COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION interesting latest

27/2/2017

	Fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at ministerial level
	The fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at ministerial level was held today in Brussels to open negotiations on chapter 20 - Enterprise and industrial policy, and to open and provisionally close chapter 26 - Education and culture.  The European Union delegation was led by Mr Louis Grech, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto of the Republic of Malta, on behalf of the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The European Commission was represented by Mr Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. The Serbian delegation was led by Ms Jadranka Joksimović, Minister without portfolio responsible for European integration.  Following today's Conference, Serbia will have opened 8 chapters out of a total of 35 negotiation chapters of which 2 chapters have already been provisionally closed. Further Accession Conferences will be planned, as appropriate, in order to take the process forward. The accession negotiations were launched in January 2014.  Chapters concerned  Regarding the chapters on the agenda, the Union has closely examined Serbia's present state of preparations.  Chapter 20 - Enterprise and industrial policy  On the understanding that Serbia has to continue to make progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis in Chapter 20 - Enterprise and industrial policy, the EU noted that there is one benchmark that needs to be met for provisional closure of this chapter. The benchmark is as follows:  Serbia puts in place and starts to implement a comprehensive industrial strategy, supported by a system of evaluation indicators and benchmarks as suggested by EU policies relevant to industry. Chapter 26 - Education and culture  Regarding negotiations on chapter 26 - Education and culture, the EU considered that, exceptionally, benchmarks for the provisional closure of this chapter were not required, given the general good level of Serbia's state of preparedness in the area of Education and culture, and the limited scope and particular nature of acquis obligations in this chapter. The EU therefore noted that, at this stage, this chapter does not require further negotiations. For both chapters on the agenda, monitoring of progress in the alignment with and implementation of the acquis will continue throughout the negotiations. The EU underlined that it would devote particular attention to monitoring all specific issues mentioned in its common positions. The EU will, if necessary, return to these chapters at an appropriate moment. 27/2/2017  Human rights: EU adopts conclusions on EU priorities at United Nations human rights fora in 2017 On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted conclusions on EU priorities at United Nations human rights fora in 2017. The conclusions reaffirm the EU's strong commitment to the United Nations human rights system. The EU will remain actively engaged at the UN Human Rights Council and the Third Committee of the General Assembly to defend and promote the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of human rights. The EU will continue to draw the attention of these fora to human rights violations and abuses worldwide, and to the need for accountability and efforts to fight impunity. It will also seek to highlight positive experiences where action was taken to prevent or remedy human rights violations and abuses. These Council conclusions are adopted on a yearly basis. They set out the main lines of action for the EU at UN human rights fora in the coming months. Read the full text of the conclusions

	Belarus: EU prolongs arms embargo and sanctions against 4 individuals for one year
	On 27 February 2017, the Council decided to prolong the restrictive measures against Belarus for one year, until 28 February 2018. These measures include an arms embargo and an asset freeze and a travel ban against four people listed in connection with the unresolved disappearances of two opposition politicians, one businessman and one journalist in 1999 and in 2000. The Council also introduced an exemption to the restrictive measures to allow export of biathlon equipment to Belarus, which will remain subject to prior authorisation by national competent authorities on a case by case basis. Tangible steps taken by Belarus to respect universal fundamental freedoms, rule of law and human rights will remain key for the shaping of the EU's future policy towards Belarus, as stated in Council conclusions of 15 February 2016. 27/2/2017  North Korea: EU expands sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in line with UN Security Council resolution On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted legal acts imposing further restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).  These legal acts transpose the additional restrictive measures imposed by United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 2321 adopted on 30 November 2016.  The measures include restrictions on transactions in coal, iron and iron ore from the DPRK, and a ban on imports of copper, nickel, silver, zinc as well as statues from the DPRK. The measures also include a ban on export of new helicopters and vessels to the DPRK, the tightening of existing restrictions in the transport sector as well as in the financial sector, like a prohibition for a DPRK diplomatic mission and for a DPRK diplomat to have more than one bank account in the EU and restrictions on the use of real estate property by the DPRK in the EU.  The legal acts also provide for member states to take further measures to prevent specialised teaching or training of DPRK nationals in disciplines which would contribute to the DPRK's nuclear or ballistic-missile programmes; as well as to suspend scientific and technical cooperation involving persons or groups officially sponsored by or representing the DPRK except for medical exchanges.  Like existing sanctions, these restrictive measures are designed in such a way as to avoid adverse humanitarian consequences for the country's civilian population. They therefore include exemptions for livelihood and humanitarian purposes, where appropriate. The UNSCR also added 11 persons and 10 entities to the list of those subject to asset freeze as well as travel restrictions for persons. This addition was transposed into EU law by a Council decision adopted on 8 December 2016. 27/2/2017  Visas: Council adopts regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted a regulation on visa liberalisation for Georgians travelling to the EU for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period. Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela stated that, "This agreement will bring the people of Georgia and the EU closer together and will strengthen tourism and business ties. It follows the completion of the necessary reforms by Georgia, addressing document security, border management, migration and asylum. In addition, the recent adaptation of the suspension mechanism has made this agreement possible." The Council and the European Parliament now need to sign the adopted regulation. The text will then be published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later, at the same time as the new visa waiver suspension mechanism. The regulation formally amends regulation 539/2001, moving Georgia from Annex I (countries whose nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area) to Annex II (visa free countries). Georgian citizens with a biometric passport travelling to the EU for up to 90 days for business, tourist or family purposes will no longer need a visa. These measures will not apply to Ireland and the United Kingdom, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The visa regime of these member states remains subject to their national legislation. 27/2/2017  Visas: Council adopts a revision of the visa waiver suspension mechanism On 27 February 2017, the Council adopted a regulation to revise the suspension mechanism which can be applied to all existing visa liberalisation agreements. Maltese Minister for Home Affairs and National Security Carmelo Abela stated that, "Visa liberalisation brings great advantages to the EU and third countries. At the same time, the EU must be able to respond effectively in cases where the rules are not being respected. The revision of the suspension mechanism adopted today makes it easier to tackle abuse of the system." The objective of the revised regulation is to strengthen the suspension mechanism. It does this by making it easier for member states to notify circumstances which might lead to a suspension, by enabling the Commission to trigger the mechanism on its own initiative, and by tasking the Commission to send annual reports to the European Parliament and Council on the extent to which visa-exempt third countries continue to meet the necessary criteria. The possible grounds for suspension have been extended, and include a decrease in cooperation on readmission, a substantial increase in the refusal rate of readmission applications, including for third-country nationals in transit, and a substantial increase in the risk to public policy or the internal security of the member states. The use of the mechanism will also be facilitated by shortening reference periods and deadlines in order to allow for a faster procedure. In particular, the reference period for comparing the circumstances leading to the suspension with the situation during the previous year or before visa liberalisation is shortened from six to two months. The suspension can be triggered by a notification of a member state or by the Commission. If a simple majority of member states notify, the Commission will have to adopt an implementing decision temporarily suspending the exemption from the visa requirement for certain categories of nationals of the third country concerned for a period of 9 months. During this period, the Commission shall establish an enhanced dialogue with the third country concerned to remedy the circumstances in question. If the circumstances persist, the Commission shall adopt (at the latest two months prior to the expiry of the 9 months) a delegated act temporarily suspending the visa waiver for a further period of 18 months, for all the nationals of the third country concerned. Before the end of the period of validity of the delegated act, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council. This report may be accompanied by a legislative proposal to transfer the reference to the third country concerned from Annex II (visa free countries) to Annex I (countries whose nationals need a visa to enter the Schengen area). A monitoring mechanism has been introduced with the purpose of ensuring that third countries which have been granted visa exemption following a visa liberalisation dialogue continue to fulfil the criteria which were the basis for granting visa free status. Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of these measures, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The visa regime of these member states remains subject to their national legislation. Next steps The Council and the European Parliament now need to sign the adopted regulation. The signed text will be published in the EU Official Journal and will enter into force 20 days later.