European Council

Latest news from the Council of the European Union - on EUbusiness.com.

Ministers move forward on EU patent — 13 December 2010, 20:14 CET

'At today's Competitiveness Council, 11 Member States stated their agreement to work to implement the European patent via the procedure of enhanced cooperation,' announced Belgian Minister for Enterprise and Simplification Vincent Van Quickenborne on 10 December. His words mark the beginning of the end of a decades-long impasse on the difficult issue of a single European patent.

EU seals first Asian free trade deal with S. Korea — 16 September 2010, 17:48 CET

Europe agreed a vast free trade deal with South Korea on Thursday, hailing it as the first in a chain of bilateral pacts with Asian nations that will bind the continents together.

New rules in the EU to provide high-quality cross-border healthcare — 10 June 2010, 23:21 CET

EU Health Ministers today agreed on a draft directive which aims to facilitate the access to safe and high-quality cross-border healthcare and to promote cooperation on healthcare between member states.

EU to strengthen cross-border cooperation on VAT fraud — 08 June 2010, 20:15 CET

EU Finance Ministers today reached an agreement on a draft regulation which will enable EU member states to combine efforts in combating fraud with regard to value-added taxation (VAT).

EU moves to strengthen maritime policy — 20 May 2010, 23:19 CET

EU Council of Ministers in June will create a financial instrument to develop a comprehensive maritime policy and will promote the inclusion of a maritime aspect in EU security and defence policies, said on Thursday the Spanish Secretary of State for the EU, Diego Lopez Garrido.

EU moots centre to combat cybercrime in Europe — 26 April 2010, 23:01 CET

The EU on Monday set out plans for a centre to combat cybercrime in Europe. Ministers meeting in Luxembourg proposed the new centre as part of a longer term strategy to cope more effectively with the crimes committed by means of electronic networks.

The European Citizens' Initiative - Briefing — 31 March 2010, 19:01 CET

The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) will allow European citizens for the first time to directly suggest new legislation. An innovation contained in the Lisbon Treaty, the ECI will allow at least one million citizens from at least one third of EU Member States to invite the European Commission to bring forward legislative proposals in areas where the Commission has the power to do so.

EU to cooperate on fighting tax evasion — 17 March 2010, 00:39 CET

At a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council today, finance ministers adopted a draft EU directive on strenghtening mutual assistance between Member States in the recovery of taxes.

EU's Relations with Moldova — 09 February 2010, 12:15 CET

The EU-Moldova Partnership and Cooperation Agreement entered into force in July 1998 and sets a framework for trade liberalisation, legislative harmonisation, cooperation in a range of sectors and political dialogue.

Partnership with the Western Balkans — 10 December 2009, 15:45 CET

Within the framework of the stabilisation and association process with the countries of the Western Balkans, the European Union has set up partnerships with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, including Kosovo, as defined by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 10 June 1999.

The Treaty of Lisbon explained — 01 December 2009, 19:25 CET

The following memo gives an overview of the main innovations in the Treaty of Lisbon that enters into force on 1 December 2009. It is not exhaustive, and should not be seen as a legal analysis.

Adoption of the WTO agreements — 01 December 2009, 18:25 CET

By Council Decision 94/800/EC, the Council of the European Union adopts the legal texts resulting from the Uruguay Round multilateral trade negotiations concluded through the signature of the Marrakesh Final Act and the creation of the World Trade Organisation.

Main points of the EU's Lisbon Treaty — 01 December 2009, 18:40 CET

The European Union's wide-ranging Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force Tuesday, is aimed at updating and revitalising the bloc's institutions and replacing its failed constitution.

Herman Van Rompuy — 06 February 2010, 12:03 CET

Profile of the first permanent President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, elected on 19 November 2009.

Main points of the EU's Lisbon Treaty — 03 November 2009, 18:24 CET

The European Union's wide-ranging Lisbon Treaty, now ratified by all 27 EU member states after eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus put pen to paper Tuesday, is aimed at updating and revitalising the bloc's institutions and replacing its failed constitution.

DG Economic and Financial Affairs Contacts - European Commission — 02 October 2009, 21:26 CET

The European Commission's Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) strives to improve the economic wellbeing of the citizens of the European Union by developing and promoting policies that lead to sustainable economic growth, a high level of employment, stable public finances and financial stability.

The European Consensus on Development — 01 October 2009, 16:35 CET

The European Consensus on Development 2005 is a policy statement that reflects the EU's willingness to eradicate poverty and build a more stable and equitable world.

Council of the European Union Contacts — 25 September 2009, 23:01 CET

 

Agriculture and Fisheries Council — 25 September 2009, 23:04 CET

The Agriculture and Fisheries Council is, together with the General Affairs and External Relations Council and the Ecofin Council, one of the Council's oldest configurations. It brings together once a month the Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries and the European Commissioners responsible for agriculture and rural development, fisheries and maritime affairs, as well as consumer health and protection.

Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council — 25 September 2009, 23:03 CET

Since June 2002 these three policies have been placed under the sole responsibility of a single Council configuration which meets approximately every two months. The composition of the Council varies according to the items on the agenda (Ministers for Transport, Telecommunications or Energy).

Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council — 25 September 2009, 23:05 CET

The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council brings together Justice ministers and Interior ministers about once every two months to discuss the development and implementation of cooperation and common policies in this sector. The creation of an Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, is a key aim of the EU Treaty.

Competitiveness Council — 25 September 2009, 23:06 CET

The creation of the Competitiveness Council in June 2002, through the merging of three previous configurations (Internal Market, Industry and Research) was a response to the perceived need for a more coherent and better coordinated handling of these matters related to the European Union's competitiveness. Depending on the items on the agenda, this Council is composed of European Affairs Ministers, Industry Ministers, Research Ministers, etc. It meets about five or six times a year.

European Council Configurations — 25 September 2009, 23:05 CET

The Council is a single body, but for reasons relating to the organisation of its work, it meets – according to the subject being discussed – in different "configurations", which are attended by the Ministers from the Member States and the European Commissioners responsible for the areas concerned.

The EU's Trade Relationship with China — 08 July 2011, 15:52 CET

China is the single most important challenge for EU trade policy. China has re-emerged as the world's third economy and the biggest exporter in the global economy, but also an increasingly important political power. EU-China trade has increased dramatically in recent years. China is now the EU's 2nd trading partner behind the USA and the EU's biggest source of imports by far. The EU is also China's biggest trading partner.

The EU and International Cooperation in Pharmaceuticals — 09 July 2009, 15:57 CET

The European Commission is an active member of the World Health Organisation’s International Medical Products Task Force (IMPACT). IMPACT counts all the major anti-counterfeiting players including international organizations, non–governmental organisations, enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers associations and drug regulatory authorities.