European Council

Today the President of the European Council Donald Tusk met Prime Minister of Romania Sorin Grindeanu in Brussels. 

This first bilateral meeting since Prime Minister Grindeanu took office in January allowed for discussions on the main files on the European Union agenda as well as recent developments in Romania and the government's priorities. 

President Tusk welcomed the government's continued commitment to the European project and a stronger and united European Union, as Romania is preparing for the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first semester of 2019. 

President Tusk and Prime Minister Grindeanu discussed the central importance of the rule of law and the fight against corruption in ensuring that its citizens are able to benefit fully from all the opportunities offered by membership of the Union. 

President Tusk underlined the need to advance in the fight against corruption, safeguard the significant progress achieved and ensure its irreversibility, in line with the high expectations of Romanian society and the EU's values.

from 07.45
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minister Scicluna

+/- 09.30
Ministerial breakfast (Roundtable)

+/- 10.30
Beginning of the Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda

Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (public session)

Any other business:
Current financial services legislative proposals (public session)

Approval of non-legislative A items

EU List of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

Preparation of G20 Meeting on 17-18 March 2017

Discharge on the implementation of budget for 2015

Budget guidelines for 2018

Any other business

At the end of the meeting
Press conference (live streaming)
Main press room, Justus Lipsius building

Monday 20 February 2017
10:15 Meeting with United States Vice-President Mike Pence (media advisory)

Tuesday 21 February 2017
13.00 Meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker

Wednesday 22 February 2017
11.00 Presentation of letters of credentials of ambassadors

Place:        Europa building, Brussels
Chair:        Christian Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business of Malta                                        

All times are approximate and subject to change

 +/- 08.30    
Arrivals (Justus Lipsius building)                  

+/- 09.15 
Doorstep by Minister Cardona (Justus Lipsius building) 

+/- 10.00
Beginning of the meeting (Roundtable/Photo opportunity)
Adoption of agenda
Adoption of non-legislative A items
Adoption of legislative A items (public session)

+/- 10.15 
Consumer protection cooperation (public session)
+/- 11.15
Competitiveness check-up: intangible investments in EU companies
+/- 12.00
Public procurement in the context of the 2017 European Semester process 

+/- 13.00
Informal working lunch: European Industrial Competitiveness 

+/- 15.00
The start-up and scale-up initiative
+/- 16.00    
Approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles (public session)
+/- 16.30    
Any other business:
- Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court
- European Defence Action Plan
+/- 17.35
- Services Package (public session)
+/- 18.00
 - Portability of digital services (public session)
 - Competitiveness of the transport sector

+/- 18.20
Press conference (live streaming) in the Justus Lipsius building

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".

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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). 

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.

Place:        Europa building, Brussels
Chair(s):    Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment of Malta

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minister Bartolo

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable)

Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of A Items (legislative and non-legislative)

Adoption of conclusions:
-  Investing in Europe's youth with particular regard to the European Solidarity Corps
-  Inclusion in diversity to achieve a high quality education for all

+/- 10.45
The contribution of education and training to social cohesion and the fostering of common European values in the context of the European Semester 2017 (public session)

Other business
-  Conference of Ministers of Education entitled "Securing democracy through education" (Nicosia, 22 - 23 March 2017)

+/- 13.00
Working lunch on Improving and modernising education

+/- 12.45
Press conference (live streaming)

On 14 February 2017, representatives of the Council and the European Parliament reached agreement on a programme to promote the involvement of consumers in policymaking in financial services. 

Grants will be provided to two NGOs - Finance Watch and Better Finance - to support activities that encourage the involvement of consumers and other end-users in policymaking. The programme will also contribute to the information of consumers about issues at stake in regulation of the financial sector. 

"As much as regulators, consumers are well placed to judge the suitability of a financial product or service and can contribute actively to policymaking", said Edward Scicluna, Maltese minister for finance and president of the Council. "This EU-wide support programme is meant to strengthen this consumer participation." 

The new programme follows on from a 2011 pilot project that set out to restore consumer confidence in the financial sector following the 2007-08 financial crisis. 

It will be established for the period running from its entry into force until 31 December 2020 with a financial envelope of €6 million. 

Financial services consumers cover a range of users including individual savers, retail investors, insurance holders, pension fund participants and borrowers. 

The agreement will be submitted to EU ambassadors in the coming days for approval on behalf of the Council. The Parliament and the Council will then be called on to adopt the proposed regulation without further discussion.

Europa building - Brussels

+/- 10.15 Arrival of Vice President of the United States Mike Pence
Welcome by the President of the European Council Donald Tusk
(Europa VIP entrance, level 0 - photo/TV opportunity pool*)

+/- 11.00 Press statements
(Europa press room, level 1 - access on first come, first served basis)

Journalists holding a 6-month badge (01.01.2017 - 30.06.2017) do not need to register.
Journalists without the above badge must apply on https://eventaccreditationjour.consilium.europa.eu until Friday 17 February 2017, 12.00.
Accreditation badges must be collected from the LEX building (145 rue de la Loi, Brussels) on Monday, 20 February from 7.00 to the end of the event. Original documents need to be produced when collecting the badge.

* Due to limited space, access to the Europa VIP entrance (level 0) for the photo opportunity will be pooled. Interested photographers and cameramen must express their interest by sending a written request by mail - deadline Thursday 16 February 2017, 17.00 - to press.centre@consilium.europa.eu. The Council press office will build the pool to ensure appropriate geographical balance.

Photos and video coverage of the event will be available for preview and download on http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

Livestream on http://video.consilium.europa.eu

Good afternoon. It was a real pleasure for me to meet President Van der Bellen for the first time since his election last December, and of course to welcome Chancellor Kern again here in Brussels.

One of the issues we discussed is our cooperation when Austria takes over the EU's rotating Presidency in the second half of the next year. Holding the presidency is a privilege and opportunity, but also a demanding task. I remember this from my own experience as Polish Prime Minister. I assured the President and the Chancellor of my full support and cooperation.

During our very constructive meeting, we also talked about the migration challenge. I know that this is an issue that continues to be on the minds of many Austrian citizens. At the height of the migration crisis, Austria was very much at the centre of the storm. Since then we have in fact, through collective decisions, determination and actions, stemmed the flow via the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route. Our main goal is and will remain the effective control of the EU's external border. The last four months have seen only 2%, let me repeat 2%, of the number of irregular migrants that came to Europe from Turkey at the peak of the crisis in the same period in 2015. So, we have come a long way since then.

At our informal meeting of the European Council in Malta ten days ago, we focused on how to reduce illegal migration from Libya to Italy, the so-called Central Mediterranean route. EU leaders agreed on immediate operational measures, to be implemented in cooperation with Libya and its neighbours, that should help reduce the number of irregular migrants and save lives at sea. The EU will also support Member States' bilateral activities in this regard. But, and this is something that Chancellor Kern and I very much agree on, we also have to remain vigilant about the Eastern Mediterranean route. It needs to stay closed for good, and close cooperation with our partners in the Balkans and in Turkey remains key to ensure this. It is clear that we will have to take additional steps in some areas. Ensuring effective returns is one of them.

Another important topic of discussion was the future of the EU. As we approach the sixtieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March, the challenges that the EU is facing are bigger than at any time since the signature of the Treaty of Rome. The geopolitical situation is difficult, to say the least, and populist forces are coming to the fore in many European countries. In some circles, it has become fashionable to be anti-EU. This is why I again expressed my great admiration and respect for President Van der Bellen, whose victory became a sign of hope for millions of Europeans.

When European leaders meet in Rome in March, we will on the one hand take stock of the EU's achievements and on the other hand, look into the future and discuss how the EU can better deliver for its citizens. Personally, I am deeply convinced that it is worth fighting for what we Europeans have already accomplished over the last sixty years.

Thank you.

On 19 December 2016, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2315[1]. The Council Decision extends existing measures until 31 July 2017. 

The Candidate Countries Montenegro* and Albania*, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, align themselves with this Council Decision. 

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision. 

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it. 

 [1] Published on 20.12.2016 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 345, p. 65. 

* Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process. 

On 27 January 2017, the Council adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/153[1]. The Council Decision extends the existing restrictive measures until 31 January 2018. The measures in question are an assets freeze and a prohibition on making funds available regarding 48 individuals considered as responsible for the misappropriation of Tunisian State funds before 2011. 

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Serbia* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this  Council Decision. 

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision. 

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it. 

 [1] Published on 28.01.2017 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L23, p. 19.

 *The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Today the Greek minister of Finance, the institutions (European Commission, ECB, ESM and IMF) and I had a constructive meeting on the state of play of the second review

There is a clear understanding that a timely finalisation of the second review is in everybody's interest

We made substantial progress today and are close to common ground for the mission to return to Athens the coming week

We will take stock of the further progress of the second review during the next Eurogroup.

On behalf of the European Council and personally, I would like to congratulate you on your election as President of the Federal Republic of Germany. I wish you every success in your new role.

Your appointment comes at a critical moment for Europe. The many external and internal challenges we are facing could hardly be more severe. In times like these, European unity is more important than ever, and I look forward to Germany's continued contribution to the European project. 

Monday 13 February 2017
14.00 Meeting with President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen and Federal Chancellor Christian Kern (press statements ± 14.30)

Wednesday 15 February 2017
11.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Lithuania Saulius Skvernelis

Thursday 16 February 2017
10.00 Meeting with President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev

Monday 20 February 2017
10:15 Meeting with United States Vice-President Mike Pence

The Council working group that oversees implementation of the EU's code of conduct on business taxation has appointed a new chairperson.

Fabrizia Lapecorella (Italy) took up the position at the beginning of February 2017 for a period of two years. Appointed at the group's meeting on 25 January 2017, she replaces Dr Wolfgang Nolz (Austria), who had chaired the group since 2009.

The code of conduct on business taxation sets out criteria for assessing tax measures that potentially encourage harmful tax competition. It is implemented through a voluntary commitment by member states to peer-reviewed 'standstill' (refraining from introducing harmful new tax measures) and 'rollback' (abolishing existing harmful tax measures). 

The code was established by Council conclusions adopted in December 1997. 

Work has more recently expanded to new areas, such as:

• anti-abuse measures;
• transparency and the exchange of information in the area of transfer pricing;
• administrative practices;
• links to third countries.

In these areas, several 'soft law' initiatives (i.e. rules that are neither strictly binding nor lacking legal significance) have been agreed. 

The code of conduct group, established in 1998, is responsible for implementing the code of conduct and is a formal preparatory body of the Council. It is assisted by several subgroups, chaired by the rotating presidency. Two subgroups are currently active: one on third countries and the other on clarification of the 3rd and 4th criteria of the code. 

One of the group's main tasks for the near future will be to finalise establishment of an EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters. 

On 1 February 2017, the process was launched by the dispatching of letters to 92 third-country jurisdictions, requesting information in accordance with Council Conclusions of 8 November 2016 on the criteria for and process leading to the establishment of the EU list. 

The code of conduct group will conduct and oversee this screening process, supported by the Council's secretariat. The Commission's services will assist it by carrying out the necessary preparatory work. 

Ms Lapecorella is director general of finance at the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. She is a member and vice-chair of the bureau of the OECD's committee on fiscal affairs and a member of the OECD's steering group of the 'inclusive framework' on BEPS (tax base erosion and profit shifting) implementation.

In 2014, during the Italian presidency of the Council, she chaired the high level working party on taxation matters.

The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk received the letter of credentials of the following Ambassador:

H.E. Mr Faruk KAYMAKCI, Head of the Mission of the Republic of Turkey to the European Union

On 8 February 2017, the presidency reached provisional agreement with representatives of the European Parliament on a programme to help member states implement structural reforms.

The programme will be established for the period running from its entry into force until 31 December 2020 with a financial envelope of €142.8 million.

“This is a programme that will support governments in improving their economic and governance structures. It is another step forward to better equip member states in implementing important reforms which ultimately will be beneficial to European citizens.”

The agreement will be submitted to the Permanent Representatives Committee in the coming days for approval. The Parliament and the Council will then be called on to adopt the proposed regulation at first reading.

On 9 February 2017 Council and European Parliament representatives reached a provisional agreement on a decision establishing a European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018). 

Cultural heritage encompasses resources from the past in a variety of forms and aspects. These include monuments, sites, traditions, transmitted knowledge and expressions of human creativity, as well as collections conserved and managed by museums, libraries and archives.

The aim of this initiative is 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 EUR 8 million.

Representatives of the European Parliament will be able to participate as observers in the meetings of national coordinators convened by the Commission for the running of the European Year. 

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.

Coreper will be invited to endorse the agreement at a forthcoming meeting. The Chairman of Coreper will then send a letter to the Chairperson of the European Parliament's CULT committee. 

That letter will indicate that, if the Parliament adopts at its plenary session the compromise text as approved by the Coreper, the Council will adopt the text in first reading without amendments. 

This should enable the new legislation to enter into force soon enough to allow the Commission and member states sufficient time for the necessary preparations. 

The idea of a European Year of Cultural Heritage was raised for the first time in 2014 when the Council referred to it in its conclusions on the participatory governance of cultural heritage. The idea received strong support from the European Parliament, the Commission presenting its proposal for a European Year of Cultural Heritage in August 2016. 

The Council adopted a general approach on the proposal on 22 November 2016.

The European Parliament's Culture and Education Committee (CULT Committee) report on the decision was voted at its meeting on 8 November 2016. A first trilogue took place on 9 December.