The Council agreed on 8 December its position on two pieces of EU legislation that will strengthen the practical application of the fundamental safe country concept in EU asylum rules. These new EU migration laws aim to establish faster and more efficient asylum procedures for those who should not be granted protection within the EU. […]
Internships – Traineeship at the EU Council – Belgium
Twice a year the General Secretariat of the Council offers 5-month paid traineeship periods in Brussels: 1 February to 30 June (first period) 1 September to 31 January (second period) Regular paid traineeships Eligibility Applicants must be EU citizens; Have a university degree; Proficiency in English or French (C1 level) and very good knowledge of […]
EU Council and Parliament agree on updated rules to strengthen consumer dispute resolution
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 […]
Tenth EU-NATO report highlights joint efforts to strengthen cooperation in face of global security threats
The Council took note of the tenth progress report on the implementation of the 74 common proposals endorsed by the EU and NATO Councils on 6 December 2016 and 5 December 2017. The report confirms that NATO and the EU remain steadfast defenders of international peace and security and the rules-based international order. It stresses that shared security challenges […]
New rules to reduce microplastic pollution
Last April 8th, the Council and the European Parliament provisionally agreed on a regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets – the industrial raw materials used to make plastic products – into the environment. The new rules will help improve the handling of plastic pellets at all stages of the supply chain, both on […]
Combatting unfair trading practices in the agrifood supply chain
Last April 7th, member states’ representatives in the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) approved the Council’s negotiating mandate on a regulation concerning new rules aimed at combatting cross-border unfair trading practices in the agricultural and food supply chain. Main elements of the proposal The proposal aims to set up a comprehensive set of rules for cross-border cooperation […]
Business taxation: María José Garde re-elected as chair of the code of conduct group
The code of conduct group has re-elected María José Garde (Spain) as its chair, for a second term of two years starting on 5 February 2025. María José Garde has chaired this Council preparatory body that oversees the implementation of the EU’s code of conduct on business taxation group since 2023. María José Garde is […]
Georgia: Council suspends visa-free travel for diplomats and officials
Today, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. This may lead to Georgian diplomats and officials having to apply for visa when travelling to the EU. “Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. Officials that represent a country which trample down these values should not […]
Council adopts new regulation improving cross-border access to EU health data
The Council of the EU has adopted a new law that will make it easier to exchange and access health data at EU level, paving the way for it to come into force. The European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation aims to improve individuals’ access to and control over their personal electronic health data, while also enabling […]