EU Council Presidency
EU ministers approve strategy on climate change adaptation
European Union environment ministers on Thursday (10 June) approved the EU’s new climate change adaptation strategy, which sets out a vision up to 2050 to make Europe resilient and "fully adapted to its inevitable impacts".
Brussels promises new EU legislation for end-of-life vehicles in 2022
The European Commission will come forward at the end of 2022 with a proposal to remove the most polluting end-of-life vehicles from EU roads, European Green Deal Commissioner Frans Timmermans said on Thursday (10 June).
EU-US summit hailed as ‘milestone’ in transatlantic relationship
The Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU has highlighted the "symbolic importance" of next week's summit between the European Union and the United States, which it believes has "the potential to be a key milestone" in renewing the transatlantic partnership.
EU in talks with US, UK on mutual recognition of COVID-19 travel certificates
The European Commission is discussing with the United States and the United Kingdom the recognition of the COVID-19 travel certificate that will come into force in July in the EU, the European Commissioner for Justice has announced.
EU justice ministers call for close monitoring of high-risk fans at Euro2020
European Union justice ministers meeting under the Portuguese presidency have called for close monitoring of risk supporters during the European football championships, stressing that the format of the competition already poses "a unique security challenge".
Europe only strong if citizens’ lot improves – Portugal president
Portugal’s president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has in the run-up to the European Council of 24 and 25 June described the country’s six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union as a “difficult” stint that involved much work, warning...
Brussels optimistic migration pact will be approved during Portugal’s EU presidency
The European Commission is optimistic that the Pact for Migration and Asylum will be approved during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) by the end of June, Commissioner Margaritis Schinas said on Wednesday.
Commission: EU future debate should focus on ‘genuine people’ not ‘Brussels bubble’
Margaritis Schinas, European Commission Vice-President for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, has underlined that the Future of Europe conference should focus on the "genuine people" and not the "Brussels bubble".
Council adopts changes to visa system in a bid to boost security
EU member states have approved changes to the European visa system aimed at increasing security in the Schengen area by providing for greater monitoring of short-stay and residence permits.
Comissioner: Criminalise those who use service of victims of human trafficking
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs has said that ending the "culture of impunity" surrounding trafficking in human beings requires criminalising those who use the services of victims of this crime.
Budget rules to apply from 2023 to avoid ‘fiscal risks’ – Commission
The European Commission's executive vice-president has said that the provision of liquidity to the debt markets for "too long" in the EU could result in "fiscal risks".
Conclusion of CAP reform a ‘priority’, Portuguese agriculture minister says
Portuguese Agriculture Minister Maria do Céu Antunes has reiterated that the goal of completing the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) during the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU to "ensure a greener and more resilient agriculture".
Europe stands out among global players in sharing vaccines
The EU is ready to discuss concrete proposals on the suspension of patents on vaccines against COVID-19, but until then has been acting like no other global actor, Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva has said.
Portugal ‘will fight to last minute’ to seal migration pact
Portugal's EU Presidency "will fight until the last minute of its term of office" for an agreement on the Pact on Migration and Asylum proposed by the European Commission, the foreign minister said in the European Parliament on Tuesday.
Portugal to proceed against Poland, Hungary for violation of European values
Portugal's minister of foreign affairs reaffirmed on Monday the intention of the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the EU to move forward with the proceedings against Poland and Hungary for suspected violations of European values.
Right conditions in place for safe tourism in summer, EU’s Breton says
The European Union already has the right conditions in place for a "safe reopening" of tourism in the summer, its commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, said on Friday (14 May), while warning that the recovery of the sector "will still take time" after the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU ministers in search of consensus on sustainable tourism
Portugal's secretary of state for tourism hopes that a high-level forum on Friday (14 May) will resolve "two major concerns": the commitment of member states to sustainable tourism and funding lines for this transformation.
Portugal wants to be remembered for ‘rebalancing relationship with Asia’
Portugal's minister of foreign affairs has said that he would like Portugal’s EU Presidency to be remembered as the “one that rebalanced the relationship with Asia”.
Commissioner acknowledges ‘slow progress’ on migration pact
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson has acknowledged that progress on the new Pact for Migration and Asylum, proposed by the European Commission in September, has been "slow".
EU approves strengthened civil protection mechanism
EU member states on Monday (10 May) approved a strengthened EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with new rules to better prepare for emergencies like forest fires, and more resources allowing a faster response to new threats such as pandemics.
Portuguese PM: ’unfair’ to blame Germany for vaccine patent stance
Portugal's Prime Minister on Monday (10 May) considered arguments that blame Germany for the EU’s less open position on the lifting of patents on COVID-19 vaccines "unfair", stressing that most member states follow the same line.
Commission has ‘plan B’ if Portugal’s presidency ends with no minimum wage consensus
The European Commission is considering future presidencies after Portugal's presidency as a 'plan B' should Portugal fail to reach consensus in the Council on the definition of minimum wages, according to EU Employment Commissioner Nicolas Schmit.
Schmit: ‘Real problem’ that ‘too few’ social rights exist in EU
European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, underlined on Friday (7 May) that it is a real problem that "too few" social rights exist, calling for a collective duty of the EU to provide concrete answers to citizens.