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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
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Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg
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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
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Anti-dumping methodology: Council agrees negotiating position
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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.
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3/5/2017
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Format for short-stay visas (Schengen): Council confirms agreement on the update of security features in the visa sticker
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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
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