COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION latest..

Trade marks reform: Presidency secures provisional agreement

21/04/2015
15:40
Press release
201/15
Single market
Enterprise and industry

Following intensive negotiations, on 21 April 2015 the Latvian presidency reached a provisional agreement with European Parliament representatives on the reform of the European trade mark system. The agreement is subject to confirmation by the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Council.
Trade mark reform - better for business

The reform of the current system will improve the conditions for businesses to innovate and to benefit from more effective trade mark protection against counterfeits, including fake goods in transit through the EU's territory.

Latvian Minister for Justice Dzintars Rasnačs made the following comments: "I am proud that the modernisation of the EU's trade mark framework can be politically concluded under the presidency of Latvia, building on joint efforts deployed by previous presidencies and EU institutions. Our action has been guided by the need to put the interests of final users at the core of the reform. Those companies, particularly small and medium-sized ones, have been calling for a more clear, streamlined and affordable registration system for the handling and protection of their innovative industrial assets".
A cheaper, simpler and more accessible process

The new legal framework is also aimed at encouraging innovation and economic growth by making trade mark registration systems all over the European Union more accessible and efficient for businesses in terms of lower costs and complexity, increased speed, greater predictability and legal certainty.

It will also improve cooperation between the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM), which is responsible for registering and administering trade marks at European Union level, and the national offices.

Under the agreement, a number of political principles will be incorporated in the new system, including:
a new structure with a reduced level of fees to be paid by applicants and proprietors of trade marks; such a reduction is justified by the need to render the system more accessible to users and to balance OHIM's budget, which has been producing considerable budgetary surpluses over the years;
the setting up of an offsetting mechanism to cover expenses incurred by national industrial property offices resulting from the handling of procedures involving EU trade marks. 5% of the OHIM annual revenue is foreseen for the offsetting mechanism, with the possibility of increasing this amount by another 5% in case of a substantive budgetary surplus;
closer cooperation between national offices and the OHIM in projects to promote convergence of practices and tools in the field of trade marks and designs. The maximum amount of funding for cooperation projects is set at 15% of the yearly revenue of the OHIM;
the improvement of the governance structure and the establishment of sound financial procedures in the OHIM;
the renaming of the OHIM to "European Union Intellectual Property Office";
the implementation of efficient and expeditious administrative procedures by the national offices for revocation or declaration of invalidity of trade marks;
the adaptation of the designation and classification of goods and services to comply with recent EU case law, in conformity with the international classification established by the Nice agreement.
Background

The Community trade mark established a stand-alone system for the registration of unitary rights having equal effect throughout the EU. A trade mark serves to distinguish the goods and services of a company. It is the mark through which a business can attract and retain customer loyalty, and create value and growth. The mark works as an engine for innovation and has a favourable impact on employment.

The system was designed to co-exist with the national trade mark systems which continue to be necessary for those undertakings which do not want their trade marks protected at EU level.

The experience acquired since the establishment of the Community trade mark system has shown that undertakings from within the Union and from third countries have accepted the system, which has become a successful and viable complement to the protection of trade marks.

Over the years there has been a steady growth in the commercial value and number of trade marks. The OHIM, which started operations in 1996, nowadays registers around 100 000 Community trade marks and 75 000 designs annually. Its development has been accompanied by growing expectations on the part of stakeholders for more streamlined and high-quality trade mark registration systems, which are more consistent, publicly accessible and technologically up-to-date.

The establishment of the OHIM has therefore been a great success and has contributed substantially to strengthening the competitiveness of the EU. The OHIM is located in Alicante, Spain.

Luxembourg, 21 April 2015 
 

Main results of the General Affairs Council

The Presidency informed the Council of the discussions of foreign and interior ministers onmigration issues at a joint meeting convened by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Presidency on 20 April 2015. Ministers welcomed the increased determination to act on migration, in particular in regard to three main areas: reinforcing the fight against the trafficking of human beings, strengthening EU action to save lives at sea, and reinforcing cooperation with third countries. Ministers considered that this discussion constituted a good basis for the extraordinary European Council called by  President Donald Tusk on migratory pressures in the Mediterranean on 23 April 2015. "From good intentions we now have to move forward to concrete action", said Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the EU Council.

The Council agreed to increase advance payments under the youth employment initiative by almost €1 billion in 2015. This is to allow member states to roll out quickly measures for the fight against youth unemployment. "The significant increase in advance payments reflects our strong commitment to tackle youth unemployment in Europe. In fact, the lack of pre-financing is currently one of the main hurdles preventing the €6.4 billion from the youth employment initiative from being quickly mobilised. The Latvian presidency will now work with the European Parliament to ensure that the new rules are adopted as quickly as possible", said Jānis Reirs, Latvian Minister for Finance.

The Council revised the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 to preserve funds for promoting growth and jobs. "With this revision we have met all the preconditions so that the allocated resources can be used to their full extent and thus ensure a smooth implementation of programmes supporting growth and jobs", said Edgars Rinkēvičs.
 

Visit the Council meeting page
Watch the press conference after the General Affairs Council

Brussels, 21 April 2015
 

3rd ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting in Riga
29-30 April 2015

Please note that Third ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting will take place in Riga, Latvia from 29-30 April, 2015.

The topic of this year’s meeting is “Development of Euro-Asia Multimodal Transport Linkages – Status Quo and Blueprints for the Future”.

The two-day event will include a closed Ministerial round-table meeting and several high-profile panel discussions. The ministers and stakeholders will discuss the development of transport connectivity between Asia and Europe with a particular emphasis on the multimodal supply chains developing on the backbone of the emerging land bridge corridors between Asia and Europe. The meeting will also reinvigorate and give new impulse to the ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting format.

Following in the footsteps of the vision espoused by ASEM leaders at the Summit in Milan, the aim of the 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting will broaden understanding of the recent development of the transport linkages between Asia and Europe, to identify bottlenecks and weaknesses, and to foster closer cooperation among all major stakeholders in order to harmonize strategic planning and development efforts.

The Meeting will primarily concentrate on the development of Euro-Asia land connections, albeit in the wider context of multimodal connectivity between Asia and Europe. These intermodal land-based supply chains are rapidly gaining importance in the age of globalized manufacturing and e-commerce, requiring Just-in-time (JIT) delivery of input of production as well as prompt access to distant markets for final goods.

The Meeting will be attended by H.E. Mr Andris Bērziņš, the President of the Republic of Latvia, Mr Anrijs Matīss, the Minister for Transport of the Republic of Latvia and Ms Violeta Bulc, European Commissioner for Mobility and Transport.

The Meeting will  bring together all the major stakeholders: ASEM Transport Ministers, European Commission and the ASEAN Secretariat; relevant international institutions (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD), World Customs Organization (WCO), International Road Transport Union (IRU), European Investment Bank), business practitioners – ranging from global lead logistics providers and global/regional transport and logistics companies (national rail operators, road haulers, logistics centre operators, sea and dry ports) to big brand manufacturers and cargo owners (in such industries as electronics, automotive, textile); the non-governmental sector and academia.

Live broadcast of the conference will be available on the website of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU – EU2015.LV

With a list of ASEM-related events taking place one after another the end of April marks ASEM week in Riga. At the same date with ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting, on 29 April  Erasmus+ Information Day will be held at the University of Latvia. Organised by the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science, the 5th ASEM Education Ministers’ Meeting also will take place on 27–28 April.

The 3rd ASEM Transport Ministers’ Meeting is organised by the Ministry of Transport of Latvia under the auspices of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

EU budget: Council preserves funds for promoting growth and jobs
21/04/2015
10:30
Press release
198/15
Budget
Economy & finance


Certain EU budgetary commitments not used in 2014 will still be available to support investment to stimulate growth and create jobs in the years 2015-2017.

This is what the Council decided on 21 April 2015 by revising the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020.

"I am truly glad that we were able to adopt the revision. With this revision we have met all preconditions that the allocated resources can be used to their full extent and thus to ensure a smooth implementation of programmes supporting growth and jobs", said Edgars Rinkēvičs, the Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the EU Council.

The revised MFF allows the transfer of € 21.1 billion of unused commitments for certain funds from 2014 to subsequent years. €16.5 billion can be transferred to 2015, €4.5 billion to 2016 and the remaining € 0.1 billion to 2017.
Draft amending budget 2/2015

The Council on 21 April 2015 also accepted draft amending budget no 2 for 2015 whichincorporates commitments of €16.5 billion unused in 2014 into the 2015 EU budget.

The decisions taken by the Council keep the total expenditure ceilings for the period 2014-2020 unchanged and involve no additional money.

Ensuring programme implementation

Certain commitments remained unused in 2014 due to the late adoption of 300 out of the nearly 650 EU programmes under shared management. Commitments are legal promises to spend money on activities whose implementation can extend over several financial years.

The programmes concerned are supported by the structural funds, the cohesion fund, the European agricultural fund for rural development, the European maritime and fisheries fund, the asylum, migration and integration fund and the internal security fund.
Shifting commitments from 2014

The transfer of unused commitments concerns the following amounts and member states (in million €):

Member state	Commitments in 2014	Commitments transferred to subsequent years
Austria	706.1	4.1
Belgium	402.9	43.2
Bulgaria	1 321.0	708.9
Cyprus	228.9	35.4
Czech Republic	3 241.2	3 229.4
Germany	3 769.1	586.9
Denmark	165.0	28.6
Estonia	566.0	19.4
Spain	5 657.7	3 462.3
Finland	538.3	8.4
France	3 736.3	1 481.1
Greece	2 872.1	722.6
Croatia	1 383.5	377.7
Hungary	3 379.2	615.3
Ireland	506.6	337.3
Italy	6 223.1	4 135.4
Lithuania	1 136.2	37.2
Luxembourg	22.3	15.4
Latvia	732.4	6.9
Malta	124.9	24.0
Netherlands	264.4	9.8
Poland	11 220.8	95.0
Portugal	3 601.5	59.7
Romania	3 982.3	3 111.6
Sweden	551.9	297.0
Slovenia	541.5	9.9
Slovakia	2 024.6	7.3
United Kingdom	2 316.8	1 249.1
multicountry	530.5	378.3
EFTA	7.2	7.2
Total	61 754.4	21 104.6

Next steps

The revised MFF will now be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force three day later.

Draft amending budget 2/2015 still requires the approval of the European Parliament befor being adopted.
Background

The MFF regulation sets out maximum amounts - ceilings - which the EU is allowed to spend on policy areas - headings - over the period 2014-2020.

By setting expenditure ceilings the MFF regulation
translates political priorities into figures for the budget cycle 2014-2020
ensures budgetary discipline for the EU
facilitates the adoption of the annual EU budget through a multiannual framework

The MFF regulation adopted on 2 December 2013 provides for a revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework in the case of late adoption of programmes under shared management. The MFF regulation sets the deadline of 1 May 2015 for adopting the revision.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Conclusion of Stabilisation and Association Agreement

21/04/2015
10:30
Press release
199/15
Enlargement

The Council adopted on 21 April a decision concluding the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It is expected that the Agreement would enter into force on 1 June 2015.

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement constitutes the framework of relations between the European Union and BiH. The agreement establishes gradually a free trade area between the EU and the country. It also identifies common political and economic objectives and encourages regional co-operation. In the context of accession to the European Union, the agreement serves as the basis for implementation of the accession process.

The decision will allow BiH to move forward in its relations with the EU and it should provide a positive stimulus to continue socio-economic, judicial, and other necessary reforms for the EU integration of the country. The overall aim is to allow BiH to prepare itself for future EU membership.
Next steps

The EU has called on BiH to remain engaged and maintain the current positive momentum by developing, in consultation with the EU, an initial agenda for reforms with a focus on issues of direct concern to citizens. This initial agenda should include relevant reforms in the areas of economy, rule of law and good governance, and should address functionality issues, including an effective coordination mechanism on EU matters. The EU underlines the importance of engagement with civil society throughout this process. Meaningful progress in implementation of this reform agenda is necessary for a membership application to be considered by the EU.
Background:

In its conclusions of 16 March 2015 the Council welcomed the adoption of the Written Commitment by the BiH Presidency on 29 January 2015 and its subsequent endorsement by the BiH Parliament on 23 February 2015. Taking into account its conclusions of 15 December 2014, linking the conclusion of the SAA to the Written Commitment by the BiH political leadership to reforms and progress on the EU path, the Council noted that the necessary conditions had been met and agreed to proceed with the conclusion and entry into force of the SAA with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Council Conclusions of 16 March 2015Council Conclusions of 15 December 2014

Bosnia and Herzegovina was recognised as a potential candidate country EU accession in 2003 and signed its SAA with the EU on 16 June 2008 in Luxembourg.

EU-US agreement on reinsurance: Council agrees to negotiations
21/04/2015
10:30
Press release
195/15
Foreign affairs & international relations
Economy & finance

The Council on 21 April 2015 issued a mandate to the Commission to negotiate an agreement with the United States on reinsurance.

The mandate consists of a decision authorising the opening of talks and directives for the negotiation of the agreement. The Commission will negotiate on behalf of the EU, in consultation with a Council committee. The agreement will be concluded by the Council with the consent of the European Parliament.

"An agreement with the US will greatly facilitate trade in reinsurance and related activities", said Janis Reirs, minister for finance of Latvia and president of the Council. "It will enable us for instance to recognise each others prudential rules and help supervisors exchange information."

The decision was adopted without discussion at a meeting of the General Affairs Council.