Council of the EU:Justice and Home Affairs Council, 7-8 October 2021

 

Meetings Thursday 7 October 2021

● Council of the EU   07/10/2021 19:50 | MEETING | Main results - Justice and Home Affairs Council, 7-8 October 2021   Ministers held a debate on pre-trial detention, an issue which has an impact on individual freedoms and is also important for mutual trust and mutual recognition. They were also informed about the latest developments regarding the setting up of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). Before the meeting, ministers attended a working lunch to discuss the issue of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) and the need to protect journalists from abusive litigation. Justice and Home Affairs Council, 7-8 October 2021 Pre-trial detention Ministers held a debate on pre-trial detention, an issue which has an impact on individual freedoms and is also important for mutual trust and mutual recognition. Detention is at the heart of the criminal justice system, but differences in detention conditions can have an impact on mutual trust and therefore could pose an obstacle to cooperation in criminal matters across the EU. Today’s fruitful discussion reflected our joint commitment to continue improving detention conditions and will serve as a guidance for further work by the Commission in this area.Marjan Dikaučič, Minister for Justice of Slovenia Ministers focused in particular on which minimum standards for material detention conditions and procedural rights in pre-trial detention should be prioritised in order to enhance mutual trust between member states. They also discussed what further actions at EU level could help improve detention conditions or enhance the use of alternative measures to detention. Non-paper from the Commission services on detention conditions and procedural rights in pre-trial detention European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) The Commission and the presidency informed ministers about the latest developments regarding the setting up of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO). The European Chief Prosecutor also attended the discussion on this point. The EPPO started its operations on 1 June and is already carrying out a number of investigations in relation to cases which fall under its mandate. Work also continues in a number of areas including the adaptation of national justice systems to the EPPO regulation, the appointment of the European Delegated Prosecutors and staff recruitment. Within the Council, work is ongoing on the relations of the EPPO with third countries and international organisations. European Public Prosecutor’s Office (background information) European Public Prosecutor's Office website Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) Before the meeting, ministers attended a working lunch to discuss the issue of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) and the need to protect journalists from abusive litigation. As announced under the European democracy action plan published in December 2020, the Commission is preparing an initiative to protect journalists and rights defenders against this type of abusive litigation. To contribute to the preparation of this initiative, ministers focused on national experience and good practices in fighting SLAPP, as well as on the cross border dimension of this phenomenon. Home affairs The Council is expected to adopt the blue card directive without discussion. The new rules establish the entry and residence conditions for highly qualified non-EU nationals coming to live and work in the EU, and aim to attract and retain highly qualified workers, particularly in sectors facing skills shortages. The Council presidency and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the draft directive in May 2021. Legal migration: Council presidency and European Parliament reach provisional agreement on scheme to attract highly qualified workers (press release, 17 May 2021) How the EU manages migration flows (background information) Screening and detention at borders Home affairs ministers will discuss the challenges raised by screening and detention of migrants. They will focus on what common EU action is required to address security challenges at the EU external borders and whether solutions should be sought in the framework of the proposed regulation on screening. Strengthening the EU’s external borders (background information) Situation in Afghanistan Ministers will also receive an update on the situation in Afghanistan with regard to international protection, migration and security. At their extraordinary meeting on 31 August 2021, they adopted a statement highlighting the need to continue coordination with international partners on stabilisation of the region and ensuring that humanitarian aid reaches vulnerable people. They also stated the need to continue cooperation to prevent illegal migration from the region and to effectively protect the EU’s external borders and prevent unauthorised entry. In the statement, ministers also stressed that the EU and its member states would do their utmost to ensure that the situation in Afghanistan did not lead to new security threats for EU citizens. Statement on the situation in Afghanistan (31 August 2021) Home affairs ministers will exchange views on the situation on various migration routes.Situation on various migration routes The number of illegal border crossings at the EU’s external borders in the first eight months of 2021 was 64% higher than one year ago when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. However, overall the numbers of irregular migrants remain significantly below the levels prior to the 2015 crisis. External dimension of migration The Commission and the Slovenian presidency will also inform ministers about progress on the development of migration action plans for priority countries of origin and transit. In June 2021, the European Council called for such action plans to be put forward and to include clear objectives, additional support measures and concrete timelines. EU migration policy (background information) European Council conclusions on COVID-19 and migration (press release, 24 June 2021) Other topics Ministers will hold a debate on the digital dimension of investigating child sexual abuse and will exchange of views on the implementation of the various justice and home affairs databases and the interoperability framework. IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice (background information) Meeting information Meeting n°3816 Luxembourg 7 October 2021 14:00 8 October 2021 09:30 Preparatory documents Provisional agenda List of A items, legislative deliberations List of A items, non-legislative activities Provisional list of A items Provisional list of A items, addition 1 Background brief Outcome documents Outcome of the council meeting List of participants

Eurogroup, 4 October 2021: Main results

Eurogroup, 4 October 2021

Main results
Macro-economic developments in the euro area

Ministers exchanged views on the macro-economic situation in the euro area. The director of the EU Agency for the Coordination of Energy Regulators (ACER), Christian Zinglersen, updated the Eurogroup on recent energy price developments. This will inform Eurogroup's regular monitoring of economic developments in the euro area.



To give you a sense of today’s discussion, we all concur with the Commission and with the ECB that a significant part of current developments is likely to be temporary, and that inflation should start to fall again next year. The most vulnerable are not the only ones affected: this is an issue that touches all Europeans – citizens and businesses, in particular SMEs. That’s why we agreed on the need to monitor the evolution of energy prices and factor this into our budgetary policymaking to ensure it doesn’t compromise the recovery that has taken hold.Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Preparation of international meetings

Ahead of the upcoming annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, the Eurogroup took stock of exchange rate developments in past months.

The discussion on exchange rate developments is a part of the Eurogroup’s preparation for international meetings.
Euro area priorities in recovery and resilience plans and lessons learnt from European response to Covid-19

Ministers took stock of the implementation of euro area priorities in the recovery and resilience plans based on a presentation by the European Commission. They also exchanged views on the future economic policy priorities for the euro area


The growth we are seeing now, the continued policy support we have in place, and the recovery funding that is now flowing, are the best medicine there is to help firms and households to recover from this economic crisis.Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup
Background document - Euro-area priorities in RRPs
Thematic discussion work programme for 2022

Ministers exchanged views on the 2022 programme of Eurogroup thematic discussions on growth and jobs. The aim was to select relevant and priority themes and discuss ways to structure the thematic discussions so as to maximise their contribution to the achievement of the euro area policy objectives.
Greece – 11th enhanced surveillance report

The Eurogroup discussed the 11th enhanced surveillance report on Greece. This report is not linked to a decision on the policy-contingent debt measures.

The Commission adopted a decision on 11 July 2018 to activate the enhanced surveillance framework for Greece, which entered into force following the end of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme in August 2018. These quarterly enhanced surveillance reports enable close monitoring of the economic, fiscal and financial situation and the post-programme policy commitments, as agreed by the Eurogroup in June 2018.
11th enhanced surveillance report - Greece (European Commission)
Banking union update and reporting on operational aspects

14th hearing of the chair of the Supervisory Board

The chair of the European Central Bank (ECB) Supervisory Board, Andrea Enria, informed the Eurogroup about the supervisory tasks carried out under the ECB banking supervision. The chair focused in particular on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on credit risk, the emerging risks that warrant supervisory action, the structural transformation of the European banking sector and the adjustments of business models driven by digitalisation and climate risk.
Written contribution of the Chair of the ECB Supervisory Board

Reporting on recent activities of the Single Resolution Board

The chair of the Single Resolution Board (SRB), Elke König, updated the Eurogroup on the recent activities undertaken by the SRB, focusing on priorities with regard to banks' resolvability, the minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL), preparation for the implementation phase of the common backstop and the recent rulings of the European Court of Justice affecting the SRB.

These are regular presentations that take place twice a year.
SRB bi-annual report note to the Eurogroup

EUROGROUP latest:Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 4 October 2021

Eurogroup
Statements and remarks
4 October 2021
21:11
Remarks by Paschal Donohoe following the Eurogroup meeting of 4 October 2021


We had a very full agenda here today in Luxembourg and many important topics were discussed. It's great to be able to do it in present with all of our colleagues. The euro area economy continues to be bouncing back strongly. Recent data releases show that the euro area is doing well. The Delta variant has been and does remain a health challenge for our health systems, but thankfully we have managed to keep hospitalisation and death rates down. But of course, every life lost, every single person in hospital is still one too many. But we have seen really important health progress and the economic recovery has stayed on track.

The growth that we are now seeing, the continued policy support we have in place and the recovery funding that is now flowing is the best medicine there is to help firms and households to recover from this economic crisis. But of course, economic policy is never straightforward, and in these extraordinary times, we now have to monitor many different issues. Over recent months the highest priority issues were virus variants, vaccination progress and finding safe ways to reopen our economy. These are still key concerns, but they are also accompanied now by other issues.

One of those is energy prices, which have increased recently and which entail wide-ranging economic and social consequences. And we would, in the Eurogroup, appreciate the issues that these higher costs create for businesses and for citizens. So to help us get a shared understanding of these developments, I invited Christian Zinglersen, the director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators, to make a presentation and to inform us on recent developments and prospects.

The issue of rising energy prices is broad and it is multifaceted. Our exchange of views today focussed on the consequences for inflation and for budgetary policy within the euro area. There are also many other viewpoints, such as energy security, which belongs to other ministers and to other Council configurations.

So to give you a sense of today's discussions, we all concur with the Commission and with the ECB that a significant part of current developments are likely to be temporary and that inflation should start to fall again next year. However, of course, there is the human angle and today's discussion showed a shared awareness of the need to address the social impact of the current price spike and the need to protect the most vulnerable households from energy poverty through targeted measures.

But the most vulnerable are not the only ones affected. This is an issue that is indeed touching all Europeans, citizens and businesses and in particular, small and medium-sized businesses. So that's why we agreed on the need to monitor the evolution of energy prices and to factor this into our budgetary policy-making to ensure it doesn't compromise the recovery that is now taking hold.

We were in full agreement today that the current situation does not undermine our ambitious climate objectives. The green transition is not the problem, it is part of the solution. We need to maintain and find opportunities to speed up our efforts to improve energy efficiency, develop renewables and low carbon sources of energy so as to reduce our reliance on imported energy.

So overall, we had a good discussion on a relevant but very complex issue. This is clearly not the end of a process. Given the complexity of the issue and the role of other Councils, further work and discussion is required and our exchange of views will feed into the important work the Commission is currently carrying out in identifying areas for further common action in tackling further rising energy prices. And of course, this is an issue that is not limited to the euro area, which is why I am coordinating closely with my Slovenian colleague and current holder of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Andrej Šircelj.

Our second item was also on the economic situation in particular with regard to exchange rates. It's standard practice for the Eurogroup to get a shared understanding of exchange rate developments ahead of the IMF annual meetings, which will start in about a week's time.

Our third item looked at the implementation of euro area priorities in the recovery and resilience plans. We've already acknowledged the importance of recovery funding for healing our economies after COVID-19, but it's also critical for addressing long-standing reform and investment priorities identified in country-specific recommendations and in the euro area recommendations and thereby promoting the convergence and long term growth of our economies. Our discussion today highlighted that Next Generation EU is providing a real boost to investment and reforms, but we have much work to do individually and collectively to move forward but Banking Union and Capital Markets Union.

We also discussed the 11th enhanced surveillance report in Greece. We're very much aware that the pandemic has had a large impact on the Greek economy. This has affected the implementation of some reforms, but we remain positive with the progress that has been made.

Finally, together with our colleagues from Croatia and Bulgaria, we invited the chair of the Supervisory Board of the European Central Bank and the chair of the Single Resolution Board for their regular updates on their recent activities and their assessment of progress regarding the financial sector. They touched upon important topics such as the structural transformation of the banking sector, the adjustment of business models driven, for example, by digitalisation, as well as progress made on the resolvability of banks in the Banking Union.

Συνέδριο της Ένωσης Δικαστών και Εισαγγελέων για τα Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα

Η Ένωση Δικαστών και Εισαγγελέων διοργανώνει τριήμερο Συνέδριο με θέμα

 «Ανθρώπινα Δικαιώματα – η προβληματική της ουσιαστικής προστασίας τους τον 21ο αιώνα»

 και τελεί υπό την αιγίδα της Α.Ε. της Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας Κατερίνας Σακελλαροπούλου. 

Το Συνέδριο θα πραγματοποιηθεί στο Μέγαρο Μουσικής Αθηνών (αίθουσα Δημήτρης Μητρόπουλος) από 29 έως 31 Οκτωβρίου 2021. 

Είναι χωρισμένο σε οκτώ ( 8 ) θεματικές ενότητες που καλύπτουν ένα σημαντικό εύρος των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων. 

Αποτελεί μεγάλη τιμή για την Ένωση η αποδοχή της πρόσκλησης συμμετοχής από Ανώτατους Δικαστικούς Λειτουργούς, Δικαστές στο Δικαστήριο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, του Προέδρου της Διεθνούς Ένωσης Δικαστών, Καθηγητών Πανεπιστημίου. 

Λόγω των ειδικών συνθηκών που επιβάλλει η πανδημία η φυσική παρουσία θα είναι επιτρεπτή μόνο για δικαστικούς λειτουργούς- μέλη της Ένωσης που είναι πλήρως εμβολιασμένοι ή νοσήσαντες το τελευταίο εξάμηνο και προσκομίζουν το αντίστοιχο πιστοποιητικό. 

Θα τηρηθεί αυστηρά χρονική προτεραιότητα κατά τις δηλώσεις συμμετοχής. 

Οι δηλώσεις συμμετοχής μπορούν να υποβληθούν μέσω ηλεκτρονικού ταχυδρομείου, φαξ ή με παράδοση της αίτησης στα γραφεία της Ένωσης. 

Η Ένωση θα καλύψει κατ’ αποκοπήν μέχρι το ποσό των 150 ευρώ για δαπάνες μετακίνησης και διαμονής των συναδέλφων που διαμένουν εκτός Αττικής. 

Τα μέλη της Ένωσης που επιθυμούν να παρακολουθήσουν το Συνέδριο θα πρέπει να δηλώσουν στην ειδική επισυναπτόμενη φόρμα συμμετοχής τις θεματικές ενότητες στις οποίες θα παραστούν, έχοντας ασφαλώς κάποιος τη δυνατότητα να παρακολουθήσει όλες τις θεματικές. 

Υπάρχει επίσης η πρόβλεψη για διαδικτυακή κάλυψη του Συνεδρίου. Επειδή o αριθμός των θέσεων είναι περιορισμένος (μέχρι 200 άτομα) παρακαλούμε όλα τα μέλη μας να ενημερώσουν την γραμματεία της Ένωσης σε περίπτωση που ανακαλέσουν την πρόθεσή τους να συμμετέχουν (τηλ. 2132156114).
Ακολουθεί το πρόγραμμα του Συνεδρίου.

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"ΣΚΥΛΟΣ ΣΤΟ ΔΡΟΜΟ"...ΚΥΡΙΑΚΗ 17 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΗ,ΠΕΔΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΑΡΕΩΣ

 

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The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau..

 Prime Minister announces mandatory vaccination for the federal workforce and federally regulated transportation sectors

October 6, 2021
Ottawa, Ontario

From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we made a commitment to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. That is why we worked hard to deliver safe and effective vaccines and set the stage for a recovery that benefits everyone. Thanks to the millions of Canadians who rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated, and now with 82 per cent of eligible Canadians fully vaccinated, Canada is a world leader on COVID-19 vaccinations. As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada will continue to play a leadership role in protecting the safety of our workplaces, our communities, and all Canadians by ensuring that as many of them as possible are fully vaccinated.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, today announced details of the government’s plans to require COVID-19 vaccination across the federal public service and federally regulated transportation sectors.

Under the new policy, federal public servants in the Core Public Administration, including members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, will be required to confirm their vaccination status by October 29, 2021. Those who are unwilling to disclose their vaccination status or to be fully vaccinated will be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as November 15, 2021.

Employers in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors will have until October 30, 2021, to establish vaccination policies that ensure employees are vaccinated. Effective October 30, 2021, travellers departing from Canadian airports, and travellers on VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains, will be required to be fully vaccinated, with very limited exceptions. The government is working with industry and key partners to put a strict vaccine requirement in place for cruise ships before the resumption of the 2022 cruise season.

Crown corporations and separate agencies are being asked to implement vaccine policies mirroring the requirements announced today for the rest of the public service. The Acting Chief of the Defence Staff will also issue a directive requiring vaccination for the Canadian Armed Forces. The government will keep working with employers in other federally regulated workplaces to ensure vaccination is prioritized for workers in these sectors.

By requiring vaccination from federal public servants, travellers, and employees in federally regulated transportation sectors, the Government of Canada will reduce the risk of COVID-19, prevent future outbreaks, and better protect the health of Canadians. Vaccination continues to be a priority for the government as we work to ensure a strong economic recovery and build a safer and healthier Canada for everyone.

Quotes

“Vaccines are the most effective tool against COVID-19, and countless Canadians – including many public servants – have already done their part and gotten their shots. But no one is safe until everyone is safe. We have enough doses in Canada for every person to be fully vaccinated across the country, so I encourage all Canadians who haven’t been vaccinated to book their shot today. Together, we will finish the fight against COVID-19.”

The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

“The best economic policy is a strong public health response, including encouraging vaccination for all eligible Canadians. As the country’s largest employer, the Government of Canada is leading by example. By requiring people who work in the public service to be fully vaccinated, we are putting the health and safety of public servants, their families, and their neighbours, first. This also protects the safety of anyone who enters a federal office to get the services they need. And we’re making sure travellers are safe, which will help hard-hit sectors recover. These responsible and practical actions will accelerate our economic recovery and give businesses valuable confidence that our strong economy is less vulnerable to COVID-19-related lockdowns.”

The Hon. Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

“The requirements announced today bring us one step closer to ensuring that every public servant who is able to be vaccinated, is vaccinated. We’ll be able to count on vaccination as an extra layer of protection in communities where our employees live and work, where Canadians access federal government services, and when we travel. Any public servant who has not yet received their first dose should get vaccinated now.”

The Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, President of the Treasury Board

“Vaccines are the best way to keep each other safe. Requiring travellers and employees to be vaccinated ensures that everyone who travels and works in the transportation industry will better protect each other and keep Canadians safe.”

The Hon. Omar Alghabra, Minister of Transport

“Vaccines are the best way to protect people from COVID-19 and end this pandemic. Throughout this crisis, federal public servants have gone above and beyond to deliver help to Canadians at an unprecedented speed. Our government will continue to use all means at our disposal to protect them and all Canadians.”

The Hon. Dominic LeBlanc, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Quick Facts

• The Core Public Administration comprises departments and organizations named in Schedules I and IV of the Financial Administration Act. The requirement for employees to be vaccinated applies whether they are teleworking, working remotely, or working on‑site. Contracted personnel who require access to federal government worksites will also need to be vaccinated.
• Employees unable to be vaccinated due to prohibited grounds under the Canadian Human Rights Act, such as a medical contraindication, may request accommodation.
• Employees have an obligation to provide a true attestation. Failure to do so would constitute a breach of the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Sector and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
• The Government of Canada strongly advises any Canadians planning to travel by plane or train in the coming weeks to get vaccinated as soon as possible or they will be unable to travel.
• There will be a short transition period during which travellers not yet fully vaccinated will be able to travel if they can show a negative COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel. This transition period will end on November 30, 2021.
• There will be very limited exceptions to the vaccination requirement for travellers to address the realities of remote, fly-in communities; emergency travel; and exceptional medical reasons.
• The Government of Canada is committed to engaging with Indigenous groups, provinces, and territories to ensure that unvaccinated Canadians living in remote communities will still be able to obtain essential services in support of their medical, health, or social well-being, and return safely to their communities.
• There will be consequences for travellers caught falsifying documentation, as well as for transportation operators who don’t comply.
• These plans were informed by engagement with key stakeholders, including bargaining agents, other employers, operators, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

Related Products

• COVID-19 vaccine requirement for the federal workforce
• Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federally regulated transportation employees and travellers

Associated Links

• COVID-19 vaccination for federal public servants
• Policy on COVID-19 Vaccination for the Core Public Administration Including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Government of Canada to require vaccination of federal workforce and federally regulated transportation sector
• COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada

Le premier ministre annonce la vaccination obligatoire des employés fédéraux et des secteurs des transports sous réglementation fédérale

Le 6 octobre 2021
Ottawa (Ontario)

Depuis le début de la pandémie de COVID-19, nous nous sommes engagés à protéger la santé et la sécurité de tous les Canadiens. C'est pourquoi nous avons travaillé sans relâche pour fournir des vaccins sûrs et efficaces et préparer le terrain pour une relance qui profitera à tous. Grâce aux millions de Canadiens qui ont retroussé leurs manches pour se faire vacciner, et maintenant que 82 % des Canadiens admissibles sont entièrement vaccinés, le Canada est un chef de file mondial en matière de vaccination contre la COVID-19. En tant qu’employeur le plus important du pays, le gouvernement du Canada continuera de jouer un rôle de premier plan dans la protection de nos milieux de travail, de nos communautés et de tous les Canadiens en veillant à ce que le plus grand nombre possible de Canadiens soient entièrement vaccinés.

Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau et la vice-première ministre Chrystia Freeland ont annoncé aujourd'hui les détails des plans du gouvernement visant à exiger la vaccination contre la COVID-19 dans l'ensemble de la fonction publique fédérale et des secteurs des transports sous réglementation fédérale.

Aux termes de cette nouvelle politique, les fonctionnaires fédéraux de l'administration publique centrale, y compris les membres de la Gendarmerie royale du Canada, devront confirmer leur statut vaccinal d'ici le 29 octobre 2021. Ceux qui refusent de divulguer leur statut vaccinal ou d'être entièrement vaccinés seront mis en congé administratif sans solde dès le 15 novembre 2021.

Les employeurs des secteurs du transport aérien, ferroviaire et maritime sous réglementation fédérale auront jusqu'au 30 octobre 2021 pour mettre en place des politiques de vaccination qui s’assureront que les employés sont vaccinés. À compter du 30 octobre 2021, les voyageurs en partance d’un aéroport canadien et les passagers des trains de VIA Rail et de Rocky Mountaineer devront être entièrement vaccinés, à quelques très rares exceptions près. Le gouvernement travaille avec l'industrie et des partenaires de premier plan pour mettre en place une exigence stricte en matière de vaccination visant les navires de croisière avant que la saison des croisières ne recommence en 2022.

Les sociétés d'État et les organismes distincts sont demandés de mettre en œuvre des politiques de vaccination qui reflètent les exigences annoncées aujourd'hui pour le reste de la fonction publique. Le chef d'état-major de la Défense par intérim publiera également une directive exigeant la vaccination pour les membres des Forces armées canadiennes. Le gouvernement continuera de travailler avec les employeurs des autres milieux de travail sous réglementation fédérale pour s'assurer que la vaccination des travailleurs de ces secteurs est une priorité.

Exiger la vaccination des fonctionnaires fédéraux, des voyageurs et des employés des secteurs des transports sous réglementation fédérale permettra au gouvernement du Canada de réduire le risque de propagation de la COVID-19, de prévenir les éclosions futures et de mieux protéger la santé des Canadiens. La vaccination demeure une priorité pour le gouvernement alors que nous nous efforçons d'assurer une relance économique solide et de bâtir un Canada plus sûr et plus sain pour tous.

Citations

« Les vaccins sont l'outil le plus efficace contre la COVID-19. D'innombrables Canadiens, dont de nombreux fonctionnaires, ont déjà fait leur devoir et se sont fait vacciner. Mais personne n'est en sécurité tant que tout le monde ne l'est pas aussi. Nous avons suffisamment de doses au Canada pour que chaque personne soit entièrement vaccinée d’un bout à l’autre du pays. J'encourage donc tous les Canadiens qui n'ont pas été vaccinés à prendre rendez-vous dès aujourd'hui. Ensemble, nous allons en finir avec la COVID-19. »

Le très hon. Justin Trudeau, premier ministre du Canada

« La meilleure politique économique est une réponse vigoureuse en matière de santé publique, qui consiste notamment à encourager tous les Canadiens admissibles à se faire vacciner. En tant qu’employeur le plus important du pays, le gouvernement du Canada montre l'exemple. En exigeant que les employés de la fonction publique soient entièrement vaccinés, nous donnons la priorité à la santé et à la sécurité des fonctionnaires, de leurs familles et de leurs voisins. Cette mesure permet aussi de protéger toute personne qui se rend à un bureau du gouvernement fédéral pour obtenir les services dont elle a besoin. Nous assurons également la sécurité des voyageurs, ce qui aidera les secteurs les plus durement touchés à se rétablir. Ces mesures responsables et pratiques contribueront à accélérer notre relance économique et à donner aux entreprises l’assurance que notre économie vigoureuse est moins vulnérable aux confinements liés à la COVID-19. »

L'hon. Chrystia Freeland, vice-première ministre et ministre des Finances

« Les exigences annoncées aujourd'hui nous rapprochent de notre objectif de faire en sorte que tous les fonctionnaires admissibles soient vaccinés. La vaccination constituera une couche de protection supplémentaire dans les communautés où vivent et travaillent nos employés, dans les endroits où les Canadiens ont accès aux services du gouvernement fédéral et lors de nos déplacements. Tout fonctionnaire qui n'a pas encore reçu sa première dose devrait se faire vacciner dès maintenant. »

L’hon. Jean-Yves Duclos, président du Conseil du Trésor

« Les vaccins sont le meilleur moyen de nous protéger les uns les autres. En exigeant que les voyageurs et les employés soient vaccinés, nous veillons à ce que les voyageurs et les employés du secteur des transports soient mieux en mesure de se protéger mutuellement et d'assurer la sécurité des Canadiens. »

L’hon. Omar Alghabra, ministre des Transports

« Les vaccins sont le meilleur moyen de protéger les gens contre la COVID-19 et de mettre fin à cette pandémie. Tout au long de cette crise, les fonctionnaires fédéraux se sont surpassés pour venir en aide aux Canadiens à une vitesse sans précédent. Notre gouvernement continuera d'utiliser tous les moyens à sa disposition pour les protéger et protéger tous les Canadiens. »

L’hon. Dominic LeBlanc, président du Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada et ministre des Affaires intergouvernementales

Faits saillants

• L'administration publique centrale comprend les ministères et organismes énumérés dans les annexes I et IV de la Loi sur la gestion des finances publiques. Les employés doivent respecter l'obligation de vaccination qu’ils soient en télétravail, qu'ils travaillent à distance ou qu'ils travaillent sur place. Le personnel sous contrat qui doit avoir accès aux sites du gouvernement fédéral devra également être vacciné.
• Les employés qui ne peuvent pas se faire vacciner pour des motifs de distinction illicite prévus par la Loi canadienne sur les droits de la personne, comme une contre‑indication médicale, peuvent demander des mesures d'adaptation.
• Les employés ont l'obligation de fournir une attestation véridique. Le non‑respect de cette obligation constitue une violation du Code de valeurs et d'éthique du secteur public et peut entraîner la prise de mesures disciplinaires pouvant aller jusqu'au congédiement.
• Le gouvernement du Canada conseille fortement à tous les Canadiens qui prévoient voyager en avion ou en train dans les semaines à venir de se faire vacciner dès que possible, faute de quoi ils ne pourront pas voyager.
• Une courte période de transition est prévue. Durant cette période, les voyageurs qui ne sont pas encore entièrement vaccinés pourront voyager s'ils peuvent présenter un résultat négatif à un test moléculaire de dépistage de la COVID-19 dans les 72 heures précédant le voyage. Cette période de transition prendra fin le 30 novembre 2021.
• De très rares exceptions à l'obligation de vaccination des voyageurs seront accordées pour tenir compte des réalités des communautés éloignées uniquement accessibles par avion, des voyages d'urgence et des raisons médicales exceptionnelles.
• Le gouvernement du Canada s'engage à collaborer avec les groupes autochtones, les provinces et les territoires afin de s'assurer que les Canadiens non vaccinés vivant dans des communautés éloignées pourront toujours obtenir les services essentiels à leur bien-être médical, sanitaire ou social, et retourner en toute sécurité dans leur communauté.
• Des conséquences seront prévues pour les voyageurs surpris en train de falsifier des documents ainsi que pour les exploitants de services de transport qui ne se conforment pas aux exigences.
• Ces plans ont été élaborés en collaboration avec des intervenants de premier plan, notamment des agents négociateurs, d'autres employeurs, des exploitants et le Commissariat à la protection de la vie privée.

Produits connexes

• Exigence de vaccination contre la COVID-19 pour les fonctionnaires fédéraux
• Exigences relatives à la vaccination obligatoire contre la COVID-19 pour les employés du secteur des transports sous réglementation fédérale et ses voyageurs

Liens connexes

• Vaccination des fonctionnaires fédéraux contre la COVID-19
• Politique sur la vaccination contre la COVID-19 applicable à l’administration publique centrale, y compris à la Gendarmerie royale du Canada
• Le gouvernement du Canada exigera la vaccination des employés fédéraux et du secteur des transports sous réglementation fédérale
• Voyageurs vaccinés contre la COVID-19 qui entrent au Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison

October 5, 2021
Ottawa, Ontario

Yesterday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with the Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, who congratulated him on his re-election.

The two leaders discussed the close cooperation between Canada and Australia in strengthening global trade and upholding human rights as well as the rules-based international order.

Prime Minister Trudeau noted the importance of international solidarity in helping to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, and thanked Prime Minister Morrison for Australia’s strong support.

The prime ministers underscored the important role of the Five Eyes partnership in addressing common security challenges. They also discussed the new trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They agreed that Canada and Australia will continue to strengthen their partnership to advance common objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.

The two leaders discussed ongoing efforts in Canada and in Australia to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, save lives, and support people and communities through the crisis. They also discussed the importance of fighting climate change and building a cleaner future.

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Morrison agreed to continue coordinating efforts to help resettle vulnerable Afghans fleeing the Taliban. They committed to keeping in touch in the months ahead.

Associated links

• Canada-Australia Relations
• Prime Minister Trudeau announces the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor
• Five-Country Ministerial
• More than 3,000 Evacuees Arrive in Canada from Afghanistan

PMO Media Relations: media@pmo-cpm.gc.ca
This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca

Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau s’entretient avec le premier ministre de l’Australie, Scott Morrison

Le 5 octobre 2021
Ottawa (Ontario)

Hier, le premier ministre Justin Trudeau s’est entretenu avec le premier ministre de l’Australie, Scott Morrison, qui l’a félicité pour sa réélection.

Les deux dirigeants ont discuté de l’étroite collaboration entre le Canada et l’Australie en vue de renforcer le commerce mondial ainsi que de défendre les droits de la personne et l’ordre international fondé sur des règles.

Le premier ministre Trudeau a indiqué que la solidarité internationale a contribué dans une large mesure à obtenir la libération de Michael Kovrig et de Michael Spavor, et il a remercié le premier ministre Morrison pour le ferme soutien de l’Australie.

Les premiers ministres ont souligné que le Groupe des cinq joue un rôle important pour relever les défis communs en matière de sécurité. Ils ont également discuté du nouveau partenariat trilatéral en matière de sécurité entre l’Australie, le Royaume-Uni et les États‑Unis. Ils ont convenu de renforcer le partenariat entre le Canada et l’Australie afin de faire progresser les objectifs communs dans la région indo-pacifique.

Les deux dirigeants ont discuté des efforts en cours au Canada et en Australie pour lutter contre la pandémie de COVID-19, sauver des vies et soutenir les gens et les communautés pendant la crise. Ils ont aussi discuté de l’importance de lutter contre les changements climatiques et de bâtir un avenir plus propre.

Le premier ministre Trudeau et le premier ministre Morrison ont convenu de continuer à coordonner leurs efforts pour aider à réinstaller les Afghans vulnérables qui fuient les talibans. Ils se sont engagés à rester en contact dans les mois à venir.

Liens connexes

• Relations Canada-Australie
• Le premier ministre Trudeau annonce la libération de Michael Kovrig et de Michael Spavor
• Réunion ministérielle des cinq pays
• Plus de 3 000 évacués arrivent au Canada en provenance d’Afghanistan

Statement by the Prime Minister on World Teachers’ Day

October 5, 2021
Ottawa, Ontario

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on World Teachers’ Day:

“‘Educator only begins to scratch the surface of a teacher’s job description. Every day, they step into many other roles as well, including as coaches, mentors, and advocates. They inspire our students to think outside the box, dream big, and persevere. Their wisdom and guidance help students find and develop their strengths and pursue their unique career paths. Teachers – including those in post-secondary institutions, such as adult educators, teaching assistants, and professors – play an important role in bringing out the best in us and strengthening our communities and society. Today, on World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate all teachers and thank them for sharing their time and energy so our students have the best experience possible to learn and grow.

“Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers’ workloads and pressures have drastically increased. Over the past year and a half, educators around the world have had to adapt their teaching styles, juggle in-person and virtual school, and project their voices louder through masks. We commend our teachers for their efforts to go above and beyond to engage every child in learning. This year’s theme – Teachers at the heart of education recovery – focuses on the support teachers need to contribute to the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

“The Government of Canada has taken concrete steps to help teachers during these challenging times. Last year, we announced an investment of up to $2 billion through the Safe Return to Class Fund for provinces and territories. This funding has helped schools adapt learning spaces, improve air ventilation, increase hand sanitation, purchase personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, and provide health and safety training for staff. We also announced an additional $224 million over two years in funding for First Nations to support community measures to ensure a safe return to school on reserves. As part of our continued commitment to educators, we will work to increase the Eligible Educator School Supply Tax Credit from 15 to 25 per cent, and expand the eligibility criteria to include tech devices and supplies purchased when teaching is virtual or from home.

“We recognize the world is a stronger and better place when teachers around the globe have the resources to provide a quality education – to all children. That is why, at the Generation Equality Forum in June, we allocated $50 million from Canada’s pledge to the Global Partnership for Education to address social and institutional barriers to girls’ education in partner countries.

“I know first-hand the sacrifices teachers make and the dedication they have to their students. Across the country, we have exceptional teachers that prepare our young people for future success. The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in STEM, and Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour some of the many educators that demonstrate leadership and make a difference in the lives of their students.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I thank all teachers and educators in Canada and around the world for the essential work you do every day. You are a key pillar in building the leaders of today and tomorrow. I encourage all Canadians to take a moment to thank a teacher who has positively shaped their world.”

Déclaration du premier ministre à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale des enseignants

Le 5 octobre 2021
Ottawa (Ontario)

Le premier ministre Justin Trudeau a fait aujourd’hui la déclaration suivante à l’occasion de la Journée mondiale des enseignants :

« Les tâches d’enseignement ne sont qu’une infime partie de la description de poste des enseignants. Chaque jour, ils occupent plusieurs autres rôles, comme ceux d’entraîneur, de mentor et de défenseur de droits. Ils amènent leurs élèves à faire preuve de créativité, à rêver grand et à persévérer. Leur sagesse et leurs conseils aident les élèves à trouver et à développer leurs forces et à choisir un cheminement professionnel propre à eux. Le personnel enseignant, qui comprend le personnel des établissements postsecondaires comme les enseignants aux adultes, les assistants à l’enseignement et les professeurs, contribue grandement à faire sortir le meilleur de chacun et à renforcer nos communautés et la société dans son ensemble. Aujourd’hui, en cette Journée mondiale des enseignants, nous célébrons les enseignants et les remercions de donner de leur temps et de leur énergie pour que nos élèves aient la meilleure expérience possible et puissent ainsi apprendre et s’épanouir.

« Depuis le début de la pandémie de COVID-19, la charge de travail des enseignants et la pression exercée sur eux se sont accrues de manière exponentielle. Au cours de la dernière année et demie, les enseignants du monde entier ont dû adapter leurs modes d’enseignement, concilier les cours virtuels et en classe et parler plus fort en raison du port du masque. Nous les félicitons de s’être dépassés de la sorte pour favoriser l’apprentissage de chaque enfant. Le thème de cette année, “Les enseignants au cœur de la relance de l’éducation”, porte sur le soutien dont les enseignants ont besoin pour contribuer à la relance à la suite de la crise de la COVID-19.

« Le gouvernement du Canada a pris des mesures concrètes pour aider les enseignants pendant cette période difficile. L’an dernier, nous avons annoncé un investissement de près de 2 milliards de dollars à l’intention des provinces et des territoires dans le cadre du Fonds pour une rentrée scolaire sécuritaire. Ces fonds ont aidé les écoles à adapter leurs espaces d’apprentissage, à améliorer la ventilation, à augmenter la désinfection des mains, à acheter de l’équipement de protection individuelle et des produits nettoyants ainsi qu’à offrir de la formation en matière de santé et sécurité au personnel. Nous avons également annoncé l’octroi d’une somme additionnelle de 224 millions de dollars sur deux ans à l’appui des Premières Nations, pour la mise en œuvre de mesures communautaires en vue d’une rentrée scolaire sécuritaire dans les réserves. Dans le cadre de notre engagement continu envers les éducateurs, nous nous efforcerons de faire passer de 15 à 25 % le Crédit d’impôt pour fournitures scolaires d’éducateur admissible et d’élargir les critères d’admissibilité pour inclure les appareils technologiques et les fournitures achetés lorsque l’enseignement est virtuel ou à domicile.

« Nous savons que le monde est un endroit meilleur et plus fort lorsque les enseignants du monde entier ont les ressources nécessaires pour offrir une éducation de qualité à chaque enfant. C’est pourquoi, au Forum Génération Égalité qui a eu lieu en juin, nous avons alloué 50 millions de dollars provenant de la somme promise par le Canada pour le Partenariat mondial pour l’éducation à l’élimination des obstacles sociaux et institutionnels à l’éducation des filles dans nos pays partenaires.

« D’expérience, je connais les sacrifices que les enseignants doivent faire et leur dévouement envers leurs élèves. D’un bout à l’autre du pays, nous avons des enseignants exceptionnels qui préparent nos jeunes à un avenir couronné de succès. Les Prix du Premier ministre pour l'excellence dans l'enseignement, l'excellence dans l'enseignement des STIM et l'excellence en éducation de la petite enfance rendent hommage à seulement quelques-uns des nombreux enseignants et éducateurs qui font preuve de leadership et changent véritablement la vie de leurs élèves.

« Au nom du gouvernement du Canada, je remercie les enseignants et les éducateurs au Canada et ailleurs dans le monde pour le travail essentiel qu’ils font chaque jour. Vous participez de manière essentielle à l’émergence des leaders d’aujourd’hui et de demain. J’encourage tous les Canadiens à prendre le temps de remercier un enseignant qui a changé leur vie en mieux. »

IMF FINANCE & DEVELOPMENT latest

 

Dear maria, Nature is often missing in economic models, but in a study commissioned by the UK government, Partha Dasgupta examines the economic benefits of biodiversity and the costs of losing it. In a new article for Finance & Development Magazine, Dasgupta writes about how his groundbreaking study creates a framework for including nature in our economic thinking and provides a guide for change through three broad, interconnected transitions.   Read the full article below, on the web, or download the PDF.  Listen to a new IMF podcast where Dasgupta discusses his article. Have a print copy of F&D Magazine delivered to your home or office. The past 70 years are a success story on many counts. We are healthier, live longer, and enjoy higher income, on average, than our predecessors. The proportion of the world’s population in absolute poverty has fallen dramatically. As we benefit from advances in technology, modern science, and food production, we may be excused for thinking that humanity never had it so good. Global GDP has risen enormously since the 1950s (see chart), and world economic output is 15 times higher. These achievements conceal a simple truth, however, which has profound consequences not only for how we think about and practice economics, but also for the way we live our lives. All the prosperity we have enjoyed relies on the Nature that surrounds us and of which we are a part—from the food we eat, to the air we breathe, to the decomposition of our waste, to opportunities for recreation and spiritual fulfilment. Yet the biosphere has diminished during that same time. Current extinction rates are about 100 to 1,000 times higher than the background rate—the normal process of species loss—over the past several million years. And they are accelerating. The chart shows the Living Planet Index, which tracks the abundance of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Between 1970 and 2016, the population of species fell globally by 68 percent on average. A recent report by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services showed that 14 of the 18 global ecosystem services assessed were in decline. We have been drawing down Nature’s assets through extraction of natural resources, depleting the nutrient supply in soils, driving down fish stocks, and so on—and using Nature as a sink for our waste—burning fossil fuels, for example. As a result, the biosphere has been severely degraded; some ecosystems, such as coral reefs, are at the point of collapse. Certain events can cause us to reflect for a moment. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many to question the sustainability of our relationship with Nature, since illegal wildlife trade, land-use change, and habitat loss are key drivers of emerging infectious diseases. Supply and demand Earlier this year, The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review, commissioned by the UK Treasury, was published. In this study, I sought to show how economics has overlooked Nature. Combining what we know about the biosphere from earth sciences and ecology, the Review sets out a framework for including Nature in our economic thinking and provides a guide for change through three broad, interconnected transitions. The first is to ensure that our demands on Nature do not exceed its supply. What we demand of Nature (what some term our “ecological footprint”) has for some decades far exceeded Nature’s ability to meet those demands on a sustainable basis, with the result that the biosphere is being degraded at an alarming rate. This persistent demand overshoot is endangering the prosperity of current and future generations, fueling significant risk for our economies and well-being. Technological innovations—for example, those geared toward sustainable food production—have an important role to play in ensuring that our demands on Nature do not exceed its supply. But if we are to avoid exceeding the limits of what Nature can provide while meeting the needs of the human population, consumption and production patterns must be fundamentally restructured as well. Policies that change prices and behavioral norms—for example, by aligning environmental objectives along entire supply chains and enforcing standards for reuse, recycling, and sharing—can accelerate efforts to break the links between damaging forms of consumption and production and the natural environment. Human population growth has significant implications for our demands on Nature, including for future patterns of global consumption. Support for community-based family planning can shift preferences and behavior and accelerate demographic transition, as can improving women’s access to finance, information, and education. Inclusive wealth The second transition involves changing our measure of economic success. Reshaping the tools used in economic measurement is a necessary step on that journey. GDP remains a critical measure of economic activity when it comes to short-term macroeconomic analysis. But it is not an appropriate measure of long-term economic performance. This is because it does not tell us how an economy’s assets, particularly its natural assets, are being enhanced or diminished by the decisions we make. We should instead be using a measure that accounts for the value of all capital stocks—produced capital (roads, buildings, ports, machines), human capital (skills, knowledge), and natural capital. We may call that measure “inclusive wealth.” Comprising all three types of capital, inclusive wealth shows the benefits from investing in natural assets and the trade-offs and interactions between investments in different assets. Only with this more complete picture is it possible to understand whether a country is experiencing economic prosperity. New Zealand’s “wellbeing budget” and the use of “gross ecosystem product” in China are examples explored in the Review of steps being taken to establish that more complete picture. To illustrate, the export revenues of natural resources (for example, primary products in the tropics) do not reflect the social costs of their removal from the environment; in other words, the trade of these goods does not account for how the extraction process will affect the ecosystem from which they are drawn or the long-term consequences faced by those communities as a result. There is thus a transfer of wealth from countries that export primary products to importing countries. The implication is more than ironic: it is possible that the expansion of international trade has contributed to a massive transfer of wealth from poor countries to rich countries, without its being recorded in official statistics. Of course, it is not sufficient to account only for natural assets. We need to invest in Nature. That requires a financial system that channels financial investments—public and private—toward economic activities that enhance our stock of natural assets and encourage sustainable consumption and production. Investment can also mean simply waiting; when left alone, Nature grows and regenerates. Institutional failure That brings us to the third transition: transforming our institutions to enable change. At the heart of our unsustainable engagement with Nature lies profound institutional failure. Nature’s worth to society—the value of the various goods and services it provides—is not reflected in market prices. The open seas and the atmosphere are open-access resources and have fallen prey to the so-called tragedy of the commons. Such pricing distortions have led us to invest relatively more in other assets, such as produced capital, and underinvest in our natural assets. And since many constituents of Nature are mobile, invisible, or silent, the effects of a number of our actions on ourselves and others—including our descendants—are hard to trace and go unaccounted for, giving rise to widespread externalities. To exacerbate these distortions, governments almost everywhere pay people more to exploit Nature than to protect it. A conservative estimate of the total global cost of subsidies that damage Nature is about $4 to $6 trillion a year. A thriving natural environment, underpinned by abundant biodiversity, is our ultimate safety net. Just as diversity within a portfolio of financial assets reduces risk and uncertainty, diversity within a portfolio of natural assets—biodiversity—directly and indirectly increases Nature’s resilience to shocks, reducing risks to the services on which we rely. Far more global support is needed to raise financial institutions’ understanding and awareness of Nature-related financial risks. Central banks and financial supervisors can do this by assessing the systemic extent of these risks. The IMF, at the center of the global financial safety net, can also play an essential role in both assessing and managing these Nature-related risks in its surveillance and its financial and technical assistance. The next steps With heightened awareness of the place of Nature in our lives, a message brought home to us by the pandemic, this year is critical in reimagining our economics and our economic and financial decision-making. World leaders will gather for two conferences—the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)—to discuss the intrinsically linked issues of climate change and biodiversity loss. The only way to combat this biodiversity crisis is through transformative change, which demands sustained commitment from actors at all levels—from citizens all the way to international financial institutions such as the IMF. The Economics of Biodiversity Review highlights success stories from around the world, demonstrating that the type of change necessary is possible. We must redeploy the ingenuity that allowed humanity’s demands on Nature to grow so large, to bring about the transformation necessary to reimagine our relationship with Nature. We and our descendants deserve nothing less. Adam Behsudi Senior Editor F&D abehsudi@IMF.org