Politics of Europe

COVID-19 is the opportunity to speed up the environment agenda

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Continents, Politics of Europe, Europe, EASTERN EUROPE, Eastern Partnership, European integration

The Mayor of Kallithea is the rapporteur for

Key Points: 
  • The Mayor of Kallithea is the rapporteur for
    a draft opinion that requests adequate resources for local and regional authorities to
    implement environment policies on the ground.
  • From a local and regional perspective, what priorities should the 8th Environment Action Programme focus on?
  • The 8th Environment Action Programme,alongside the six priority objectives described in the proposal, reflect the objectives and expectations of local and regional leaders.
  • In this context, a better link between health and environment is both fundamental and necessary.
  • We need to ensure that the 8th EAP contributes to a toxic-free environment, provides better living standards for people and creates communities that are more resilient.
  • We must also ensure that the 8th EAP promotes a sustainable business environment and fosters green investments at all levels (EU, national, regional and local).
  • How can the new EAP ensure better integration of environment and climate prerogatives with other EU sectoral policies?
  • Integrating environment and climate with other EU sectoral policies more effectively is not always easy, as different sectors have different priorities.
  • Concerning the impact of COVID-19 on the environment agenda, is it a barrier or an opportunity to speed up action?
  • It goes without saying that COVID-19 should be treated as an opportunity to accelerate the environment agenda.
  • In 2019, the CoR adopted an own-initiative opinion entitled Towards an 8th Environment Action Programme led by rapporteur Cor Lamers (NL/EPP), Mayor of Schiedam.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against Belarus

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Organizations, Politics of the European Union, Politics of Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Trade blocs, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Union, European Free Trade Association, European Economic Area

On 17 December 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/2130[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.

Key Points: 
  • On 17 December 2020, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/2130[1] implementing Council Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Council Decision adds 29 persons and 7 entities to the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2012/642/CFSP.
  • The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania[2] and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this Council Decision.
  • They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

Media advisory - Informal video conference of European affairs ministers of 18 January 2021

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Organizations, Articles, Politics of Europe, Ana Paula Zacarias, Press conference, European Council, European Union

Indicative programme

Key Points: 
  • Indicative programme

    Chair: Ana Paula Zacarias, Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs

    10.00 - beginning of the informal video conference of European affairs ministers

    Priorities of the Portuguese presidencyConference on the Future of EuropeCOVID-19: EU coordination - preparation for the informal video conference of the members of the European Council on 21 January 2021Any other business

    At the end of the meeting - press conference in live streaming.

  • Arrangements for the press

    Please note that the press conference after the meeting will take place remotely.

  • In order to participate and ask questions, EU accredited journalists should register using this link.
  • Those who already registered for the previous video conferences and press briefings of European affairs ministers do not need to do it again.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Organizations, Politics of the European Union, Politics of Europe, Foreign relations of the European Union, Trade blocs, Multi-speed Europe, European Free Trade Association, European Economic Area, Common Foreign and Security Policy, European Union, North Macedonia

The Council renewed the existing restrictive measures for a further twelve months, until 12 December 2021, and amended the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex II to Decision 2010/788/CFSP.

Key Points: 
  • The Council renewed the existing restrictive measures for a further twelve months, until 12 December 2021, and amended the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex II to Decision 2010/788/CFSP.
  • The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania2 and the EFTA countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this Council Decision.
  • They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.
  • L 419/30

    2 The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Article - Brexit deal: how new EU-UK relations will affect you

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 7, 2021
Disaster preparedness, Negotiation, Organizations, Articles, Brexit withdrawal agreement, Politics of Europe, European Union, Brexit negotiations

There was a transition period during which the UK remained part of the Single market and Customs Union to allow for negotiations on the future relations.

Key Points: 
  • There was a transition period during which the UK remained part of the Single market and Customs Union to allow for negotiations on the future relations.
  • Following intense negotiations, an agreement on future EU-UK relations was concluded end of December 2020.
  • MEPs are currently scrutinising the text in the specialised parliamentary committees before voting on it during a plenary session.
  • A number of issues were already covered by the withdrawal agreement, which the EU and the UK agreed at the end of 2019.

Press release: Signature of the EU-UK agreement, 30 December 2020

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Foreign relations of the European Union, European Union, Politics of Europe, Politics of the European Union, Disaster preparedness, Negotiation, Confederations, European Council, Brexit withdrawal agreement, Brexit

On behalf of the European Union, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission signed this morning the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement.

Key Points: 
  • On behalf of the European Union, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission signed this morning the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement.
  • This agreement will now be brought to the United Kingdom to be signed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, before being provisionally applied as of 1 January 2021.
  • This agreement will then be examined by the European Parliament and the Council, before it can be ratified by the European Union.
  • Charles Michel, President of the European Council: "On major issues, the European Union stands ready to work shoulder to shoulder with the United Kingdom.

EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: Council adopts decision on the signing

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Organizations, Politics of Europe, Brexit, Disaster preparedness, Negotiation, Brexit withdrawal agreement, United Kingdom invocation of Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, Withdrawal from the European Union, European Union

The Council has today adopted, by written procedure, the decision on the signing of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its provisional application as of 1 January 2021, pending the consent of the European Parliament and conclusion by the Council decision next year.

Key Points: 
  • The Council has today adopted, by written procedure, the decision on the signing of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and its provisional application as of 1 January 2021, pending the consent of the European Parliament and conclusion by the Council decision next year.
  • Next steps

    Next year, the Council will adopt the decision on the conclusion of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, once the European Parliament has given its consent and once all procedures necessary for the entry into force have been completed.

  • On 29 March 2017, the UK formally notified the European Council of its intention to leave the EU.
  • On 17 October 2019, the European Council (Article 50) endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement as agreed by the negotiators of both sides.

ICO statement in response to UK Government’s announcement on the extended period for personal data flows, that will allow time to complete the adequacy process

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 28, 2020
European Economic Area, European Free Trade Association, Intergovernmental organizations, Organizations, Politics of Europe, EFTA Court

This will enable businesses and public bodies across all sectors to continue to freely receive data from the EU (and EEA), including law enforcement agencies.

Key Points: 
  • This will enable businesses and public bodies across all sectors to continue to freely receive data from the EU (and EEA), including law enforcement agencies.
  • As a sensible precaution, before and during this period, the ICO recommends that businesses work with EU and EEA organisations who transfer personal data to them, to put in place alternative transfer mechanisms, to safeguard against any interruption to the free flow of EU to UK personal data.
  • As previously announced, the UK has, on a transitional basis, deemed the EU and EEA EFTA States to be adequate to allow for data flows from the UK.
  • Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham said:

    This is the best possible outcome for UK organisations processing personal data from the EU.

EMCDDA releases study findings on the impact of COVID-19 on drug markets, use and services in the southern ENP region

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
European Neighbourhood Policy, European Union, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, ENP, Politics of Europe

The publication is released in the framework of the EMCDDA EU4Monitoring Drugs project, funded by the EU and launched in 2019.

Key Points: 
  • The publication is released in the framework of the EMCDDA EU4Monitoring Drugs project, funded by the EU and launched in 2019.
  • The project paves the way for the agency to cooperate and exchange data more readily with the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries.
  • A similar reportrelating to the eastern ENP region was released in September.
  • Todays report presents the key results of an EMCDDA trendspotter study, prepared in consultation with some 20 experts from seven southern ENP countries (1).

Press release - EU-UK relations: parliament adopts temporary contingency measures

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, December 19, 2020
Organizations, Articles, Politics of Europe, Confederations, European Union

The targeted contingency measures aim to avoid serious traffic disruptions and considerable delays in case there is no agreement on EU-UK future relations in place by 1 January 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The targeted contingency measures aim to avoid serious traffic disruptions and considerable delays in case there is no agreement on EU-UK future relations in place by 1 January 2021.
  • The contingency measures will cease to apply, if an agreement is reached.
  • Next steps

    All temporary rules have to be adopted by the Council.

  • They will enter into force after publication in the EU Official Journal and become applicable if a similar set of measures is adopted by the UK.