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Brussels briefing: Purdah and Plan B

FT / Brussels Blog - Fri, 27/05/2016 - 08:53

Welcome to Friday’s edition of our daily Brussels Briefing. To receive it every morning in your email in-box, sign up here.

Britain’s administration is now in hibernation. The civil service has entered Purdah – a term derived from the Persian word for curtain and the practice of shielding a woman from prying eyes. In practice in Brussels the pre-referendum asceticism means British diplomats must doggedly stick to their pre-agreed positions, show no flexibility or original thinking and avoid socialising with foreigners. Some EU types may joke: has anything changed?

The polls are looking slightly better for the Remain side. But it is close and European leaders aren’t taking chances. As we report today, Plan B is being worked up: how should the EU respond to Brexit?

The topic has been raised at high levels in Hanover, Rome, and Brussels (all slightly different configurations). Discussions were expected on the sidelines of the G7 too (the communique has depicted Brexit as “a serious risk to growth”). A small group of leaders’ sherpas also met on Monday at the European Commission. And this wouldn’t be a crisis unless the Commission’s anti-populist Martin Selmayr had a Plan B locked in his safe – right next to the Grexit one that was never used.

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Categories: European Union

Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk

European Council - Fri, 27/05/2016 - 08:08

Monday 30 May 2016
Luxembourg
17.00 Speech at the event marking the 40th anniversary of European People Party (EPP)

Wednesday 1 June 2016
10.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico (photo opportunity)
17.30 Speech at the European Business Summit (Palais d'Egmont)

Categories: European Union

G7 Ise-Shima Leaders' Declaration

EEAS News - Fri, 27/05/2016 - 06:00
Categories: European Union

G7 Ise-Shima Leaders' Declaration

European Council - Fri, 27/05/2016 - 03:18
Preamble

We, the leaders of the G7, met in Ise-Shima on 26 and 27 May 2016 to address major global economic and political challenges. Global growth remains moderate and below potential, while risks of weak growth persist. Escalated geo-political conflicts, terrorism and refugee flows complicate the global economic environment. The rise of violent extremism, terrorist attacks and other challenges, pose serious threat to the existing rule based international order, as well as to common values and principles for all humanity.

The G7 has a special responsibility to lead international efforts to tackle these challenges. We remain bound together as a group guided by our common values and principles, including freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Furthermore, following the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and the Paris Agreement on climate change last year, we will further make efforts to implement our commitments. Today, we have demonstrated our capacity to make tangible progress on a broad range of economic, security, and development policy issues, and we will demonstrate through our actions, a path forward in solving major issues to ensure peace, security and prosperity of the world.

Categories: European Union

EU Military Committee

Council lTV - Fri, 27/05/2016 - 00:59
http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/5_16_2013-99240---eu-military-committee-meeting-group-photo-16-9-preview_66.42_thumb_169_1384280427_1384276681_129_97shar_c1.jpg

The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the highest military body set up within the Council. It directs all EU military activities and provides the Political and Security Committee (PSC) with advice and recommendations on military matters.

Download this video here.

Categories: European Union

Article - Breaking down barriers: giving consumers equal access to online products

European Parliament - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 16:56
Plenary sessions : The internet is meant to give you unlimited access to knowledge, yet when you are shopping online, you could be prevented from purchasing a product or service because of where you live. The European Commission has proposed new rules to make an end to the unjustified use of the practice known as geo-blocking as well as ways to create a genuine digital single market in Europe. MEPs debated the plans in plenary on 25 May.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Article - Breaking down barriers: giving consumers equal access to online products

European Parliament (News) - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 16:56
Plenary sessions : The internet is meant to give you unlimited access to knowledge, yet when you are shopping online, you could be prevented from purchasing a product or service because of where you live. The European Commission has proposed new rules to make an end to the unjustified use of the practice known as geo-blocking as well as ways to create a genuine digital single market in Europe. MEPs debated the plans in plenary on 25 May.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Safer medical devices: MEPs strike deal with Council - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

European Parliament - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 15:48
Plans for stricter monitoring and certification procedures to ensure that medical devices such as breast or hip implants comply fully with safety and traceability requirements were informally agreed by MEPs and the Dutch Presidency of the Council on Wednesday. MEPs also secured tighter information and ethical requirements for diagnostic medical devices, e.g. those used for pregnancy or DNA testing.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Safer medical devices: MEPs strike deal with Council - Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

European Parliament (News) - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 15:48
Plans for stricter monitoring and certification procedures to ensure that medical devices such as breast or hip implants comply fully with safety and traceability requirements were informally agreed by MEPs and the Dutch Presidency of the Council on Wednesday. MEPs also secured tighter information and ethical requirements for diagnostic medical devices, e.g. those used for pregnancy or DNA testing.
Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Indicative programme - Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meeting of 30-31 May 2016

European Council - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 15:30
Monday 30 May

Place: Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair(s):
Martin van Rijn, State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands
Jet Bussemaker, minister for Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands

All times are approximate and subject to change

Youth

+/- 08.00
Arrivals

+/- 08.30
Breakfast: structured dialogue Youth

+/- 09.45
Doorstep by Martin van Rijn

+/- 10.45
Doorstep by Jet Bussemaker

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Council meeting

- Adoption of the agenda
- Approval of legislative A items (in public session)
- Approval of non-legislative A items
- Preventing and combating violent radicalisation of young people
- The role of youth policy and the youth sector in an integrated approach to support youth in their identity development (in public session)
- Work programme of the incoming Presidency

+/- 13.00
Working lunch with Education ministers

+/- 14.30
Press conference

Education

+/- 15.00
Beginning of Council meeting

- Introduction
- Developing media literacy and critical thinking through education and training
- Pursuing the modernisation agenda for higher education in Europe (in public session)
- AOB:
 - New Skills Agenda for Europe
 - Ministerial meetings to be organised in Cyprus
 - Summer School “Beyond the refugee crisis - Studying in Europe”
 - Work Programme of the incoming Presidency

Tuesday 31 May

Place: Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair(s):
Jet Bussemaker, minister for Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands
Edith Schippers minister for Health, Welfare and Sport of the Netherlands

All times are approximate and subject to change

Culture / Audiovisual

+/- 08.30
Arrivals

+/- 08.45
Doorstep by Jet Bussemaker

+/- 09.30
Beginning of Council meeting

- Introduction
- The role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and use of European cultural heritage
- Work Plan for Culture (2015-2015) as regards the priority on intercultural dialogue
- Proposal for a revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (in public session)
- Revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the promotion of European audiovisual content (in public session)
- AOB:
 - European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018)
 - Interoperability of digital content
 - Limit for cultural projects under the ERDF
 - European Youth Orchestra
 - Court decisions on copyright law 
 - Work Programme of the incoming Presidency

+/- 13.00
Doorstep by Edith Schippers

+/- 13.15
Press conference

Sport

+/- 14.00
Beginning of Council meeting
- Introduction
- Enhancing integrity, transparency and good governance in major sport events
- Improving governance in sport (in public session)
- AOB:
 - World Anti-Doping meetings
 - The European Week of Sport
 - Recent Commission studies
 - Work Programme of the incoming Presidency

+/- 16.00
Structured dialogue with sport representatives

+/- 18.00
Press conference

Categories: European Union

Amendments 2 - 100 - Establishing an EU common list of safe countries of origin for the purposes of common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection - PE 578.680v01-00 - Committee on Foreign Affairs

AMENDMENTS 2 - 100 - Draft opinion on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an EU common list of safe countries of origin for the purposes of Directive 2013/32/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on common procedures for granting and withdrawing international protection, and amending Directive 2013/32/EU
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Digital single market technologies and public services modernisation

European Council - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:48

On 26 May 2016 the Council adopted the following conclusions:

Categories: European Union

Press release - Boost consumer power in the energy market, urge MEPs

European Parliament - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:42
Plenary sessions : Consumers should be given more power in the energy market, say MEPs in a resolution on a "new energy deal for energy consumers", voted on Thursday. They recommend collective buying, household power generation, better price comparison tools for all and making it easier to switch energy providers and tariffs. In a non-binding text, intended as an input to Energy Union legislation to be tabled by the EU Commission, MEPs also call for EU funds for energy efficiency to focus on energy poverty.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Press release - Boost consumer power in the energy market, urge MEPs

European Parliament (News) - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:42
Plenary sessions : Consumers should be given more power in the energy market, say MEPs in a resolution on a "new energy deal for energy consumers", voted on Thursday. They recommend collective buying, household power generation, better price comparison tools for all and making it easier to switch energy providers and tariffs. In a non-binding text, intended as an input to Energy Union legislation to be tabled by the EU Commission, MEPs also call for EU funds for energy efficiency to focus on energy poverty.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

Better regulation to strengthen competitiveness

European Council - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:26

Following a policy debate on better regulation to strengthen competitiveness, the Council adopted the following conclusions:

“THE COUNCIL:

ACKNOWLEDGES that better regulation is a key driver for delivering economic growth and fostering innovation, competitiveness, SMEs and job creation, and for a fully functioning Single Market. REITERATES the need to ensure that EU regulation is transparent, simple and is achieved at minimum cost, and to always take into account a high level of protection of consumers, health, the environment and employees.

WELCOMES the Commission Communication “Better Regulation for better results, an EU agenda” of 19 May 2015[1] and the Interinstitutional Agreement by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on "Better Law-making" of 13 April 2016.[2]

Future proof and innovation-friendly legislation

1)      UNDERLINES the importance of a sound regulatory framework conducive to research, innovation and competitiveness, and WELCOMES the Commission's commitment to address the issue of future proof, fit for purpose and research and innovation-friendly legislation as part of the implementation of its better regulation guidelines and toolbox.

2)      STRESSES that, when considering, developing or updating EU policy or regulatory measures, the 'Innovation Principle' should be applied, which entails taking into account the impact on research and innovation in the process of developing and reviewing regulation in all policy domains. CALLS on the Commission together with Member States, to further determine its use and to evaluate its potential impact.[3]

3)      In this respect, CALLS on the Commission and Member States to explore and exchange best practices as to how regulation can be made more future proof and enabling for research and innovation, making good use of existing concepts and practices from the Commission and Member States. These may include risk- and hazard-based approaches to regulation, the use of goal or outcome oriented legislation, the use of digital tools, possibilities for experimentation[4], and flexibility.[5]INVITES the Commission to assist in collecting the outcome of this exploration in the first half of 2017, including the experience of using the research and innovation and ICT assessment tools[6] in Impact Assessments.

4)      WELCOMES the Commission's commitment to address the issue of future proof, fit for purpose and research and innovation-friendly legislation also when dealing with existing legislation in the framework of the REFIT programme; SUGGESTS a review (for instance by a fitness check) on how regulation can be made more innovation-friendly and on how the regulatory framework can be made more supportive for the digitisation of industry, also on the basis of input from stakeholders on identified regulatory barriers to their innovation projects and actions, and (new) business models, such as through the recent call from the Commission on this topic. CALLS on the Commission and Member States to include the perspective of research and innovation-friendly and future proof regulation as part of their discussions on existing regulation within REFIT. HIGHLIGHTS the importance of single market rules that facilitate the scale-up of innovative European businesses that wish to offer goods and services across borders and/or establish in other Member States; WELCOMES the Commission's intention for the REFIT platform to assess suggestions from stakeholders on regulatory barriers to digitisation and innovation.

Impact Assessment and Quantification of costs and benefits

5)      UNDERLINES the importance of measuring the impact of EU regulation, taking into account both the costs and benefits, including long-term benefits for both society and business whenever possible the cost of non-Europe, the impact on competitiveness, the administrative and other regulatory burdens of the different options, and with full respect given to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, in line with the Inter-institutional Agreement on better law-making. STRESSES that quantified estimates of impacts should not be a goal in itself but be a tool for better policy-making and should as much as possible be available at the early stage of consultation. RECALLS the importance of cooperation between the Commission and Member States in ensuring that the information and data needed to monitor and evaluate the implementation of EU law is obtained while minimising additional administrative burden for business and Member States.

6        ENCOURAGES the Commission to be transparent on the criteria used to determine when legislative and non-legislative proposals of the Commission are expected to have significant impact and therefore an Impact Assessment will be undertaken by the Commission. ENCOURAGES the Commission to be transparent and predictable in which cases quantification of costs and benefits are is undertaken within the Commission's Impact Assessments, and the reasons for this.

7)      WELCOMES the Commission's commitment in the Interinstitutional Agreement to further quantification of its simplification and administrative burdens reduction efforts, to present an annual burden survey and, where possible, to quantify the regulatory burden reduction or savings potential of individual proposals or legal acts; INVITES the Commission to include in the annual burden survey figures on the increase or reduction in burden of new legislation over the previous year.

8)      CALLS on the Commission to continue its work on quantification of the burden reduction efforts by quantifying where feasible ex ante the expected results of the proposed initiatives in the REFIT scoreboard, based inter alia on impact assessments and existing methods, and making good use of available information from Member States and stakeholders. CALLS on the Commission to present the first results of its efforts to quantify the REFIT scoreboard and its annual burden survey in the first half of 2017.

Reduction Targets

9)      RECALLS the Council Conclusions of December 2014[7] that call on the Commission to develop and put in place - on the basis of input from Member States and stakeholders - reduction targets in particularly burdensome areas, especially for SMEs, within the REFIT Programme, which would not require baseline measurement and should consider at the same time the costs and benefits of regulation; WELCOMES the Commission's recent commitment in this regard, and URGES the Commission to rapidly proceed on this to enable the introduction of reduction targets in 2017, whilst always taking into account a high level of protection of consumers, health, the environment and employees and the importance of a fully functioning Single Market. UNDERLINES that such targets should be well-defined, pragmatic and sound, and should focus on sectors or sets of regulation that are particularly burdensome, areas relevant for SMEs and with strong potential for innovation, and fitting within the current REFIT priorities.

Better Regulation and SMEs

10)    STRESSES the economic importance of SMEs and micro-enterprises, notably for the creation of jobs. STRESSES the need for the better regulation policy and REFIT actions to address the needs of SMEs and in particular micro-enterprises; and UNDERLINES the importance of the rigorous application of the “Think Small First” principle and SME tests throughout the whole EU policy cycle in an integrated and balanced way and SUGGESTS for the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council to exchange information on best practices, methodologies and data in this area.

11)    WELCOMES the Commission's commitment to assess the impacts on SMEs in all impact assessments, and UNDERLINES the importance for the Commission in principle not to adopt legislative proposals in the absence of a positive opinion of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board on the respective draft Impact Assessments including the impact on SMEs.

12)    CALLS on the Commission to ensure that measurements of impact of regulation on SMEs and micro-enterprises are consistently made and that all SME tests in Impact Assessments are robust, including consistent consultation of SMEs as part of all Impact Assessments, promoting broad and inclusive participation by SMEs and micro-enterprises in consultations, clear reporting in the Impact Assessment on the outcome of consultations of SME and micro-enterprises, and ensuring that Impact Assessments and consultations are easy to read for SMEs and micro-enterprises, both in terms of lay-out, wording and languages.

13)    INVITES the Commission and Member States to explore the possibilities to support the development and use of digital tools making it easier to understand complex regulation and to comply with regulation once implemented."

[1]        Doc. 9079/15
[2]        Doc. 15506/15
[3]        The Council recalls the Precautionary Principle.
[4]        Such as the Regulatory Sandbox in the UK, Green Deals in the Netherlands and the Commission's intended Innovation Deals.
[5]        Such as the Right to Challenge and the use of sunset clauses.
[6]        Impact assessment toolbox 18 and 23.
[7]        Doc. 16000/14
Categories: European Union

North Korea: EU adopts new restrictions on trade, financial services, investment and transport

European Council - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:22

On 27 May 2016, the Council adopted additional restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). These measures complement and reinforce the sanctions regime imposed by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions. 

In response to the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK on 6 January 2016 and the launch using ballistic missile technology of 7 February, the UNSC adopted resolution 2270 on 2 March 2016 imposing additional restrictive measures against the DPRK. On 5 and 31 March 2016 the Council transposed  this resolution into EU law. 

Considering that the actions of the DPRK constitute a grave threat to international peace and security in the region and beyond, the EU decided to further expand its restrictive measures targeting the DPRK's nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes. These additional measures include: 

  • in the trade sector: prohibition of the import of petroleum products and luxury goods from the DPRK, prohibition of the supply, sale or transfer to the DPRK of additional items, materials, equipment relating to dual-use goods and technology and ban on any public financial support for trade with the DPRK;
  • in the financial sector: prohibition of transfers of funds to and from the DPRK, unless for certain predefined purposes and authorised in advance;
  • in terms of investment: prohibition of all investment by the DPRK in the EU; prohibition of investment by EU nationals or entities in the mining, refining and chemical industries sectors as well as in any entities engaged in the DPRK's illegal programmes;
  • in the transport sector: prohibition on any aircraft operated by DPRK carriers or originating from the DPRK from landing in, taking off or overflying EU territory; prohibition on any vessel owned, operated or crewed by the DPRK from entering EU ports.

EU restrictive measures against the DPRK were introduced on 22 December 2006. The existing EU measures implement all UNSC resolutions adopted after the DPRK's nuclear tests and launches using ballistic missile technology and already include additional autonomous measures. Prohibitions on the export and import of arms, goods and technology that could contribute to nuclear, weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, and other restrictions in the financial, trade and transport sectors were already in force. 

On 5 March 2016, the Council transposed a first set of measures under UNSCR 2270 by adding 16 persons and 12 entities to the list of those subject to travel restrictions and asset freeze. On 19 May 2016 the Council brought the total number of persons subject to EU restrictive measures against the DPRK to 66 and the number of entities to 42.

The legal acts are published in the Official Journal of 28 May 2016. The decision was adopted by written procedure. 

Categories: European Union

Press release - MEPs call for virtual currency watchdog to combat money laundering and terrorism

European Parliament - Thu, 26/05/2016 - 12:03
Plenary sessions : The EU Commission should set up a taskforce to monitor virtual currencies, like Bitcoin, to prevent their being used to launder money or finance terrorism, said Parliament in a non-binding resolution voted on Thursday.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP
Categories: European Union

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