European Union

AMENDMENTS 1 - 318 - Draft report Report on the 2016 Commission Report on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

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Algeria and the EU are bound by the legally binding treaty in the form of an Association agreement.

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Plenary sessions : Low-risk biological pesticides, including those made from bio-organisms, pheromones or essential oils, could replace conventional ones that are suspected of harming the environment and human health. MEPs wonder why some member states hesitate or refuse to approve them and want the EU Commission to propose a revision of the rules to accelerate the approval process.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Low-risk biological pesticides, including those made from bio-organisms, pheromones or essential oils, could replace conventional ones that are suspected of harming the environment and human health. MEPs wonder why some member states hesitate or refuse to approve them and want the EU Commission to propose a revision of the rules to accelerate the approval process.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Member states ambassadors endorsed today the provisional agreement reached on 9 February 2016 between Council and European Parliament representatives on a decision establishing a European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018) which will celebrate the diversity and richness of our European culture.

This initiative also aims to raise awareness of European history and values and to strengthen a sense of European identity. At the same time, it draws attention to the opportunities offered by our cultural heritage, but also to the challenges it faces, such as the impact of the digital shift, environmental and physical pressure on heritage sites, and the illicit trafficking of cultural objects.

The main objectives of this European Year are:

• to promote cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and social cohesion;
• to highlight the economic contribution of cultural heritage to the cultural and creative sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises, and to local and regional development
• to emphasise the role of cultural heritage in EU external relations, including conflict prevention, post-conflict reconciliation and rebuilding destroyed cultural heritage

The European Year will have a dedicated financial envelope of 8 million EUR with a joint statement of the Parliament and the Council specifying the sources of financing.

"As Europeans we have a particularly rich cultural heritage born of our long shared history. I welcome the opportunity to celebrate that heritage and to take pride in all that makes up our common European identity".

Dr. Owen Bonnici, the Maltese Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government

General : From drones to medical equipment, robots are increasingly becoming a part of our everyday life. But although some 1.7 million robots already exist worldwide, their use is still not properly regulated. MEPs debate today a report calling for rules to regulate their use, including creating a separate legal status for robots. They will vote on the report tomorrow.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

General : From drones to medical equipment, robots are increasingly becoming a part of our everyday life. But although some 1.7 million robots already exist worldwide, their use is still not properly regulated. MEPs debate today a report calling for rules to regulate their use, including creating a separate legal status for robots. They will vote on the report tomorrow.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Plans to boost greenhouse-gas emission curbs through the EU carbon market (EU ETS), so as to bring EU climate policy into line with the aims of the Paris agreement, were backed by Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs supported the Commission proposal to reduce the number of “carbon credits” (emission allowances) by 2.2% each year, and want to double the capacity of the 2019 market stability reserve (MSR) to absorb the excess of allowances on the market.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Plans to boost greenhouse-gas emission curbs through the EU carbon market (EU ETS), so as to bring EU climate policy into line with the aims of the Paris agreement, were backed by Parliament on Wednesday. MEPs supported the Commission proposal to reduce the number of “carbon credits” (emission allowances) by 2.2% each year, and want to double the capacity of the 2019 market stability reserve (MSR) to absorb the excess of allowances on the market.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Albania should step up the pace of judicial reform, as a key to starting EU accession negotiations, while Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) needs to overcome its ethnic and political divisions and remain united throughout the EU membership application evaluation process, said MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : Albania should step up the pace of judicial reform, as a key to starting EU accession negotiations, while Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) needs to overcome its ethnic and political divisions and remain united throughout the EU membership application evaluation process, said MEPs on Wednesday.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which aims to boost goods and services trade and investment flows, was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday. The landmark trade deal could apply provisionally from as early as April 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

Plenary sessions : The EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which aims to boost goods and services trade and investment flows, was approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday. The landmark trade deal could apply provisionally from as early as April 2017.

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

RECOMMENDATION on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union and its Member States, of a Protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Ramona Nicole Mănescu

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 55 - Draft opinion Towards a new trade framework between the EU and Turkey and the modernisation of the Customs Union
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

European Council meeting will take place on 9 and 10 March 2017 in the Europa building in Brussels. 

Now open for last-minute accreditation requests (online only)
Procedure

Please note that due to the current security situation in Belgium, specific security measures have been put in place for last minute accreditation requests. Media representatives applying for the first time or who have not been screened recently will be the subject of a comprehensive and detailed verification by our security service. Considering the time and resources needed for these verifications, not all requests may be processed. Media are therefore advised to avoid sending representatives falling into these categories.

If this is your first registration, please make sure you have a recent ID-size photograph in JPEG format (.jpg) and the number of your passport or identity card ready before starting the online process.

You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email. Please read it carefully as it includes the list of original documents you will be asked to provide when collecting your badge. Depending on your profile, the requested document will include: Passport or ID card, press card and/or a letter from your editor-in chief as well as the signed original of your authorisation for security screening (only for media representatives of Belgian nationality or resident in Belgium). The press centre may contact you to request additional information if necessary. No accreditation badge will be issued if you cannot provide all required documents. 

Trainees with media organisations who do not possess a press card are not entitled to request accreditation. 

Journalists holding a 6-month badge (01.01.2017 - 30.06.2017) do not need to register

6-month badges can be collected at the accreditation centre of the LEX building during summits. Please ensure that you have all the required documents when collecting your badge.

Collection of badges

Accreditation badges must be collected in person from the LEX building (145 rue de la Loi, Brussels)  

• Wednesday 8 March, from 9.30 to 13.00 and  from 14.00 to 18.00
• Thursday 9 March, from 08.30 to 20.00
• Friday 10 March, from 08.00 to the end of the final press conference (max. 22.00)
  
  

Practical information on the press centre and the media programme will follow.

For more details on the European Council meeting, see the meeting page.

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EU opened accession negotiations with Iceland on 27 July 2010

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The establishment of official relations between the Republic of San Marino and the European Community dates back to February 1983. The European Community and San Marino signed an  Agreement on monetary relations in 2000. It entitles San Marino, inter alia to use the Euro as its official currency.

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Association between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Lebanon, of the other part, to take account of the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the EU
Strategic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Canada, of the other part
Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Albania
Report on the 2016 Commission Report on Bosnia and Herzegovina
Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU - European Commission
Discharge 2015: General budget of the EU - European External Action Service
Addressing Refugee and Migrant Movements: the Role of EU External Action
An integrated European Union policy for the Arctic
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

EU ambassadors today endorsed new rules to allow consumers who paid for online content services in their home country to access them when visiting another country within the EU.

Access to subscriptions from abroad at no extra charge

The new regulation will improve competitiveness by encouraging innovation in online services and attracting more consumers. It is one of the objectives of the digital single market strategy to create a truly internal market for digital content and services. 

It will apply to all online content services which are provided against payment of money. Free to air services, such as those provided by certain public broadcasters, will have the option of benefiting from the regulation provided that they verify the country of residence of their subscribers. 

Current obstacles to cross-border portability of online services arise from the fact that the rights for the transmission of content protected by copyright such as audio-visual works as well as rights for premium sporting events are often licensed on a territorial basis. Online service providers may choose to serve specific markets only.

The provision of cross-border portability will not be subject to any additional charges. 

Verification of member state of residence

The new measures will ensure equal access from abroad to content legally acquired or subscribed to in the member state of residence when on holidays, business trips or limited student stays. 

To avoid abuses, service providers will verify the subscribers' member state of residence. The verifications will be carried out in compliance with EU data protection rules. 

The provider will be authorised to cease the access to the online service when the subscriber cannot prove his/her member state of residence. 

The means of verification will be reasonable, proportionate and effective. It will consist of using no more than two criteria from a list of verification means. These may include an identity card, a bank account or credit card; the address of installation of the device for the supply of services; the payment by the subscriber of a licence fee for other services; an official billing or postal address; etc. 

But copyright holders will have the possibility of authorising the use of their content without the obligation to verify the subscriber's residence. 

Entry into force

Today's decision confirms the provisional agreement reached on 7 February 2017 between the Maltese Presidency and European Parliament representatives. 

After formal approval of the regulation by the Council and the Parliament, the new rules will start to apply in the first semester of 2018 (nine months after its publication in the EU's Official Journal). 

Background

The increased use of portable devices such as tablets and smartphones facilitates access to the use of online content services regardless of the consumers' location. 

There is rapidly growing demand on the part of consumers for access to content and innovative online services not only in their own country but also when they are away from home. As a result,  barriers that hamper access and use of online content services within the single market need to be eliminated.