Industrial emissions: EU Council and Parliament agree on new rules to reduce harmful emissions from industry and improve public access to information +++ Pollution: deal with Council to reduce industrial emissions – EP +++ UKRAINE: EU Commissioner Sinkevičius gives a short speech at the Conference for Ukraine’s Green Recovery
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson met in Helsinki on Monday 27 November. Items on the agenda included bilateral relations between the countries, the security situation and other topical international and EU issues. The discussion also addressed recent events at Finland’s eastern border.
CEN and CENELEC: Opinion on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive +++ PACKAGING: Cefic’s Reaction to the European Parliament Vote on New EU Rules for Packaging and Packaging Waste +++ ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE: UNECE reviews the environmental performance of Tajikistan for the fourth time +++ EFSA BRIEFS: National Dietary Survey on Children in Montenegro from 1 to 9 years old – External Scientific Report
EU – CANADA: EU and Canada forge Green Alliance for closer cooperation +++ EU-Canada Summit 2023 – Joint Statement +++ Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel and Prime Minister Trudeau following the EU-Canada Summit +++ UNFCCC: Boosting Climate Transparency and Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration in Asia-Pacific
The European Commission has approved a recapitalisation of SAS amounting to approximately €833 million (SEK 9.5 billion) granted in October 2020. The measure is approved under the State aid COVID Temporary Framework. That recapitalisation measure was part of a larger recapitalisation package, which also involved a significant participation of private investors, including the conversion of outstanding privately-held debt instruments into equity.
After technical discussions within the Council, ministers for employment and social affairs reached a political agreement on the recommendation on 9 October 2023. After legal-linguistic revision, the recommendation was adopted today and will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The data act will give both individuals and businesses more control over their data through a reinforced portability right, copying or transferring data easily from across different services, where the data are generated through smart objects, machines, and devices. The new law will empower consumers and companies by giving them a say on what can be done with the data generated by their connected products.
The Commission will present new legislation on countering migrant smuggling. This covers a Directive laying down minimum rules on the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the EU, and a Regulation to reinforce Europol’s role and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings.
EU Ministers agreed the Council’s position on the directive establishing the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities. The directive will facilitate the free movement of persons with disabilities in the Union, by ensuring equal access to special conditions and preferential treatment for persons with disabilities during short stays, such as reduced or zero entry fees, priority access, assistance and reserved parking spaces.
Meetings of EU Commission Members +++ EU Parliament Agenda +++ Agenda of the EU EPSCO Council (Employment and social policy) +++ Meetings of EU Council preparatory bodies +++ Judicial calendar of the EU Court of Justice and the EU General Court +++ Religious neutrality of public service employees: EU Court Judgment in Case C-148/22 Commune d’Ans +++ ECB schedule of public activities +++ Spanish EU Presidency: Selected events +++ EESC Conference: Completing the Single Market to Ensure EU’s Strategic Competitiveness +++ EESC Joint meeting: CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee – 7th meeting
The European Commission has informed Amazon of its preliminary view that its proposed acquisition of iRobot may restrict competition in the market for robot vacuum cleaners (‘RVCs’).
From tomorrow to 1 December the Commission is hosting a high-level conference in Vilnius, Lithuania on the green recovery in Ukraine. Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius will represent the Commission and stress the commitment for a continued cooperation with and assistance to Ukraine in its sustainable reconstruction efforts.
The EU has today completed political procedures ratifying the ambitious free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. The deal is expected to cut some €140 million a year in duties for EU companies. As a result, bilateral trade is expected to grow by up to 30% within a decade, with EU exports growing by up to €4.5 billion annually. EU investment into New Zealand is expected to grow by up to 80%. This landmark agreement also includes unprecedented sustainability commitments, including respect of the Paris Climate Agreement and core labour rights.
Education ministers started their meeting by approving conclusions on the contribution of education and training to strengthening common European values and democratic citizenship. The protection of the values that we share as Europeans and the importance of democratic citizenship are the very backbone of our societies and an utmost priority for the Spanish presidency. Today, we reaffirm the role of education in shaping active, engaged and creative citizens.
Today, the Council approved conclusions on enhancing the cultural and creative dimension of the European video games sector. The video games sector is an integral part of the ecosystem of cultural and creative industries. It interacts with other sectors and has great potential to transmit cultural content and highlight the value of the richness of European creation, heritage and history.
Today, the Council approved conclusions on women and equality in the field of sport. The conclusions emphasise the importance of access to a safe, inclusive and equal playing field, free from any form of inequality, discrimination or violence. Despite the progress made so far, women still participate much less in sport and physical activity than men, largely due to sociocultural barriers. However, 8 in 10 Europeans believe that female role models in sports would inspire more women and girls to follow their example.
The Commission approved the initial support measures in October 2022 (SA.100687). According to the resolution plan, after the bank was resolved, its main assets and liabilities were transferred to a newly created bridge bank. The State aid measures were aimed at enabling a prompt sale of the bridge bank, while preserving both financial stability and a level playing field in the Single Market.
The European Health Data Space shall give citizens the right to access prescriptions, imagery and lab tests across borders. Aggregated health data can be shared for research purposes e.g. into cancer and rare diseases. But strong privacy safeguards must govern how and why sensitive data is shared.
Given the complexity of these intelligent machines, AI safety is correspondingly much more complex. Experience from other technologies can therefore be our guide. Take the history of atomic energy and the nuclear bomb. Scientists discovered quantum physics which led to nuclear energy – good – but also with societal risks, and also to the atomic bomb.
EU Court of Auditors Special report 24/2023: Smart cities – Tangible solutions, but fragmentation challenges their wider adoption +++ Sonderbericht 24/2023 des EU-Rechnungshof zu Intelligenten Städten: Konkrete Lösungen, doch Fragmentierung erschwert deren breitere Übernahme +++ The biggest event on European territorial cooperation kicks-off in Spain to discuss the Interreg programmes
The Commission welcomes today’s agreement by G7 leaders on International Guiding Principles on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a voluntary Code of Conduct for AI developers under the Hiroshima AI process. These principles and the voluntary Code of Conduct will complement, at international level, the legally binding rules that the EU co-legislators are currently finalising under the EU AI Act. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was among those who subscribed to the G7 leaders’ statement issued by the 2023 Japan G7 presidency.
We have all witnessed the recent emergence of new and highly sophisticated AI generative tools, such as ChatGPT (OpenAI). This technology, based on Large Language Models (LLMs), is here to stay and will undoubtedly have a massive impact on the world of work and on the societies in which we live. Generative AI tools are already starting to effect the way many of us work, whether in the public or private sector.
The EU and Japan have concluded, on the margins of the G7 Trade Ministerial in Osaka, a landmark deal to make doing business in the online world easier, less costly and more efficient.
Experts with deep experience across government, the private sector, technology, civil society, and academia have been tasked with supporting UN efforts to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used for the greater good of humanity.
As part of their transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), designated Very Large Online Platforms and Very Large Online Search Engines are due to publish their first transparency reports – and some did so already. The first seven platforms have already published their reports, and the rest have until 6 November to do so. These first seven platforms are Amazon, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, Zalando and Bing.
Today, the first Global Gateway Forum opened in Brussels. It brought together over 40 high-level Government representatives, financial institutions and business representatives to discuss the world’s investment needs, debate solutions and seal new deals. The panel discussions on the first day focused on green energy and hydrogen, research and education, critical raw materials and transport corridors.
A new paper into the capabilities and risks from frontier AI has been published for the first time by the UK Government today (Thursday 26 October), as the Prime Minister is set to give a speech on the global responsibility to address the risks head on and make the most of the opportunities AI can bring.
UNECE Forum of Mayors fosters city-to-city learning for regeneration and resilience, facilitating an inclusive multilateralism +++ UNECE helps Ukraine draft law to address housing challenges and develops municipal investment tracker for greater transparency in reconstruction projects +++ OECD: Smart City Data Governance: Challenges and the Way Forward +++ EU Commission on ECA Special Report “Smart Cities: : Tangible solutions, but fragmentation challenges their wider adoption” +++
Smart City Expo World Congress & Smart Cities Marketplace Forum.
On 13 November 2023, the NATO International Military Staff (IMS) Office of the Gender Advisor convened its third regional Deep Dive session on the Sahel and the Gender Perspective. The discussion centred on the challenges that women and girls face in the region in amidst volatile political and security environments. It also explored how different local and international actors are promoting the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in the Sahel.
In light of international developments, the Government will increase its support to the University of Gothenburg which, via the Segerstedt Institute, spreads knowledge of working methods to combat antisemitism. This year, the Government will provide another SEK 1 million, and it intends to provide another SEK 3 million to support these efforts in 2024.
Finnish Government has decided to close the border crossing points of Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius at the eastern border as of Friday 24 November 2023 at 00.00. All border crossings at the eastern border will be centralised at the border crossing point of Raja-Jooseppi. The Government decided on these new restrictions at an extraordinary session on 22 November 2023. The decision will remain in force until 23 December 2023.
The agreement will make it possible to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza than before. It will now be possible to send supplies to northern Gaza, where there are still hundreds of thousands of civilians. I hope this will give the people of Gaza a much-needed break after almost six weeks of warfare and the enormous human suffering resulting from Israel’s military actions.
“We deplore the Kimberley Process’ inability to consider the consequences for the global rough diamond sector of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We regret that despite the significant revenues generated by Russia’s diamond exports and the Kimberley Process’ core mandate to break the link between the trade in diamonds and conflict, it was not possible to reach consensus to include an item on the agenda and discuss the matter” – EU statement.
Today, the Commission has paid €1.5 billion under the Macro-financial Assistance + package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. Today, the Commission has paid €1.5 billion under the Macro-financial Assistance + package for Ukraine worth up to €18 billion. With this instrument, the EU seeks to help Ukraine cover its immediate funding needs, with stable, predictable and sizeable financial support in 2023. With today’s payment, Ukraine has so far received €16.5 billion this year under Macro-financial Assistance +.
In the same vein, we will continue with determination to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace for Ukraine. This builds on the 10-point peace plan of President Zelenskyy. In 10 days, we will meet in Dubai for the start of COP28. The world needs global unity to fight climate change because the effect of climate change disproportionally hits the most vulnerable. We need global emissions to peak before 2025, and phase out unabated fossil fuels.
The goal of Blue Dot Network certification is to promote quality infrastructure that is financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable; consistent with international standards, laws and regulations, and that benefits all users and stakeholders in our respective societies.
I wholeheartedly welcome the agreement reached on the release of the 50 hostages and on a pause in hostilities. Every day these mothers and children are held hostage by terrorists is one too many. I share the joy of the families who can soon embrace their loved ones again. And I am so grateful to all those who have worked tirelessly through diplomatic channels in recent weeks to broker this agreement.
I strongly condemn the launch of a military satellite by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, using ballistic missile technology in violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. This raises tensions and poses a serious risk to regional and international security. North Korea must stop its reckless behaviour, abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, and engage in diplomacy in good-faith.
The Foreign Affairs Council, in its development configuration, was briefed about the situation in Ukraine, aid to Palestine, implementation of the Gender Action Plan III and follow-up to the EU-CELAC Summit.
The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control, along with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), co-hosted a virtual FinCEN Exchange to discuss attempts by Russia to evade export controls. The Exchange included representatives from small- to mid-size financial institutions, law enforcement, and government agencies.
In addition to the political consultations, the two sides convened the two Senior Officials (SOM) working groups meetings on trade and global affairs. In this framework, the EU and Bahrain held in-depth, technical discussions on economic diversification; green transition and climate; development cooperation and humanitarian aid; education; research; innovation and space cooperation; and security and counterterrorism.
Industrial emissions: EU Council and Parliament agree on new rules to reduce harmful emissions from industry and improve public access to information +++ Pollution: deal with Council to reduce industrial emissions – EP +++ UKRAINE: EU Commissioner Sinkevičius gives a short speech at the Conference for Ukraine’s Green Recovery
RIGHT TO REPAIR: EU Parliament: Why is the EU’s right to repair legislation important? +++ CLEAN AIR: EU Clean Air Forum: discussions focus on the impact of air pollution and upcoming EU policy +++ POLLINATORS: MEPs call for increased action and funding to reverse decline +++ ANIMAL WELFARE: Speech by Commissioner Stella Kyriakides at the European Parliament Animal Welfare Intergroup – Revision of the Animal Welfare Legislation
UNFCCC: Early climate reporting shows countries’ commitment to transparency +++ Bruegel: COP28 – key issues at stake and indicators of success +++ CLEAN AIR: Keynote speech by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič at the EU Clean Air Forum +++ JUST TRANSITION: EU Parliament calls for protection of jobs and workers’ rights in the just transition +++ NET-ZERO: EU Commission opens €4 billion call for proposals for net-zero technologies under the Innovation Fund
IEA: Oil and gas industry faces moment of truth – and opportunity to adapt – as clean energy transitions advance +++ EU ENERGY PLATFORM: Fourth round of demand aggregation for joint gas purchasing starts today +++ REPOWER EU: EU Commission endorses Hungary’s €4.6 billion REPowerEU chapter, to complement its recovery and resilience plan +++ ENERGY REGULATION: Update on the ENTSOG Annual Conference, 13 December 2023 +++ ENTSOG commences project collection for its Ten-Year Network Development Plan 2024
Today, the EU and Canada have established a Green Alliance at a bilateral Summit in St John’s, Newfoundland. The Alliance will strengthen political, technical, economic and scientific cooperation between these two like-minded partners. It covers climate action, environmental and ocean protection, the clean energy transition, green industrial transformation, research and innovation and climate and biodiversity finance.
Today, the Commission has given a positive assessment of Italy’s modified recovery and resilience plan, which includes a REPowerEU chapter. The plan is now worth €194.4 billion (€122.6 billion in loans and €71.8 billion in grants) and covers 66 reforms, seven more than in the original plan, and 150 investments.
New law proposed to improve resilience of European forests +++ EU Commission proposes comprehensive monitoring to improve resilience of European forests +++ Remarks by EU Commissioners Sinkevičius and Hoekstra at the press conference on the Forest Monitoring Law +++ Questions and Answers on Forest Monitoring Law +++ EU-Abgeordneter Markus Ferber (CSU): EU-Waldpolitik – in der Vielfalt nicht geeint +++ Circular Economy: EU Council adopts position on a directive that enshrines consumers’ right to repair.
The objective of the study was to assess the viability of a German-Norwegian hydrogen value chain, from potential hydrogen producers in Norway to consumers in Germany, with a planned start up in 2030. Conditions necessary to realize the value chain include market maturation and willingness to pay on the user side, regulatory framework and technology qualification.
Ireland’s revised plan contains a broad scope of green measures in areas including energy renovation for public buildings, the decarbonisation of enterprises, and the promotion of sustainable transport. The Irish revised plan continues to drive the country’s digital transition. It includes measures to address the risk of the digital divide and to strengthen digital skills. The modified plan will also continue to help strengthen economic and social resilience of Ireland through support for employment by the means of upskilling and an increase in the supply of social and affordable housing, for example.
The Council approved the figures today, in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28), which will take place from 30 November to 12 December in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The figures are based on the EU climate finance reporting rules laid down in the governance regulation.
UNFCCC: Powering climate action through Earth observations technology +++ CLIMATE RISKS: 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfires, a warning from a changing climate +++ EU COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING DECISION on the financing of the annual action plan in favour of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands for 2023