Migratory crisis: EU Council Presidency steps up information sharing between member states by activating IPCR
The Council has taken over the last weeks a number of decisions to respond to the current migratory crisis. The scale of migratory flows has demonstrated the need for a more coordinated information sharing. The Luxembourg Presidency therefore decided on 30 October 2015 to trigger the Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements on an "information sharing mode". The aim is to monitor the development of migratory flows, to support decision-making and to better implement the agreed measures.
"Foreign Affairs" Council - Policy coherence for development - a priority of the Presidency - was on the agenda of Ministers for Development
The "Foreign Affairs" (Development) Council met in Luxembourg on 26 October 2015 and was chaired by the High-Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini. The Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union outlined and prepared the agenda - a full day was allocated to this meeting - which reflects the growing importance given to development policy and humanitarian aid during the 2nd half of 2015.
Félix Braz intervenes in the European Parliament’s on the reform of the statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union
On 28 October 2015, the European Parliament voted during its plenary session in favor of an extensive reform of the statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union which doubles the number of judges of the General Court in 3 steps by 2019. This vote endorses a compromise text which is a result of informal meetings between the representatives of the four institutions: the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Court of Justice. The Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) had approved the compromise on 21 October 2015.
School education in turbulent times - Meeting of Directors General responsible for school education in EU Member States
Under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Ministry for National Education, Children and Youth organised a meeting of the Directors General responsible for school education in the EU Member States. The meeting took place in Luxembourg on 26 and 27 October 2015. The Minister, Claude Meisch, opened the meeting by emphasising that, considering the current situation faced by the European Union in terms of migration flows, the education systems must remain flexible enough to adapt accordingly.
EU and Liechtenstein sign deal on automatic exchange of tax data
On 28 October 2015, the European Union and Liechtenstein signed an agreement on the automatic exchange of financial account information aimed at improving international tax compliance. "I am glad that this agreement could be reached between the European Union and Liechtenstein, as it constitutes an important step towards a level playing field and greater tax transparency in Europe and beyond," said Pierre Gramegna.
Jean Asselborn chaired the Political Dialogue Meeting at ministerial level between the European Union and the Southern Africa Development Community
On behalf of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, Luxembourg's Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, chaired the Ministerial Political Dialogue Meeting between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), which was held in Luxembourg on 27 October.
The conclusions of the European conference "Family Learning – Best Practices Across Europe"
The European conference "Family Learning: Best Practices Across Europe" was held at the Tramschapp in Luxembourg on 22 and 23 October 2015, within the framework of the European Agenda for Adult Learning, under the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU. We have set out its conclusions here.
A few days before the opening of the trilogue negotiations on the fourth rail package, François Bausch attended a conference aimed at promoting railway transport in Europe, at the Milan Expo 2015
François Bausch, Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure, attended a conference aimed at promoting railway transport in Europe held on 26 October 2015 by the CER (Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies) at the Milan Expo 2015. This conference brought together all the main bodies (European Commission, Council and European Parliament) involved in the negotiations that will begin on Friday, 30 October during a trilogue in Strasbourg, on the three proposals of the fourth rail package's political pillar.
On 25 October 2015, Jean Asselborn will represent the Luxembourg Presidency at the extraordinary meeting on the migrant crisis in Eastern Europe and along the Balkans route
The Luxembourg Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Asylum, Jean Asselborn, will participate in the extraordinary meeting on the migrant crisis in Eastern Europe and along the Balkans route, which will be held in Brussels on 25 October 2015, in order to represent the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU).