DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 12 December 2023
Defence of Democracy – Commission proposes to shed light on covert foreign influence
Today, the European Commission adopted a Defence of Democracy package, ahead of the 2024 European elections. The central piece of this package is a legislative proposal that will enhance transparency and democratic accountability of interest representation activities on behalf of third countries which are aimed at influencing policies, decision making and the democratic space. It also includes two recommendations which aim to promote free, fair and resilient elections and the participation of citizens and civil society organisations to policy-making.
The aim of this package is to tackle the threat of foreign interference with more transparency, while at the same time encouraging civic engagement and citizens' participation in our democracies.
A recent Eurobarometer survey shows that 81% of Europeans believe that foreign interference in our democratic systems is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. It is high time to bring covert foreign influence to light.
Ensuring transparency of foreign interest representation
The EU is open to the world and actively engages with partners across the globe. Where third country governments use interest representation activities to promote their objectives and influence democratic processes in the EU, this needs to be made transparent. Today's proposal for harmonised rules aims to ensure a common high level of transparency and democratic accountability across the EU in relation to lobbying campaigns, as well as similar activities, performed by entities on behalf of a third country government.
The proposal foresees the following transparency requirements:
The proposal includes proportionate rules and safeguards to avoid registration requirements being misused to limit fundamental rights, such as the freedoms of expression or of association, or to unduly restrict the civic space, namely:
With this proposal, the Commission seeks to contribute to setting standards, not only in the EU, but also on a global scale, on how to address foreign influence in a streamlined and proportionate way, fully respecting fundamental rights.
Strengthening electoral processes in the EU
Today's Recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament aims to promote high democratic standards for elections in the EU, supporting high voter turnouts, inclusive participation and making it easier to exercise one's electoral rights. The Recommendation also addresses the protection and cybersecurity of election-related infrastructure and proposes measures to minimise risks of interference from third countries through funding of political parties, political foundations, campaign organisations and candidates. A free and fair democratic debate relies on legality and fair play. The Recommendation stresses that surveillance tools should never be used to interfere with the democratic debate and deploying such tools to target political actors and journalists for political gain is unacceptable.
The recent Eurobarometer, published on 6 December, shows that the main concerns for EU citizens in the context of the elections in Europe are related to people basing their voting decision on disinformation (78%), followed by elections being manipulated through cyberattacks (72%), foreign countries influencing elections covertly (70%) and people being pressured into voting in a particular way (65%).
Fostering inclusive participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making
The Recommendation on promoting the engagement of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes aims to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations and human rights defenders, allowing them to effectively participate in democratic policy-making. It also encourages Member States to develop a structured approach to participation processes through predictable, accessible, transparent and inclusive frameworks. With a similar intention to enhance its framework for citizens' participation, the Commission, as a follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, has now embedded European Citizens' Panels in its policy-making process. In early 2024, the Commission will launch a revamped Have Your Say portal, as a new online one-stop-shop for Citizens' Engagement.
In the recent Eurobarometer, almost 9 in 10 respondents saw civil society as important in promoting and protecting democracy and common values.
Next steps
The Commission looks forward to the full engagement of the European Parliament and the Council to make decisive progress on all legislative proposals in the democracy area before the European parliamentary elections; and for the wide circle of national actors involved, public and private, to ensure the implementation of the European Democracy Action Plan and of this new Defence of Democracy package.
In the run-up to the 2024 European elections, the Commission will foster pre-election dialogues and collaboration with online platforms and other signatories of the Code of Practice on Disinformation, building on existing commitments to transparency of political advertising and cooperation among signatories, whilst exploring further ways to address the harmful potential of new AI-powered tools when it comes to disinformation.
Background
In the European Union, citizens can freely express their views and participate in democratic life, choose their political representatives and have a say on their future. We celebrate European elections and are looking forward to 2024. Democracy and the rights and freedoms associated with it are at the core of our open and transparent societies. But democracy also has its enemies. Authoritarian regimes see it as a threat. Some regimes have made attempts to exploit societal division and stoke mistrust of established institutions. They spread disinformation to weaken the democratic voice of citizens and civil society and to distort election campaigns.
The Defence of Democracy package builds on previous Commission initiatives to safeguard European democracy, including the European Democracy Action Plan. Three years after its adoption, the implementation of the European Democracy Action Plan is in full swing. The EU promotes free and fair elections and strong democratic participation, supports free and independent media and counters disinformation inside and outside the EU.
Other Commission initiatives to protect our democracy are the annual Rule of Law Report Cycle, recent anti-corruption and ethics initiatives, as well as the 2022 report on the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights focused on the civic space.
Today's Defence of Democracy package includes a Directive on transparency of interest representation on behalf of third countries, a Communication reviewing the work done under the European Democracy Action Plan, a Recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament, and a Recommendation on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes. The Commission also published today the results of a complementary Eurobarometer survey on Democracy.
For more information
Defence of Democracy – Questions and Answers
Defence of Democracy – Factsheet
Communication on Defence of Democracy
Proposal for a Directive establishing harmonised requirements in the internal market on transparency of interest representation carried out on behalf of third countries
Recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes in the Union and enhancing the European nature and efficient conduct of the elections to the European Parliament
Recommendation on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes
Defence of Democracy - website
Democracy and electoral rights – website
Code of Practice on disinformation - website
Media Freedom Act - website
Rule of Law Mechanism - website
European Citizens' Panels - website
Quote(s)
Europe is proud of being an open democracy. But it would be naïve to think that democracy does not need any protection. In today´s world it is quite the opposite. And we should not let Putin or any other autocrat covertly interfere in our democratic process. We will tackle the threat of foreign interference by a new law mandating transparency. And, ahead of the European Parliament elections next year, we will strengthen the integrity of elections, offline and online, together with the Member States.
Věra Jourová, Vice-President for Values and Transparency - 12/12/2023
Our greatest allies in a democracy are our citizens. The beauty of this package lies in its diversity, with legislative and non-legislative tools. It keeps our open society open! With today’s package the Commission is putting forward a Recommendation on promoting the engagement and effective participation of citizens and civil society organisations in public policy-making processes. We are creating opportunities for citizens at different levels of governance to voice their opinions and contribute to policymaking. Innovative deliberative practices reinforce representative democracy by increasing trust and bridging the existing gaps between citizens and democratic institutions. Some try to undermine democracy at its roots, we are taking care of these roots.
Dubravka Šuica, Vice-President for Democracy and Demography - 12/12/2023
Democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights are the EU’s founding values and underpin its achievements. Today’s instruments will defend our democratic systems from outside interests, contribute to the promotion of free and fair elections, fight against disinformation and foster the participation of citizens and civil society organisations. By enhancing transparency and accountability, the Directive will promote institutional trust and democratic values in the EU.
Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice - 12/12/2023
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Contacts for media
· Christian WIGAND
Phone
+32 2 296 22 53
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christian.wigand@ec.europa.eu
· Daniel FERRIE
+32 2 298 65 00
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· Jördis FERROLI
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Commission proposal to strengthen the Single Market by tackling legal and administrative obstacles in Europe's cross-border regions
Today, the Commission has adopted an amended proposal for a ‘Regulation on Facilitating Cross-Border Solutions' in order to help Member States resolve obstacles that are impacting the daily lives of the 150 million European citizens living in Europe's cross-border regions.
The obstacles that citizens, businesses, and public administrations face in these regions include different technical standards or national administrative and legal provisions that do not consider the cross-border dimension. These obstacles can impact the development of infrastructure and the operation of cross-border public services. Obstacles of this nature hamper the lives of cross-border communities, for example, by reducing access to healthcare services (including emergency) and limiting their ability to coordinate disaster response efforts and collaborate on joint infrastructure projects, amongst others.
Tackling these obstacles would significantly improve the functioning of the EU Single Market. A study funded by the Commission estimates that removing 20% of the current legal and administrative obstacles would boost GDP by 2% in cross-border regions and create over one million jobs.
What the Regulation means in practice
The Commission proposes that Member States set up Cross-Border Coordination Points (CBCP), a new service which will assess any request submitted by border stakeholders on potential obstacles, and act as a liaison between them and the national authorities. The Regulation ensures that stakeholders receive a response after the assessment of each request, explaining how it will be treated.
If an obstacle does in fact exist and if there is no bilateral or international cooperation agreement in place that could be used to implement a solution, Member States can then apply the Cross-Border Facilitation Tool, a voluntary standard procedure designed to resolve administrative and legal obstacles in cross-border regions. While each request must be answered to, the decision on whether or not to resolve an obstacle remains the prerogative of the competent national authorities.
The Regulation also proposes creating a network of CBCPs alongside the Commission, to create a forum for exchanging best practices and sharing knowledge.
In May 2018, the Commission proposed a regulation on a mechanism to resolve legal and administrative obstacles in a cross-border context (the ECBM proposal). However, no agreement was reached between the Parliament and Council on the file. In September 2023, Parliament adopted an own-initiative legislative resolution, with recommendations to the Commission aiming to overcome the stalemate on the ECBM proposal. With the new Regulation on 'Facilitating Cross-Border Solutions,' the Commission is amending its 2018 proposal by taking due account of the concerns and recommendations made by the two co-legislators, while maintaining its original focus of resolving obstacles that hamper the lives of cross-border communities. The Commission's proposal will now be negotiated by the Parliament and the Council.
The proposal complements a number of Commission initiatives to support border regions, such as ‘b-solutions,' launched in 2018 to provide legal support to public authorities to identify the root causes of legal and administrative obstacles and to explore possible solutions. Knowledge gained from the more than 150 cases identified showed that a European legal tool, like the one being proposed today, would help to solve more than one third of the cases.
In 2021, the Commission also published a report on ‘EU Border Regions - Living Labs of European Integration,' that demonstrates the positive effects – both for border regions and for the Union as a whole – of addressing cross border obstacles. It also included a reflection on some of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cross-border obstacles that arose because of the restrictions imposed.
For More Information
Regulation on Facilitating Cross-border Solutions
2018 Proposal for a European Cross-Border Mechanism
Report on EU Border Regions: Living labs of European Integration
Report on Quantification of the effects of legal and administrative border obstacles in land border regions
@ElisaFerreiraEC
@EUinmyRegion
Today, the European Commission is taking another step to remove more of the longstanding barriers to the EU single market. Our many cross-border regions still face legal and administrative obstacles that not only hold up business activity and economic performance but also hinder cross-border relief efforts – such as fighting wildfires and providing emergency medical assistance. Our proposal aims to promote seamless cooperation between people, public authorities, and businesses in these vital regions, as well as unlock their potential to stimulate more growth and prosperity to further strengthen the single market.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for People - 12/12/2023
Even 30 years after setting up the Single Market, there are still many obstacles which are hindering border regions from reaping the full benefits of EU integration. With the proposal for facilitating cross-border solutions, we propose to national authorities a flexible and simple tool to remove these obstacles. People living in border regions represent one third of the EU’s population; today’s proposal represents the possibility of a concrete improvement in their day-to-day lives.
Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms - 12/12/2023
Proposal on Facilitating Cross-Border Solutions
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· Stefan DE KEERSMAECKER
+32 2 298 46 80
stefan.de-keersmaecker@ec.europa.eu
· Laetitia CLOSE
+32 2 296 70 73
laetitia.close@ec.europa.eu
Commission welcomes political agreement on new rules criminalising the violation of EU sanctions
The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council on the Commission's December 2022 proposal to harmonise criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU restrictive measures. While the Russian aggression against Ukraine is ongoing, it is paramount that EU restrictive measures are fully implemented and the violation of those measures is punished.
Once adopted, the new rules will harmonise the relevant criminal offences related to violation of sanctions and penalties for those offences across the EU and make it easier to investigate and prosecute such violations in all Member States in the same way. They will also establish the same level of penalties in all Member States, closing existing legal loopholes and increasing the deterrent effect of violating EU sanctions in the first place.
The new rules will include a list of criminal offences related to the violation and circumvention of EU sanctions, such as for example:
The new rules will also establish common basic standards for penalties for both natural and legal persons, including imprisonment of at least five years for certain offences and enhanced rules on freezing and confiscation of proceeds and assets subject to EU sanctions.
The new rules are linked to the new EU Directive on asset recovery and confiscation that was also provisionally agreed by European Parliament and Council today. The two initiatives come in the context of the ‘Freeze and Seize' Task Force, set up by the Commission in March 2022, and will contribute to the enforcement of EU sanctions.
The European Parliament and the Council will now have to formally adopt the political agreement. Once formally adopted, the Directive will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
EU sanctions are one of the EU's main tools to promote the objectives of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), which include safeguarding the EU's values, its fundamental interests and security; consolidating and supporting democracy, the rule of law, human rights and the principles of international law; preserving peace; preventing conflicts and strengthening international security.
Since March 2014, the EU has adopted a series of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, which have been further strengthened after Russia's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The effective implementation and enforcement of sanctions are essential to weaken Putin's war machine. Currently, not all Member States criminalise the violation of EU sanctions. Even where such violations are already punished by criminal penalties, criminal law provisions on breaches of EU sanctions vary significantly across Member States. Existing legal loopholes and lack of harmonisation currently facilitate the violation of EU sanctions and give raise to lead potential offenders to choose the most favourable jurisdiction (forum shopping). Inconsistent enforcement of restrictive measures ultimately undermines the Union's ability to speak with one voice.
To strengthen the enforcement of EU sanctions and ensure EU level harmonisation in this field, the Commission followed a two-step approach.
In May 2022, the Commission proposed adding the violation of EU restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes. At the same time, the Commission proposed new reinforced rules on asset recovery and confiscation, which will also contribute to the implementation of EU restrictive measures. Following the adoption on 28 November of the Council Decision identifying the violation of Union restrictive measures as an area of serious crime that meets the criteria set out in Article 83(1) of the TFEU, the Commission put forward a proposal for a Directive on the violation of Union restrictive measures, as a second step, in December 2022.
Proposal for a Directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive measures
The agreement reached today demonstrates the EU’s steadfast commitment and unity in enforcing its sanctions regime. This Directive will ensure that EU sanctions are applied uniformly throughout the Union by closing loopholes and removing safe havens for those trying to play our system. Any breaches or circumvention of the EU's sanctions regime will be punished in all Member States consistently.
We have a deal on the criminalisation of the violation of EU sanctions. The new rules will ensure that such offences are effectively punished in all Member States in the same way. This is a crucial step forward in strengthening the effective enforcement of EU sanctions, ensuring that sanctions have a biting effect, most importantly in respect to the restrictive measures imposed against Russia and Belarus in the context of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Today’s agreement is a big step forward in our crackdown on all kinds of sanctions evasion or circumvention. The message is clear - those trying to get around our sanctions – are committing a crime under EU law. This agreement will stop the criminals finding the weakest link in the EU because penalties for breaking the law will be harmonised across member states. Together, we are reinforcing the integrity of our sanctions framework.
Mairead McGuinness, Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union - 12/12/2023
New rules criminalising the violation of EU sanctions
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· Yuliya MATSYK
+32 460 76 15 41
yuliya.matsyk@ec.europa.eu
Commission welcomes the political agreement on rules strengthening asset recovery and confiscation in the European Union
The European Commission welcomes today's political agreement reached between the European Parliament and the Council on updated rules on asset recovery and confiscation.
The new Directive will be key in the fight against serious and organised crime. It will limit the capacity of criminals to maintain and expand their criminal activities as well as to increase corruption and infiltrate the economy by investing illegal gains. The proposed rules will also cover the violation of restrictive measures, ensuring the effective tracing, freezing, management and confiscation of benefits coming from violating sanctions.
Once adopted, the new EU Directive will:
The political agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council is now subject to formal approval by the co-legislators. Once published in the Official Journal, the Directive will enter into force 20 days after publication and Member States will have 30 months to transpose the provisions of the Directive into national law.
In May 2022, the Commission presented new reinforced rules on recovery and confiscation of assets of oligarchs violating restrictive measures as well as of criminals benefiting from illicit gains. To achieve these objectives a Directive to establish criminal penalties to persons violating EU law on restrictive measures was proposed, along with a Directive for asset recovery and confiscation.
Asset recovery is key to fight organised crime and its illicit activities as it was remarked in the Roadmap against drugs trafficking and organised crime presented in October 2023. This Directive reflects also the objectives and measures foreseen in the EU Strategy to tackle Organised Crime 2021-2025 in April 2021.
It is also an important tool to reinforce the implementation of EU restrictive measures. The Union has put in place a series of restrictive measures against Russian and Belarusian individuals and companies, as well as sectoral measures some of which date back to 2014. The implementation of EU restrictive measures following the Russian aggression against Ukraine shows the complexity of identifying assets owned by oligarchs, who hide them across different jurisdictions through complex legal and financial structures.
Proposal for a Directive on asset recovery and confiscation
EU strategy to tackle organised crime for 2021-2025
Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime (europa.eu)
Commission website on Confiscation and Asset Recovery
With another important block of the EU’s Security Union now in place, we are making sure crime does not pay by depriving criminals of their ill-gotten gains and limiting their capacity to commit further crimes. The new rules will give Member States the tools to effectively and swiftly trace and identify, freeze, confiscate and manage property derived from criminal activities in all areas where organised crime is active.
Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life - 12/12/2023
This Directive is a decisive step to further combat organised crime. It will empower law enforcement authorities to follow the financial trail of criminals and quickly freeze the property as soon as they find it. This proposal extends its coverage to serious crimes of increasing concern such as firearms trafficking and extortion. Additionally, the new rules target unexplained wealth, ensuring that those at the helm of criminal enterprises cannot retain the property from their illegal businesses, even when they have been able to hide their tracks.
Ylva Johansson, Commissioner for Home Affairs - 12/12/2023
strengthening asset recovery and confiscation in the EU
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Commission publishes template for DMA gatekeepers for their reporting obligations on consumer profiling techniques
Today, the Commission published the template for reporting on consumer profiling techniques and the independent audit of such reports. Gatekeepers are obliged to submit the reports to the Commission as part of their obligations under Article 15 of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The reports on consumer profiling techniques must describe, in a detailed and transparent manner, all relevant information on all techniques used for profiling of consumers applied to or across any core platform services offered by gatekeepers. Gatekeepers are required to submit this description to an independent audit, and the reports should also contain the auditor's assessment on the completeness and accuracy of the description. The gatekeepers designated on 5 September 2023 need to submit their first report as well as a non-confidential overview by 7 March 2024.
Today, the Commission has also published the non-confidential replies to the consultation on the draft template for the independently audited description, which were received during the public consultation.
More information on the DMA is available in a dedicated Q&A.
(For more information: Johannes Bahrke - Tel: +32 2 295 86 15; Lea Zuber – Tel: +32 2 295 62 98, Thomas Regnier - Tel: +32 2 291 33 91, Sara Simonini – Tel: +32 2 298 33 67)
Online cross-border procedures to be drastically simplified thanks to the Once-Only Technical System
Today, the Commission is launching the core infrastructure of the Once-Only Technical System (OOTS). This is a new EU-wide solution that will make cross-border paperwork significantly more efficient and less costly for citizens, companies, and public administrations.
While remaining fully in control of their own data, citizens and businesses will no longer have to retrieve and provide the same documents repeatedly. With the new system, they will be able to have their documents exchanged automatically within the Single Market simply by asking the relevant authorities to retrieve them directly from authentic sources.
Concretely, Once-Only will make citizens' life easier, for instance when moving or working abroad, studying, or retiring. For all these procedures, users will only need to connect to e-government portals of any country in the EU and request the transfer of the necessary documentary evidence. Starting, running, and closing a business will also become easier, significantly reducing red tape for SMEs.
To make this happen, development teams from the Commission and Member States have jointly delivered the technological backbone and the necessary security and operational framework to make Once-Only a reality. Now is the time for the circa 80 000 EU national competent authorities to connect themselves to this system, which later on will allow final users (citizens and companies) to fully benefit from it.
Once-Only is the latest feature of the Single Digital Gateway, which is already providing key assistance to users through the Your Europe web portal .
Further information on the Once-Only Technical System is available here and a video explaining its functioning can be watched here.
(For more information: Johanna Bernsel – Tel.: + 32 2 298 66 99; Ana Martinez Sanjurjo – Tel.: +32 2 296 30 66)
Fisheries ministers adopt 2024 fishing opportunities for the North-East Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea
Today, the Council agreed on fishing opportunities for 2024 for the fish stocks managed by the EU in the Atlantic, Kattegat and Skagerrak, as well as the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
Virginijus Sinkevičius, Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said: “We had intense negotiations spanning over three days. For the Commission and me personally, it was important to reach an agreement that is both balanced and responsible - preserving fishers' livelihoods in the long term, and improving the chances for stock recovery and healthier stocks. Finally, I would like to thank fishers for their tremendous efforts over recent years to fish sustainably and to live up to their key role.”
In the North-East Atlantic, the Council set 14 total allowable catches (TACs) in line with maximum sustainable yield (MSY) advice as proposed by the Commission. This includes an increase for megrims, anglerfish, hake, horse mackerel in the Iberian waters, as well as undulate rays. The Council has followed the Commission proposal to set a TAC at a low level for Norway lobster in Skagerrak and Kattegat and for plaice in Kattegat to protect cod.
In the Bay of Biscay, decreases have been agreed for Norway lobster, sole, seabass, pollack and whiting. In addition, the agreement includes measures for recreational catches for pollack. On eels in the Northeast Atlantic, the agreement clarifies that the closure period must cover the peak migration period in marine waters across the EU.
The Fishing Opportunities Regulation includes the results of the agreements reached ahead of the Council with Norway and the UK on a bilateral basis, and between the three parties jointly, as well as with other coastal States. Stocks shared with third countries result in fishing opportunities for the EU in the next year of over 1.6 million tonnes and worthing almost €2.2 billion (adjusted for inflation).
For the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, the Council agreed to continue implementing the various multiannual management plans decided at the level of the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean (GFCM): for the Strait of Sicily, the Ionian and the Levant Seas, the Adriatic, and the Black Sea.
For the Western Mediterranean, the Ministers agreed to continue the implementation of the EU multiannual management plan (MAP) for demersal stocks, adopted in June 2019. The agreement therefore continues the reduction of the trawling fishing effort by 9,5%, combined with the implementation of additional management tools, such as catch limits for deep water shrimps and continuing the effort freeze for longliners.
Today's agreement also incorporates into EU law the sustainable management measures for common dolphinfish and European eel in the Mediterranean, adopted in November by the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM).
More information is in the news items here and here.
(For more information: Adalbert Jahnz – Tel.: +32 2 295 31 56; Daniela Stoycheva – Tel.: +32 2 295 36 64)
9 out of 10 people satisfied with city living across Europe according to new Commission report
Almost 9 out of 10 people in Europe are satisfied with living in their city, according to the results of a Commission report that was published today on the quality of life in European cities and people's satisfaction. The comprehensive report highlights different topics, such as the size and safety of cities, quality of public spaces, access to healthcare, and housing affordability.
The Report covers capital cities and other major cities in the EU, European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the UK, the Western Balkans and Turkey, and is based on 71,153 interviews conducted in 83 cities. It delves into various aspects of well-being linked to urban life, such as jobs, urban mobility, inclusiveness, the environment, and overall safety.
Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira said: “Quality of life depends on where we live and what opportunities it can offer us. It is encouraging to know that quality of life in European cities remains high, particularly in small and medium-sized cities. However, there is still work to be done, as some cities still lack opportunities, while others struggle with congestion problems. EU Cohesion Policy supports local authorities across Europe as they address these challenges, striving to enhance and improve the lives of citizens.”
The findings of the 2023 report show a continued high satisfaction rate among Europeans across EU cities, reaching 87%. There have been several noteworthy improvements in perceived quality of life in cities in eastern EU Member States, with significant strides in cities like Białystok and Gdańsk in Poland and Cluj-Napoca in Romania. Overall, Rostock (Germany), Braga (Portugal), Antwerp (Belgium), Copenhagen (Denmark), Groningen (the Netherlands) and Gdańsk tops the ranks of cities where residents are most satisfied with their living situation.
Some key themes in the Report focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on citizens' satisfaction in their cities & regions, urban mobility which revealed that more people are choosing walking as their preferred mode of transport in recent years, and the attraction of small cities. Smaller cities are perceived as having a stronger appeal for older people and for families with young children. They are also deemed as safer for walking alone at night, cleaner, and less noisy compared to larger cities.
(For more information: Stefan De Keersmaecker – Tel.: +32 2 298 46 80; Laetitia Close – Tel.: +32 2 296 70 73)
Commissioners Lenarčič and Johansson participate in Global Refugee Forum in Geneva
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič and Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson will participate in the upcoming Global Refugee Forum in Geneva between 13 and 15 December. Over the three-day forum, the EU will reaffirm its support to address major displacement crises and areas linked to refugee support and protection, providing a high-quality asylum space in the EU, continued support for people displaced from Ukraine and contributing to global efforts on resettlement and complementary pathways, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to fostering global stability and durable solutions.
On Thursday, Commissioner Johansson will meet in the morning with the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller. She will attend a parallel high-level event on the Ukraine refugee situation. Also on Thursday at 10:30, Commissioner Johansson will have a press point where she will announce the resettlement pledges for 2024 -2025.
On Friday, Commissioner Lenarčič will attend the parallel high-level event on ‘Scaling up Climate Action in displacement settings' and in the afternoon he will address the plenary session of the Forum.
Resettlement is a crucial humanitarian and protection tool. Commissioner Johansson organised High-level resettlement forums with the Member States and international partner countries (US, Canada, UK) in 2021, 2022 and 2023 to encourage Member States to contribute to this voluntary effort. Resettlement is voluntary for the Member States. The Commission facilitates joint EU efforts, providing political and financial support. So far in 2023, the Commission has provided €246 million to Member States, in relation to persons admitted through resettlement and humanitarian admission over the last two years.
Together with its Member States, the EU is the biggest humanitarian and development contributor and supporter in refugee situations globally. According to the 2020-2021 OECD-DAC survey from October 2023, the EU is the second-largest donor for forcibly displaced persons. Combined, EU and its Member States' official development assistance streams establish the EU as the world's leading donor in refugee situations, contributing to 41,8% of global funding. Each year, about 80% of the EU humanitarian budget is allocated to projects addressing the needs of forcibly displaced persons and host communities, in sectors such as protection, shelter, food assistance, safe water, access to health services or education.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Christian Wigand - Tel. : +32 2 296 22 53; Jennifer Sanchez Da Silva - Tel.: +32 2 295 83 16; Fiorella Boigner - Tel.: +32 2 299 37 34)
Commissioner Simson in Oman to foster cooperation on hydrogen and the global energy transition
Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson will be in Muscat on 13-15 December to participate in high-level conferences on hydrogen and build cooperation with Oman in this field. Engagement with third countries is a key part of the EU's wider efforts to support the energy transition globally and work towards the establishment of a global hydrogen market.
On Wednesday 13 December, the Commissioner will open the EU-Oman Energy Forum dedicated to ‘Shaping the Future of Renewable Hydrogen Cooperation' on the margins of the Green Hydrogen Summit Oman (GHSO), where she will discuss ‘EU-Oman Green Hydrogen Political Engagement and ways forward', alongside the Undersecretary for Energy and Minerals of Oman, Mohnsin Al Hadhrami. On Thursday 14 December, the Commissioner will join the opening session of the Summit, and visit the hydrogen center of the German University of Oman, Gutech.
While in Oman, Commissioner Simson will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Chairman of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, and chair roundtable meetings with Omani and European energy companies.
(For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 02; Giulia Bedini – Tel: +32 2 295 86 61; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25)
COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Principal Adviser Member of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board
Today, the European Commission has appointed Rolf Hoijer as Principal Adviser – Member of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB).The Board's role is to provide quality assurance of Commission impact assessments, fitness checks, and major evaluations to the political level of the Commission, enabling it to take decisions on the basis of best available information and stakeholders' views. It also looks at the impacts of Commission proposals in relation to the competitiveness of European businesses, which is critical for the achievement of a fair green and digital transition. The date of effect will be determined later.
Dr Hoijer, a Swedish national, possesses twenty-five years of professional experience in a broad variety of areas. His extensive expertise in policy analysis for evidence-based policymaking not only underscores his depth of knowledge but also reflects his unwavering commitment to ensuring well-informed decision-making, and attention to the principle of proportionality. Throughout his career, Dr Hoijer has consistently demonstrated resilience, strategic thinking, and an analytical acumen – essential qualities for advising the College of Commissioners. He has authored a substantial number of articles, reports and conference papers on a diverse range of topics. These include political economy, taxation, innovation policy and public administration, and regulatory policy, demonstrating his broad and impactful influence in the field.
Rolf Hoijer is currently senior adviser in the Swedish Government Offices, where he coordinates Sweden's better regulation agenda. During the Swedish 2023 EU presidency he was the chair of the working party on better regulation in the Council of Ministers. He holds a PhD from the University of Oxford and a master's degree from the London School of Economics where he also taught and conducted research for a number of years.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Veronica Favalli – Tel.: +32 2 298 72 69)
Today, the European Commission has appointed Marek Havrda as Principal Adviser – Member of the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB). The Board's role is to provide quality assurance of Commission impact assessments, fitness checks, and major evaluations to the political level of the Commission, enabling it to take decisions on the basis of best available information and stakeholders' views. It also looks at the impacts of Commission proposals in relation to the competitiveness of European businesses, which is critical for the achievement of a fair green and digital transition. The date of effect will be determined later.
Mr Havrda, a Czech national, has amassed nearly two decades of extensive experience in policy analysis, with a focus on evidence-based policy making, cost-benefit analyses, and evaluations, including counterfactual studies. His expertise extends to Regulatory Impact Assessment at both the EU and national levels. With a proven track record, he has successfully applied behavioural insights to shape legislation in the realms of social interventions, consumer protection, and health. Demonstrating leadership acumen, Mr Havrda has led national and international teams, overseeing the delivery of analytical reports, legislative proposals and policy instruments including the Czech Recovery and Resilience Plan. His notable achievements also include valuable experience in negotiation and representation, exemplified by his representation of the Czech Presidency at prominent fora like the final plenary meeting of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Presently, he holds the position of Deputy Minister for European Affairs in Czechia. Prior to this, Mr Havrda served as a Strategic Policy Analyst at the Commission's Department for Health and Food Safety. His career also includes leadership and expert roles in UNESCO, technology start-ups, and think tanks.
Marek Havrda holds a PhD in Sociology.
COLLEGE MEETING: The European Commission appoints a new Principal Adviser at the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority
Today, the European Commission has appointed Wolfgang Philipp as Principal Adviser ´Chief Science Officer´ in the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA). This Commission Department is responsible to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to health emergencies, as a key pillar of the European Health Union. The date of effect will be determined later.
Mr Philipp, a German national, brings with him 22 years of invaluable experience in the fields of health, biology, and food safety, marked by his diverse roles in various management positions within the Commission. Notably, he played a pivotal role in significantly contributing to policy development on chronic diseases, exemplified by his leadership in drafting the 'Commission communication on combating HIV/AIDS in Europe.' Throughout his career, Mr. Philipp has spearheaded several initiatives of horizontal significance, focusing on coordinating crisis responses to cross-border health threats within the EU. His responsibilities extended to coordinating the emerging public health response to COVID-19, particularly in the implementation of vaccine contracts, negotiation of joint procurements for drugs and diagnostics, and revising relevant legislation on cross-border health threats, as pillar of the European Health Union. This required extensive coordination within the Commission but also with Member States, and international organizations.
Wolfgang Philipp, formerly Deputy Head of HERA, played a leading role in setting up the Authority. Previously, he served as Head of Unit for Health Emergency Response and Vaccines, and for Crisis Management and Health Preparedness at the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety. Currently, he is Head of Unit for intelligence and innovation at HERA.
Mr Philipp holds a PhD in microbiology of the Institut Pasteur/University of Paris.
Commission publishes first Union Critical Medicines list to tackle shortages
The European Commission has published today the first Union list of critical medicines, together with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Member States' Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA). The publication follows the commitment made in the Commission's Communication on addressing medicine shortages in the EU to accelerate the work on this list, originally announced in the EU's pharmaceutical reform proposal. It is an important part of the EU's efforts under the European Health Union to ensure patients have the medicines they need, by fostering the security of supply of critical medicines and preventing shortages from occurring. It is also part of the EU's efforts to improve its resilience and strategic autonomy in the face of geopolitical and unexpected challenges.
A medicine is listed as critical when it is essential to ensure the provision and the continuity of quality healthcare, and to guarantee a high level of public health protection in Europe. This first Union critical medicines list contains more than 200 active substances used in human medicines, which are considered essential in the EU/EEA.
The inclusion on this list is not an indication that a medicine is likely to experience a shortage in the near future. Rather, it signifies the critical importance of averting shortages for these specific medicines, as its unavailability could cause significant harm to patients and pose substantial challenges to health systems.
The list was developed alongside with the EMA and all EU Member States. It follows a strict methodology to assess criticality, initially developed during the Commission's Structured dialogue on security of medicines supply launched under the Pharmaceutical Strategy, which was conducted in 2021 and drew lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. Key stakeholder groups, including patients and healthcare professional organisations and industry associations, were consulted.
Ensuring the uninterrupted supply of critical medicines of the Union list is a top priority for the Commission. It will take all necessary steps to work hand in hand with the Member States and relevant stakeholders in order to prevent shortages, including implement additional measures if required.
The Union list of critical medicines will be reviewed annually. As announced in the Communication on addressing medicine shortages in the EU, the Critical Medicines list will be used to support and expedite the Commission's analysis of vulnerabilities in the supply chains of the critical medicines that are included on the list, following a staged approach.
On this basis, the Commission and EMA, together with the Member States (through the Executive Steering Group on Shortages and Safety of Medicinal Products), may recommend measures to address those vulnerabilities. This would be done, where relevant, in consultation with the Critical Medicines Alliance to be set up in early 2024.
Union list of critical medicines and Q&A
Reform of the EU pharmaceutical legislation
The publication of this first crucial list underscores our proactive preventive measures, uniting our pledge to safeguard continuous access to vital medicines for every citizen within our Union. It stands as a testament to our dedication outlined in the Commission’s Communication on addressing medicine shortages in the EU and the pharmaceutical reform proposal, solidifying our commitment to this cause. As we reach this milestone, our united commitment remains resolute, propelling ongoing initiatives to combat medicine shortages and continue prioritizing public health.
Ensuring an uninterrupted supply of critical medicines is essential for a strong European Health Union. With the publication of the first Union list of critical medicines today, we are delivering on our promise to accelerate work in this area and to take every possible measure to avert the risk of shortages for our citizens. I am very grateful to the European Medicines Agency and Member States’ agencies for the cooperation on this list and for the crucial work that they are doing to prevent medicine shortages in our Union.
Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety - 12/12/2023
First Union Critical Medicines list
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· Ana APSE-PAESE
+32 2 298 73 48
Ana.APSE-PAESE@ext.ec.europa.eu
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