European Council

On 25 May 2016, the Council adopted a directive maintaining for a further two years the minimum standard VAT rate at 15%. 

The minimum standard rate is aimed at preventing an excessive divergence in VAT rates applied by member states, and the structural imbalances or distortions of competition that could arise as a result. A minimum standard rate of 15% was applied until 31 December 2015. 

In view of on-going discussions on definitive rules for a single European VAT area, the directive extends the minimum standard rate for a period long enough to ensure legal certainty. It maintains the rate at 15% from 1 January 2016 until 31 December 2017. 

The directive was adopted without discussion at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Council.

On 25 May 2016 the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) confirmed the deal reached with the European Parliament on the first rules to make public sector websites and mobile applications (apps) more accessible across the EU.

The draft directive requires EU countries to ensure that the websites and mobile apps of public sector bodies meet common European accessibility standards. In addition, people will be able to request specific information if content is inaccessible.

The new requirements will make content more accessible and usable for all users, and will especially benefit those with disabilities or age-related limitations.

Once the agreed text has undergone legal-linguistic finalisation, it needs to be formally approved first by the Council and then by the Parliament. The procedure is expected to be completed in the autumn.  

For more information, please see our press release from 3 May 2016 (link below).

Tuesday 3 May 2016
EU-Japan Leaders' meeting
17.25 Arrival of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe welcomed by President Donald Tusk and President Jean-Claude Juncker
17.30 Press statements
17.45 Leaders' meeting
18.30 Working dinner
More information on media registration for the event here

Thursday 5 May 2016
Rome
16.30 Bilateral meeting with President Sergio Mattarella
18.30 "State of the European Union" panel discussion of President Donald Tusk, President Jean-Claude Juncker and President Martin Schulz together with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi

Friday 6 May 2016
Rome
09.20 Bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Matteo Renzi
10.30 Joint audience with the Holy Father Pope Francis

International Charlemagne Prize award ceremony to Pope Francis
12.22 Speech by European Parliament President Martin Schulz
12.28 Speech by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker
12.34 Speech by President of the European Council Donald Tusk

On 28 April 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed, on behalf of the Council, its negotiating stance on a proposed regulation establishing a structural reform programme to help member states implement reforms.

The programme would be established for the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020, with a financial envelope of €142.8 million. 

Coreper asked the Netherlands presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament.

The aim of the programme is to contribute to institutional, administrative and structural reforms in the member states with a view to enhancing competitiveness, productivity, growth, jobs, cohesion, and investment, in particular in the context of economic governance processes, including through assistance for the efficient and effective use of EU funds. The programme would finance actions and activities of European added value. 

Member states would have to submit a request for financial support by 31 October of each calendar year. The financial resources available under the programme would be redirected from other technical assistance programmes under the common provision regulation for structural funds and the Rural Development Fund.   

The Commission would carry out the programme, which would build on best practices with technical assistance to Cyprus and Greece. The Commission would also monitor the implementation of actions financed by the programme. 

On 28 April 2016, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed, on behalf of the Council, its negotiating stance aimed at extending by one year the dates of transposition and application of new securities market rules.

 The one-year extension will affect the provision of services for investments in financial instruments and on the operation of regulated financial markets. Coreper asked the Netherlands presidency to start negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as possible, so as to enable adoption at first reading of a regulation enacting the extension. 

A recent revision of rules on financial instruments set out to promote the integration, competitiveness, and efficiency of EU financial markets. The Council adopted these in May 2014, amending and replacing an existing "MIFID" text that regulates markets in financial instruments. 

The rules consist of two legislative instruments: 

• regulation 600/2014 ("MIFIR"), aimed at improving transparency and competition of trading activities by limiting the use of waivers[1] on disclosure requirements and by providing for non-discriminatory access to trading venues and central counterparties (CCPs) for all financial instruments, and requiring derivatives to be traded on organised venues; 
• directive 2014/65/EU ("MIFID II"), amending rules on the authorisation and organisational requirements for providers of investment services and on investor protection. The directive also introduces a new type of trading venue, the organised trading facility (OTF). Standardised derivatives contracts are increasingly traded on these platforms, which are currently not regulated. 

Under the Council's approach: 

• the deadline for the member states to transpose MIFID II into national legislation would be set for 3 July 2017; 
•  the date of application of both MIFID II and MIFIR would be set for 3 January 2018. 

Additionally, the Council included amendments to the Commission's proposal in its negotiating mandate. These concern trading on own accounts, package transactions, alignment with the EU directive on securities financing transactions and the date of application of certain provisions of a regulation on market abuse. 

Both the directive and the regulation were to become applicable 30 months after entry into force, i.e. as of 3 January 2017, with member states having to transpose the new directive by 3 July 2016. However, due to technical implementing challenges faced by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and by national competent authorities, essential data infrastructures will not be in place by 3 January 2017. 

The new framework requires trading venues and systematic internalisers to provide competent authorities with financial instrument reference data that describes in a uniform manner the characteristics of every financial instrument subject to the scope of MiFID II. In order to collect data in an efficient and harmonised manner, a new data collection infrastructure must be developed. This obliges ESMA, in conjunction with competent national authorities, to establish a data system covering a wider range of financial instruments, given the extended scope of MiFID II. 

On 2 October 2015, ESMA informed the Commission that a delay in the technical implementation of MiFID II was unavoidable. Neither competent authorities nor market participants will be in a position to apply the new rules on 3 January 2017. This would lead to legal uncertainty and potential market disruption.

 [1]            By setting an overall EU cap and a cap per trading venue for the so-called reference price waiver and negotiated transaction waiver.

Good afternoon. I was pleased to welcome President Bujar Nishani in Brussels today.

The migration crisis has brought the Western Balkans region and the European Union even closer. The crisis has demonstrated, once again, that our destinies are truly linked. Today was a chance to reiterate the central role of the Balkan countries in the Union's strategy of how to respond the migratory flows. Getting back to Schengen and the closure of the Western Balkan route is one of three building blocks of the Union's comprehensive response to current migration crisis.

The European Union stands ready to support Albania should an alternative route develop. I was satisfied with your information that Albania is not an attractive route for irregular migrants We agreed to monitor the situation closely and I encouraged Albania to share with us its needs assessment.

Albania has made important progress in recent years toward achieving its European integration aims. With overwhelming public support to underlying reforms, I am confident that Albania can stay the course and adopt those agreed reforms that are still outstanding.

At this crucial moment, when Albania is undertaking an ambitious and comprehensive reform of its judiciary, I emphasized - as I did last November to Prime Minister Rama, that cross-party cooperation and dialogue are indispensable to advance in the country's European ambitions.

Establishing a track record of proactive investigations, prosecutions and convictions in the fight against organized crime and corruption is also an important challenge.

Finally, we discussed Albania's unequivocal commitment to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations. The European Union appreciates your country's full support to common values on the international stage. This includes not least our joint response to Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. We also discussed the need to strengthen EU-NATO cooperation in light of current hybrid threats in Europe.

This is also a clear signal that Albania is a reliable partner for the European Union. I am personally convinced that there is no alternative to the European path for the region. And I am convinced that with enduring political will to reform and with strong public support, Albania will achieve it.

Let me make a final point on Greece and the ongoing review of the Greek adjustment programme. I consult closely with the Presidents of the Eurogroup and of the European Commission. And earlier today I talked to Prime Minister Tsipras. I am convinced that there is still more work to be done by the ministers of finance. We have to avoid a situation of renewed uncertainty for Greece. Therefore we need a specific date for the new Eurogroup meeting in the not distant future, and I am not talking about weeks but about days. Thank you. 

On 28 April 2016, the Council gave its green light for new rules that aim to improve domestic rail passenger services in the EU. It endorsed the deal concluded by the presidency with the European Parliament on 19 April.

"During the negotiations the interest of travellers always came first. Together we have been able to reach an ambitious agreement. The quality and efficiency of railway services will improve because of this package".

Sharon Dijksma, Dutch Minister for Infrastructure and the Environment

The revised rules - known as the 4th railway package market pillar - will open up domestic rail passenger markets in the member states. Railway companies will have non-discriminatory access to the network across the EU provided that public service contracts are not compromised. This means that it will be easier for new operators to enter the market and offer their services. For the award of public service contracts competitive bidding will become the rule, although exceptions to this rule are still possible.

Quality of service, for instance the punctuality and frequency of trains, will have more of an influence on the award of contracts to operators. For public service contracts - which currently account for over 90% of EU rail journeys - direct award will continue to be allowed provided it leads to better quality of service or cost-efficiency.

Answering to a question during a press conference held in Gazientep (Turkey), President Tusk made the following remarks:

"This is one of the permanent topics of our discussions and during our meetings and I think that I am consistent when we come to this topic. I will not comment on specific case. But I have just two more personal reflections today.

First of all, thirty years ago when I was an activist of the illegal opposition to the communist government in Poland I was imprisoned for being critical of the regime. And if I remember well also my good friend, President Erdogan, fifteen years later also had similar experience for expressing his views.

And the second reflection I think it is very simple and obvious: as a politician I have learned and accepted to have thick skin and I have no expectation that the press will treat me with special care; quite the opposite. I think it is a good lesson for all of us, in Turkey, in Europe, in other countries. It is nothing specific geographically.

And the line between criticism, insult and defamation is very thin and relative. The moment politicians begin to decide which is which can mean the end of the freedom of expression, in Europe, in Turkey, in Africa, in Russia, evevywhere.

I hope that in the future, freedom of speech we will not be our main topic during our meetings, thank you. "

Good evening. Let me first of all thank Prime Minister Davutoglu for the invitation to Gaziantep today. We last met in Brussels on 18 March, when we concluded an ambitious agreement between the European Union and Turkey with an aim to stem irregular migration and to create a legal avenue for refugees to seek and obtain asylum in Europe. Our visit here today is part of the follow-up to that agreement.

Combined with other actions we have taken together with the Western Balkans countries, in Greece and by stepping up our support to refugees in third countries, we are starting to see results.

Since the March agreement we have seen a sharp reduction of the illegal migration flows across the Aegean. Our return operations are working in tandem with resettlements of Syrian nationals from Turkey to EU Member States, demonstrating the desired shift from illegal to legal migration.

This is a big and complex undertaking and much work still lies ahead of us. Our visit here today gives us the opportunity to discuss with Prime Minister Davutoglu the further implementation and next steps.

Today I  also had another opportunity to assess the situation with regard to the Syrian refugees in Turkey. After visiting a refugee camp in Nizip, I was pleased also to participate in the inauguration of a child protection centre in Gaziantep on the occasion of the National Sovereignty and Children's Day in Turkey. A number of other projects are currently being launched through the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey.  Programming under the Facility has been accelerated.

Beyond our cooperation on the migration crisis, we will take stock of our revitalised bilateral relations. It also includes an accelerated roadmap for visa liberalisation. The way I see it, Turkey has made good progress ahead of decisions to be taken this summer, provided that Turkey meets all the agreed benchmarks.

One of the most crucial subjects of our discussion will be the conflict in Syria and the need for political talks to get back on track. Recent attacks on civilians and the prevention of humanitarian access are cynical attempts to derail the only real chance to stop the bloodshed.

Let me conclude, Prime Minister Davutoglu, dear Ahmet, by thanking you once again for your invitation, but also for your involvement and determination.

I would just like to add that, and it is not only a formal and political assessment but it is also my very private, personal feeling also after today's visit, that today Turkey is the best example for the whole world on how we should treat refugees. No one has the right to lecture Turkey what you should do. I am very proud  that we are partners. I am absolutely sure that we will succeed. There is no other way.

Saturday 23 April 2016
Visit to Gaziantep (Turkey) together with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and EU Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans.
17.40 Visit to Nizip temporary protection centre
19.15 Visit to Gazientep Child protection support centre
20.50 Joint press conference by President Tusk, Chancellor Merkel, First Vice President Timmermans and Prime Minister Davutoğlu
21.50 Leaders' meeting

Tuesday 26 April 2016
13.00 Meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament President Martin Schulz (Berlaymont)

Wednesday 27 April 2016
11.30 Meeting with President of Albania Bujar Nishani (photo opportunity - press statements ±12.00)

Good afternoon. Welcome everyone, welcome to Amsterdam. Let me debrief you on the Eurogroup meeting. Many of us were already in Washington at the IMF spring meetings, discussing the state of play in the global economy, rising risks on the basis of the advice and analysis of the IMF. The good news, however, for major economies, this also goes for the Eurozone economy, is that our economies have weathered global events quite well. I believe we are still on the right track with economic growth that is broad-based, stronger supervision of banks and signs that investment is starting to pick up throughout the Eurozone.

Having said that, and on that positive note, let's first turn to Greece, which took up a major part of our time today. We discussed the state of play of the first review of the ESM programme and next steps to be taken.

Cooperation between the institutions and the Greek authorities has been strong and productive, but the institutions will say more about that. We believe that substantial progress has been made, reducing the number of open issues, and getting close to an agreement on a number of key areas such as pension reform, income tax reform, the NPL strategy and the establishment of the privatisation fund. On some issues more work will have to be done to fully conclude that, but we are very close.

Today we also looked at and clarified the way to go forward to bridge the issue which is about insecurity of a forecast and confidence that we can have in the implementation of what has been agreed.

We came to the conclusion that the policy package should include a contingent package of additional measures that would be implemented only if necessary to reach the primary surplus target for 2018. The contingency mechanism needs to be credible, legislated upfront, automatic and be based on objective factors which would trigger these contingent measures.

That needs further work: the design of that, how it would work, what kind of measures there would be and what would trigger it. I'm happy to say that with the commitment of the Greek minister to work on that constructively and as quickly as possible, the institutions have said that they stand ready to work as quickly as possible, in the coming days, on this contingency mechanism. On that basis, if we have the package which needs to be done and delivered upfront, and if we have the contingency package and the mechanism to support that, we can have a further Eurogroup next Thursday. This is not for sure yet, but we are aiming for a meeting next Thursday which would then come to positive conclusions on those two elements, on the upfront package and the contingency package, and have a serious discussion on debt sustainability. As you know we have a long standing promise which was reaffirmed during the summer agreement, that if necessary and on condition that the Greek government fully delivers on what has been agreed in the programme, if necessary, we stand ready to consider more measures to assure debt sustainability.

Ministers today have given us a mandate to work on that, to make the analysis, and to prepare possibilities within, of course, some limitations. To mention two main ones: there is no support in the Eurogroup for nominal haircuts on the debt, and what we will design and propose needs to stay within the agreement of last summer. So we will look at possibilities of re-profiling and if necessary possible additional measures, looking at maturities and grace periods as outlined in the agreement last summer. And hopefully we will meet again next Thursday to bring those elements all together and come to a political agreement which would be very important for Greece and for the Eurozone.

Secondly, let me go on in our agenda. Second item was work we are doing on insolvency frameworks. This is very important for strengthening our economies, dealing with our banks, and opening space for new investments throughout the Eurozone. It is of course also an issue for the EU 28, so the follow up that we will give on the issue will also be on the agenda in Ecofin for some months. We have asked the Commission to do further work on that, to improve the quality of the data that we have and to develop an approach aimed at improving the effectiveness of national frameworks, trying to reach convergence at a higher level, in speed, affordability and predictability of insolvency procedures.

So on work that has been done so far, the Commission will do more on improving the quality of data, and developing a method of benchmarking on insolvency frameworks.

Finally, on the SSM. We welcomed Danièle Nouy, the chair of the Single Supervisory Mechanism to the Eurogroup. She regularly joins the Eurogroup to present to us the state of play in the SSM. Today she presented the annual report. She informed us about the execution of the supervisory tasks of the SSM. She spoke specifically on the many options and national discretions that are still in our banks and in our bank legislation and regulations. She is making a lot of progress from the SSM. Work also needs to be done by legislators. The Commission will work on that and put forward proposals to improve our level playing field for our banking union.

Those were the key issues.

The Eurogroup is fully committed to supporting economic growth and jobs and holds regular thematic discussions to explore and define common policy ambitions to this end. The Council recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area in the context of the European Semester clearly indicates the areas where reform is the most pressing.

Since the beginning of the year, we have discussed twice the recommendation to improve national insolvency frameworks, an area explicitly addressed in the Council recommendation to the euro area for 2015 and 2016 as well as in the individual 2015 Country-Specific Recommendations for several euro area Member States.

Private sector debt remains high in a number of euro area countries and contributes to holding back the recovery in investment and consumption. In particular, the high level of non-performing loans in banks' balance sheets constrains the supply of credit, thereby hampering the monetary transmission mechanism, and reduces the efficiency of capital allocation. Having effective and efficient insolvency frameworks in place is key to ensuring a smooth deleveraging process, thereby facilitating adjustment processes within the euro area, while improving the business environment and supporting private investment. It would also support deeper financial integration within the euro area, which will be beneficial for the strengthening of the Banking Union, fostering growth and resilience to asymmetric shocks. It would also contribute to building the Capital Markets Union, recognising that this work takes place in the EU-28 setting.

While a number of euro area Member States have carried out significant reforms in the recent past, the Eurogroup is conscious that more efforts are needed. Today we agreed on a number of core common principles that could serve as guidance for improving the efficiency of national regimes in dealing with insolvency. While we aim to converge to a high level of efficiency and transparency of national insolvency rules and practices within the euro area, we recognise that when applying these common principles, country-specific circumstances - in particular national legal frameworks - need to be taken into account.

Speed, cost and predictability are of the essence for efficient national insolvency regimes, together with clear rules on cross-border insolvency. In order to promote speedy and cost-effective insolvency procedures, debt distress should be identified at an early stage. Early restructuring procedures with limited court involvement - in particular out-of-court settlement - should be developed further as a priority and resorted to where appropriate. Insolvency procedures should be easily accessible and affordable for both debtors and creditors. Honest distressed debtors should also be given a second chance after a certain period of time. Moreover, insolvency frameworks should be governed by predictability. In particular, creditor claims in secured lending should be enforced in an effective manner. Finally, clear rules on cross-border insolvency are of paramount importance in order to encourage cross-border investment. At EU level a Regulation and a Recommendation are in place and a legislative proposal is being developed by the end of 2016.

The Eurogroup also discussed the need for adequate flanking policies. In particular, enhancing the institutional framework for insolvency was recognised as critical to ensure an effective implementation of the insolvency legislation. Supervisory measures can contribute to support an accelerated process of banks' balance sheet clean up.

The Eurogroup intends to regularly take stock of the progress made by euro area Member States in reforming their insolvency regimes in line with these common principles and in coherence with parallel work streams led by EU institutions in the framework of the Commission's Action Plan on building a Capital Markets Union. We underlined the importance of benchmarking our common ambitions. We support the Commission's work to improve data availability and quality and we mandate the EWG to engage with this work as a matter of priority. We agreed to revert to the matter in autumn of this year.

Today is a landmark in European Union (EU)-Indonesia relations with the visit by the President of the Republic of Indonesia to the EU's institutions. We have agreed to boost economic relations and advance cooperation on global and regional challenges. 

The EU and Indonesia are important economic partners. We see a strong prospect to further expand trade and investment links given the size and the complementary nature of our economies. We welcome the conclusion of the preparatory discussion (scoping paper) for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which should pave the way for deeper and wider economic engagement between the two sides. We look forward to the formal launch of the CEPA negotiations in the coming weeks once internal procedures have been finalized. 

Indonesia and the EU are close partners in addressing environmental challenges. We are committed to the sustainable management of forests and to fighting illegal logging and related illegal trade. The EU welcomes the implementation for all types of wood products of the Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System. We welcome the full implementation of the Indonesia-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and agree to move expeditiously towards the start of the FLEGT licensing scheme. We look forward to the first shipment of FLEGT-certified timber from Indonesia in the coming months. The EU is committed to ensuring the uniform and effective implementation of the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR). 

We acknowledge the significance of palm oil for both economies and are committed to strengthen cooperation on sustainable palm oil. 

We recognize Indonesia's maritime vision and Indonesia welcomes EU's support in realizing the vision. 

Promoting tolerance through dialogue and cooperation is key for both sides, as is enhancing mutual respect and understanding among people. 

We welcome the visa waiver extended to all EU Member States by Indonesia and underscored the importance of easier access and movement among the people to increase close relations and bring mutual economic and social benefits. 

We welcome the adoption of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We look forward to strengthening our climate cooperation and will focus on making the Paris Agreement a reality. 

We welcome recent progress in the implementation of the EU-Indonesia Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and look forward to the convening of the Joint Committee before the end of the year. We also welcome the launch of the Ministerial Strategic Dialogue in Jakarta on 8 April 2016. 

We strongly condemn recent acts of terror in Jakarta, Brussels and elsewhere. Terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. We commit to stepping up our cooperation in the fight against terrorism and radicalism as well as in the security field, both bilaterally and in the international sphere. 

The EU welcomes Indonesia's recent appeal for restraint in the Middle East. We reaffirm our commitment to support the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and will continue to contribute to international initiatives working to this end. We reaffirm our support for a political solution to the conflict in Syria. 

We are concerned with trafficking in persons and people smuggling: this is an increasing challenge worldwide. We will work closely on this through relevant regional and international fora. The EU raised efforts to address the current migration and refugee crisis, through cooperation with countries of origin, transit and destination, in the context of the UN and G20. 

The European Union supports ASEAN's unity and centrality in various ASEAN-led mechanisms and in the evolving regional architecture. Indonesia welcomes the EU's interest in furthering engagement in all ASEAN-led mechanisms and its continued support to ASEAN. 

The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year; we are determined together to ensure a successful outcome at the 11th ASEM Summit on 15-16 July 2016 in Mongolia.

The European Union and Indonesia enjoy close relations based on shared values of democracy and good governance, respect for human rights, and the promotion of peace, stability and economic progress. We came together today to demonstrate our ambition to bring the European Union and Indonesia even closer together.

On 22 April 2016 the EU and its 28 member states will sign the global Paris climate agreement in a high-level ceremony in New York (United States). The agreement was concluded at the UN climate change conference in December 2015, so called COP21, that took place in Paris. The document will be now open for signature for one year.

Dutch Minister for the Environment and President of the Council, Sharon Dijksma, said: "This is a historic day for global climate action. The Paris Agreement is a real turning point in limiting temperature rise and preventing risks posed by climate change. This signature sets out in black and white the EU's commitment to do its part and keep up the momentum from Paris. Continuous action is required."  

Minister Dijksma and Vice-President of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič  will sign the agreement on behalf of the EU.  

The Paris Agreement will enter into force after ratification from at least 55 countries accounting together for at least 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It will then become legally binding for the countries that have ratified it.  

In March 2016, the European Council underlined that the EU and its member states need to ratify the Paris Agreement as soon as possible and on time so as to be parties as from the date of entry into force.  

The Paris Agreement aims at keeping global temperature rise well below 2°C and to make efforts to keep it to 1.5°C (compared to pre-industrial levels). To this end, countries have an obligation to take measures to reduce their emissions.   

There will be a review process every five years to take stock and increase ambition over time. The progress of countries in their commitments will be tracked to ensure transparency and accountability. The need for all countries to adapt to climate change by preparing and reinforcing their resilience is also acknowledged.  

In terms of solidarity, the EU and other developed countries commit to continue providing climate finance to developing countries. 

Place:           European Convention Centre Luxembourg (ECCL)
Chair(s):      Ard van der Steur, Minister of Security and Justice
                      Klaas Dijkhoff, State Secretary of Security and Justice and Minister for Immigration

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 08.30
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 08.45
Doorstep by Minister Dijkhoff

+/- 09.30
Doorstep by Minister Van der Steur

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Mixed Committee meeting (roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda

IT Systems for Security and Borders

+/- 11.40
Beginning of Home Affairs Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of non-legislative A Items

Databases

+/- 13.30
Adoption of legislative A Items (public session)

IT Systems for Security and Borders

+/- 13.45
Press conference security (live streaming)

+/- 14.00
Lunch

+/- 15.30
Continued Mixed Committee meeting

European Border and Coast Guard
Migration

+/- 17.00
Continued Home Affairs Council meeting

European Border and Coast Guard (public session)
Migration
Reform of the Common European Asylum System

+/- 17.30
Press conference migration (live streaming)

On 21 April 2016, the Council adopted the final text of a directive strengthening rights of children in criminal proceedings.  The directive provides a number of procedural safeguards for children (i.e. individuals below 18) who are suspected or accused of having committed a criminal offence. The directive includes additional safeguards compared to those that already apply to suspected and accused adults.

A core provision of the directive relates to assistance from a lawyer. Member states should make sure that suspected or accused children are assisted by a lawyer, where necessary by providing legal aid, unless assistance by a lawyer is not  proportionate in the light of the circumstances of the case.  Other important provisions of the directive concern the provision of information on rights, the right to have an individual assessment, to a medical examination, and to audio-visual recording of questioning. It also provides special safeguards for children during deprivation of liberty, in particular during detention.

This final adoption of the directive follows a political agreement  between the two legislators in December 2015 and the subsequent approval by the European Parliament on 9 March 2016. Once published in the EU Official Journal, member states will have three years to transpose the provisions into their national laws. Denmark, the UK and Ireland have opted out of this directive and will not be bound by it.

Since 2009, the work in the European Union on strengthening procedural rights for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings has been carried out on the basis of the roadmap, which was adopted by the Council on 30 November 2009. The roadmap sets out a gradual approach towards establishing a full catalogue of procedural rights for suspects and accused persons in criminal proceedings.

Four directives have already been adopted on the basis of the roadmap: Directive 2010/64/EU on the right to interpretation and translation, Directive 2012/13/EU on the right to information, Directive 2013/48/EU on the right of access to a lawyer, and Directive 2016/343/EU on the presumption of innocence and the right to be present at the trial.

On 21 April 2016, the Council approved the conclusion of an agreement with San Marino aimed at improving tax compliance by private savers.

The agreement will contribute to efforts to clamp down on tax evasion, by requiring the EU member states and San Marino to exchange information automatically.

This will allow their tax administrations improved cross-border access to information on the financial accounts of each other's residents.

The agreement upgrades a 2004 agreement that ensured that San Marino applied measures equivalent to those in an EU directive on the taxation of savings income. The aim is to extend the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts in order to prevent taxpayers from hiding capital representing income or assets for which tax has not been paid.

The new agreement was signed on 8 December 2015, when similar agreements were concluded with Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It was concluded (on 21 April) at a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, without discussion.

On 19 April 2016 the Netherlands presidency reached an informal agreement with the European Parliament regarding the opening of the domestic rail passenger markets in the member states and the strengthening of the independence of rail infrastructure managers to ensure effective and non-discriminatory access to infrastructure. The agreement is provisional and subject to approval by the Council.

The negotiators reached agreement on all three proposals of the 'market' pillar of the 4th railway package: a revised regulation governing public service contracts, a revised directive on establishing a single European railway area and a regulation repealing the regulation on the normalisation of accounts of railway undertakings. 

The new rules aim to improve the quality and efficiency of rail services in Europe. They should encourage investment and innovation as well as fair competition in the rail market. Together with the technical pillar of the 4th railway package, they are an important step towards the completion of the single European rail area. 

The Dutch State Secretary of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Sharon Dijksma, said: "Thanks to the cooperation and the flexibility of all parties involved, we have reached an ambitious provisional agreement. When this agreement is endorsed by the member states, it will improve the quality and efficiency of railway services in Europe". 

The presidency will submit the outcome of the negotiations for approval by member states at a meeting of the Permanent Representatives Committee on 27 April. 

1. The increasing use of hybrid strategies and operations by state and non-state actors in the immediate and wider EU neighbourhood requires swift and appropriate action to prevent and counter hybrid threats to the Union and its Member States as well as partners. The Council underlines the need to mobilise EU instruments to this end, in line with the Conclusions by the European Council of June 2015 and the Council Conclusions on CSDP of May 2015, while recognising the primary responsibility of Member States for security and defence and taking into account relevant ongoing work as regards both internal and external policies.
2. In this context, the Council welcomes the Joint Communication on countering hybrid threats and fostering resilience of the EU and its Member States as well as partners. It invites the relevant Council instances, the European Defence Agency and other relevant bodies to examine, in a timely and coherent manner, the proposed actions, with due respect for respective procedures and the competences of the Member States, the Commission and the High Representative, ensuring a cross-sectoral approach and appropriate follow-up. The Council also invites Member States to consider establishing a European Centre of Excellence.
3. The Council welcomes the intention of the High Representative to create an EU Hybrid Fusion Cell, and highlights the possible CSDP contributions to countering hybrid threats and the need for closer dialogue, cooperation and coordination with NATO, respecting the principles of inclusiveness and autonomy of decision-making of each organisation, as well as with other partner organisations.
4. The Council invites the Commission and the High Representative to provide a report by July 2017 to assess progress.

On 19 April 2016, the Council approved the establishment of a military training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA) to contribute to the country's defence sector reform. 

The mission will be based in Bangui and operate for an initial period of two years. Following up an EU military advisory mission (EUMAM RCA), it will work towards a modernised, effective, inclusive and democratically accountable Central African Armed Forces (FACA). It will provide strategic advice to the CAR's Ministry of Defence and the general staff, as well as education and training to the FACA. 

EUTM RCA will operate in accordance with political and strategic objectives set out in the crisis management concept approved by the Council on 14 March 2016. 

EUMAM RCA was established on 19 January 2015. In close cooperation with the United Nations multidimensional integrated stabilization mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), EUMAM RCA advises the military authorities of the CAR on the reforms necessary to transform the country's armed forces into a professional, democratically controlled and ethnically representative army. Its mandate expires on 16 July 2016.