DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 28 October 2022
Zero emission vehicles: first ‘Fit for 55' deal will end the sale of new CO2 emitting cars in Europe by 2035
The European Commission welcomes the agreement reached last night by the European Parliament and Council ensuring all new cars and vans registered in Europe will be zero-emission by 2035. As an intermediary step towards zero emissions, the new CO2 standards will also require average emissions of new cars to come down by 55% by 2030, and new vans by 50% by 2030. This agreement marks the first step in the adoption of the ‘Fit for 55' legislative proposals tabled by the Commission in July 2021, and demonstrates ahead of COP27 the EU's domestic implementation of its international climate commitments. Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Frans Timmermans, said: “The agreement sends a strong signal to industry and consumers: Europe is embracing the shift to zero-emission mobility. European carmakers are already proving they are ready to step up to the plate, with increasing and increasingly affordable electric cars coming to the market. The speed at which this change has happened over the past few years is remarkable. It is no wonder that this file is the first one in the entire Fit for 55 package where Member States and the European Parliament have come to a final deal.” This clear signal to manufacturers and citizens will accelerate the production and sale of low- and zero-emission vehicles and put road transport on a firm path to climate neutrality by 2050. This new legislation will make the EU's transport system more sustainable, provide cleaner air for Europeans and marks an important step in delivering the European Green Deal. Yesterday's provisional agreement now requires formal adoption by the Parliament and the Council. More information is available here and the initial Commission proposal can be found here. (For more information: Tim McPhie – Tel.: +32 2 295 86 02; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25)
Customs: new agreement to improve trade flows between the EU and Moldova enters into force on 1 November
A new agreement between the EU and Moldova will enter into force on 1 November 2022, improving trade facilitation for businesses. The new arrangements mean that both the EU and Moldova will mutually recognise each other's Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) programmes, bringing together traders who meet certain criteria and who can therefore benefit from simplified customs arrangements. As of 1 November, both the EU and Moldova will provide reciprocal benefits to each other's AEOs, such as fewer customs controls and priority treatment at customs clearance. The agreement is a major step forward in the EU-Moldova trade relationship. It will further boost trade opportunities and contribute to the smooth flow of goods between both sides, without compromising high security standards. At a time when businesses need all the support they can get to overcome the ongoing crisis due to the war in Ukraine, the agreement will make trade easier and less expensive for many EU and Moldovan traders. The relationship between the EU and Moldova is guided by the Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The EU cooperates with Moldova in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and its eastern regional dimension, the Eastern Partnership, with the key goal of bringing Moldova closer to the EU. The EU is Moldova's biggest trade partner, accounting for 52.2% of its total trade. EU exports to Moldova amounted to €3.8 billion in 2021. More information is available. More information is available here. (For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 2 298 76 24)
Anti-money laundering: the latest assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing risks across the Single Market is now available
The Commission has adopted the Supranational Risk Assessment (SNRA) Report, a tool to help Member States identify and address money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The report shows that while most recommendations of the previous assessments (the last such report dates from 2019) have already been implemented, it underlines the fact that weaknesses in identifying beneficial ownership continue to remain a considerable threat to the financial system, as anonymity remains a critical vulnerability for all sectors and activities. The report also re-calculates the risk levels of certain areas where changes have been detected since 2019, e.g. crypto-assets and online gambling, where risks are now higher. The Commission remains committed to protecting EU citizens and the financial system from money laundering and terrorist financing. The recent anti-money rules (AML) rules proposed in the 2021 legislative package, aim at improving the detection of suspicious transactions and activities, and close loopholes used by criminals to launder illicit proceeds or finance terrorist activities through the financial system. Today's report recognises the importance of this package, which is currently being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. The full report is available here.(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 2 298 76 24)
Anti-money laundering: new guidance on the use of public-private partnership paves the way for a more efficient prevention of money laundering
The European Commission has published guidance on the use of public-private partnerships (PPP) to prevent and fight money laundering and terrorist financing. In recent years, PPPs have developed to exchange either strategic information, such as trends in criminal activities, money laundering, and terrorist financing risk indicators, or operational information, for instance related to specific cases, known persons and specific transactions. Today's guidance aims to improve stakeholders' general understanding of what PPPs are, and to encourage, where possible, their role in the effective fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. The document provides guidance on the main features and the associated opportunities, specific legal considerations, as well as observed best practices of PPPs. The Commission has emphasised the importance of the effective exchange of information in the fight against these crimes in its 2020 Action Plan for a comprehensive Union policy on preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. In preparation of this document, the Commission carried out a public consultation with stakeholders from the public and private sector. Member States, EU agencies and bodies, academic organisations, research institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the general public were all consulted. The aim was to learn from existing experiences but also to collect views, opinions, as well as facts and figures on the functioning of PPPs in order to fight financial crime. The PPP guideline is available here.(For more information: Daniel Ferrie – Tel.: +32 2 298 65 00; Aikaterini Apostola – Tel.: +32 2 298 76 24)
EU provides €1 million in funding to the Office of the Envoy on Technology of the UN's Secretary-General
The EU will provide €1 million to support the work of the Envoy on Technology of the UN's Secretary-General over the next two years. This contributes to the financing of the Office's work as well as the Envoy's outreach activities.
This will be done under a cooperation agreement signed between the Commission ant the Office of the Envoy on Technology.
This agreement reflects the commitment by the EU and its Member States to support the UN Envoy on Technology in implementing the digital aspects of the UN Secretary-General's ‘Our Common Agenda', notably the development of a Global Digital Compact and the promotion of the multi-stakeholder model of internet governance. EU Member States will also offer their support to the Office of the Envoy on Technology in a Team Europe spirit.
Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said: “The European Union is committed to contribute to an Open Internet, and to a global digital transition firmly grounded in human rights and freedoms. All this in line with Sustainable Development Goals. This is at the heart of our digital ambition, and of the cooperation agreement we signed with the UN. I am looking forward to working with the new UN Tech envoy on ensuring that many more people benefit from the digital transformation.”
High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell said: “Every day, we see a battle of narratives and values. This battle is waged using and misusing all the advances of technologies and digital space. Digital issues are not just technical matters, they affect every single aspect of our lives. So it is crucial that we build a set of shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all: a Global Digital Compact. This is the task of the UN Tech Envoy, and the EU will be supporting very closely this work as part of our digital diplomacy.”
The Office of the Envoy on Technology aims to play an advocacy role in the global debate on digital transitions, helping advance a digital transformation in line with Sustainable Development Goals, while putting the emphasis on the open internet and human rights as cornerstones of digitalisation.
The EU and its Member States advocate for a global multi-stakeholder effort to close the digital divides across the world. The free, open, secure and un-fragmented internet, underpinned by a concern for Human Rights, should be at the very centre of the digital transition, upholding the right to privacy, free speech and data protection, addressing arbitrary and mass surveillance while actively combatting internet shutdowns, online censorship, hate speech online, disinformation and cybercrime.
Background
The creation of an Envoy on Technology position is one of the operational conclusions of the UN Secretary-General's Roadmap for Digital Cooperation (June 2020), tasked with coordinating the implementation of the various work strands and recommendations of the Roadmap and to serve as a focal point for digital matters at the UN. The Envoy is also expected to have a leading role in the implementation of the digital aspects of the UN SG's ‘Our Common Agenda', notably the initiative of developing a Global Digital Compact. On 10 June 2022, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Mr Amandeep Singh Gill of India as his Envoy on Technology.
With the launch of the Global Gateway in December 2021, the EU now has a compelling offer to support its partners in their twin digital and green transitions. It aims at increasing investments in both hard and soft infrastructure, promoting democratic values and high standards, good governance and transparency. The Global Gateway's digital investments will be intrinsically linked to the promotion of the Open Internet, given its role as key driver of innovation, socio-political, economic and cultural development.
For More Information
Digital Diplomacy
EU Delegation to United Nations (New York)
Global Digital Compact
Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology
Global Gateway
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