COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest

4/5/2017

	6 mai 2017 - le Conseil et le bâtiment Europa ouvrent leur portes au grand public
	Dans le cadre de la Journée portes ouvertes des institutions européennes, le Conseil européen et le Conseil de l'Union européenne, les deux institutions qui regroupent les Etats membres de l'UE, ouvrent les portes de leur siège le samedi 6 mai de 10h à 18h en proposant visites guidées, activités et stands d'informations. Visites guidées du nouveau bâtiment EUROPA Accompagnés par des membres du personnel, les visiteurs pourront découvrir le nouveau bâtiment Europa, utilisé depuis janvier 2017 pour les réunion des ministres et des chefs d'état européens. Des visites seront organisées de 10.00 à 17.00 en français, néerlandais, allemand et anglais. Film retraçant l'histoire du Conseil européen Les visiteurs pourront découvrir comment le Conseil européen, initialement pensé comme une réunion informelle "au coin du feu" des présidents et premiers ministre, a évolué pour devenir l'une des institutions clés de l'Union. Stand des Etats membres  Les 28 Etats membres seront regroupés sur un stand commun pour permettre aux visiteurs de mieux comprendre comment chaque pays participe au travail de l'Union, découvrir leur cultures et leur paysages. Certains Etats membres proposeront également des sessions de musiques et/ou danses traditionnelles comme Chypre, l'Irlande, ou la Hongrie. Pour la liste complète des évènements a l'affiche, consulter le site de la journée porte ouverte (lien en bas de page). Espace enfants et ados : les plus jeunes pourront y apprendre davantage sur l'Europe et l'Union européenne, de façon ludique et divertissante, y compris durant les visites guidées. Conseil en ligne : les visiteurs seront encouragés à participer à des jeux interactifs, découvrir des faits surprenants sur l'Europe, prendre des photos et partager leurs impressions sur le Conseil avec leurs amis sur les media sociaux. Informations pratiques La journée porte ouverte se déroule dans les deux principaux bâtiments du Conseil. L'entrée se fera systématiquement au bâtiment Justus Lipsius, 175 rue de la Loi à Bruxelles. En raison du niveau d'alerte actuellement en vigueur en Belgique des contrôles de sécurité supplémentaires seront mis en place autour des institutions. Pour faciliter ces contrôles, les visiteurs sont encouragés à ne pas apporter de bagages ou autres objets encombrants. Les visiteurs sont également encouragés à utiliser les transports en commun. Un petit train circulera par ailleurs toute la journée entre les institutions du quartier européen. 4/5/2017 Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg Good afternoon. I am very pleased to welcome Prime Minister Erna Solberg today. In times like these, it is more important than ever to have a strong and close partner, like Norway. A partner who shares the same values, and with whom we can work together on common European challenges. The European Union's relations with Norway are close and are continuing to evolve. The European Economic Area - of which Norway is a key member - has proved its value and strength over the past 25 years. It serves both the EU and Norway well, and will continue to do so. Today, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of having a close dialogue in view of the upcoming Brexit talks. I reassured the Prime Minister that, as one of the EU's closest partners, we will have a close dialogue with Norway throughout the talks. That's what partners do. We also discussed energy and climate cooperation. Our close cooperation is crucial for energy security and for the Energy Union objectives. And, above all, we are both determined to implement the Paris Agreement. Let me make one comment as we wait for the confirmation from Washington regarding the US commitment to a better environment, including fighting climate change in line with the Paris Agreement. There are many ways in which nations can contribute to this fight, and they depend on national choices. No-one proves it better than Norway: how it is perfectly possible and rational to combine being an important supplier of gas and oil as well as being a front-runner in renewable energy. The Norwegian example should provide encouragement to our American friends, as the climate challenge we all face can only be addressed by common global action. Today we confirmed our strong commitment to the transatlantic relationship, and to further strengthening security cooperation, including between NATO and the EU. Prime Minister Solberg and I also discussed the conflict in Ukraine, and our relations with Russia. We remain firm and consistent in our approach towards Russia. We know who the victim is in this conflict, and we will continue working together to advance reforms and development in Ukraine. And we also cooperate when it comes to sanctions towards Russia. And finally, let me make a general remark about Brexit. These negotiations are difficult enough as they are. If we start arguing before they even begin, they will become impossible. The stakes are too high to let our emotions get out of hand. Because at stake are the daily lives and interests of millions of people on both sides of the Channel. We must keep in mind that in order to succeed, we need today discretion, moderation, mutual respect and a maximum of good will. Thank you. 3/5/2017 Anti-dumping methodology: Council agrees negotiating position On 3 May 2017, EU ambassadors approved the Council's position on a new, country-neutral methodology for assessing market distortions in third countries. They asked the presidency to open  negotiations with the European Parliament.  The main objective is to detect and redress distortions to the market resulting from state intervention in other countries. The new methodology for calculating dumping is based on rules  established by the WTO anti-dumping agreement. “Today we gave our support to a new, non-discriminatory anti-dumping methodology that will help ensure that imported products are sold at a fair and equitable price in the EU, no matter where they come from", said the Maltese minister for the economy, investment and small business Christian Cardona, which currently holds the Council presidency. "This will strengthen Europe's trade defence instruments and will help protect jobs and enhance competitiveness.” The Council’s position adopted today reflects to a large extent the main principles put forward by the Commission in its proposal presented in November 2016. It establishes a non-exhaustive list of examples which are used to identify significant market distortions, such as: state policies and influence, widespread presence of state-owned enterprises, discrimination in favour of domestic companies, lack of independence of the financial sector, inadequate enforcement of bankruptcy, corporate or property laws. When a significant distortion is recognised in an exporting country, the Commission will be able to correct it. It will set a price for the product by referring either to the costs of production and sale prices in a country with similar levels of economic development or to appropriate undistorted international costs and prices. The Commission will also draft specific reports on countries or sectors describing distortions. In line with current practice, it will be for EU firms to file complaints, but they will be able to use the Commission’s reports to support their case. Timeline and next steps The new anti-dumping methodology runs in parallel with  a separate  negotiating process on the broader revision of the EU's trade defence instruments which was proposed in 2013. Following the European Council’s call in October 2016 for unfair trade practices to be tackled in an efficient and robust way, the Council has worked on both files as a matter of priority by establishing its position in order to bring about a rapid conclusion to the negotiations.. As the proposal is subject to an ordinary legislative procedure, the Council and the European Parliament need to reach agreement on a final text. The Council will be able to begin “trilogue” discussions with the European Parliament on the basis of today's agreement  as soon as the Parliament determines its own negotiating position.  3/5/2017 Format for short-stay visas (Schengen): Council confirms agreement on the update of security features in the visa sticker On 3 May 2017, EU ambassadors confirmed on behalf of the Council the informal agreement reached with the European Parliament on the proposal for a regulation amending regulation 1683/1995 laying down a uniform format for visas. This regulation establishes a new common design for the visa sticker to update its security features in order to prevent forgery. The current visa sticker, which has been in circulation for 20 years, is considered to have been compromised given various serious incidents of counterfeiting and fraud. “This is an important development - a more secure format of the visa sticker is another step forward in the fight against the counterfeiting of documents and therefore progress in our efforts to enhance the security of the EU and the Schengen area.” Carmelo Abela, Minister for Home Affairs and National Security of Malta Following this confirmation of the agreement, the text of the regulation will be submitted to the European Parliament for a vote at first reading and subsequently to the Council for adoption. Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of the new measures, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. However, upon a request from these member states, the Commission shall enter into arrangements with them to exchange technical information in relation to the format for national visas issued by them