(21.07.2021)
It’s the first time that a major economy is radically overhauling its climate rules, and is being watched around the world.
The Fit for 55 package will be announced on July 14.
Archiv: EU governmental councils
Legislative train: Fit for 55 package under the European Green Deal
The following initiatives were announced for second quarter (Q2) of 2021. The Commission has announced a postponement of the initial batch to 14 July 2021:
– Revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), including maritime, aviation and CORSIA as well as a proposal for ETS as own resource
– Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and a proposal for CBAM as own resource
– Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR)
– Revision of the Energy Tax Directive
– Amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive to implement the ambition of the new 2030 climate target (RED)
– Amendment of the Energy Efficiency Directive to implement the ambition of the new 2030 climate target (EED)
– Reducing methane emissions in the energy sector
– Revision of the Regulation on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF)
– Revision of the Directive on deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure
– Revision of the Regulation setting CO₂ emission performance standards for new passenger cars and for new light commercial vehicles
The following initiatives are announced for fourth quarter (Q4) of 2021:
– Revision of the energy performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
– Revision of the Third Energy Package for gas (Directive 2009/73/EU and Regulation 715/2009/EU) to regulate competitive decarbonised gas markets
Imperialist EU punishes nations it dislikes, says Hungary’s Viktor Orban
(20.06.2021)
In a contribution to the EU’s “future of Europe” debate this summer, Orban, 58, accused von der Leyen and the European institutions in Brussels of “imperialistic” diktats to “punish democratically elected governments it does not like”.
“[This] will inevitably lead to a lack of democracy,” he
German official rebukes Hungary for blocking EU criticism of China
(04.06.2021)
„Hungary again blocked an EU statement on Hong Kong. Three weeks ago it was on Middle East. Common foreign and security policy cannot work on the basis of a blocking policy,“ German Foreign Office State Secretary Miguel Berger wrote on Twitter.
„We need a serious debate on ways to manage dissent, including qualified majority voting.“
Fractious EU summit rejects Franco-German plan for Putin talks
A Franco-German plan to restart talks with Vladimir Putin has been rejected at a fractious EU summit that resulted in a decision to explore economic sanctions against Russia instead.
The two-day gathering in Brussels also included an “emotional” debate over LGBT rights in Hungary, …
Europe’s Divisions on Vivid Display Over Hungary and Russia
In general, the Germans have always believed in keeping lines of dialogue open with Russia almost no matter how it behaves, while Mr. Macron has been trying to reset France’s relations with Moscow, with little success.
In this case, the prime mover was Germany, with French support.
‚More like the USSR at every turn!‘ Britons chilled as EU to censor UK television content
Scheming eurocrats provoked outrage when it emerged they were drawing up plans to pull our critically-acclaimed shows like The Crown and Peaky Blinders from European streaming services. The news – which emerged in a memo sent to the EU’s 27 member states – was quickly compared to Soviet Russia which was notorious for its thought police tactics.
European Union Prepares to Cut Brit Film and TV Content Post Brexit
The EU is considering proposals to exclude British programs from European quotas, a move that could severely hit international sales of U.K. films and TV series to the EU.
Dawn of vaccine passports: EU set to agree this week to allow in British tourists who can prove they’ve had Covid jabs with UK and US are both tipped to join Europe’s ‚green list‘
The European Union’s new plan would see member states adopting uniform entry requirements, meaning vaccinated holidaymakers from low-risk countries – such as the UK – would be able to enter France, Spain, Italy and other hotspots.
Britain will be included on an EU expanded ‚green list‘ of permitted holiday travel on Wednesday as the bloc’s ambassadors are set to confirm a European Commission proposal lift restrictions on well-vaccinated nations, it is understood.
It will also be recommended that member states prepare digital portals allowing Britons to use the NHS app as a vaccine passport, the Daily Telegraph reports.
EU and India agree to restart trade talks at ‚landmark‘ summit
“The EU and India are opening a new important chapter in our relationship. We are the world’s two largest democracies. We are natural partners,” European Council chief Charles Michel said.
Merkel opposes US move to waive vaccine IP, the drive behind the commodity supercycle
German chancellor says waiver would have serious implications for production worldwide
ROADMAP FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BASED ON THE COMMISSION COMMUNICATION AND THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION AGAINST VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES
(March 2019)
Examine the feasibility of developing a common vaccination card/passport for EU citizens (that takes into account potentially different national vaccination schedules and), that is compatible with electronic immunisation information systems and recognised for use across borders, without duplicating work at national level.
ROADMAP FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BASED ON THE COMMISSION COMMUNICATION AND THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION AGAINST VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES
(March 2019)
Examine the feasibility of developing a common vaccination card/passport for EU citizens (that takes into account potentially different national vaccination schedules and), that is compatible with electronic immunisation information systems and recognised for use across borders, without duplicating work at national level.
ROADMAP FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIONS BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION BASED ON THE COMMISSION COMMUNICATION AND THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION ON STRENGTHENING COOPERATION AGAINST VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES
(March 2019)
Examine the feasibility of developing a common vaccination card/passport for EU citizens (that takes into account potentially different national vaccination schedules and), that is compatible with electronic immunisation information systems and recognised for use across borders, without duplicating work at national level.
EU postpones issuing ‘vaccination passports’
The EU decided Thursday to postpone the issuing of vaccination certificates to people immunized against COVID-19 and opted to strongly deter all unnecessary travel within the bloc and with third countries to curb the spread of the virus.
Leaders of the EU met via videoconference to discuss the novel coronavirus pandemic and vaccination efforts in member states.
European Commission Working On Standard COVID Passports
(20.01.2021)
The European Commission is exploring proposals to introduce vaccine passports, a move that will facilitate greater travel across borders within the EU. Member states will discuss the idea at a summit this week, with many already signaling their approval for a passport-style document.
European leaders to discuss vaccination speed and immunity passports
Amid rising infections and new strains of COVID-19, EU leaders will meet on Thursday (January 21) to discuss how best to tackle the pandemic. It comes amid continued criticism that the vaccination drive has been too sluggish.
European leaders welcome Brexit deal as least-worst outcome
Merkel said the German cabinet would meet by telephone on 28 December to decide its stance, but added that the agreement “cannot finally enter into force until the European parliament has also given its approval”.
PM Orbán Sticks to Veto of EU Budget if Rule of Law Conditionality Stays
Commenting on a proposal by European People’s Party group leader Manfred Weber that decisions on issues concerning the rule of law should be left up to the European Commission while disputes should be settled by the Court of Justice of the European Union, Orbán said: “Everyone’s talking all kinds of nonsense and this is also true for Mr. Weber.”
“We’re not stupid, we weren’t born yesterday . we can put two and two together,” the prime minister said, insisting that Weber’s proposal meant that the EU wanted to “force anything onto member states that can be painted as a rule of law issue with a simple majority vote”.
Compromise on offer for Poland as EU leaders seek deal on budget
Speaking during a working visit to Prague, where he met Czech President Milos Zeman, Duda said: “There is a preliminary agreement drawn up. Work on it is still underway.”
He added: “The agreement is the result of very strenuous efforts by Poland, Hungary but also the German presidency” of the EU.
According to leaked documents from the @ORF , secret services from the so called „five eyes“ are initiators of the EU Resolution in the #encryptionban. For them this would be a very easy way to monitor all our messages and data, without the possibility to hide them.
INCLO CALLS ON STATES TO DEFEND END-TO-END ENCRYPTION
Fourteen members of INCLO express grave concerns regarding recent moves by various groups to breakencryption. We note with alarm calls from the Council of the European Union, the EuropeanCommission, and the Department of Justice in the US, with support from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, Japan and the UK, to allow police authorities intercept encrypted communications.
Joint statement by the EU home affairs ministers on the recent terrorist attacks in Europe
(13.11.2020)
We will also examine with interest the Commission’s announced proposal to designate hate speech and hate crime and incitement as criminal offences that are provided for and regulated under European Union law.
In the same vein, the Council must consider the matter of data encryption so that digital evidence can be lawfully collected and used by the competent authorities while maintaining the trustworthiness of the products and services based on encryption technology.
EU faces crisis as Hungary and Poland veto seven-year budget
The EU is facing a crisis after Hungary and Poland vetoed the bloc’s historic €1.8tn (£1.6tn) budget and coronavirus recovery plan over attempts to link funding to respect for democratic norms.
The move unravels months of negotiations over the scale and terms of the EU’s spending and sets the stage for a stormy videoconference meeting of the bloc’s leaders on Thursday.
Dendias in Vienna for talks with Pompeo, EU foreign affairs council
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias will meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Vienna on Friday to discuss developments in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Dendias will also meet with Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg,
The Digital Services Act package
The new Digital Services Act package should modernise the current legal framework for digital services by means of two main pillars:
First, the Commission would propose clear rules framing the responsibilities of digital services to address the risks faced by their users and to protect their rights. The legal obligations would ensure a modern system of cooperation for the supervision of platforms and guarantee effective enforcement.
Second, the Digital Services Act package would propose ex ante rules covering large online platforms acting as gatekeepers, which now set the rules of the game for their users and their competitors.
The EU Digital Services Act: What it is and Why it Shouldn’t Happen
(30.09.2019)
Crucially, the Commission shifted the focus from ISSs to platforms.1 Soon thereafter, the language in the many policy documents on platforms changed. Platforms, the Commission claimed, need to act “responsibly” if they are to continue to benefit from insulation. In its highly controversial Copyright in the DSM Directive the Commission suggests that even ISSs falling under Article 14 ECD need to have effective protective technologies and that they cannot rely on the article if they do not. ‘Active’ providers cannot rely on the protection as they are not responsible enough in the Commission’s mind.
Germany thinks Facebook isn’t doing enough to censor “hate speech” and plans to intervene
Germany has decided that it wants to take advantage of the present sentiment towards Facebook and not let off. This week, Berlin called for more action at a meeting on Monday of the bloc’s justice ministers.
“We cannot accept the public debate being distorted and poisoned,” said German Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht. “Voluntary commitments and self-responsibility are not enough.”
Opening remarks by Christine Lambrecht, Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany, at the Informal meeting of Justice Ministers (via video conference), on 6 July 2020, in Berlin.
(…)
Merkel Braces for the Backlash as Trump Re-Election Bid Wobbles
Merkel even cited the U.S. election as a risk factor for the EU on a videoconference with her fellow leaders on Friday, according to one official.
In a nutshell, #EU’s „help“ to fight #COVIDー19:
– Only credit lines (#loans)
– No mutualised debt (#Eurobonds)
– No currency issued to countries (#monetary #sovereignty)
– Free money for financiers, not the real economy
– Skyrocket the #debt/#GDP ratio => more #austerity soon.
Tonight’s Eurogroup risks being a total car crash. Far from red lines evolving, North & South could not be further apart. *All 4 parts* of the package are at risk. People should not be under any illusions about how broken the politics are.
Short thread, based on chats 1/
Swift EU deal needed or ‚we all collapse‘ says Di Maio An
The Eurogroup is trying to find a compromise between Italy, France and Spain, on the one hand, who want ‚coronabonds‘, and northern deficit hawks like the Netherlands, Denmark and Finland who advocate the use of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), rejecting any mutualizing of debt.
TODAY The presser following the #Eurogroup video conference will be online.
EU accredited journalists will be able to ask questions remotely, register using the link that you can find here with all the instructions https://europa.eu/!hM37Wf
Deadline: today at 15.00
Open letter: Civil society urges Member States to respect the principles of the law in Terrorist Content Online Regulation
On 27 March 2020, European Digital Rights (EDRi) and 12 of its member organisations sent an open letter to representatives of Member States in the Council of the EU. In the letter, we voice our deep concern over the proposed legislation on the regulation of terrorist content online and what we view as serious potential threats to fundamental rights of privacy, freedom of expression, etc.
Italy’s virus is a different strain from Wuhan’s
(28.02.2020)
„A group of researchers from Milan’s University Hospital was able to identify the strain of the Italian virus. The researchers state that when compared to what was known about the Chinese virus, a mutation has occured and this discovery will allow to reach(?) the genetic code of the virus, its specific characteristics in order to find out the time and spread speed of the virus. This should be an important first step to develop specific treatment for the infected. The scientific community has already communicated this discovery to Brussels [to the European Union headquarters] and even President Materelli has already congratulated the researchers (…)“
Syria: German Foreign Minister calls for humanitarian zone to be established in Idlib
Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said the ceasefire needs to be strengthened by adding a no-fly zone over the province to stop further bombings of hospitals.
“It would be wise to add a no-fly zone,” he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting with EU counterparts in Zagreb.
EU to Step Up Naval Enforcement of Libya Arms Embargo
European Union foreign ministers agreed to revive a naval mission in the Mediterranean Sea to enforce the internationally backed arms embargo on Libya, a move likely to encounter stiff challenges given the recent arms buildup by regional powers in the North African country.
Arrival and doorstep by Heiko MAAS, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, at the Foreign Affairs Council, taking place on 20 January 2020, in Brussels.
(video)
Europe’s unelected leader: Ursula von der Leyen’s coronation is an insult to democracy.
Ursula von der Leyen has been confirmed as the next president of the EU Commission, winning a vote in the European Parliament by 383 to 327.
But despite the involvement of MEPs, the process that put von der Leyen in place was nothing short of a coronation.
Netanyahu accuses Europeans of appeasing Iran like they did Germany in the ’30s
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, offers Iran relief from sanctions in exchange for its scaling back of parts of its nuclear program until 2025.
The United States, which under former President Barack Obama was the driving force behind the deal, pulled out last year under President Donald Trump and snapped back sanctions on Iran and third parties that do business with the Islamic Republit.
Arrival and doorstep by Federica MOGHERINI, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, at the Foreign Affairs Council, taking place on 15 July 2019, in Brussels.
(video)
UK, France, Germany call for dialogue with Iran
Ahead of the foreign affairs council on Monday 15 July, the foreign ministers of the UK, France, and Germany issued a joint statement calling for dialogue between all parties involved.
The EU’s scurrilous anti-democratic dealings prove once again that it is beyond reform
(05.07.2019)
There has been plenty of earnest talk since the financial crisis about reform and facing up to the challenge from the populist and authoritarian right. The appointments have shown that most of it was hot air
The EU is a sham democracy, and its pitiful new leaders are the proof
Thank you, Eurocrats, for being yourselves. The best cure for Europhilia is always to observe the EU’s big beasts at their unguarded worst, wheeling and dealing in their natural habitat, unencumbered by any attachment to democracy, accountability or even basic morality.
The spectacle of the past few days made for compulsive watching: we witnessed rare footage of the secretive process that propels so many retreads and second-rate apparatchiks into positions of immense power in Brussels and Frankfurt, utterly disregarding public opinion.
French ECB Presidential Hopeful Tells Germans He’s Their Friend
(28.06.2019)
France’s top contender for the presidency of the European Central Bank is appealing to Germans to treat him as one of their kind.
Speaking — in German — to an audience of family businesses in Berlin on Friday, Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau highlighted his cultural and ideological links to the country. He said he shares German values, such as solidity, stability and realism, and understands the nation’s fears over financing other countries’ debts.
Weidmann Is Top Dog Again in ECB Race After Shifting Policy View
(Published: February 17, 2018, 12:00 AM EST | Updated: June 28, 2019, 7:00 AM EDT)
On the eve of a meeting of European Union leaders to discuss the bloc’s top policy positions, Bloomberg’s poll of economists shows the Bundesbank president edging out his French rival Francois Villeroy de Galhau. Finnish central-banking veteran Erkki Liikanen tied with Villeroy for second place. Current Finnish Governor Olli Rehn took fourth, overtaking France’s Benoit Coeure.
Macron: new ECB leader will not be picked at summit
French president Emmanuel Macron said arriving at the EU summit on Sunday that the decision on Mario Draghi’s successor at the helm of the European Central Bank will only be taken after the political posts such as the presidents of the EU commission and EU council.
EU summit: Centre-left Timmermans tipped for top post
EU leaders will gather in Brussels shortly for talks to decide who should get the EU’s top jobs, including a new Commission president.
Reports say the current favourite to head it is Dutch centre-left politician Frans Timmermans. He is a Commission first vice-president.
EU surveillance state: This week the Justice and Home Affairs Ministers debated increasing the surveillance in their Member States. US authorities could soon also wiretap legally in Europe. #5G #DataRetention #eEvidence #cloudACT
AG William Barr Doesn’t Want The Government Spying On The President But Thinks It’s OK If It Spies On Everyone Else
Let me restate that: William Barr is opposed to certain, very narrow subsets of domestic surveillance. Specifically, Barr doesn’t think the government should have spied on Trump and his campaign staff, if that’s what actually happened, which Barr doesn’t actually seem to know.
But if you’re literally anyone else, domestic surveillance is just another name for national security, whether you’re a random Verizon customer or one of the world’s most useful websites.
The Wikimedia Foundation sued the federal government over domestic surveillance back in 2015. The suit lives on four years later …
Security Union: Commission receives mandate to start negotiating international rules for obtaining electronic evidence
Today, EU Member States agreed to give two mandates to the Commission to engage in international negotiations to improve cross-border access to electronic evidence in criminal investigations.The Council agreed to provide the Commission with negotiating mandates for negotiations with the United States and for the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe “Budapest” Convention on Cybercrime.
Why are Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel clashing over who should be the next European Commission president?
Each political group in the European parliament – the centre-left socialists, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the liberals, greens etc, propose a lead candidate. In theory, the candidate from the group that comes top becomes the president.
But this system isn’t written into the treaties, and has only been used once in 2014 – it’s not clear whether it will survive. Member states don’t like it because it takes power away from them and gives it to the parliament, and they’re under no legal obligation to follow it.
This is highly potentially highly significant: Sanchez and Macron are trying to get a social democrat (Frans Timmermans) to block Weber’s bid for the Presidency of the European Commission. The UK media are (of course) largely ignoring this.
Portugal’s Costa says Weber should not be Commission chief
(28.05.2019)
The interview took place late Monday, just after Costa had a conference call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Netherlands‘ Mark Rutte and Belgium’s Charles Michel.
The European Parliament is a democratic facade for a system dominated by unelected bureaucrats
In the speech I made on that occasion, I tried to point out that democracy was not achieved simply by holding elections; what mattered was what the elections were to, and for. Were we electing representatives to a body by which we agreed to be governed? Or were we simply providing a democratic facade for a political system dominated by unelected bureaucrats and central bankers, who exercised a power of government over us to which we had not consented?
Spain still ready to vote against Brexit unless it sees changes on Gibraltar
“Following my conversation with Theresa May, our positions remain distant. My Government will always defend the interests of Spain. If there are no changes, we will veto Brexit,” he tweeted as he landed in Havana for a two-day visit to Cuba.