ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
(2)

An annex provided by the organisers on the proposed citizens’ initiative contains further information on these objectives. It states that the number of EU citizens living and working in Member States other than that of their nationality is increasing but that due to the barriers and obstacles in the exercise of their voting rights in their country of residence they often feel unrepresented in local politics. According to the annex, ‘the low turnout of mobile EU citizens in local and European elections is not surprising, since they are still only given the right to vote in municipal and European elections in their country of residence but are excluded from the elections and democratic choices which really count’. The proposed initiative therefore strives to ‘make European citizenship a real citizenship’, ‘to take a step towards universal suffrage’ by giving EU citizens full political rights, ‘to encourage better integration’ and ‘to help build a transnational European democracy’.
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/522

of 7 April 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community as regards certain budgetary matters in relation to the implementation of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 and Article 100(2) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Treaty establishing the Transport Community ('the TCT') was signed by the Union in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2017/1937 (1). On 4 March 2019 it was approved on behalf of the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2019/392 (2). It entered into force on 1 May 2019.

(2) Pursuant to Article 35 of the TCT, the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community ('the Steering Committee') is to adopt the budget of the Transport Community every year.

(3) The Steering Committee is to adopt a decision on the budget of the Transport Community for 2020 in order to ensure that the TCT is implemented.

(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union's behalf in the Steering Committee, as the decision to be adopted by the Steering Committee is necessary for the functioning of the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community and will have legal effects vis-à-vis the Union.

(5) The empowerment of the Commission to provisionally implement the budget of the Transport Community does not alter the essential character of the powers conferred on that institution by the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The position to be taken on the Union's behalf within the Regional Steering Committee of the Transport Community as regards the budget of the Transport Community for the year 2020 shall be based on the draft Decision of the Steering Committee (3).

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 7 April 2020. For the Council The President G. GRLIĆ RADMAN

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2017/1937 of 11 July 2017 on the signing, on behalf of the European Union, and provisional application of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community (OJ L 278, 27.10.2017, p. 1).

(2) Council Decision (EU) 2019/392 of 4 March 2019 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community (OJ L 71, 13.3.2019, p. 1).

(3) See document ST 6534/20 at http://register.consilium.europa.eu
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/619

of 30 April 2020

on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Implementation Committee

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207(3) and the first subparagraph of Article 207(4) in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) The Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (‘the Agreement’) was concluded by the Union by means of Council Decision (EU) 2019/854 (1) and entered into force on 1 June 2019.

(2) The Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18(1) of the Agreement (‘the JIC’) is to establish its rules of procedure in accordance with Article 18(3) of the Agreement.

(3) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the JIC, as the rules of procedure of the JIC will be binding on the Union.

(4) It is appropriate for the Union to support the adoption of the rules of procedure, which will ensure smooth and transparent collaboration between the Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam from the outset on the implementation of the Agreement and eventually on the implementation of the forest law enforcement, governance and trade licensing scheme,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 1. The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Implementation Committee established pursuant to Article 18 of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade shall be to support the adoption of the rules of procedure of the JIC (2). 2. Minor non-substantive changes to the draft rules of procedure may be agreed to, in the light of developments at the upcoming JIC meeting, by representatives of the Union, in consultation with Member States, during on-the-spot coordination meetings, without a further decision of the Council.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 30 April 2020. For the Council The President G. GRLIĆ RADMAN

(1) Council Decision (EU) 2019/854 of 15 April 2019 on the conclusion of the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the European Union and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on forest law enforcement, governance and trade (OJ L 147, 5.6.2019, p. 1).

(2) See document ST 7027/20 at http://register.consilium.europa.eu
(18)

In this respect, the measures of the UK Regulations are not proportionate to the identified risk. Despite the fact that some provisions apply to plants that originate from areas other than demarcated areas, where Xylella fastidiosa is not known to be present, the UK Regulations require that they have been grown for a period of at least one year prior to the export in a registered and supervised place of production, and that their place of production is surrounded by a 200 m zone known to be free from the pest, and they have been subjected to annual inspections, based on intensive sampling and testing, and further inspection immediately prior to their movement. This measure introduces additional restrictions to Article 9 of Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789, whose provisions already set out enhanced conditions for movement of those plants if they originate from areas other than demarcated areas. This measure is disproportionate to the identified risk, because it severely and ex-post disrupts the trade of the plants concerned in a stricter manner than justified by the most recent Scientific Opinion of the Authority (9) published in May 2019. What is more, since the last amendment of Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 in 2018, only an insignificant number of interceptions – and certainly none in 2020, in relation to the volume of the respective trade – have been detected on movement of host plants of Xylella fastidiosa within the Union. Furthermore, as regards the asymptomatic period of infected plants referred to by UK, the Authority has stated in its most recent Opinion of May 2019, that inspections based on visible symptoms can be problematic for early detection of the pest for some hosts also due to multiple factors contributing to the appearance of those symptoms (e.g. type of plant species, level of bacterial inoculum, the subspecies of Xylella fastidiosa involved, as well as climatic conditions). This is why, for the plants concerned by the UK Regulations, Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/789 sets out that intensive inspections shall take place based on sampling and testing, irrespective of the presence of symptoms. The discussions at the Standing Committee for Plants, Animals, Food and Feed on the draft act that is to repeal and replace that Decision, have confirmed that approach, based on the available scientific and technical assessment.
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/961

of 29 June 2020

granting Mr Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen authorisation for access to information classified up to level TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/488/EU of 23 September 2013 on the security rules for protecting EU classified information (1), and in particular point (a) of paragraph 18 of Annex I thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2017/262 of 6 February 2017 determining, for the General Secretariat of the Council, the appointing authority and the authority empowered to conclude contracts of employment, and repealing Decision 2013/811/EU (2),

Having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2020/618 of 30 April 2020 appointing the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union for the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2025 (3),

Whereas:

(1) The competent Danish national security authority gave a positive assurance on 11 June 2020 with regard to access to information classified up to level TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET by Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN.

(2) It is necessary, owing to his assignment and the needs of the service, to authorise Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN to have access to information classified up to level TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET held by the Council and the European Council,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 1. Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN is hereby granted authorisation for access to information classified up to level TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET held by the Council and the European Council for the purposes of his assignment. 2. The authorisation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be valid for the duration of the assignment for which this authorisation is granted and shall not exceed a period of five years, starting from the date this Decision takes effect.

Article 2 This Decision shall take effect on 1 July 2020.

Article 3 This Decision is addressed to Mr Jeppe TRANHOLM-MIKKELSEN.

Done at Brussels, 29 June 2020. For the Council The President A. METELKO-ZGOMBIĆ

(1) OJ L 274, 15.10.2013, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 39, 16.2.2017, p. 4.

(3) OJ L 143, 6.5.2020, p. 11.
POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE DECISION (CFSP) 2020/1099

of 16 July 2020

on the acceptance of a third State’s contribution to the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR ALTHEA) (BiH/30/2020)

THE POLITICAL AND SECURITY COMMITTEE,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular the third paragraph of Article 38 thereof,

Having regard to Council Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP of 12 July 2004 on the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1), in particular Article 11 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 11(2) of Joint Action 2004/570/CFSP, the Council authorised the Political and Security Committee to take the relevant decisions on acceptance of the proposed contributions by third States to the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(2) Following the recommendations regarding a contribution from Ukraine by the EU Operation Commander and by the European Union Military Committee, the contribution from Ukraine should be accepted and considered to be significant.

(3) In accordance with Article 5 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark does not participate in the elaboration and implementation of decisions and actions of the Union which have defence implications. Consequently, Denmark is not participating in the adoption of this Decision and is neither bound by it nor subject to its application.

(4) On 12 and 13 December 2002, the Copenhagen European Council adopted a declaration stating that the ‘Berlin Plus’ arrangements and the implementation thereof will apply only to those Member States of the Union which are also either NATO members or members of the ‘Partnership for Peace’ programme, and which have consequently concluded bilateral security agreements with NATO,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 1. The contribution from Ukraine to the European Union military operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR ALTHEA) is accepted and considered to be significant. 2. Ukraine is exempted from financial contributions to the budget of EUFOR ALTHEA.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 16 July 2020. For the Political and Security Committee The Chairperson S. FROM-EMMESBERGER

(1) OJ L 252, 28.7.2004, p. 10.
Official Journal of the European Union

COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1116

of 24 July 2020

appointing a member of the Court of Auditors

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 286(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal by the Republic of Austria,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

(1) The term of office of Mr Oskar HERICS expired on 29 February 2020.

(2) A new member should therefore be appointed to the Court of Auditors,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 Ms Helga BERGER is hereby appointed member of the Court of Auditors for the period from 1 August 2020 to 31 July 2026.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 24 July 2020. For the Council The President M. ROTH

(1) Opinion of 8 July 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(7)

On the basis of the following legal acts, which are referred to in Belgium’s request of 7 August 2020: ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale de pouvoirs spéciaux n° 2020/019 du 23 avril 2020/Bijzondere machtenbesluit van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering nr. 2020/019 van 23 april 2020’ (5); ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale de pouvoirs spéciaux n° 2020/030 du 28 mai 2020/Bijzondere machtenbesluit nr. 2020/030 van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering van 28 mei 2020’ (6); ‘Notification de la réunion du conseil des ministres du gouvernement de la région de Bruxelles-Capitale du jeudi 14 mai 2020/Betekening van de vergadering van de Ministerraad van de Brusselse Hoofdstedelijke Regering van donderdag 14 mei 2020’ (7); ‘Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 20 maart 2020’ (8); ‘Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 10 april 2020’ (9), ‘Besluit van de Vlaamse Regering van 12 juni 2020’ (10); ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Communauté française de pouvoirs spéciaux n° 4 du 23 avril 2020’ (11), ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement de la Communauté française du 7 avril 2020’ (12); ‘Arrêté ministériel du 8 avril 2020 portant exécution de l’arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 20 mars 2020’ (13); ‘Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 19 juin 2020’ (14); ‘Parlament der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Corona-Krisendekret I vom 6. April 2020’; and ‘Parlament der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft, Corona-Krisendekret III vom 20. Juli 2020’, the Belgian authorities have introduced a number of regional and community schemes that provide income support to the self-employed, one-person companies, and other types of employees who do not qualify for other kinds of income support. In particular, the compensation premia for companies and for entrepreneurs in the Brussels Capital Region, the nuisance, compensation and support premia in the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community, and the compensation premium for business closure in the Walloon Region provide generalised one-off support for companies and the self-employed which needed to close their activities due to COVID-19 or faced a substantial reduction in turnover. Where the measures target a wider range of beneficiaries, only the amounts for expenditure related to the support of the self-employed and one-person companies have been requested. Other measures (the compensation premium for intermittent workers in the Brussels Capital Region, the nurseries subvention and the cultural operators subvention in the French Community, the training activities in the Walloon Region, and the cultural operators and self-employed subvention and the touristic operators subvention in the German-speaking Community) target the self-employed and workers with no access to the temporary unemployment scheme in specific sectors (cultural and care sector, training activities). As the cultural operators and self-employed subvention in the German-speaking Community provides loans that can be converted into grants, in order to meet the requirement of being public expenditure, only expenditure relating to loans being converted into grants should be supported under Regulation (EU) 2020/672.
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1496

of 13 October 2020

on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 15 June 2018 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 on the apportionment of the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union.

(2) Negotiations with the Kingdom of Norway have been concluded and an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (‘the Agreement’) was initialled on 7 and 8 July 2020.

(3) The Agreement should be signed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The signing on behalf of the Union of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Kingdom of Norway pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (1).

Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 13 October 2020. For the Council The President M. ROTH

(1) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.
COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1484

of 13 October 2020

on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Republic of Cuba pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with Article 218(5) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 15 June 2018 the Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 on the apportionment of the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union.

(2) Negotiations with the Republic of Cuba have been concluded and an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Republic of Cuba pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (‘the Agreement’) was initialled on 3 July 2020.

(3) The Agreement should be signed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The signing on behalf of the Union of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Republic of Cuba pursuant to Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions on all the tariff-rate quotas included in the EU Schedule CLXXV as a consequence of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union is hereby authorised, subject to the conclusion of the said Agreement (1).

Article 2 The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person(s) empowered to sign the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Luxembourg, 13 October 2020. For the Council The President M. ROTH

(1) The text of the Agreement will be published together with the decision on its conclusion.