Agriculture Opportunities of the bioeconomy Following an exchange of views, the Council approved conclusions on the opportunities provided by the bioeconomy in the light of current challenges, with a focus on rural areas. Ministers highlighted the key role that the bioeconomy could play in achieving the environmental and climate goals under the European Green Deal, […]
Council adopts new rules on pay transparency
The Council has adopted new rules to combat pay discrimination and help close the gender pay gap in the EU. Under the pay transparency directive, EU companies will be required to share information about how much they pay women and men for work of equal value, and take action if their gender pay gap exceeds 5%. […]
10th EU-US Energy Council
The 10th EU-US Energy Council met on 4th April in Brussels, chaired by EU High Representative/Vice President Josep Borrell Fontelles, European Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk. Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tobias Billström, represented the Presidency of the Council of the […]
Agreement between the Council and the European Parliament on the instrument against coercion
The European Council and the European Parliament reached a preliminary political agreement on the anti-coercion instrument today. The Swedish Presidency agreed on this legislation on the protection of the Union and its member states from economic pressure by third nations on behalf of the European Union Council. (Anti-Coercion Instrument – ACI). This mechanism intends to […]
European Parliament proposes new law to modernize and strengthen minimum income schemes
MEPs have proposed a new law to tackle the current cost of living crisis to modernize and strengthen minimum income schemes in member states. On Wednesday, the plenary passed a resolution defending the EU minimum income directive to make minimum income schemes more affordable and effective. It will also ensure the social reintegration of workers […]
Council sets priorities for the EU budget for 2024
Recovery and Resilience Facility The Council discussed how the Recovery and Resilience Fund and the REPowerEU chapter can effectively promote the green transition and ensure Europe’s energy independence from Russia in the context of high inflation and supply chain disruptions. In addition, the Council adopted an implementing decision approving the revised recovery and rehabilitation plan […]
EU adopts space-based connectivity programme
The programme sets goals for the European Union to deploy an EU satellite constellation called ‘IRIS²’ that will provide ultra-fast and highly secure communication services by 2027. The Council has adopted a regulation on the EU’s secure connectivity programme for 2023-2027. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. The programme sets goals for […]
The Council will include REPowerEU chapters in the Recovery and Resilience Facility
The Council formally adopted a regulation modifying the Recovery and Resilience Facility to include REPowerEU chapters. The goal is to increase the EU’s strategic autonomy by diversifying its energy supplies and ending its reliance on Russian fossil fuel imports. This is the last step in the adoption process. In practise, under NextGenerationEU, member states will […]
Agriculture Council: Ministers discuss possible actions to help ease the situation in Ukraine in the short and long term
Ministers took stock of the market situation in member states, particularly in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine. They further received information from the Commission on the latest developments on agricultural markets. While recent months have shown more stability, energy and input prices remain high, weakening profitability and leading to high consumer prices. Ministers exchanged […]