Last November 19, the member states’ representatives (Coreper) approved the Council’s negotiating mandate for an EU law that will allow for the launch of an EU digital travel application. The regulation establishes rules on the (voluntary) creation of digital travel credentials and how to use them when crossing external borders. The EU digital travel application […]
EU agrees on rules to improve management and use of rail infrastructure
Council and Parliament negotiators reached today a provisional agreement to harmonise, simplify and rationalise the management of the available capacity for trains on the EU’s rail network, both within and across member states. This new approach will allow for more frequent and reliable passenger and freight rail services. To improve the capacity planning of trains […]
Council agrees position to incentivise defence-related investments in the EU budget
Member states’ representatives approved yesterday the Council’s position on a proposal aiming to incentivise defence-related investments in the EU budget to implement the so-called ReArm Europe plan, an EU initiative to increase defence spending and strengthen the EU’s military capabilities. With a view to facilitating faster, more flexible and coordinated investments in the European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB), the […]
Council approves simplification of EU carbon leakage instrument
The Council adopted on 29 September, as part of the so-called “Omnibus I” legislative package, a regulation simplifying and strengthening the EU’s Border Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (BAM). This Regulation aims to simplify the EU’s EU-ETS and introduce improvements to make compliance economically efficient. The main objective is to reduce the regulatory and administrative burden and […]
Council signs off regulation to reduce pollution from microplastics
Today, the Council adopted the regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment, following a provisional agreement with the European Parliament. The new regulation aims to reduce microplastic pollution by strengthening controls and management of plastic pellets, a key industrial raw material, throughout the supply chain. Main elements of the regulation The new rules focus on […]
EU and OEACP reaffirm commitment to global sustainable development
The EU and the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OASECP) have issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the 4th UN Conference on Financing for Development. In a declaration adopted last July 1 by the Council of the EU, the […]
EU adopts plan to improve cybersecurity crisis management
Telecoms ministers adopted on 6 June the EU Master Plan for Cybersecurity Crisis Management, which provides guidance for the EU’s response to large-scale cybersecurity incidents or cybersecurity crises. The EU Cybersecurity Master Plan is an important guidance resource through which Member States can improve their preparedness for cybersecurity incidents, as well as their detection and […]
Council adopts regulation on financial benchmarks to ease burden on SMEs
The Council adopted on 24 March a regulation on financial benchmarks, which aims to cut red tape for EU companies, in particular for SMEs. Benchmarks are generally used by companies and investors in the EU as a reference in their financial instruments or contracts. This Regulation amends a 2016 Regulation as regards the scope of […]
The Council adds one entity to its autonomous list of sanctions associated with ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida.
On 17 March the Council decided to add Al Azaim Media Foundation to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida and therefore subject to EU restrictive measures. Al Azaim Media Foundation is the media arm of the Islamic State-Khorasan. With the 17 March decision, the autonomous […]