The ministers responsible for the internal market of the EU-27 will meet in Brussels for 2 days on 22 and 23 May. They are expected to adopt their position on the ‘Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation’ (ESPR). Conclusions on research (high-quality scientific publication) and space (equitable and sustainable use of space) should also be agreed. Moreover, they will discuss several topics relating to the internal market, research and space.
‘Ecodesign for sustainable products’ regulation
In public session, ministers will adopt the Council’s position on the proposed ESPR regulation, which will establish a framework for the subsequent setting of ecodesign and information requirements for almost all products and repeal directive 2009/125/EC (see EUROPE 12922/1).
In essence, the Council intends to clarify the comitology rules to fully involve Member States in the development of ecodesign requirements.
After a final adjustment last week concerning the ban on the destruction of unsold products, the Swedish Presidency believes it is in a position to obtain the ministers’ political agreement (‘general approach’) on the text (see EUROPE 13181/12).
The compromise on this point consists of a ban on this practice for textiles or clothing accessories, mentioned in the text of the regulation (Article 20 b) with transitional periods, instead of delegated or implementing acts by the Commission. “We have found a common ground that a majority can support. There will be a ministers’ discussion”, a senior EU official said on Tuesday.
See the text of the general approach: https://aeur.eu/f/6xd
Competitiveness
The Swedish Presidency has proposed a debate on the EU’s long-term competitiveness, based on the Commission’s communication published in March (see EUROPE 13143/3). In a preparatory document for the meeting, to which EUROPE had access, the Presidency outlines ways to complement the Commission’s strategy by making greater use of key performance indicators (KPIs), for example (see EUROPE 13180/2). It invites the ministers present at the ‘Competitiveness’ Council on Monday 22 May to give their opinion on the ideas it presents in the document.
Lunch will be an opportunity to complete this discussion with an exchange on 30 years of the internal market and ways to strengthen it further.
Strategic raw materials
In the afternoon, the ministers will discuss the Commission’s proposal to secure the supply of strategic raw materials (see EUROPE 13143/2). Here, too, the Presidency has prepared the ground and proposed lines of thought focusing on the extraction of raw materials in the EU (see EUROPE 13180/2).
Not unrelated to this topic, the Commission will take advantage of the Ministers’ presence to present its ‘Net-Zero’ Industry Act (see EUROPE 13143/1).
Research
The ‘Competitiveness’ Council’s ‘Research’ session will be held in the morning on Tuesday 23 with the adoption in public session of the conclusions for high-quality, transparent, open, trustworthy and equitable scholarly publishing. Open access to quality publishing is a key element of open science and therefore a political priority for the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council.
The second public debate will focus on “Security of knowledge and responsible internationalisation”. In a tense geopolitical climate, the Swedish Presidency of the Council stresses the need to strike a balance between open international collaboration in research and innovation (R&I), freedom and the ethics of science, and the need to secure this environment.
In this context, the Presidency will encourage the ministers to express their views on best practices in threat and risk awareness as well as on relevant measures to combat foreign interference in R&I by foreign states or non-state actors. Ministers should also discuss measures to strengthen, in particular, coordination and communication between stakeholders, including the research community.
Finally, at lunch, the ministers will discuss challenges and best practices to combat science denial.
Space
On Tuesday afternoon, a second set of conclusions is expected to be adopted by the ministers, this time on the fair and sustainable use of space (see EUROPE 13147/17). The text aims in particular to limit space debris, the number of which is rapidly increasing.
In the same vein, the meeting’s participants will hold a policy debate on the “new space”, including the increasing presence of orbits by different actors, but also the threats of some intentionally hostile activities. In this context, the ministers will discuss the role of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence (see EUROPE 13139/10). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal with Aminata Niang and Émilie Vanderhulst)