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European Council    29/1/2018  Letter of congratulations from President Donald Tusk to Miloš Zeman on his re-election as President of the Czech Republic I wish to extend my congratulations on your re-election as the President of the Czech Republic. I trust that your country will continue to play an active and constructive role within the European Union. This is all the more important at a time when the European Council makes an effort to better respond to European citizens’ concerns and will start defining new priorities for the period beyond 2020. Přeji Vám mnoho úspěchů a těším se na spolupráci. Letter of congratulations from President Donald Tusk to Miloš Zeman Skimmed milk powder: Council modifies rules on public intervention to help the market On 29 January 2018 the Council decided on a temporary change to the operation of the public intervention mechanism for skimmed milk powder. It did so by slightly amending the so-called Fixing regulation, which determines measures on fixing certain aids and refunds related to the common market organisation of the markets in agricultural products. The Council decided in particular to set the quantitative limitation for buying-in skimmed milk powder at a fixed price at zero tonnes for 2018. "The Council decided today to intervene to stabilise the dairy markets in 2018. This is in line with our commitment to keep track of market developments and to make sure that the safety net is used in a timely and prudent manner, not just to react to market disruptions, but also to avoid them in the first place whenever possible." Rumen Porodzanov, minister of agriculture, food and forestry of the Republic of Bulgaria and president of the Council 29/1/2018 Brexit: Council (Article 50) adopts negotiating directives on the transition period The Council, meeting in EU27 format, adopted supplementing negotiating directives for the Brexit negotiations, which detail the EU27 position regarding a transition period. These negotiating directives provide the Commission, as the EU negotiator, with a mandate to start discussions with the United Kingdom on this matter. "EU ministers have given a clear mandate to the Commission on what is the type of transition period that we envisage: full EU acquis to be applied in the UK and no participation in the EU institutions and decision-making. The 27 adopted the text speedily today and we hope an agreement on this with the UK can also be closed swiftly." Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Duration of the transition period  The guidelines of the European Council (Article 50) of 15 December 2017 stated that transitional arrangements must be clearly defined and precisely limited in time. The proposed end date for the transition period in the negotiating directives is 31 December 2020.  Application of EU acquis  According to the EU position, during the transition period the whole of the EU acquiswill continue to apply to the UK as if it were a member state. Changes to the acquisadopted by EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies during that period would also apply in the UK.  All existing EU regulatory, budgetary, supervisory, judiciary and enforcement instruments and structures will also apply, including the competence of the Court of Justice of the European Union.  Concerning the area of freedom, security and justice, where the UK has a right to opt in and opt out of individual pieces of legislation, the current rules will apply for acts adopted during the transition by which the UK is bound before its withdrawal. However the UK will no longer be allowed to opt into new measures in this area other than those amending, replacing or building upon the ones he is bound before its withdrawal.  Trade policy and international deals  During the transition period, the UK will remain bound by the obligations stemming from the agreements concluded by the EU, while it will no longer participate in any bodies set up by those agreements.  As the UK will continue to participate in the customs union and the single market (with all four freedoms) during the transition, it will have to continue to comply with EU trade policy, to apply EU customs tariff and collect EU customs duties and to ensure all EU checks are being performed on the border. This also implies that during that period the UK will not become bound by international agreements in its own capacity in fields of competence of EU law, unless authorised to do so by the EU.  EU institutions and bodies  The UK, as already a third country, will no longer participate in the institutions and the decision-making of the EU.  The UK will no longer attend meetings of Commission experts groups, committees or other similar entities where member states are represented. Exceptionally on a case-by-case basis, the UK could however be invited to attend one of these meetings without voting rights.  Specific consultations will be foreseen with regard to the fixing of fishing opportunities (total allowable catches) during the transition period, in full respect of the EU acquis. Negotiating directives on the transition period Statements Brexit - timeline and background information 29/1/2018  Letter of congratulations from President Donald Tusk to Sauli Niinistö on his re-election as President of the Republic of Finland Let me extend my warmest congratulations on your historic victory in yesterday's Presidential elections in Finland. I know you as a devoted European leader and a strong supporter of strengthening the European Union's ability to meeting its global challenges of today and tomorrow. It gives me great pleasure to be able to count on your continued engagement and support in meeting our shared objectives. I look forward to continuing our cooperation during your new mandate. Letter of congratulations from President Donald Tusk to Sauli Niinistö