Preparations for the 18^th European Week of Regions and Cities have already started! The event will be held from 12 to 15 October 2020.

The Kick-Off meeting of the 18^th European Week of Regions and Cities is scheduled on Thursday 30 January 2020 – 11:00 at the European Commission.

Unfortunately, the registration is closed as we already reached the maximum capacity that we can host. Please note that only those who have registered online will be granted access to the premises.

We apologize for not being able to host all of you in person, but in order to allow all interested potential partners to virtually participate in the event, the Kick-Off meeting will be web-streamed and questions can also be asked on social media using the hashtag #EURegionsWeek.

In the early morning of 30 January, the link where you can follow the web streaming (starting at 11:00) will be communicated through email, our social media channels and the event website.

The recording will also be made available afterwards on the event website.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with the organisers for any further clarification regarding this event.

We look forward to seeing you or interacting with you online and wish you all the best for the New Year!

The Council today renewed the so-called EU terrorist list, which sets out persons, groups and entities subject to restrictive measures with a view to combating terrorism. Persons, groups and entities on the list are subject to the freezing of their funds and other financial assets in the EU. It is also prohibited for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to them.

The Council is empowered to establish a EU list and impose related restrictive measures under Council Common Position 2001/931/CFSP, and Council Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001.

The Council first set up the list as implementation of UNSC Resolution 1373/2001 that followed  the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. It reviews the list at regular intervals, and at least every six months, on the basis of a regular exchange of information between member states on any new facts and developments relating to the listings.

This sanctions regime is separate from the EU regime implementing UN Security Council resolutions 1267 (2011), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015 and targeting Al-Qaida and ISIL/Da’esh. The EU also has its own sanction regime which allows the EU to apply sanctions autonomously to ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaida and persons and entities associated or supporting them. 

On behalf of the European Parliament, President Sassoli expressed his condolences to friends and families of the victims that died in the Ukrainian passenger jet crash in Tehran on Wednesday. He added that he was confident that a transparent inquiry will provide justice for the victims.

Changes to the agenda

Thursday

The title of the debate on “Burundi, notably the case of imprisoned journalists” is changed into “Burundi, notably the freedom of expression”.

Incoming Members

Oriol JUNQUERAS I VIES (Greens/EFA, ES) as of 2 July 2019

Carles PUIGDEMONT I CASAMAJÓ (Non-Attached, ES) as of 2 July 2019

Antoni COMÍN I OLIVERES (Non-Attached, ES) as of 2 July 2019

Outgoing Members

Karoline EDTSTADLER (EPP, AT) as of 6 January 2020

Oriol JUNQUERAS I VIES (Greens/EFA, ES) as of 3 January 2020

Requests by committees to start negotiations with Council and Commission

Decisions by several committees to enter into inter-institutional negotiations (Rule 69c) are published on the plenary website.

If no request for a vote in Parliament on the decision to enter into negotiations is made by Tuesday 12.00 midnight, the committees may start negotiations.

The Hague, 30 September 2019

Ms Christine Lambrecht, the newly appointed German Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, as well as Ms Nicole Belloubet, French Minister of Justice since 2017, visited Eurojust today to reaffirm their full support for Eurojust and its ongoing fight against cross-border organised crime. Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust, Mr Klaus Meyer-Cabri, Vice-President of Eurojust and National Member for Germany at Eurojust and Mr Baudoin Thouvenot, National Member from France at Eurojust since 2 September 2019, discussed with the Ministers how they can optimise trans-European judicial cooperation at bilateral and EU level to bring more criminals and their networks to justice.

Ms Christine Lambrecht said after the meeting: ‘Eurojust is a valued and successful partner of the EU Member States’ judicial authorities and has long been an integral part of the European area of freedom, security and justice. Today, crime is often cross-border and, therefore, prosecutors and courts must increasingly act at cross-border level if criminal proceedings are to succeed. Eurojust supports judicial authorities effectively and with great commitment. I am pleased that the German Desk at Eurojust has a significant contribution to this and that it assumes organisational responsibility for Eurojust through its German Vice-President. I wish Eurojust continued success in its important work. However, to achieve this, Eurojust needs adequate funding and resources.’

Ms Nicole Belloubet stated: ‘During the very fruitful meeting I have had with Eurojust President Mr Ladislav Hamran, we were able to discuss the French initiative to create a Judicial Counter-Terrorism Register, which has been given support by the seven EU Member States that belong to the Vendôme Group. I have no doubt that this register, which has just started, will be a very efficient tool for judicial authorities in combating terrorism. On this occasion, I have expressed again to the President my support for Eurojust, which is an indispensable tool for judicial cooperation between Member States in criminal matters.’

Mr Ladislav Hamran said: ‘We warmly welcome the French and German Ministers of Justice at Eurojust. Their presence here demonstrates the strong commitment of their countries to our common goal and the political will to intensify and expand our collaboration. Only together can we improve security for our fellow European citizens and guarantee that European values, such as respect for human life and dignity, are widely upheld.’

The discussions centred on the key role of Germany and France in successfully combatting serious crime in Europe, inter alia drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, trafficking in human beings, terrorism, cybercrime and various types of fraud. The officials explored avenues for expanding multinational cooperation and making best use of Eurojust’s legal expertise and judicial tools, e.g. joint investigation teams, coordination meetings and coordination centres, to advance national investigations and prosecutions of international crime.

This was the first official mission of the German Minister abroad, since her appointment, in the context of her participation in the Vendome Group meeting, currently hosted by Mr Ferdinand Grapperhaus, Dutch Minister of Justice and Security. As Ms Lambrecht bears ultimate responsibility for the German Desk at Eurojust, which is subject to the jurisdiction of the German Ministry of Justice, she stressed the importance of continuing and strengthening the successful cooperation with Eurojust.

Ms Belloubet also reiterated the need to enhance bilateral and multilateral efforts within Eurojust to target trans-border crime more efficiently. The French Minister also pinpointed the significance of the recently created Judicial Counter-Terrorism Register at Eurojust to reinforce judicial coordination against terrorist threats, by providing 24/7 support to national judicial authorities.

Photo © Eurojust. From left to right: Mr Meyer-Cabri, Ms Lambrecht, Mr Hamran, Ms Belloubet, Mr Thouvenot

13 January 2020

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