European Union

All EU citizens and third country nationals entering or leaving the EU will be checked against databases, e.g. of lost and stolen documents, under a draft law informally agreed by MEPs and EU ministers on Monday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

All EU citizens and third country nationals entering or leaving the EU will be checked against databases, e.g. of lost and stolen documents, under a draft law informally agreed by MEPs and EU ministers on Monday.
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The Eurogroup welcomes the progress that has been made in reaching full staff-level agreement between Greece and the institutions in the context of the second review of the ESM programme. In particular, the Eurogroup welcomes the agreement with the European institutions on a budget for 2017, which confirms the agreed primary balance target of 1.75% of GDP and which allows for the national rollout of the Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI), which establishes a genuine social safety net. The Eurogroup notes that staff-level agreement should include measures to reach the agreed fiscal target for 2018 (a primary balance of 3.5% of GDP), as well as reforms to enhance growth and cost competitiveness, including further substantial reforms of the labour market, the opening up of closed professions and the removal of barriers for investment. 

In particular, the Eurogroup recalls that the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP) should be implemented before the end of January 2017 to make the fund fully operational. 

The Eurogroup recalled that the primary surplus target of 3.5% of GDP reached by 2018 should be maintained for the medium-term. We also recalled the importance of a fiscal trajectory that is consistent with the fiscal commitments under the EU framework. In order to ensure compliance with the fiscal targets in a sustainable manner after the completion of the programme, the Greek authorities commit to agree with the institutions on a mechanism and structural measures that would ensure this. 

Today the Eurogroup discussed again the sustainability of Greek public debt with the objective to regain market access. In this context, the Eurogroup endorsed today the full set of short-term measures on the basis of proposals by the ESM and preparatory work by the EWG, which will be implemented by the ESM following this meeting.  Those measures will consist of: 

• The smoothening of the EFSF repayment profile within the current weighted average maturity of up to 32,5 years;
• The waiver of the step-up interest rate margin amounting to 200 bps related to the debt buy-back tranche of the 2nd Greek programme for the year 2017;
• The use of the EFSF/ESM funding strategy as markets allow to reduce interest rate risk without incurring any additional costs for former programme countries. This measure will be implemented through: (i) exchanging the EFSF/ESM back-to back notes supporting the bank recapitalization loans to Greece, (ii) the ESM entering into interest rate swaps to mitigate the risk of higher market rates and  (iii) introducing matched funding for future disbursements to Greece under the current programme.

The short-term debt measures will have a significant positive impact on the sustainability of Greek debt. 

The Eurogroup calls upon the institutions and Greece to swiftly resume negotiations in order to reach staff-level agreement as soon as possible, based on a shared conditionality, as agreed in August 2015, and mandates the EWG to assess this. The Eurogroup stands ready, in line with usual practice, to support the completion of future reviews provided that the policy package, including the contingency fiscal mechanism as agreed in the context of the first review, is implemented as planned. The Eurogroup confirms that the programme implementation, as well as policy conditionality and targets, will be reviewed regularly based on input from the institutions. 

The IMF staff reconfirmed today its intention to recommend to the Fund's Executive Board a new financing arrangement for Greece as soon as possible once staff-level agreement is reached in accordance with established Fund policies. 

The full implementation of all prior actions related to the second review and the completion of national procedures would pave the way for the ESM governing bodies to approve the supplemental Memorandum of Understanding.

On 5 December 2016, the U.S.-EU Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs occurred in Washington, D.C. The meeting reaffirmed the strong and historical bonds between the United States and the European Union, and the commitment to continue working closely together in the areas of Justice and Home Affairs.

The United States of America, hosting the event at the Department of Justice, was represented by U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and by Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson.

The European Union was represented by the Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and by Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Robert Kaliňák, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The United States of America and the European Union underlined the critical importance of their robust relationship and cooperation in the area of Justice and Home Affairs and the need to sustain and deepen cooperation while facing the shared security challenges, for the benefit  of the security of citizens in the United States and in the European Union.

Both sides confirmed the completion of their internal approval procedures for the EU-U.S. Data Protection "Umbrella" Agreement, and welcomed this important step for strengthening data protection in law enforcement cooperation across the Atlantic. On that basis, the U.S Attorney General will now make the  necessary designations under the Judicial Redress Act to allow the swift entry into force of the Agreement.

The United States and the European Union discussed their common efforts to fight terrorism, including through improved information sharing, and addressing the issue of radicalization. The sides also exchanged views and took stock of recent European Union actions in the areas  of migration, border management and its role in ensuring internal security. They also discussed questions related to Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear materials.

The European Union stressed the importance of achieving full visa reciprocity with the United States as soon as possible.

The sides reaffirmed the need to step up joint work on cybersecurity and cybercrime in all its dimensions including with the private sector.

The discussion further covered the implementation of the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and the question of access by law enforcement authorities to electronic evidence. Participants also recognized the challenges posed by the existing legal frameworks in terms of cross-border access to digital evidence and agreed to regularly discuss these issues with a view to proposing common solutions. The participants also discussed recent extradition matters.

Reiterating the progress made and the need to face global challenges together, the United States and the European Union committed to continue their constructive dialogue and meet again in the first half of 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Easier access for all rail operators to domestic rail markets should give rail passengers more choice and better quality services under draft rules backed by Transport and Tourism Committee on Monday.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Easier access for all rail operators to domestic rail markets should give rail passengers more choice and better quality services under draft rules backed by Transport and Tourism Committee on Monday.
Committee on Transport and Tourism

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : EU nationals being radicalised and travelling to fight in Iraq or Syria represent a growing threat. Most of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe were perpetrated by home-grown terrorists, and some of them proved to be returning “foreign fighters”. The civil liberties committee votes today on a new directive on combatting terrorism. The text, drafted in the wake of the November 2015 Paris attacks, proposes the criminalisation of preparatory acts such as travelling for terrorist purposes.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : EU nationals being radicalised and travelling to fight in Iraq or Syria represent a growing threat. Most of the recent terrorist attacks in Europe were perpetrated by home-grown terrorists, and some of them proved to be returning “foreign fighters”. The civil liberties committee votes today on a new directive on combatting terrorism. The text, drafted in the wake of the November 2015 Paris attacks, proposes the criminalisation of preparatory acts such as travelling for terrorist purposes.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The 32nd plenary session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) will take place in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, from December 19 to 21 2016. The session will be opened formally by its Co-Presidents Louis Michel for the European Parliament, and Netty Baldeh (Gambia) for the ACP in presence of Justin Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

The 32nd plenary session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) will take place in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, from December 19 to 21 2016. The session will be opened formally by its Co-Presidents Louis Michel for the European Parliament, and Netty Baldeh (Gambia) for the ACP in presence of Justin Muturi, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 6 December 2016, the Council adopted a directive granting access for tax authorities to information held by authorities responsible for the prevention of money laundering. 

The directive will require member states to provide access to information on the beneficial ownership of companies. It will enable tax authorities to access that information in monitoring the proper application of rules on the automatic exchange of tax information. 

It will thus help prevent tax evasion and tax fraud.

The directive will apply as from 1 January 2018. It is one of a number of measures set out by the Commission in July 2016, in the wake of the April 2016 Panama Papers revelations.

Challenges 

The EU has made significant progress in recent years to enhance tax transparency and strengthen cooperation between the member states' tax authorities. Recent amendments to anti-money-laundering legislation recognise the links between money laundering and tax evasion, as well as the challenges faced in prevention. 

Media leaks such as the Panama Papers, revealing large-scale concealment of offshore funds, have highlighted areas where further measures need to be taken. The transparency framework must be further reinforced at both EU and international levels. 

Automatic exchange of information 

In particular, tax authorities need greater access to information on the beneficial ownership of intermediary entities and other relevant customer due diligence information. 

Provisions on the automatic exchange of tax information are set out by directive 2014/107/EU. 

Where a financial account holder is an intermediary structure, banks are required to look through that entity and report its beneficial ownership. Applying that provision relies on information held by authorities responsible for the prevention of money laundering, pursuant to directive 2015/849/EU. 

Access to that information will ensure that tax authorities are better equipped to fulfil their monitoring obligations under directive 2014/107/EU. 

Adoption and implementation 

The directive was adopted at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, without discussion. The European Parliament has gave its opinion on 22 November 2016.

Member states will have until 31 December 2017 to transpose the directive into national laws and regulations.

On 6 December 2016, the Council agreed its stance on a proposal to extend the lifespan of the European fund for strategic investments (EFSI), the EU's flagship initiative under its 'investment plan for Europe'. 

The agreed compromise involves extending the EFSI in terms of both duration and financial capacity, mobilising at least half a trillion euros of investments by 2020. It also introduces a number of operational improvements to take account of lessons learned from the first year of implementation. 

"Europe is facing many challenges today and the need to boost investment is one of them. We need to play our part”, said Peter Kažimír, Slovak minister for finance and president of the Council. 

"Today's agreement means that we are delivering on one of our top priorities, in line with the Bratislava roadmap agreed in September. It is also a crucialstep in the right direction", he said. "I am confident that a bigger, smarter and more effective EFSI supported by a well-functioning capital markets union is aright path to take." 

Talks will start with the European Parliament once the Parliament has agreed its negotiating stance. 

The Commission considers that the EFSI is achieving its objectives and that maintaining a scheme to support investments is warranted. It notes that three evaluations of the EFSI, including an external, independent evaluation, concur on its success so far and on the need to reinforce the initiative. 

Investment conditions have improved in the EU since the investment plan was launched. Economic confidence is returning and the plan is already delivering results. Established in mid-2015, the EFSI is on track for attaining its €315 billion target in additional investments by mid-2018. 

For SMEs, it is delivering well beyond expectations. Projects approved by November 2016 are expected to mobilise €154 billion in total investments, covering 27 member states, and to support over 376 000 SMEs. 

Main changes 

The Council agreed that efforts should be continued and private investment should be attracted to the maximum extent possible. 

The compromise provides for: 

•  an extension to the lifespan of the EFSI until 2020; 
•  an increase in the investment target to €500 billion; 
•  an increase in the EU budget guarantee to €26 billion (of which €16 billion will be available for guarantee calls until mid-2018);
•  an increase in the European Investment Bank's contribution to €7.5 billion (from €5 billion currently). 

The compromise also includes technical enhancements in the light of lessons learned from the first year of implementation. 

These relate in particular to: 

• enhanced geographic coverage;
• additional sectors to be covered: agriculture, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and other elements of the bioeconomy, as well as sectors eligible for EIB support in less-developed and transition regions; 
• strengthened climate-related actions, with the aim that at least 40% of EFSI financing contribute to climate action; 
• the additional nature of investments: it is made even clearer that EFSI projects should address sub-optimal investment situations and market gaps; 
• provisions on transparency; 
• the 'European investment advisory hub', providing more targeted support to member states with difficulties in developing projects. 

The EFSI operates within the EIB, under an agreement between the EIB and the Commission. Any project supported by the EFSI must be approved by the EIB. 

Encouraging private investments 

The fund is aimed at encouraging private investor participation in a broad range of new investment projects. To do this, it takes on part of the project risk through a first-loss liability. Currently building on €16 billion in guarantees from the EU budget and €5 billion from the EIB, the aim is to achieve a multiplier effect of 1:15. 

Projects currently cover transport, energy and broadband infrastructure, education, health, research and risk finance for SMEs. The EFSI targets socially and economically viable projects without any sector-specific or regional pre-allocation. 

Governance 

The fund has a two-tier governance structure: 

• a steering board, composed of members from Commission and EIB, which sets the overall strategy, investment policy and risk profile of the fund;
• an investment committee, composed of 8 independent experts and a managing director, which selects projects for EFSI support. 

Procedure 

Agreement was reached at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council. 

The regulation requires a qualified majority for adoption by the Council, in agreement with the European Parliament. (Legal basis: articles 172, 173, 175(3) and 182(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.) 

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EU Finance ministers meet in Brussels on 6 December 2016 to try agreeing to an extension of the European fund for strategic investments, and may review work on the proposed European deposit insurance scheme. Bank capital requirements and the proposed financial transaction tax are also on the agenda.

Download this video here.

On Thursday, 8 December, the SEDE committee will welcome Mr Sven Biscop of the Egmont Institute for a discussion on the topic “Implementing the Global Strategy – What impact on transatlantic security and defence relations?” The discussion forms part of the EP’s follow-up to the publication of the Global Strategy Implementation Plan on Security and Defence and the European Defence Action Plan.
Further information
Draft agenda and meeting documents
Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

On 7 December 2016 the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) approved a final compromise on revised rules for the collection, management and use of data in fisheries.

Thanks to this agreement, there will be an improved framework for gathering extensive and reliable information and for making it available at regional and European level. Reliable data is essential for the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and will allow for a better evaluation of essential issues in fisheries management.

The agreement, which was successfully concluded under the Slovak Presidency, is still subject to the approval of the European Parliament's committee on fisheries (PECH).

"Getting reliable data is not a technical detail, but a fundamental issue", said Gabriela Matečná, minister for agriculture and rural development of Slovakia and President of the Council, "Good data is indispensable if politicians are to make sound and well-informed decisions firmly grounded in the best possible scientific advice. We therefore very much welcome this agreement".

The agreed draft regulation aims to align the existing data collection framework with the new CFP and to simplify the current system.

The 2013 reform of the CFP introduced new data needs to assess, among others, the progressive achievement of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the impact on fisheries and aquaculture, and the effects of the landing obligation.

The new rules will ensure that all these relevant data are collected following a cost/benefit approach and without duplication of effort, thus reducing the administrative burden.

Next steps

The Chairman of Coreper will send a letter to the Chairman of the European Parliament's PECH committee. This letter will indicate that, if the Parliament adopts at its plenary session the compromise text as approved by the Coreper, the Council will then adopt the text in first reading without amendment.

This should enable the new legislation to enter into force by mid 2017.

Background

A EU framework for the collection and management of fisheries data was established in 2000, and then reformed in 2008 resulting in the Data Collection Framework (DCF). The DCF established a harmonised set of EU rules governing the collection of biological, environmental, technical, and socio-economic data on the fishing, aquaculture and processing sectors.

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair:        Peter Kažimír, Minister for finance of Slovakia

All times are approximate and subject to change.

from 07.30 
Arrivals (live streaming) 

+/- 08.45    
Doorstep by Minister Kažimír 

+/- 09.00    
Ministerial breakfast (Roundtable) 

+/- 10.00    
Beginning of the Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of legislative A items (public session)
Investment Plan for Europe (public session)
Anti-tax avoidance directive 2 (public session)
Enhanced cooperation in the area of financial transaction tax (public session)
Banking Union: risk reduction measures (public session)
Any other business:
- Anti-money laundering (public session)
- Financial service ligislative proposals (public session)
- VAT digital package (public session)
Approval of non-legislative A items
Implementation of the Banking Union
Deepening the EMU:  Follow- up of the 5 Presidents ' Report
European Semester 2017
Fight against financing terrorism
Customs
Fiscal rules - predictability and transparency
Any other business:
- Capital markets Union                  

At the end of the meeting
Press conference (live streaming)

The Eurogroup discussed draft budgets of euro area member states and budgetary situation for the euro area as a whole. 

General : With committees meeting and the final plenary session of the year to prepare for, MEPs have a busy week in store for them in Brussels. MEPs vote on proposals to help member states better fight terrorism and to make the EU more democratic and transparent. The political groups also prepare for next week’s sitting in Strasbourg where the 2016 Sakharov Prize will be awarded to Yazidi survivors and advocates Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : With committees meeting and the final plenary session of the year to prepare for, MEPs have a busy week in store for them in Brussels. MEPs vote on proposals to help member states better fight terrorism and to make the EU more democratic and transparent. The political groups also prepare for next week’s sitting in Strasbourg where the 2016 Sakharov Prize will be awarded to Yazidi survivors and advocates Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP