After six months of intense work, the Czech Presidency of the Council is coming to an end on 31 December while the new Swedish Council Presidency will start on 1 January 2023 and finish on 30 June 2023. During the month of December, the Council has been wrapping up many important proposals, either through reaching a political agreement with the European Parliament or by adopting a general approach.
14 December: REPowerEU
Negotiators of the Council and the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on the REPowerEU proposal which aims to strengthen the strategic autonomy of the Union by diversifying energy supplies and boosting the independence and security of the Union’s energy supply. The agreement is provisional as it still needs to be confirmed by member states in the Council, and by the European Parliament to be final.
13 December: Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement on CBAM. The agreement needs to be confirmed by ambassadors of the EU member states, and by the European Parliament, and adopted by both institutions before it is final.
12 December: Minimum level of taxation for largest corporations
EU member states reached an agreement to implement at EU level the minimum taxation component of the OECD’s reform of international taxation. The directive has to be transposed into Member States’ national law by the end of 2023.
9 December: Batteries Regulation
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on a proposal to strengthen sustainability rules for batteries and waste batteries (Batteries Regulation). For the first time the legislation will regulate the entire life cycle of a battery – from production to reuse and recycling – and ensure that they are safe, sustainable and competitive. The deal is provisional pending formal adoption in both institutions.
The Council adopted the 2030 policy programme ‘Path to the Digital Decade’, which ensures that the EU meets its objectives for a digital transformation in line with EU values.The decision aims to strengthen the EU’s digital leadership by promoting inclusive and sustainable digital policies that serve citizens and businesses. The decision will enter into force the twentieth day after this publication.
8 December: European Standardisation Rules
The EU ministers gave their final approval to amend the European standardisation regulation. The regulation lays down procedures for developing harmonised standards within the EU to make it easier to place products on the single market and thereby strengthen the EU’s competitiveness. The decision will enter into force the twentieth day after this publication.
7 December: ETS Aviation
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) rules applying to the aviation sector. The agreement ensures that aviation contributes to the EU's emission reduction objectives under the Paris Agreement. The provisional political agreement will now be formally adopted by the Council and the Parliament.
6 December: Deforestation Regulation
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal on a proposal to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products that are imported into or exported from the EU. The agreement is provisional pending formal adoption in both institutions. The provisional agreement now needs to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions.
6 December: Maritime Safety
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on amending the current legislation in order to improve stability requirements for roll-on/roll-off passenger ships. The provisional political agreement is now subject to approval by the two co-legislators.
1 December: Chips Act
The Council adopted its position on the proposed regulation establishing a framework of measures to strengthen Europe's semiconductor ecosystem (Chips Act). With the Chips Act, the EU aims to double its global market share in semiconductors from 10% to at least 20% by 2030 in order to ensure the EU's future technological sovereignty. Negotiations with the European Parliament will start as soon as the Parliament adopts its position.
1 December: Due Diligence
The Council has adopted its negotiating position on the corporate sustainability due diligence directive. This directive will enhance the protection of the environment and human rights in the EU and beyond. Negotiations with the European Parliament will start as soon as the Parliament adopts its position.
18 December: Emissions Trading System (ETS) & Social Climate Fund
The Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on important legislative proposals of the ‘Fit for 55’ package that will further reduce emissions and address their social impacts. The deal is provisional pending formal adoption in both institutions.
This "closure" on this group of files will allow the Swedish Presidency to focus on all the unresolved files of 2022, as well as start the discussions on the 2023 initiatives.