http://localhostWed, 15 May 2013 15:37:09 GMTumbracoEuropean Council - Articles - ENenhttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-ministers-adopt-new-rules-on-economic-governance-and-on-credit-rating-agencies?lang=enWed, 15 May 2013 12:24:16 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-ministers-adopt-new-rules-on-economic-governance-and-on-credit-rating-agencies?lang=en Economic governance The regulations relating to economic governance in the euro area introduce enhanced monitoring of countries' budgetary policies and strengthened... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-eases-syria-sanctions?lang=enWed, 24 Apr 2013 12:31:52 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-eases-syria-sanctions?lang=en Syria The Council's decision allows transactions in oil and petroleum products and related financing, as long as they are made in consultation with the opposition and do not... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eus-seven-year-budgetary-framework-council-ready-for-a-deal?lang=enTue, 23 Apr 2013 10:11:04 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eus-seven-year-budgetary-framework-council-ready-for-a-deal?lang=en At its meeting on 22 April 2013, the Council supported the Irish presidency's efforts to broker a deal with the European Parliament on the next MFF by the end of June. "We do... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/next-steps-in-reforming-common-agricultural-and-fisheries-policies?lang=enTue, 23 Apr 2013 17:57:49 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/next-steps-in-reforming-common-agricultural-and-fisheries-policies?lang=en Common agricultural policy (CAP) reform Following agreement by the Council on its general approach and the European Parliament's vote on its position at first reading in... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-good-progress-in-several-key-areas?lang=enMon, 15 Apr 2013 11:46:08 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-good-progress-in-several-key-areas?lang=en Cyprus: formal approval in sight Further to the agreement reached with the Cyprus authorities at staff level, the Troika (European Commission, ECB, IMF) presented the... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/political-agreement-on-new-bank-capital-requirements-confirmed-(1)?lang=enWed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:24 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/political-agreement-on-new-bank-capital-requirements-confirmed-(1)?lang=en The purpose of the new rules The CRD 4 package will enshrine in EU law a comprehensive set of international standards known as the Basel III agreement. These new European... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-reaches-an-agreement-with-cyprus?lang=enMon, 25 Mar 2013 17:21:54 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-reaches-an-agreement-with-cyprus?lang=en The conditions agreed last night focus on addressing imbalances in Cyprus' large financial sector. The aim is to reduce the size of the sector to the EU average by... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/minimising-the-negative-impact-of-biofuels?lang=enFri, 22 Mar 2013 17:25:09 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/minimising-the-negative-impact-of-biofuels?lang=en The use of biofuels has been growing in the EU in response to the targets set out in the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality Directives. Most of today's biofuels are produced... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-council-agrees-on-reform-of-the-common-agriculture-policy?lang=enWed, 20 Mar 2013 12:57:08 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-council-agrees-on-reform-of-the-common-agriculture-policy?lang=en "This is a really significant step forward for the process of agreeing on a final cap reform so that we can give certainty to our farmers, to our agro-food industry, to NGOs... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-discusses-clean-transport?lang=enMon, 11 Mar 2013 17:01:36 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-discusses-clean-transport?lang=en Leo Varadkar, Ireland's Transport Minister who chaired the meeting, described the Commission's proposal as "visionary. We all want to reduce our dependence on oil and imported... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/european-semester-council-concludes-eus-economic-policy-priorities-for-2013?lang=enTue, 12 Mar 2013 12:43:00 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/european-semester-council-concludes-eus-economic-policy-priorities-for-2013?lang=en The main priorities for 2013 The ministers confirmed the EU's five economic policy priorities:differentiated, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation,restoring normal lending to... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/foreign-affairs-council-meeting-ahead-of-the-european-council?lang=enTue, 12 Mar 2013 14:41:22 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/foreign-affairs-council-meeting-ahead-of-the-european-council?lang=en Following a review, the Council prolonged and reinforced EU restrictive measures in response to serious human rights violations in Iran. The Council held a comprehensive... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/green-light-for-the-second-generation-schengen-information-system-(sis-ii)?lang=enFri, 08 Mar 2013 15:20:16 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/green-light-for-the-second-generation-schengen-information-system-(sis-ii)?lang=en The SIS II will store information on persons and objects. The information will be organised as alerts, an alert being a set of data enabling authorities to identify people or... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-official-journal-goes-fully-digital?lang=enFri, 08 Mar 2013 15:18:57 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-official-journal-goes-fully-digital?lang=en You can already now consult the EU Official Journal on the EUR-Lex website free of charge. The texts are available in all the official languages of the EU, for an unlimited... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/bank-capital-requirements-council-reaches-broad-political-agreement?lang=enTue, 05 Mar 2013 17:14:17 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/bank-capital-requirements-council-reaches-broad-political-agreement?lang=en The CRD 4 package will turn into EU law a comprehensive set of international standards known as the Basel III agreement. These new European rules are also aimed at increasing... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-taking-stock?lang=enTue, 05 Mar 2013 15:59:51 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-taking-stock?lang=en Ministers took note of the Commission's Winter forecast (pdf) that, as Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem stated at the press conference, "shows that decisive policy... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-agrees-on-youth-guarantee?lang=enThu, 28 Feb 2013 14:03:07 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-agrees-on-youth-guarantee?lang=en All young people under the age of 25 who lose their job or do not find work after leaving school should receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/reforming-the-common-fisheries-policy-(cfp)?lang=enThu, 28 Feb 2013 14:35:16 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/reforming-the-common-fisheries-policy-(cfp)?lang=en "I'm glad to say that we got an even better result than I was hoping for," Mr Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, presiding over the... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/agreement-on-unified-patent-court-signed?lang=enTue, 19 Feb 2013 16:28:07 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/agreement-on-unified-patent-court-signed?lang=en So far, the same patent case often had to be heard in multiple courts in different member states. The findings of the new court, however, will be applicable and thus achieve... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-training-mission-in-mali-launched?lang=enMon, 18 Feb 2013 15:46:48 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-training-mission-in-mali-launched?lang=en EUTM Mali will provide advice and military training to the Malian Armed Forces, covering matters such as command and control, logistics and human resources as well as... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/erasmus-for-all-and-education-for-growth-and-jobs?lang=enFri, 15 Feb 2013 15:39:40 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/erasmus-for-all-and-education-for-growth-and-jobs?lang=en Erasmus for All is a proposal for an integrated programme in the areas of education, training, youth and sport for 2014-2020. It brings together in a single programme... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/mislabelled-meat-products-towards-a-european-coordinated-response?lang=enFri, 15 Feb 2013 16:12:29 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/mislabelled-meat-products-towards-a-european-coordinated-response?lang=en During the meeting, ministers took stock of the situation, including in terms of identifying the point in the supply chain where the problem occurred. The identification of all... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/ecofin-sets-orientations-for-a-sustainable-economy?lang=enTue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:19 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/ecofin-sets-orientations-for-a-sustainable-economy?lang=en Guidelines for the 2014 budget The Council adopted conclusions establishing its priorities for the EU's general budget for 2014. The conclusions emphasise the need to maintain... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-discusses-the-economic-situation-in-the-euro-area?lang=enTue, 12 Feb 2013 14:22:44 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-discusses-the-economic-situation-in-the-euro-area?lang=en At the press conference following the first meeting he chaired, newly elected Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem stated that ministers had discussed the economic... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/mff-agreed-by-eu-leaders?lang=enFri, 08 Feb 2013 19:21:10 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/mff-agreed-by-eu-leaders?lang=en In line with fiscal consolidation efforts in the member states, EU leaders agreed to cut the financial resources available to the EU from the level of the current MFF... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/multiannual-financial-framework-bridging-the-gap?lang=enMon, 04 Feb 2013 14:57:31 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/multiannual-financial-framework-bridging-the-gap?lang=en This means that the compromise proposal from 22 November tabled by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, constitutes the starting point for the discussions... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-prepares-february-summit?lang=enMon, 04 Feb 2013 16:33:21 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-prepares-february-summit?lang=en The Council examined draft conclusions for the European Council meeting to be held on 7-8 February, discussing elements relating to trade and external relations. The main aim... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/foreign-affairs-council-meets-in-brussels?lang=enFri, 01 Feb 2013 14:02:21 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/foreign-affairs-council-meets-in-brussels?lang=en During the first part of the meeting, ministers debated the Arab Spring, the latest developments in Syria and in Egypt. On Mali, they adopted conclusions after having been... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-fruit-school-scheme-a-success?lang=enMon, 28 Jan 2013 16:12:40 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-fruit-school-scheme-a-success?lang=en This EU-wide scheme supplies fresh fruit and vegetables and also processed products to school children. The distribution is accompanied by campaigns to explain the related... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-launches-enhanced-cooperation-on-the-financial-transaction-tax?lang=enTue, 22 Jan 2013 15:27:08 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-launches-enhanced-cooperation-on-the-financial-transaction-tax?lang=en "Today was about process, it was about moving the financial transaction tax forward through enhanced cooperation, but it was not about the content or the substance of any... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/mr-dijsselbloem-appointed-new-eurogroup-president?lang=enTue, 22 Jan 2013 13:13:07 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/mr-dijsselbloem-appointed-new-eurogroup-president?lang=en Mr Dijsselbloem was appointed Minister of Finance in the current Dutch government on 5 November 2012. Before taking up this post, he had been a member of the House of... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-accelerates-the-deployment-of-its-training-mission-in-mali?lang=enThu, 17 Jan 2013 17:42:44 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-accelerates-the-deployment-of-its-training-mission-in-mali?lang=en The Council was united in condemning the aggression of terrorist groups and welcomed the quick response of France, supported by other EU member states. "I am very concerned... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/full-work-programme-of-the-irish-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu-just-released?lang=enThu, 10 Jan 2013 12:21:24 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/full-work-programme-of-the-irish-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-eu-just-released?lang=en To mark the occasion, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy visited Dublin, where he discussed the work programme and the Irish Presidency's main priorities with... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/irish-presidency-priorities?lang=enThu, 20 Dec 2012 11:49:45 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/irish-presidency-priorities?lang=en 2013 will usher in "a new phase in the European Union’s drive for recovery. The Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU is about securing stability and ensuring that it leads... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/fiscal-compact-enters-into-force-on-1-january-2013?lang=enThu, 20 Dec 2012 18:54:42 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/fiscal-compact-enters-into-force-on-1-january-2013?lang=en For the treaty to enter into force, it had to be ratified by 12 euro area member states. This condition was met when Finland, the twelfth euro area member state to ratify the... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/εις-το-επανιδείν-the-cyprus-presidency-says-goodbye?lang=enTue, 08 Jan 2013 11:13:17 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/εις-το-επανιδείν-the-cyprus-presidency-says-goodbye?lang=en One of the greatest successes is the historic agreement on the Unitary Patent Package with the European Parliament, which has been more than 30 years in the making. The... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-updates-rules-on-inspection-of-vehicles?lang=enThu, 20 Dec 2012 14:00:25 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/the-eu-updates-rules-on-inspection-of-vehicles?lang=en Compared to the current rules, the draft directive introduces new requirements designed to ensure high testing standards. These requirements concern in particular test... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/agreement-on-fishing-quotas-for-2013?lang=enThu, 20 Dec 2012 10:58:10 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/agreement-on-fishing-quotas-for-2013?lang=en "All the proposals that were examined and concluded upon carry forward the idea of sustainable fisheries in the European Union; fisheries that should not endanger fish stocks... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/safer-management-of-europes-water-resources?lang=enMon, 17 Dec 2012 16:37:00 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/safer-management-of-europes-water-resources?lang=en The conclusions are the Council's first response to the recent Commission communication "A blueprint to safeguard Europe's water resources". They underline the need for better... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-unitary-patent-a-big-boost-for-innovation?lang=enMon, 17 Dec 2012 11:16:03 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-unitary-patent-a-big-boost-for-innovation?lang=en The establishment of a unitary patent system, which has been under discussion for more than 30 years, will significantly lower the costs associated with obtaining a patent in... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-confirms-second-instalment-for-greece?lang=enThu, 13 Dec 2012 14:15:52 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-confirms-second-instalment-for-greece?lang=en "This has been a difficult process, but now, with the strong resolve of the Greek government and the close watch of the Troika, we are convinced that the programme is back on a... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-agrees-on-single-supervisory-mechanism?lang=enThu, 13 Dec 2012 14:48:16 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/council-agrees-on-single-supervisory-mechanism?lang=en The agreement in the Council will enable its rotating presidency (currently – Cyprus) to negotiate the package with the European Parliament, the aim being to adopt the... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-to-launch-military-training-mission-in-mali?lang=enTue, 11 Dec 2012 12:34:00 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eu-to-launch-military-training-mission-in-mali?lang=en EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said: "We are determined to fully mobilise all the tools we have, in cooperation with our regional and international partners, to help... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/european-union-received-the-nobel-peace-prize?lang=enTue, 11 Dec 2012 09:35:01 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/european-union-received-the-nobel-peace-prize?lang=en Delivering the first part of the Nobel Lecture, European Council President Van Rompuy stated that "it is with humility and gratitude that we stand here together, to receive... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/2012-nobel-peace-prize-award-ceremony-oslo-calling?lang=enFri, 07 Dec 2012 15:57:14 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/2012-nobel-peace-prize-award-ceremony-oslo-calling?lang=en The presidents of three of the EU's major institutions will all make the trip to Oslo to collect the prize on behalf of the EU. They will be accompanied by representatives from... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/combating-gender-based-violence?lang=enFri, 07 Dec 2012 13:26:12 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/combating-gender-based-violence?lang=en The Council stressed that violence against women is to be condemned as violating human rights and cannot be justified by tradition or religion. The conclusions also point out... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/easier-and-faster-circulation-of-judgments?lang=enFri, 07 Dec 2012 09:52:33 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/easier-and-faster-circulation-of-judgments?lang=en On 6 December 2012, the Council adopted the revision of a regulation on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, the... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/stricter-eu-rules-on-credit-rating-agencies-agreed?lang=enWed, 05 Dec 2012 11:28:40 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/stricter-eu-rules-on-credit-rating-agencies-agreed?lang=en The aim of the agreed amendments to the legislative package – which consists of a directive and a regulation – is to reduce investors' over-reliance on credit rating agencies,... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-takes-stock-of-ongoing-programmes,-discusses-financial-assistance-to-cyprus?lang=enTue, 04 Dec 2012 13:56:49 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/eurogroup-takes-stock-of-ongoing-programmes,-discusses-financial-assistance-to-cyprus?lang=en Greece: presentation of the debt buyback plan The Greek minister of finance, Yiannis Stournaras, debriefed the Eurogroup on the preparations for the debt buyback operation.... http://localhost/homepage/highlights/renewable-energy-sources-contribute-to-the-eu-growth-and-job-objectives?lang=enTue, 04 Dec 2012 09:29:54 GMThttp://localhost/homepage/highlights/renewable-energy-sources-contribute-to-the-eu-growth-and-job-objectives?lang=en A longer-term perspective would have a positive influence on investment, given the long planning process and investment horizon for renewable energy sources, while ensuring...