition, the right to assistance (refreshments, food, accommodation) is now clearly spelt out. If an airline fails to provide this, passengers may make their own arrangements and be reimbursed afterwards. In case of tarmac delay passengers would be entitled to minimum assistance and should be disembarked after 3 hours. The right to compensation in case of cancellations and delays Taking into account notably the impact assessment from the European Commission, the Council proposes updated thresholds for compensation due to long delays. Airlines are not allowed to deny compensation because of ‘extraordinary circumstances’ unless they prove they took all reasonable steps to prevent disruptions. Compensation varies based on distance: Journeys under 3,500 km and intra-EU journeys: compensation applies for delays of 4+ hours (€300) Journeys over 3,500 km: compensation applies for delays of 6+ hours (€500) The Council position also introduces several changes as regard the rules for cancellations for which passengers can claim compensation. Passengers who are informed of the cancellation of their flight less than 14 days before departure are entitled to a compensation. In case of cancellation, the airline must provide the passengers with pre-filled forms for them to request compensation. The Council also wants to disincentivise the currently widely used ‘no-show’ policy. In this respect, passengers who are denied boarding on a return flight because they did not take the outbound flight, would be entitled to compensation. The right to information EU air passengers should be better informed about their rights. Airlines should comply with stricter information obligations, including information while booking and information on the  handling of complaints and requests. New provisions introduce strict deadlines for airlines to respond to passenger claims. Passengers would have up to 6 months from the disruption to submit a request or a complaint to the airline. A deadline of 14 days from the submission of the request is introduced for airlines to pay compensation or to provide a clear and substantiated reply to a passenger. Next steps The Council position will now be examined by the European Parliament, under second reading. The Parliament will subsequently have the possibility to approve, amend or reject this Council position. Background The regulation on air passenger rights and of the regulation on airline liability currently already protect the interests of air passengers in the EU, in case they are denied boarding, or should their flight be delayed or cancelled. The texts also give rights to passengers in case of accidents or loss, destruction or damage to baggage. To clarify certain key principles and unclarities that exist around the current regulations, the Commission proposed an update of the regulations in June 2013. ● Council of the EU   05/06/2025 13:54 | Press release | The European Union and the Republic of Moldova confirm their strong partnership at the 9th EU-Moldova Association Council meeting   On 4 June in Brussels, the European Union and the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter “Moldova”) held their 9th Association Council Meeting today in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister of Moldova, Mr. Dorin Recean. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Kaja Kallas, led the EU delegation, which also included Commissioner for Enlargement Ms. Marta Kos. During the meeting, the EU reiterated its unwavering support for Moldova's EU accession process, commending the country’s determination to reform amidst significant challenges. The Association Council took note of Moldova’s progress in aligning with the EU acquis, particularly in critical domains such as the rule of law, justice reform, and the fight against corruption. It looked forward to the next steps in Moldova’s accession process by opening negotiations on clusters, starting with the fundamental cluster as soon as possible. The participants recalled that the Moldova Growth Plan, worth EUR 1.9 billion over three years, is a transformative instrument for economic resilience and convergence with the EU. It will ensure that the tangible benefits of European integration are felt by all Moldovan citizens. The participants emphasised the importance of further deepening sectoral cooperation and Moldova’s gradual integration into the EU internal market. In this context, the Association Council welcomed the decision to include Moldova in the geographical scope of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) to facilitate payments. The parties also agreed to set up a Joint Consultative Committee with the Committee of the Regions and a new Public Administration Reform Subcommittee. The EU welcomed the historic choice of the people of Moldova to anchor their future within the EU, following the 2024 constitutional referendum, and highlighted the importance of continuing to strategically communicate the benefits and obligations of the accession process and EU membership to the people of Moldova. The EU commended the authorities’ commitment to upholding the democratic process despite large-scale interference and a hybrid campaign by Russia and its proxies. Ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections, the participants highlighted the importance of strengthening the resilience of the electoral process against malign interference in line with international standards and best practices. The participants marked the first anniversary of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership, signed in the margins of the 8th Association Council last year, as a testament to the growing cooperation in these areas. As a sign of the EU’s continued commitment to strengthening Moldova’s resilience against hybrid threats, the EU extended the mandate of the European Union Partnership Mission in Moldova (EUPM) for two years, until May 2027. In support of modernising Moldova’s defence sector and as an investment in peace and stability, the EU also recalled that Moldova is the second-largest beneficiary of the European Peace Facility, with support measures amounting to EUR 197 million for the period 2021–2025. Finally, amidst a profoundly challenging regional security context, shaped by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU reiterated its resolute support for Moldova’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Association Council condemned Russia’s weaponisation of energy supplies and recalled that the EU stands in solidarity with Moldova and has stepped up its support to help Moldova successfully tackle these challenges.     The 9th EU–Moldova Association Council Meeting concluded with a clear message: the future of Moldova and its people lies within the EU. ● Council of the EU   05/06/2025 10:47 | Press release | Trade: EU extends safeguard measures suspension on iron and steel to support war-torn Ukraine’s economy   The Council has adopted today a regulation to extend the suspension of EU safeguard measures on  iron and steel, in support of Ukraine's economy amid Russia's war of aggression. The aim is to ease the challenges faced by Ukraine's producers and exporters as a result of the war. However, the Commission will be able to adopt an implementing act to suspend this regulation for specific products for up to twelve months. The suspension would be decided in case imports of those products from Ukraine increase to a level that significantly harms or threatens to harm to the Union industry producing similar or directly competing products. Next steps The regulation will entry into force on 6 June and will apply for three years. Background Since 2018, the EU has applied safeguard measures on certain iron and steel imports to protect its producers from global overcapacity. As part of the Union’s support to Ukraine amid Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Ukraine was exempted from these measures. The Council has today adopted a regulation allowing the extension of this exemption. Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a profound negative impact on Ukraine’s ability to trade with the rest of the world. This has been the case for iron and steel, for example, because of the occupation or destruction of iron and steel production facilities. In this difficult context, the European Council underlined in its conclusions of 27 October 2023 and 15 December 2023 (as reconfirmed on 19 December 2024) that it will continue to provide strong political and economic support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Regulation as regards imports of Ukrainian products into the Union Regulation on temporary liberalization (ATMs) Regulation on safeguards

Council of the EU

05/06/2025 10:41 | Press release | Habitats directive: Council gives final approval to the new protection status of wolves   The Council has today adopted the amendment of the habitats directive that changes the level of protection of the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected”. This update aligns the directive with the updated Bern Convention, the international agreement for the protection plants and animals and habitats in Europe. The new status will give more flexibility to member states to manage the populations of wolves. Member states must, however, continue to ensure the wolf’s favourable conservation status and may continue to list the wolf as a strictly protected species in national legislation, and to have stricter measures in place for its protection. Next steps Following the Council’s approval, the legislative act has been adopted. It will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication. Background The conservation status of the wolf has shown a positive trend over the last few decades. According to a 2023 European Commission study, the species has successfully recovered across the European continent, and the estimated population has almost doubled in 10 years (from 11 193 in 2012 to 20 300 in 2023). However, this continued expansion has led to socio-economic challenges, in particular as regards coexistence with human activities and damage to livestock. According to the latest available data from member states, wolves are estimated to kill at least 65 500 heads of livestock each year in the EU. The Bern Convention, which was adopted in 1979 and entered into force in 1982, is an international treaty under the aegis of the Council of Europe which aims to ensure the conservation and protection of wild plant and animal species and their natural habitats. To this end, the convention imposes legal obligations on contracting parties, protecting over 500 wild plant species and more than 1 000 wild animal species. Its decision-making body, the Standing Committee, meets every year in Strasbourg. The EU and its member states are parties to the Bern Convention. Bern Convention: EU will propose changing the conservation status of wolves (press release, 26 September 2024) Commission proposal on a targeted amendment of the wolf protection status (7 March 2025)