Σελίδες

▼

Παρασκευή 27 Ιουνίου 2025

EUROGROUP,COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 
● Council of the EU
 
27/06/2025 12:41 | Press release |

EU customs: Council agrees position on key features for a more modern, efficient and secure framework

 

The Council today agreed on a partial negotiating mandate on a fundamental reform of the EU customs framework. The overhaul will give customs authorities across the EU a more modern toolbox to deal with trends such as huge increases in trade volumes, especially in e-commerce, a fast-growing number of EU standards that must be checked at the border and shifting geopolitical realities and crises.

Overall, this reform is expected to give the EU the adequate means to stop non-compliant, dangerous or unsafe goods from entering the EU, collect customs duties more efficiently, and carry out adequate controls without putting excessive burden on authorities and traders.

Today’s agreement will allow interinstitutional negotiations with the European Parliament to begin on the core aspects of the reform, such as:

  • establishment of a new decentralised agency for customs – the EU customs authority – which will support and help coordinate the risk management work of national customs authorities, and manage the EU customs data hub
  • creation of a single EU-wide online environment – the EU customs data hub – one central IT platform for interacting with customs and strengthening data integrity, traceability and customs controls
  • introduction of enhanced customs simplifications for the most trusted traders, saving them time and money
  • development of a more modern approach to e-commerce, adapted to the realities of a rapidly evolving landscape

“In the face of growing challenges and global trends, EU customs urgently need modern tools to protect our Single Market. Today’s agreement is a key step toward a future-proof framework that allows our authorities to act as one.”

—  Andrzej Domański, Polish minister for finance

The EU customs authority

The new framework establishes a decentralised EU agency for customs - the EU customs authority – which will coordinate governance of the EU customs union in a number of areas. In particular, the EU customs authority will allow for EU-level risk management supporting the work of national customs authorities, using the constantly updated import and export data in the new EU customs data hub. The EU customs authority will also coordinate EU-level crisis management in the area of customs.

The EU customs data hub

The EU customs data hub will be a single online environment designed to collect and analyse data and deal with risk management.

In order to fulfil their customs obligations for trade consignments, businesses will submit their customs information only once to this single portal, rather than to individual customs authorities. They will also be able to enter the same information to cover multiple consignments, saving them time and money.

National customs authorities will gain a full overview of trade flows and supply chains. With the support of the EU customs authority, Member States will therefore have access to the same real-time data and will be able to pool information to respond to risks more quickly, consistently and effectively.

Trust and check traders

The updated legislation creates a new category of the most transparent businesses – trust and check traders. Under this scheme, businesses that provide maximum information on their activities and that fulfil other strict criteria will benefit from simplified customs obligations and, in some cases, be able to release their goods into circulation in the EU without any active customs intervention at all.

Council amendments

The Council’s partial negotiating mandate makes a number of amendments to the original Commission proposal. For example, the text clarifies in more detail certain customs processes, making them easier to implement by EU customs authorities and officials on the ground.

In relation to trusted traders, the Council’s mandate retains the existing authorised economic operators (AEO) scheme already used by thousands of SMEs to simplify their customs obligations. It provides for tailored measures to support SMEs’ compliance with the new rules.

Finally, the text introduces the new concept of a handling fee to be collected by customs authorities on small consignments entering the EU through distance selling. 

Next steps 

Following today’s adoption of the Council’s partial negotiating mandate, the presidency will start negotiations with the European Parliament on the file.

Discussions on certain aspects of the overall reform, such as in relation to the seat of the EU Customs Authority, on a simplified tariff system and the exact design of the handling fee, will take place at a later stage.

Background

Established in 1968, the EU Customs Union has been a cornerstone of European economic integration. It facilitates trade, protects citizens, fosters innovation and helps the EU maintain its global economic leadership.

All EU Member States are part of the EU Customs Union. This means that:

  • they apply the same rates or import tariffs to goods entering their territory from the rest of the world. Customs duties are based on the type of product and the country of origin
  • they do not impose customs duties internally on goods traded between them. Once goods have passed customs, they can circulate freely within the EU, without additional tariffs or border checks

The Customs Union also safeguards the EU's Single Market, controlling external borders to allow goods to circulate freely within. Without it, the free movement of goods within the EU would be impossible. At the same time, customs controls at the EU’s external borders protect consumers from goods that could be dangerous or harmful to their health. They help safeguard animals and the environment by tackling the illegal trade in endangered species and preventing the spread of plant and animal diseases. The EU’s customs offices also work closely with law enforcement to combat organised crime and terrorism, as well as with migration authorities.

 

● European Council
 
27/06/2025 00:44 | Statements and remarks |

Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the European Council meeting of 26 June 2025

 

We have concluded the last European Council during the Polish Presidency. Donald, it was a true pleasure and honour to share this first full semester in office with you. Thank you very much for your support.

The motto of your Presidency was “Security Europe”, and you have delivered: through agreements on strategic files, such as the SAFE instrument and the European Defence Industry Programme; through two packages of sanctions against Russia; and you have implemented an ambitious agenda on competitiveness and simplification. For all that, let me say thank you very much.

Tonight, we focused on how to ensure a strong position for the European Union on the global stage.

First, by working on European defence. Yesterday, at NATO, 23 European Union member states decided to spend more. Today, we worked on how to spend better. Investing together. More rationally. More efficiently. As a team. Through aggregation of demand, joint procurement, standardisation and simplification. Boosting European research, European industry, European jobs – for European security and prosperity. 

We don’t need to replicate the same capabilities in each member state. We don’t need to multiply by 27 all our investments in defence. What we do need is efficiency and fair burden sharing. What we do need is to build a common European defence system that deters aggression.

And we are delivering on a first set of instruments: joint European investment under the SAFE instrument; increased national investment through the use of the escape clause in the Stability and Growth Pact; more private investment supported by the European Investment Bank. 

But this is not the end of the story. We must go further and provide the means to match our ambitions. So, today we have asked the President of the Commission, dear Ursula, and the High Representative to propose a roadmap, including on financing, ahead of our meeting in October. 

Europe’s security is interlinked with Ukraine’s security. This is why we continue to push for a just and lasting peace, while paving the way for European Union membership. On this, our objective remains firm and unchanged. 

The Commission’s assessment is clear: despite the incredibly difficult circumstances, the Ukrainian government is carrying out reforms at an impressive pace. So now is the time to intensify our work and advance on the path towards European Union accession.

At the same time, we are keeping up the pressure on Russia. We have adopted 17 packages of sanctions. And the work to deliver a new, powerful package is well under way. We have said it all along: the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine seriously undermines global security and the international rules-based order.

The respect for international law and the UN Charter – which was signed exactly 80 years ago today – has been the foundation of our position on Ukraine. It is also the foundation of our position on the Middle East. 

The ceasefire between Israel and Iran is an important step towards restoring stability in the region. Now we need to focus on effective diplomacy. And here Europe has a role to play. To ensure – in a lasting, sustainable way – that Iran is never allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. By fully complying with the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  

Any overall, sustainable peace in the Middle East requires a lasting solution in Gaza. The humanitarian situation there is catastrophic and human rights are being violated. The review of Israel’s compliance with our joint Association Agreement has confirmed this. It is an unacceptable situation. Our Foreign Ministers will discuss the next steps in July.

In the meantime, we need to engage in a frank dialogue with Israel – to get out of this crisis and to change the situation on the ground. And of course, we can never forget that Hamas needs to immediately free the remaining hostages. Our overarching strategy is clear: to have real peace in the Middle East, it is essential to make the two-state solution a reality. We need to make progress in this direction. 

Finally, to reinforce Europe’s position on the global stage we are stepping up our internal work on improving competitiveness. First of all with the very good work by the European Commission to develop our network on trade. Our recent bilateral summits with likeminded allies as the United Kingdom and Canada, or other key partners like South Africa or Central Asian countries, show that the world counts on the European Union – to foster global stability and security. And the prosperity of our citizens depends on global stability and security.

The upcoming summits with Moldova, Japan, China, and the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and the African Union in the second half of this year will give us further opportunities to promote fair and reliable trade, economic security, and to shape the clean transition.

At the same time, the more competitive the European Union is, the more we will be able to shape the global economy. So we are deepening our single market and pushing to unlock the full potential of the Euro. Because the Euro is one of the cornerstones of Europe’s economic power and global leadership.

This is what the Leaders focused on today. 

Thank you.

● European Council
 
27/06/2025 00:13 | CONCLUSIONS |

European Council conclusions, 26 June 2025

 

On 26 June, the European Council adopted conclusions on Ukraine, the Middle East, European defence and security, EU in the world, competitiveness, migration, the Republic of Moldova, Western Balkans, internal security, preparedness, hybrid activities and other items.

● Council of the EU
 
26/06/2025 22:02 | Press release |

Consumer protection: Council and Parliament reach a deal to modernise alternative dispute resolution rules

 

The Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement to update, simplify and facilitate the existing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) framework, with the aim of making these procedures more accessible, appealing and better suited to the digital age. ADR refers to out-of-court procedures that help resolve disputes between consumers and traders, typically with the help of a neutral third party.

The agreement introduces deadlines for companies to respond to ADR bodies regarding specific cases and promotes stronger cooperation between ADR entities and consumer protection authorities. It clarifies how automated systems – such as artificial intelligence, machine translation and other IT solutions – should be used to make ADR procedures more efficient, especially in cross-border cases.

“Efficient and accessible methods for resolving disputes outside the courtroom have already shown their potential in simplifying and speeding up the process for both consumers and businesses. To keep pace with the digital transformation, these solutions must evolve, offering more widespread access and tackling a broader spectrum of conflicts. This will not only strengthen consumer trust in digital platforms but also reduce burdens on companies and ease the pressure on our judicial systems.”

— Krzysztof Paszyk, Polish Minister for Development and Technology

Scope of the directive

Inside the EU (including cross-border) the agreement keeps the scope of the ADR directive to disputes stemming from a contract, including precontractual obligations (e.g. advertising, information provision). The agreement extends the scope to disputes between a consumer resident in a member state and a trader in a third country that direct their activities to that member state, if both agree to use to the ADR procedure.

Duty to reply

When a trader is contacted by an ADR entity about a commercial dispute, it will have 20 days to reply (or 30 in exceptional or very complex circumstances). If there is no reply after this period, the ADR entity may presume that the trader has refused to participate, close the case and inform the consumer accordingly.

Incentives

Member states will be required to adopt measures to promote the use of ADR. These incentives may be:

  • financial, such as reduced fees for compliant traders, free participation for businesses, reimbursement of costs for a set number of cases, training schemes for staff or co-financing the creation of sector-specific ADR bodies
  • non-financial, such as public awareness campaigns or certification for participating businesses

Sectors of special attention

When establishing measures to promote participation in ADR among both companies and consumers, member states are encouraged to pay particular attention to specific business sectors with low participation in ADR procedures or with a high number of consumer complaints (e.g. air transport or tourism).

EU-wide IT tool

The Commission will create a user-friendly and free-of-charge digital tool that provides general information on consumer redress. This new tool will include practical guidance on using ADR in a cross-border context, as well as links to ADR entities and information on consumer rights. To facilitate ADR in cross-border consumer disputes, the tool will also include a machine translation tool, which will also be available to the ADR entities and national ADR contact points.

Automated systems

While acknowledging the benefits and risks of automated systems (i.e. AI or bots) in ADR, the agreement requires that consumers be informed in advance if such means are used in handling their disputes. Furthermore, consumers will have the right to request a human review of the outcome.

Next steps

This agreement is provisional and subject to final adoption by both institutions.

Background

In any commercial relationship, traders and consumers may have disputes to resolve (for instance, if a product or service is not delivered on time or in good condition, or if the consumer has not paid the full purchase price). With the development of online shopping, the number of disputes has increased substantially. Solving a dispute in court could be lengthy and entails the involvement of lawyers and considerable procedural costs. However, there are alternative ways to solve problems without going to court.

According to the 2023 Consumer Conditions Scoreboard, 25% of consumers experience a problem worthy of complaint, but one third of them do not act. As a result, there are only 300 000 eligible disputes solved via ADR annually in the EU.

The most recent European legislation to regulate out-of-court consumer redress was adopted in 2013 and has not been amended since. On 17 October 2023, the Commission proposed a new package of measures to modernise and simplify ADR rules. The package included a directive amending the ADR directive and a regulation to discontinue the Online Dispute Resolution platform, which was used less than expected. This ODR regulation was formally adopted on 19 November 2024.

● European Council
 
26/06/2025 18:08 | CONCLUSIONS |

European Council conclusions on the Middle East, 26 June 2025

 

II. MIDDLE EAST

4. Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council addressed the situation and latest developments in the Middle East, in particular the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the latest developments as regards Iran.

5. The European Council calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the unconditional release of all hostages, leading to a permanent end to hostilities. It deplores the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, the unacceptable number of civilian casualties and the levels of starvation. The European Council calls on Israel to fully lift its blockade on Gaza, to allow immediate, unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza and to enable the UN and its agencies, and humanitarian organisations, to work independently and impartially to save lives and reduce suffering. Israel must fully comply with its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law. The European Council recalls the imperative of ensuring the protection of all civilians, including humanitarian workers, at all times, as well as of civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, schools and UN premises. It deplores the refusal of Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages. The European Council takes note of the report on Israel’s compliance with Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and invites the Council to continue discussions on a follow-up, as appropriate, in July 2025, taking into account the evolution of the situation on the ground.

6. Recalling its conclusions of 17 October 2024, the European Council reiterates its strong condemnation of the escalation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, following increased settler violence, the expansion of illegal settlements and Israel’s military operation. It reiterates its call on the Council to take work forward on further restrictive measures against extremist settlers and entities and organisations which support them. The European Council calls for further work on restrictive measures against Hamas.

7. The European Union remains firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution. The European Union is ready to contribute to all efforts towards this solution and calls on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine its viability. It will continue to work with regional and international partners to that end. The European Union will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda. The European Council looks forward to the forthcoming High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Iran

8. The European Union remains strongly committed to peace, security and stability in the Middle East. The European Council welcomes the cessation of hostilities and urges all parties to abide by international law, show restraint, and refrain from taking action which could lead to a new escalation. The European Union has always been clear that Iran must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon and that it must comply with its legally binding nuclear safeguard obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty. The European Union will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to bring about a lasting solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which can only be achieved through negotiations.

Syria

9. The European Council welcomes the recent lifting of economic sanctions against Syria, as part of the European Union’s gradual, reversible approach. It recalls the importance of a peaceful and inclusive transition in Syria, free from harmful foreign interference, of the protection of the rights of Syrians from all ethnic and religious backgrounds without discrimination, and of transitional justice and reconciliation. The European Council condemns the recent terrorist attack at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus and calls for those responsible to be held to account. Syria’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within secure borders should be fully respected, in accordance with international law.

Lebanon

10.The European Council reiterates the European Union’s support for the Lebanese people and welcomes the efforts of the new authorities to stabilise the economic and security situation. It supports the Lebanese State’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalls the fundamental stabilisation role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon. The European Council reiterates its call on all parties to implement the terms of the 27 November 2024 ceasefire agreement and for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

● European Council
 
26/06/2025 15:55 | CONCLUSIONS |

European Council conclusions on European defence and security, 26 June 2025

 

III. EUROPEAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY

11. Recalling its conclusions of 6 March 2025, the European Council reiterates that Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously and in a coordinated way with immediate and future challenges and threats, with a 360° approach. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security in a changing environment constitute an existential challenge for the European Union. To deliver on its objective of decisively ramping up Europe’s defence readiness within the next five years, the European Council reviewed progress in the implementation of its previous conclusions.

12. The European Council recalls that a stronger and more capable European Union in the field of security and defence will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO, which remains, for those States that are members of it, the foundation of their collective defence.

13. The European Council stresses the need to continue to substantially increase expenditure on Europe’s defence and security, and invest better together, noting also the commitment made at the June 2025 NATO Summit by the Member States that are also members of NATO. The European Council invites Member States to coordinate among themselves the implementation of relevant commitments. Recalling its conclusions of 20 March 2025 on continued work on the relevant financing options, the European Council reviewed the work done. 

14. In this context, the European Council welcomes the adoption of the Regulation establishing the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) and the imminent activation of national escape clauses under the Stability and Growth Pact. The European Council asks the co-legislators to rapidly examine, with a view to a swift agreement, the proposal on incentivising defence-related investments in the EU budget and to advance work on the proposal to address security and defence challenges in the context of the mid-term review of cohesion policy, while recalling the voluntary basis of any such use of funds. It recalls the importance of mobilising private financing for the defence industry, welcomes the efforts by the European Investment Bank in this regard, and invites it to pursue efforts to adapt its practices for lending to the defence industry, notably by continuing to re-evaluate the list of excluded activities and by increasing the volume of available funding in the field of security and defence, while safeguarding its operations and financing capacity.

15. Considering the urgency of strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base across the Union so that it is in a position to better produce and supply equipment in the quantities and at the accelerated pace needed, the European Council reiterates the importance of demand aggregation, harmonisation of requirements, standardisation and joint procurement, as well as the proper functioning and further integration of the European defence market across the Union.

16. Work on capabilities in the priority areas identified at EU level must be accelerated, in full coherence with NATO. The European Council encourages the rapid development and delivery of collaborative projects in that regard, including by making full use of SAFE. In particular, the European Council welcomes the work to identify concrete opportunities and to aggregate demand in the framework of the European Defence Agency. It underlines the need for Member States to swiftly take work forward, including towards the execution of most advanced short-term projects and the launch of longer-term initiatives, with the support of the European Defence Agency, the High Representative and the Commission. In this context, specific attention should be devoted to strategic enablers and innovation in the field of defence, in order to harness the full potential of new technologies.

17. The European Council encourages further work to enable the European defence industry, including SMEs and mid-caps, to scale up production. In particular, following the political agreement reached in the Council on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) proposal, the European Council urges the co-legislators to conclude negotiations swiftly. It also encourages them to advance rapidly on the ‘Defence Readiness Omnibus’ proposals.

18. The European Council underlines that the defence of all EU land, air and maritime borders contributes to the security of Europe as a whole, in particular as regards the EU’s eastern border, considering the threats posed by Russia and Belarus.

19. In addition, considering the threats on the rest of the EU borders, the European Council stresses the importance of their defence.

20. The European Council invites the Commission and the High Representative to present further proposals to strengthen military mobility, thereby allowing defence equipment and personnel to be moved efficiently across the Union.

21. The European Council underlines the importance of working together with like-minded partners, who share our foreign and security policy goals. It welcomes in that regard the EU’s recent Security and Defence Partnerships with the UK and Canada.

22. The European Council will review progress at its October 2025 meeting and discuss the next steps in the implementation of its defence readiness objective. It invites the Commission and the High Representative to present a roadmap to that end.

23. The above is without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties.

● Council of the EU
 
26/06/2025 15:27 | Press release |

EUBAM Libya: Council extends mandate for two further years

 

The Council decided today to renew the mandate of the European Integrated Border Management Assistance Mission in Libya (EUBAM Libya) for a further two years until 30 June 2027, with a budget of nearly €52 million for the period.

EUBAM Libya contributes to enhancing the capacity of the Libyan authorities to manage Libya’s borders, fight cross-border crime -including human trafficking and migrant smuggling - and counter terrorism.

The civilian mission provides technical advice, conducts activities to build operational and technical capacity and carries out projects, complemented by specialised training and workshops. Ensuring full respect for international human rights standards and promoting a gender sensitive approach are core aspects of the mission’s work.

EUBAM Libya was launched as a mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) in May 2013, and it is headed by Mr. Jan Vyčítal.

 

● Council of the EU
 
26/06/2025 15:17 | Press release |

EU CSDP civilian missions: Council renews mandates of EUBAM Rafah and EUPOL COPPS

 

The Council decided today to renew the mandates of two civilian missions under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Following the coordinated strategic review conducted by the Political and Security Committee and on the basis of the invitations from Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Council decided to extend the mandates of the EU Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah) and of the EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) for one year until 30 June 2026. The missions will have the opportunity to develop their mandates on the ground through a flexible, realistic and scalable approach, with a view to adapting to future evolutions.

Similarly to other civilian missions, the Council Decision provides EUBAM Rafah with the possibility of a project cell enabling it to implement projects, including with external funds.

In its conclusions of 20 March 2025, the European Council stated that the EU remains firmly committed to a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-state solution and is ready to contribute to all efforts towards that solution, and called on all parties to refrain from actions that undermine its viability. The European Council further stated that the EU will continue to work with regional and international partners to that end and will continue supporting the Palestinian Authority and its reform agenda.

Background

EUBAM Rafah was launched in November 2005, following the Israeli disengagement from Gaza. EUBAM Rafah continues to advise and provide technical assistance on integrated border management to the Palestinian General Authority for Borders and Crossings based in Jericho and support EU funded projects. EUBAM Rafah is mandated to provide a third-party presence at the Rafah Crossing Point between the Gaza Strip and Egypt and to build confidence between the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority. This part of the mandate has been on hold between 2007 -when Hamas took over Gaza - and February 2025, when the mission was temporarily redeployed to the Rafah Crossing Point at the request of the Palestinians and the Israelis in agreement with the Egyptians following the ceasefire agreement. The mission maintains its readiness to redeploy to the Rafah crossing point once all necessary conditions are in place for an effective and safe deployment. Its Head of Mission is Ms Nataliya Apostolova.

EUPOL COPPS was launched in January 2006 and it is headed by Ms Karin Limdal. The mission’s current mandate focuses on support to the Palestinian Civil Police and wider justice institutions, in the areas of policing and wider criminal justice arrangements. Through its contribution to security and justice sector reform, the mission supports efforts to improve the security of the Palestinian population and to reinforce the rule of law.