European Council

Readout of the telephone conversation between President Charles Michel and Russian President Vladimir Putin

The Council adopted conclusions on the retail payments strategy for the EU.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council adopted new rules to improve administrative cooperation in the field of taxation and extend it to digital platforms.

On 22 March 2021, the President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, gave the speech at the Dublin economics workshop on “Europe, Covid and the Euro”.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on eleven individuals and four entities responsible for serious human rights violations in China, DPRK, Libya, Russia, South Sudan and Eritrea.

The Council imposed restrictive measures on eleven individuals responsible for the military coup staged in Myanmar/Burma on 1 February 2021, and the subsequent military and police repression against peaceful demonstrators.

The Council adopted a decision establishing the European Peace Facility, an off-budget fund worth approximately €5 billion for the period 2021-2027 that will cover all EU's external actions that have military or defence implications, under the CFSP.

The conclusions note that cybersecurity is essential for building a resilient, green and digital Europe. They set as a key objective achieving strategic autonomy while preserving an open economy.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel 22 - 28 March 2021

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

President Michel and President von der Leyen had a videoconference today Friday 19 March 2021 with President Erdoğan of the Republic of Turkey.

The EU issued a declaration ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 21 March 2021, to confirm its unabated commitment to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance including its contemporary forms.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

As part of a series of engagements with leading European policy research centers, Eurogroup President Donohoe spoke on 19 March at a webinar organised by the Hertie School in Berlin on "Coordinating euro-area fiscal policy to drive an inclusive recovery.

The adoption of these rules will be the final legislative step required for the setting up of ETIAS, which is expected to be operational by 2022.

Press briefing ahead of the informal video conference of European affairs ministers will take place on 19 March 2021 at 14:30.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/276 of 22 February 2021 amending Decision (CFSP) 2017/2074 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Venezuela.

Lors de la 143ème séance plénière du Comité européen des régions, le président du Conseil européen Charles Michel a débattu avec les membres de l'assemblée de la pandémie, de la relance et de la démocratie européenne.