The Council has today adopted an amendment to the regulation on the European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) joint undertaking to expand its objectives to include the development and operation of ‘AI factories’. AI factories are entities which provide an AI supercomputing service infrastructure. The amended regulation will make the EU’s supercomputing capacity further available for innovative […]
Auditors join the all-new EU ethics watchdog
This spring, negotiations on setting up a new EU body for ethical standards were concluded between the EU institutions and advisory bodies, including the ECA. As a result, the founding agreement was signed on 15 May in Brussels by the eight participating institutions and bodies, namely the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, […]
Basel III reforms: new EU rules to strengthen bank resilience
The Council adopted new rules aimed at making banks operating in the EU more resilient to possible economic shocks. The changes aim to increase the resilience of banks, strengthen their supervision and reinforce risk management. In addition they will strengthen supervision and sustainability in the banking sector. Vincent Van Peteghem, Belgian minister for finance, stated last Thursday: “The […]
EU withdraws from the Energy Charter Treaty
The European Union and Euratom will leave the Energy Charter Treaty, while member states will be allowed to support its modernisation during the next Energy Charter Conference. The decisions are linked as they form the two pillars of a political compromise known as the Belgian roadmap on the Energy Charter Treaty. The formal adoption by the […]
Council to sign agreement with Serbia and Frontex
The Council has decided that the EU will sign an agreement with the Republic of Serbia on operational activities being carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex). The agreement will allow the EU and Serbia to organise joint operations involving Frontex and the Serbian border guards. It also means that Frontex […]
Council gives go-ahead to strengthen rules against trafficking in human beings
The Council adopted a directive that adds the exploitation of surrogacy, of forced marriage and of illegal adoption as forms of exploitation covered by the EU’s anti-trafficking law. The modification reflects the gravity, as well as the prevalence and the relevance of these forms of exploitation. Knowingly using the service provided by a trafficking victim will […]
Council adopts updated Schengen Borders Code
The Council has given its final approval to a new Schengen Borders Code, the EU’s rulebook that deals with the management of internal and external borders as well as the rules governing border control of persons crossing the external EU borders. The reform is instrumental in making the Schengen area more resilient to present and […]
Agreement on use of super-computing for AI development
The Council has reached a political agreement on a regulation to expand the objectives of the European High Performing Computer Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC), aimed at boosting Europe’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). The regulation adds an additional objective for the Joint Undertaking: to develop and operate AI Factories in support of an artificial intelligence ecosystem […]
Foreign interference: Council advocates safeguarding elections
The Council approved conclusions on democratic resilience and safeguarding electoral processes from all forms of foreign interference. As billions of citizens cast their ballots globally in 2024 – including in the European Parliament elections – the conclusions underline that democratic resilience remains a central focus of the Council’s agenda. In an evolving security environment, […]