Place:
Europa building, Brussels

Chairs:
Carmen Daniela Dan, Minister of the Interior, and
Tudorel Toader, Minister of Justice of Romania

All times are approximate and subject to change

HOME AFFAIRS – Thursday, 7 March

+/- 09.00
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.00
Doorstep by Minister Dan

+/- 10.00
Meeting of Mixed committee (roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda
Regulation amending the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation
Any other business:
– Current legislative proposals

+/- 10.40
Beginning of the Home Affairs Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of non-legislative A items
Approval of legislative A items (public session)

+/- 11.00
Regulation amending the European Border and Coast Guard (public session)

+/- 11.05
Reform of the Common European Asylum System and Resettlement (public session)

+/- 11.35
Any other business:
– Current legislative proposals (public session)

+/- 11.45
Migration – EU cooperation with third countries

+/- 13.30
Working lunch discussion on achievements and perspectives on home affairs

+/- 15.15
EU response to terrorism

+/- 16.45
Enhancing democratic resilience: securing free and fair elections and countering disinformation
Any other business

+/- 17.30
Press conference (live streaming from Justus Lipsius main press room)

JUSTICE – Friday, 8 March

+/- 09.00
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minister Toader

+/- 10.00
Beginning of the Justice Council meeting (roundtable)
Directive on whistleblowers protection (public session)
E-evidence package: Directive on the appointment of a legal representative for the gathering of evidence in criminal proceedings (public session)

+/- 11.15
Any other business:
– Current legislative proposals (public session)

+/- 11.25
Council Decision on the opening of negotiations for EU-US agreement on cross-border access to e-evidence

+/- 12.10
Council Decision authorising the participation in the negotiations on a second additional protocol to the Budapest Convention

+/- 12.55
EPPO Regulation: implementation
Any other business:
– Countering hate speech online

+/- 13.30
Working lunch discussion on use of Artificial Intelligence in the field of justice

+/- 15.00
Press conference (live streaming from Justus Lipsius main press room)

Es necesario reforzar el proyecto europeo para afrontar en mejores condiciones un mundo en transición: esta fue la principal conclusión de la mesa redonda celebrada el 4 de marzo en la sede de la Representación de la Comisión Europea en Madrid con el título “Políticas europeas para un mundo en transición: retos ante las próximas elecciones europeas”. El acto, organizado por el Comité Económico y Social Europeo (CESE) en colaboración con la Representación de la Comisión Europea en Madrid, contó con la moderación de Eva Contreras, redactora jefa de Economía de Servimedia, y la participación de varios miembros del CESE.

Los principales temas debatidos fueron la descarbonización desde el punto de vista de la agricultura y su contribución a los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible, la digitalización y la necesidad de invertir e innovar más en intangibles, junto con la necesidad de involucrar más y mejor a la sociedad civil en la búsqueda de soluciones.

Estas cuestiones se abordaron en el marco de una Unión Europea más fuerte e integrada, porque «sin mercados que permitan generar economías de escala», como el mercado interior europeo, «es muy difícil competir con gigantes digitales», aseveró Antonio García del Riego, miembro del CESE en representación de la Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales (CEOE). En la misma línea se pronunció Julio Linares, presidente de la Comisión de Sociedad Digital de la CEOE, quien afirmó que «en la transformación digital nos jugamos el futuro» y Europa tiene que ser capaz de priorizar y estar más coordinada.

Entre los sectores estratégicos a tener en cuenta, José Manuel Roche, miembro del CESE en representación de la Unión de Pequeños Agricultores, defendió el agrícola, al igual que Javier Alonso, responsable de cambio climático de la Coordinadora de Organizaciones Agrícolas y Ganaderas (COAG). En concreto, Roche destacó la función que cumple la agricultura como vertebradora del territorio y, por tanto, en favor de la cohesión social. Asimismo, apostó por la profesionalización y advirtió del efecto pernicioso que los postulados populistas pueden tener sobre la política agrícola común, que es estructural y consustancial al proyecto europeo. En esta misma línea, Javier Alonso destacó que la agricultura es parte de la solución al desafío de la descarbonización y el cambio climático, reclamando a continuación la necesidad de que «la Administración acompañe».

Por su parte, María Nikolopoulou, miembro del CESE en representación de Comisiones Obreras, puso en valor los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible y la Agenda 2030 de las Naciones Unidas, calificándolos como «una oportunidad para corregir riesgos sistémicos». Desde esta perspectiva, expresó su confianza en que el resultado de las próximas elecciones europeas ayude a ser «más conscientes» de este desafío, que requiere la implicación de toda la sociedad. José María Zufiaur, miembro del CESE en representación de UGT, enfatizó la importancia de asociar a la sociedad civil al proceso decisorio europeo en todos los ámbitos, como los ya mencionados, concluyendo que todavía es preciso recorrer mucho camino para alcanzar una integración europea real en los planos social, económico y político.

​The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and all National Competent Authorities (NCAs) of the European Economic Area (EEA) with competencies in insurance have agreed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Bank of England in its capacity as the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom (UK).

The MoUs take effect should the UK leave the European Union (EU) without a withdrawal agreement, the so-called “No-deal” Brexit scenario.

The following MoUs were agreed:

• A Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU) on supervisory cooperation, enforcement and information exchange between the EEA NCAs and the UK Authorities
• A Bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EIOPA and the UK Authorities on information exchange and mutual assistance in the field of insurance regulation and supervision

These MoUs ensure cooperation in the fields of insurance prudential and conduct supervision (‘supervisory cooperation’), for mutual assistance and regular exchange of information with the aim:

• To maintain sound prudential and conduct supervision over (re)insurance undertakings and groups based either in the UK or in an EEA member state, with cross-border business activities in the EEA or the UK respectively
• To maintain financial stability of the financial markets within the EEA and/or the UK

The MoUs provide for the reciprocal flow of appropriate and reliable information to ensure risk-based and effective supervision of (a) cross-border (re)insurance establishments incorporated either in the UK or in an EEA member state, (b) cross-border groups, or (c) special purpose vehicles established in the UK or in an EEA member state.

Gabriel Bernardino, Chairman of EIOPA, said: “These MoUs contribute to meet our primary objective of protecting policyholders and beneficiaries in the EEA member states and the UK, in case of “No-deal” Brexit scenario. They will ensure a continuous strong and close cooperation with our UK colleagues in any scenario.” 

Background

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has issued the following Opinions and Statements linked with the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union:

The National Competent Authorities (NCAs) of the Members States of the European Economic Area (EEA), i.e. of all 27 European Union Member States including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway will sign the Multilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MMoUs).

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Your request will be handled by the Press Office of the General Secretariat of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

Your data will be stored in the database until you unsubscribe from the service.

Certain data (name, e-mail address, preferred language, media name, media type) may be disclosed to the press offices of the European institutions, the Permanent Representations of the Member States and to European Union agencies, under the conditions laid down in Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation 45/2001.

If there is data which you would not like to be stored, please let us know at: [email protected]