Politics of the European Union

Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument: Coreper endorses provisional agreement with the European Parliament

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 19, 2020
European Union, Foreign relations of the European Union, Organizations, Politics of the European Union, Multiannual Financial Framework, European Neighbourhood Policy, European Development Fund, European External Action Service, Budget of the European Union, Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund

EU member states' ambassadors today endorsed the provisional agreement reached on 15 December between the Council Presidency and European Parliament's representatives on a regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), in the context of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Key Points: 
  • EU member states' ambassadors today endorsed the provisional agreement reached on 15 December between the Council Presidency and European Parliament's representatives on a regulation setting up the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), in the context of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF).
  • With the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) the EU is showing its capacity to act in the world.
  • I also welcome the fact that, with the NDICI, the EU is putting an emphasis on climate action.
  • The new instrument will streamline and simplify EU external action financing instruments for international and development cooperation, crisis response or peace-building actions in partner countries.
  • It will do so by merging ten existing external financing instruments - as well as the European Development Fund - into one single financing tool.
  • It will promote multilateralism, strategic priorities and the achievement of key international commitments and objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.
  • In addition, European Neighbourhood countries will benefit from enhanced political cooperationand support for the purposes of enhancing regional cooperation and promoting integration into the EUs internal market.
  • Actions financed under this component aim at strengthening resilience of crisis affected countries, linking humanitarian and development actions and addressing foreign policy needs and priorities.

Background and next steps

    • The Parliament adopted its first-reading position on 27 March 2019 and the Council adopted a partial mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament on 13 June 2019.
    • On 27 May 2020, the Commission published a revised MFF proposal and at the Special Meeting of the European Council (17-21 July 2020), and member states decided on the sum to allocate for the total budget of the NDICI.
    • Following today's endorsement by Coreper, the European Parliament and the Council will translate the agreement into legislative text before final steps will be taken for its adoption.

Press release - EU-UK: MEPs still in favour of agreement, but welcome no-deal preparations

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Saturday, December 19, 2020
Brexit, Disaster preparedness, Michel Barnier, Negotiation, No-deal Brexit, Europium(II) sulfide, Barnier, Member of the European Parliament, Government, Foreign relations of France, Politics of the European Union

They welcomed Fridays upcoming vote on contingency measures in preparation for a possible no-deal scenario.

Key Points: 
  • They welcomed Fridays upcoming vote on contingency measures in preparation for a possible no-deal scenario.
  • The too short deadline for the negotiation of such an unprecedented deal was set by the UK, they recalled.
  • Echoing chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier, MEPs called for the EUs fishing fleet to be given unfettered access to UK waters.
  • Several MEPs welcomed Thursdays sealing of a deal that guarantees, among others, citizens rights and peace on the island of Ireland.

Spain: EASO launches new operation to support reception system

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Friday, December 18, 2020
Politics of the European Union, European Asylum Support Office, EASO

The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to support the Spanish authorities in developing and implementing a new model for the reception of asylum seekers in line with EU standards.

Key Points: 
  • The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to support the Spanish authorities in developing and implementing a new model for the reception of asylum seekers in line with EU standards.
  • The JRNA helped identify the needs of the Spanish authorities, which EASO will now assist in addressing.
  • Commenting on the new EASO operation, Nina Gregori stated: I am proud that EASO is once again able to quickly provide tangible support to frontline Member States asylum and reception capacity.
  • In particular, EASO will:

    Spain will become EASOs fifth ongoing operation, the others being in Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Malta.

Multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027 adopted

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020
European Union, Organizations, Europe, Politics of the European Union, Next Generation EU, Multiannual Financial Framework, European Development Fund, Budget of the European Union, Brexit and arrangements for science and technology

Infographic - Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU Following the European Parliament's consent yesterday, the Council has adopted the regulation laying down the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027.

Key Points: 
  • Infographic - Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 and Next Generation EU Following the European Parliament's consent yesterday, the Council has adopted the regulation laying down the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027.
  • The regulation provides for a long-term budget of 1 074.3 billion for the EU27 in 2018 prices, including the integration of the European Development Fund.
  • The next long-term budget will cover seven spending areas.
  • It will provide the framework for the funding of almost 40 EU spending programmes in the next seven-year period.

Key features

    • In total, around a third of EU spending under the long-term budget will contribute to new and reinforced policy areas.
    • Funding under the new recovery instrument will help EU member states to tackle the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, thereby strengthening modernisation and resilience.
    • The EU will be spending 132.8 billion in the spending area of single market, innovation and digital and 377.8 billion on cohesion, resilience and values.
    • These amounts will increase to 143.4 billion and 1.099.7 billion, respectively, with additional funding from the Next Generation EU, including loans to member states.
    • A further 356.4 billion of funding will go to the area of natural resources and environment (373.9 billion with the contribution from the Next Generation EU).
    • Funding for the EU neighbourhood and the world will amount to 98.4 billion.

New and reinforced programmes

    • The digital strand of the Connecting Europe Facility will also get a significant boost in funding.
    • A new EU4Healthprogramme will provide a strong basis for EU action in the health field based on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • Support for migration and border management has also been considerably reinforced, including to fund up to 10 000 border guards at the disposal of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency by 2027.
    • Programmes for young people, such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, will also be strengthened, with the Erasmus+ programme expected to triple the number of participants in the course of the new multiannual financial framework.

Next steps

    • Most of the sectoral EU funding programmes are expected to be adopted in early 2021 and will apply retroactively from the beginning of 2021.
    • For the implementation of the Next Generation EU recovery instrument, the EU's own resources decision will need to be approved in all member states in accordance with their constitutional requirements.

Travel restrictions: Council reviews the list of third countries for which restrictions on non-essential travel should be lifted

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020
Politics of the European Union, Human migration, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aviation, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, Foreign relations of the European Union, European Union, Politics of Europe, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Identity documents, Visa policy of the Schengen Area

Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.

Key Points: 
  • Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries for which travel restrictions should be lifted.
  • As stipulated in the Council recommendation, this list will continue to be reviewed regularly and, as the case may be, updated.
  • Residents of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican should be considered as EU residents for the purpose of this recommendation.
  • A Member State should not decide to lift the travel restrictions for non-listed third countries before this has been decided in a coordinated manner.

Reduced mobility of asylum seekers continues to limit the number of asylum applications, but unaccompanied minors lodged more applications in October

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020
Articles, Organizations, World, Politics of the European Union, European Asylum Support Office, COVID-19 pandemic, Europium, European Union

Analysis releasedby the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) shows that the number of applications for international protection lodged in the EU+ remained stable but still at two thirds of pre-COVID-19 levels.

Key Points: 
  • Analysis releasedby the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) shows that the number of applications for international protection lodged in the EU+ remained stable but still at two thirds of pre-COVID-19 levels.
  • In October 2020, just 43 200 applications were lodged in the EU+3compared to more than 60 000 applications lodged per month before the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Applications have been stable for the last few months, but this was underscored by different trends across nationalities.
  • UAMs accounted for 5 % of all applications in the EU+ in October, a proportion slightly higher than in the previous months.

ESMA renews its decision requiring net short position holders to report positions of 0.1% and above

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Politics of the European Union, Foreign relations of Europe, European Free Trade Association, EFTA Court, European Economic Area

The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.

Key Points: 
  • The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.
  • Todays action extends the measure taken on 17 September and will expire on 19 March 2021.
  • ESMA believes that this decision will continue to support the ability of NCAs to deal with threats to the orderly functioning of markets and financial stability at an early stage.
  • The EFTA Surveillance Authority, in cooperation with ESMA, adopted a corresponding decision today, also effective as of 19 December, applicable to EEA EFTA States' markets.

Press release - “Minority SafePack”: Parliament supports proposals for diversity across EU

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 18, 2020
Initiatives, Politics of the European Union, Organizations, Articles, European Union, Direct democracy, European Citizens' Initiative, European Union constitutional law, Minority SafePack, European Union law

On Thursday, MEPs called on the Commission to act on the European Citizens Initiative proposals that aim to enhance cultural and linguistic diversity in the EU.

Key Points: 
  • On Thursday, MEPs called on the Commission to act on the European Citizens Initiative proposals that aim to enhance cultural and linguistic diversity in the EU.
  • Parliament calls on the Commission to propose legal acts to address the issue, expressing its support for the European Citizens Initiative Minority SafePack one million signatures for diversity in Europe.
  • Acknowledging that member states are responsible for protecting minorities rights, MEPs again ask for a common framework of minimum EU standards.
  • In a recent joint public hearing , which was held remotely, the organisers of Minority SafePack presented their objectives.

ESMA renews its decision requiring net short position holders to report positions of 0.1% and above

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, Politics of the European Union, Foreign relations of Europe, European Free Trade Association, EFTA Court, European Economic Area

The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.

Key Points: 
  • The measure applies from 19 December 2020 for a period of three months.
  • Todays action extends the measure taken on 17 September and will expire on 19 March 2021.
  • ESMA believes that this decision will continue to support the ability of NCAs to deal with threats to the orderly functioning of markets and financial stability at an early stage.
  • The EFTA Surveillance Authority, in cooperation with ESMA, adopted a corresponding decision today, also effective as of 19 December, applicable to EEA EFTA States' markets.

EU Space Programme : Council presidency reaches political agreement with the European Parliament

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 17, 2020
Organizations, Articles, Politics of the European Union, Space policy of the European Union, Multiannual Financial Framework, Galileo, European Union

EU Council and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed regulation establishing the next EU space programme for the years 2021 to 2027.

Key Points: 
  • EU Council and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the proposed regulation establishing the next EU space programme for the years 2021 to 2027.
  • A financial envelope of 14.8 billion (current prices) has been set aside for the programme, broken down as follows:

    (a) for Galileo and EGNOS: 9.01 billion;

    (b) for Copernicus: 5.42 billion;

    (c) for SSA and /GOVSATCOM: 442 million.

  • Following political endorsement by both the Council and the European Parliament, it will be the basis for the future adoption of the proposed regulation at second reading.
  • The regulation cannot be adopted before the adoption of the EU's Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027.