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27/06/2013 - Economy and the euro / Institutional affairs
The Council set out its position on a draft framework for bank recovery and resolution with a view to negotiations with the European Parliament. The Council also approved draft amending budget no. 1 for 2013 providing the EU's 2013 budget with the necessary resources for the accession of Croatia to the EU on 1 July.
18/06/2013 - Economy and the euro
The new rules aim to reduce over-reliance on credit ratings while at the same time improving the quality of the rating process. Credit rating agencies will have to be more transparent when rating sovereign states.
26/06/2013 - Business, taxation and competition
The European Commission has proposed a draft directive on e-invoicing in public procurement, accompanied by a communication setting out its vision for the full digitisation of the public procurement process, so-called 'end-to-end e-procurement'.
17/06/2013 - Business, taxation and competition / Employment and social rights
The European Commission has proposed a Decision to help public employment services to maximise their effectiveness through closer cooperation to better address the needs of the unemployed and businesses.
27/06/2013 - Food, farming and fisheries
More emphasis on environmental protection, mandatory top-ups for young farmers in all member states, stronger farmers' organisations and less red tape when spending EU funds. These are the main lines of the agreement on farm policy struck on Wednesday by Parliament, Council and the Commission. Decisions still need to be taken on capping direct payments to bigger farms and distributing funds between farmers.
25/06/2013 - Enlargement, external relations and trade / Institutional affairs
The Council discussed the situation in Syria. After the meeting, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy underlined the EU's belief that the crisis must be solved through a political process.
- DOCUMENT. Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable steel industry in Europe
- Afghanistan: towards taking ownership
- Towards a comprehensive EU approach to the Syrian crisis
- Declaration by the High Representative concerning restrictive measures against Syria
- More information on Syria
- More press releases from the Foreign Affairs Council
25/06/2013 - Food, farming and fisheries / Institutional affairs
As regards agriculture, the Council held a debate on the outcome of the trilogues on the proposals for the direct payments regulation, the single common market organisation (CMO) regulation, the rural development regulation and the horizontal regulation within the framework of reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP).
01/07/2013 - EU regional and urban development
The European Commission has published the first study to weigh up the success of the EU's two macro-regional strategies and to provide recommendations for the future.
27/06/2013 -
In June the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) improved markedly, continuing last month's increase. Sentiment increased by 1.8 points in both the euro area (to 91.3) and the EU (to 92.6). The Business Climate Indicator (BCI) for the euro area increased by 0.07 points to ‑0.68.
11/06/2013 - Business, taxation and competition / Economy and the euro
The European Commission puts forward an action plan for the European Steel Industry to help this sector confront today’s challenges and lay the foundations for future competitiveness by fostering innovation, creating growth and jobs.
18/06/2013 - Consumer affairs and public health
The Environment Council adopted conclusions on a strategy on adaptation to climate change. The conclusions are a response to the Commission's communication "An EU strategy on adaptation to climate change".
01/07/2013 - Employment and social rights / Statistics
The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1% in May 2013, up from 12.0% in April. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.9%, stable compared with the previous month. In both zones, rates have risen markedly compared with May 2012, when they were 11.3% and 10.4% respectively.
28/06/2013 - Consumer affairs and public health / Transport and travel
The European Commission took the first step towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry. It proposed legislation which will require owners of large ships using EU ports to monitor and report the ships' annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
26/06/2013 - Justice and citizens’ rights
The call follows the Commission's progress report released which shows that Member States need to do better in implementing their national Roma integration strategies submitted under the EU Framework for national Roma integration strategies.
- Frequently asked questions
- Statement by Commissioner Viviane Reding
- Statement by Commissioner László Andor
- DOCUMENT. Communication "Step forward in implementing national Roma integration strategies"
- DOCUMENT. Proposal for a recommendation on effective Roma integration measures in the Member States
- Press pack
- More information on EU and Roma
25/06/2013 - Enlargement, external relations and trade / Institutional affairs
The Council agreed to recommend to the European Council to open accession negotiations with Serbia. The Council also agreed in principle on draft Council decisions authorising the opening of negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement (SAA) between the European Union and Kosovo, to be adopted on 28 June 2013, following the necessary procedures.
28/06/2013 - Institutional affairs
The European Council agreed on a comprehensive approach to combat youth unemployment. It also endorsed country-specific recommendations to guide Member States' policies and budgets, thus concluding the 2013 European semester. In addition, the European Council assessed progress towards the banking union. It also warmly welcomed Croatia as a member of the European Union as of 1 July 2013.
- Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the European Council
- Statement by President Barroso following the second day of the European Council
- Agreement reached on austerity measures and reforms for European civil service
- Boosting investment, implementing the Compact for Growth and Jobs
- Leaders review progress in strengthening economic and monetary union
- EU leaders agree measures to fight youth unemployment
- More press releases from the European Council
12/06/2013 - Economy and the euro
Under the proposal, dividends, capital gains, all other forms of financial income and account balances, would be added to the list of categories which are subject to automatic information exchange within the EU.
- Frequently asked questions
- DOCUMENT. Proposal for a Council Directive as regards mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation
- Speech by Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta
- Enhanced administrative cooperation in the field of (direct) taxation
- More information on tax evasion and tax avoidance
11/06/2013 - Transport and travel
The European Commission has acted to speed up the reform of Europe's air traffic control system. The Commission is looking to head off a capacity crunch as the number of flights is forecast to increase by 50% over the next 10-20 years.
21/06/2013 - Economy and the euro
The Council has reached political agreement on a package of measures aimed at combating VAT fraud more effectively.
18/06/2013 - Enlargement, external relations and trade
Advancing global trade, fighting tax evasion and tax avoidance, and increasing transparency were the main themes at the 39th G8 summit held in Lough Erne (UK) on 17 and 18 June.
