Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

Europaudvalget 2020-21
Det Europæiske Råd 25-26/3-21 Bilag 8
Offentligt

Brussels, 25 March 2021

(OR. en)

SN 18/21

Statement of the Members of the European Council

COVID-19

Accelerating the production, delivery and deployment of vaccines remains essential and

urgent to overcome the crisis. Efforts to this end must be further intensified. We underline the

importance of transparency as well as of the use of export authorisations. We recognise the

importance of global value chains and reaffirm that companies must ensure predictability of

their vaccine production and respect contractual delivery deadlines. We confirm the pro-rata

population key for the allocation of vaccines. We invite the Committee of Permanent

Representatives to address the issue of the speed of deliveries of vaccines when allocating the

10 million BioNTech-Pfizer accelerated doses in the second quarter of 2021 in a spirit of

solidarity.

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

The epidemiological situation remains serious, also in the light of the challenges posed by

variants. Restrictions, including as regards non-essential travel, must therefore be upheld for

the time being, taking into account the specific situation of cross-border communities, while

the unhindered flow of goods and services within the Single Market must continue to be

ensured, including by making use of Green Lanes. Preparations should nevertheless start on a

common approach to the gradual lifting of restrictions, to ensure that efforts are coordinated

when the epidemiological situation allows for an easing of current measures. Legislative and

technical work on COVID-19 interoperable and non-discriminatory digital certificates, based

on the Commission proposal, should be taken forward as a matter of urgency.

The European Union will continue to strengthen its global response to the pandemic. Work on

setting up a vaccine-sharing mechanism must be taken forward rapidly so as to complement

and support COVAX’s leading role in ensuring universal access to, and deployment of,

vaccines.

II.

SINGLE MARKET, INDUSTRIAL POLICY, DIGITAL AND THE ECONOMY

We underline the importance of a strong, resilient and fully functioning Single Market and of

strictly implementing and enforcing Single Market rules. We stress the need to strengthen the

competitiveness and resilience of the European Union’s industry, including SMEs, to

accelerate its green and digital transitions, including through appropriate vehicles to support

multi-country projects, and to address strategic dependencies. In addition, the update of the

industrial strategy for Europe should take into account lessons learned so far from the

COVID-19 crisis and support the recovery effort.

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

We stress the importance of the digital transformation for European recovery, for its

prosperity, security and competitiveness and for the well-being of our societies. In that

context, we recall the European Council conclusions of 1-2 October 2020 and of

10-11 December 2020. Furthermore, we underline the need to enhance Europe’s digital

sovereignty in a self-determined and open manner by building on its strengths and reducing

its weaknesses and through smart and selective action, preserving open markets and global

cooperation.

The Commission’s communication ‘2030

Digital Compass: the European way

for the Digital Decade’

is a step towards charting Europe’s digital development for the next

decade. We invite the Council to examine it swiftly with a view to the preparation of the

envisaged Digital Policy Programme.

In addition, we:

invite the Commission to identify further systems of critical technologies and strategic

sectors, in order to strengthen and refine the European policy approach towards them;

invite the Commission to widen the European Union’s policy toolbox for digital

transformation, both at the European Union and national level, and to use all available

instruments from industrial, trade and competition policy, skills and education, research

and innovation policy and long-term funding instruments to facilitate the digital

transformation;

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

call for better exploiting the potential of data and digital technologies for the benefit of

society, the environment and the economy, while upholding relevant data protection,

privacy and other fundamental rights and ensuring the retention of data necessary for

law enforcement and judicial authorities to exercise their lawful powers to combat

serious crime; we recognise the need to accelerate the creation of common data spaces,

including ensuring the access to and interoperability of data; we look forward to the

Commission’s proposal for a regulatory framework for Artificial Intelligence, and the

accompanying review of the coordinated plan, to accelerate the uptake of this

technology while ensuring safety and full respect of fundamental rights; we invite the

Commission to swiftly present the progress made and the remaining measures necessary

to establish the sectoral data spaces announced in the European strategy for data of

February 2020;

invite the co-legislators to take work forward swiftly on the Digital Services Act, the

Digital Markets Act and the Data Governance Act proposals with a view to improving

the access to, and the sharing, pooling and re-use of data, and to strengthening the

Single Market for digital services by creating a safer digital space and a level playing

field to foster innovation and competitiveness;

invite the Council to take work forward on the European Democracy Action Plan;

call for international outreach efforts from the European Union and Member States to be

strengthened both bilaterally and through relevant fora and organisations with a view to

promoting EU digital standards and to developing global digital rules in close

cooperation with like-minded partners;

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

stress the need to urgently address the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of

the economy to ensure that all operators pay their fair share of tax. We reiterate our

strong preference for and commitment to a global solution on international digital

taxation and will strive to reach a consensus-based solution by mid-2021 within the

framework of the OECD. We confirm that the European Union will be ready to move

forward if the prospect of a global solution is not forthcoming. We recall that, as a basis

for an additional own resource, the Commission will put forward in the first semester of

2021 a proposal on a digital levy, with a view to its introduction at the latest by

1 January 2023.

With a view to the upcoming Porto Social Summit, we underline that a successful digital

transition requires that no one is left behind. We need the necessary tools and infrastructure as

well as skilling, upskilling and re-skilling while ensuring fair working conditions and high

standards in the digital economy.

We endorse the policy priority areas of the Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy and invite

Member States to reflect them in their national Recovery and Resilience Plans.

III. EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

We held a discussion on the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and on the European

Union’s relations with Turkey and welcome the Joint Communication on the

‘State

of play of

EU-Turkey political, economic and trade relations’ prepared by the High Representative and

the Commission as requested by the European Council in December 2020.

10.

We recall the European Union’s strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the

Eastern Mediterranean and in the development of a cooperative and mutually beneficial

relationship with Turkey. We welcome the recent de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean

through the discontinuation of illegal drilling activities, the resumption of bilateral talks

between Greece and Turkey and the forthcoming talks on the Cyprus problem under the

auspices of the United Nations.

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

11.

Provided that the current de-escalation is sustained and that Turkey engages constructively,

and subject to the established conditionalities set out in previous European Council

conclusions, in order to further strengthen the recent more positive dynamic, the European

Union is ready to engage with Turkey in a phased, proportionate and reversible manner to

enhance cooperation in a number of areas of common interest and take further decisions at the

European Council meeting in June:

on economic cooperation, we invite the Commission to intensify talks with Turkey to

address current difficulties in the implementation of the Customs Union, ensuring its

effective application to all Member States, and invite in parallel the Council to work on

a mandate for the modernisation of the Customs Union. Such a mandate may be adopted

by the Council subject to additional guidance by the European Council;

we are prepared to launch high level dialogues with Turkey on issues of mutual

concern, such as public health, climate and counter-terrorism as well as regional issues;

we invite the Commission to explore how to strengthen cooperation with Turkey on

people to people contacts and mobility.

12.

We call on Turkey to abstain from renewed provocations or unilateral actions in breach of

international law. Taking into account the Joint Communication, we reaffirm the

determination of the European Union, in case of such action, to use the instruments and

options at its disposal to defend its interests and those of its Member States as well as to

uphold regional stability.

13.

We appreciate Turkey’s hosting of around 4 million Syrian refugees and agree that the

assistance of the European Union for the refugees and host communities be continued. We

invite the Commission to present a proposal to the Council for the continuation of financing

for Syrian refugees in Turkey, as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and other parts of the region.

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Videokonference i Det Europæiske Råd den 25.-26. marts 2021 - Bilag 8: Erklæring fra DER (videokonference) 25-26/3-21

14.

On migration management, within the framework of the broader EU strategy encompassing

all migratory routes, cooperation with Turkey should be strengthened, notably in areas such as

border protection, combatting illegal migration, as well as the return of irregular migrants and

rejected asylum seekers to Turkey, in accordance with the EU-Turkey Statement, applied in a

non-discriminatory manner.

15.

We recall the previous European Council conclusions and remain fully committed to a

comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in accordance with the relevant UNSC

resolutions (notably 550, 789, 1251). We look forward to the resumption of negotiations

under the auspices of the United Nations in which the European Union will participate as an

observer, and will play an active role in supporting the negotiations, including by appointing a

representative to the UN Good Offices Mission.

16.

Rule of law and fundamental rights remain a key concern. The targeting of political parties

and media and other recent decisions represent major setbacks for human rights and run

counter to Turkey’s obligations to respect democracy, the rule of law and women’s rights.

Dialogue on such issues remains an integral part of the EU-Turkey relationship.

17.

Consistent with the shared interest of the EU and Turkey in peace and stability in their

environment we expect Turkey and all actors to positively contribute to the solution of

regional crises such as Libya, Syria, the Southern Caucasus and will remain vigilant on this

matter.

18.

We invite the High Representative to take work forward on the Multilateral Conference on the

Eastern Mediterranean.

19.

We will continue to closely monitor developments and seek a coordinated approach with

partners. The European Council will revert to this matter at its meeting in June.

IV. RUSSIA

20.

We were informed about the latest developments in the relations between the European Union

and Russia. We will hold a strategic debate at a forthcoming European Council meeting.

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