by Ross Elwood
BRUXELLES (Public Policy Europe) – The two big stories this week are the EU’s energy crisis measures and the informal Council taking place yesterday and today. Public Policy Europe has previewed the schedule and highlighted some of the key points of the meeting, which you can read here. The EU continues to bask in the glow of the unblocking of the loan to Ukraine. You can follow live updates of the informal Council meeting at Public Policy Premium.
The Facts
Industrial Accelerator Act: The Conference of Presidents has rejected the ITRE committee’s request for exclusive competence over the Industrial Accelerator Act. Work on the legislative dossier will be shared between ITRE, IMCO, and INTA. The Industrial Accelerator Act (also known as Made in EU) has been significantly delayed by the procedural clash.
TEN-E Guidelines: The use of congestion revenues remains the key unresolved issue in Council on the revision of the TEN-E guidelines. The text, previewed in recent days by Public Policy, satisfied several requests from delegations. The next compromise proposal is expected between 4 and 5 May, ahead of the informal Council on 12 and 13 May.
Digital Euro: During a shadow rapporteurs’ meeting on the digital euro, the EP rapporteur proposed a two-year total ban on holding digital euro in wallets, restricting its use to direct bank withdrawals. After that period, a Commission delegated act would set individual limits based on ECB recommendations, ensuring no severe bank liquidity stress. Legal persons would be permanently excluded from holding digital euro, except during force majeure network outages.
Public Procurement: On 1 July the Commission will present the Public Procurement Act, which will look to mainstream European preference criteria in strategic sectors.
Taxation and Tourism: On 24 June the Commission will present an omnibus package on taxation, an omnibus package on energy products legislation, and a strategy for sustainable tourism. This is according to the latest provisional agenda of upcoming College of EU Commissioners meetings.
Circular Economy Act: On 6 May an introductory debate is scheduled on the Circular Economy Act, which will be one of the major pieces of legislation under the European preference agenda.
Age Verification: On 28 April the Commission will present a recommendation on age verification.
EU-US Trade: European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic will be in Washington from Wednesday to Friday to meet with Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, as well as several members of Congress and business community representatives.
The Analysis – Powerful Legislative Roadmap Is An EU Observers Goldmine
As Public Policy highlighted last week, there is a lot going on at this week’s informal EU Council meeting, with several previously taboo items on the agenda — among them a NATO-style mutual defence clause, EU-level tax sources, and nuclear energy. However, all of these are firmly couched in the caveat that an informal is a discussion forum, not a decision-making body. It is a space for formulating opinions, which are just as important in the policy-making process but too long-term in their implications for observers of EU affairs and readers of this newsletter to get overly excited about.
Therefore, one of the most interesting elements on the agenda is the approval and publication of a joint agreement on legislative timelines between Parliament, Council and Commission. Public Policy recently highlighted how the Council has identified the Parliament as one of the key obstacles to implementing badly needed legislation, given how slow it can be. The Council has therefore sought to nail it down to a shared timeline.
The roadmap is due to be published after the meeting, but what we know so far is that the Industrial Accelerator Act, the Capital Markets Integration Packages, and all current omnibuses are to be completed by the end of 2026 (it is important to note that ‘completed’ means agreed by the institutions and approved). This is noteworthy because the European Parliament’s own timelines were out of sync with that deadline. The Digital Omnibus committee vote was scheduled for February 2027, the Market Integration Package plenary vote for December, and the Industrial Accelerator Act stalled entirely in an internal dispute.
Also noteworthy is the creation of a steering group to monitor implementation of the roadmap, meeting at least every two months. The roadmap sets out legislative timelines through to 2027 and has been obtained exclusively by the Public Policy team, you can read it in full here.
This is the first time such an agreement has been struck, and it tells us two things: what the EU is prioritising over the coming months, and that certain pieces of legislation will move significantly faster than usual. Those engaged in the legislative process may find themselves caught off guard by the pace, with less time than expected to influence and shape positions. For legislative observers, there is nothing better than a good roadmap. Watch out for the final version.
The Analysis – Energy Crisis: Jørgensen Makes Hay While The Sun Shines
The Commission this week published its plan to help member states navigate the current energy crisis. The plan offers a number of suggestions rather than quick fixes, which is to be expected from a “communication”, but it had been built up as something considerably more significant. That said, there are some interesting elements in the details, as is often the case.
On the question of a common windfall tax, EVP Ribera said this week that it would be difficult to implement as it requires unanimity, with many differing views on how to go about it. However, she suggested the Commission could provide a solid framework for those member states that wished to proceed. Finance ministers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Austria had previously written to the Commission calling for a common windfall tax.
Before the presentation of the communication, the transport informal took place where Commissioner Tzitzikostas made a number of comments regarding the fuel crisis, largely downplaying its extent. He clarified that existing flight cancellations have been driven by the soaring cost of jet fuel rather than any shortage, that there are currently no indications of massive cancellations in the coming months, and that for now there is no need to intervene in how European citizens live, work, or travel. On supply, he said the Commission is evaluating the option of importing Type A jet fuel from the United States before any decision is taken.
There has been a striking difference in tone between Commissioner Jørgensen and Commissioner Tzitzikostas. During the presentation of the communication, Jørgensen warned that “the situation will deteriorate further in the coming weeks,” with “very difficult months, or possibly even years” ahead. Jørgensen, a Social Democrat, comes from a political family that has been particularly concerned by the EU’s push to simplify regulation in social and green policy areas, viewing it as deregulation in disguise. It appears Jørgensen has seized on the current energy crisis as an opportunity to double down on renewables, stating that things will only get worse for the EU if it continues its dependence on fossil fuels. This line was firmly backed by his boss and fellow Social Democrat Executive Vice President Ribera, who was standing beside him at the press conference. Someone has got to make hay while there’s an energy crisis. (Public Policy Europe)
