The Justice Ministers of the Member States of the European Union will meet in Luxembourg on Thursday 12 June for an EU Council meeting. Chaired by the Polish Minister, Adam Bodnar, the meeting should result in two general approaches and provide an opportunity to take stock of a range of issues such as the fight against impunity in the context of the war in Ukraine and the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Harmonisation of insolvency law. The morning will begin with an attempt to reach a general compromise on the Directive aimed at harmonising certain aspects of insolvency law, in order to simplify cross-border investments in the single market, within the framework of the Capital Markets Union.
An agreement on the broad outlines of the text had already been reached in December 2024 (see EUROPE 13545/1).
The text has been amended, particularly on the question of the creditors’ committee, to take account of specific national legal requirements. While some of the ambitions have been scaled back, particularly with regard to micro-enterprises, the Polish Presidency hopes to maintain the initial desire for harmonisation, with a view to negotiations with Parliament.
But the proposed compromise does not meet with unanimous approval, in particular because of the deletion of Title VI devoted to micro-enterprises, a sensitive issue for several delegations.
Protection of vulnerable adults. The Ministers will also seek to reach a partial general approach on the May 2023 proposal for a European Regulation on the protection of vulnerable adults (see EUROPE 13191/15).
The aim of this text is to guarantee the rights of people who, for medical reasons, are no longer able to make their own decisions, particularly in relation to inheritance, care or asset management, in a cross-border context.
Accession to the ECHR. In the afternoon, the Commission will brief Ministers on the state of progress of the EU’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
According to the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, a further step may soon be taken, with the forthcoming referral to the Court of Justice of the EU for an opinion on the compatibility of the accession agreement. This process, which began with the Treaty of Lisbon and has been in force since 2009, has not yet been completed.
War in Ukraine. The European Ministers will take stock of the fight against impunity for crimes committed in the context of the war in Ukraine.
The EU Council will also return to the conclusions adopted in June 2024 to consolidate judicial cooperation with third countries in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Laura Kövesi, Chief Prosecutor of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), will present the latest developments. The Ministers will be informed of the selection process for his succession – his term of office will end in October 2026 – and the forthcoming replacement of several European prosecutors.
Denmark will also present the priorities of the next EU Council Presidency. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)