European Union
Presidency of the Council of the European Union
French Presidency 
January 1st to June 30th, 2022
The Presidency of the Council rotates among the Member States of the European Union. In each semester, the Presidency chairs meetings at every level in the Council, helping to ensure the continuity of the EU's work in the Council. As of 1st January, France takes over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Slovenia.
The French Presidency has set its program around three ambitions:
A more sovereign Europe:
- strengthening the Schengen area, protecting European borders, controlling migration and improving the asylum policy, in line with Europe’s values and its international commitments;
- building a stronger Europe, capable of action in the fields of security and defence;
- acting for the prosperity and stability of its neighbours, particularly through its engagement in the Western Balkans and its renewed relationship with Africa;
- bringing forth solutions to address global challenges.
A new European model for growth:
- make Europe, a major land of production, job creation, innovation and technological excellence;
- bring the economic development in line with climate goals;
- support innovation and the growth of European digital players while setting its own rules for the digital world;
- provide high-quality, high-skilled and better-paying jobs
A humane Europe:
- considering the concerns expressed by its citizens through the Conference on the Future of Europe;
- defending the rule of law and upholds its values;
- Proud in its culture, trusting in science and knowledge, and is committed to fighting discrimination and securing a future for the next generation.
Energy priorities
The French Presidency is committed to the EU's goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, which cannot be achieved unless the European energy sector, which is responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, undertakes a major transition by implementing energy efficiency measures, increasing use of renewable and decarbonised energy sources and developing technological innovation. These goals will be pursued while ensuring affordable energy prices for European citizens and businesses.
The Presidency will continue to work on the proposals for the "Fit for 55" legislative package connected with energy. To achieve this dual goal, it will work to accelerate the development of renewable energy, encourage energy savings and increase energy efficiency in the EU, by accelerating building renovation and promoting the use of decarbonised energy sources.
The Presidency will promote discussions on the renewable energy and energy efficiency Directives and begin discussions on the revision of the Directive on the energy performance of buildings. These measures are also essential to support economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. The Presidency will focus on the energy efficiency of housing and to tackle energy poverty at a Ministerial Conference in March, in Nice.
The Presidency will initiate work on the gas package, revising the Regulation on conditions for access to decarbonised gas transmission networks, including hydrogen, following on from the Council conclusions of December 2020, and the directive regulating decarbonized gas markets. It will also initiate discussions on the proposed regulation on methane emissions in the energy sector.
Rising energy prices will continue to be discussed by the Council during the French Presidency. Following on from the European Council conclusions of 21 and 22 October 2021, the Presidency will act on the findings to be delivered by the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), during the six-month period. Convinced that nuclear energy is a crucial instrument for the decarbonisation of European industry, meeting our emission reduction targets and enhancing our energy sovereignty and independence, the Presidency will hold a ministerial Conference on decarbonisation in early March. It will ensure that European regulations remain consistent with development of nuclear energy.
Other Priorities
Transportation
The transport sector is crucial to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and to enable the Union's recovery. The Presidency is convinced of the need to create an ambitious and sustainable timeline for decarbonising transport modes, increase the attractiveness of the sector, particularly regarding working conditions in the maritime and air transport. It will work on the legislation and implementation of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy presented by the Commission in December 2020.
Regarding the European Green Pact, the Presidency will continue work on the "Fit for 55" package: the regulations proposals "AFIR", "Fuel EU Maritime" and "ReFuel EU Aviation". The Presidency will initiate the work on the efficient and green mobility legislative package. It will conduct initial negotiations on review of the Regulation on Union guidelines for the development of the Trans-European transport network (TENT) and will hold, at the end of June, in association with the Commission, the TEN-T Days bringing together stakeholders in the network. It will focus on revising the Intelligent Transport Systems Directive.
In the field of maritime transport, the French Presidency will initiate work on proposals for revision of the Directive on compliance with flag State requirements, the Directive on port State control and the Directive on the investigation of maritime accidents. At the international level, the Presidency will prepare submissions to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in the fields of environment and safety, including proposals for medium-term measures to decarbonise shipping, and the proposal to create an emission control area for the whole of the Mediterranean. In the field of aviation, the Presidency wishes to continue reform of the Single European Sky regulations. At international level, in addition to preparing for sessions of the Councils and the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the Presidency will monitor negotiations on air agreements with third countries.
Environment
The French Presidency will continue its efforts in the environmental area, in particularly:
- Preservation of biodiversity | Circular economy | Healthier environment, free of dangerous substances | Preparation of the negotiations for the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Egypt, following up on the commitments made at COP26 | Transition to a decarbonized economy, continuing the negotiations on the "Fit for 55" legislative package: revision of the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS); revision of the Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR); revision of the Regulation on the inclusion of GHG emissions and removals resulting from activities related to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF - land use, land use change and forestry); Social Climate Fund (SCF); CO2 Vehicles - amendment to the regulation setting CO2 emission performance standards for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles; Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
The programme of the French Presidency can be consulted [here].
Slovenian Presidency 
July 1st to December 31th, 2021
Slovenia held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the 2nd half of 2021, taking over from Portugal on July 1st, 2021.
Main priorities of the Slovenian Presidency:
- Resilience, recovery and strategic autonomy of the EU (pandemic and virtual resilience; economic recovery; green transition and digital transformation);
- Rule of law and equal criteria for all (Rule of Law Dialogues);
- Credible and secure European Union, capable of ensuring security and stability in its neighbourhood (transatlantic relations; Western Balkans and EU enlargement; Schengen and the pact on migration and asylum).
Energy priorities:
- Facilitate a harmonious, economic and fair energy transition;
- EU climate and energy targets by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050;
- Robust and resilient energy sector;
- Benefits of the circular economy;
- Principle of primacy of energy efficiency, sector integration and renewables and other low carbon energy sources;
- Alternative fuels and e-mobility.
On the legislative terms:
- "Fit for 55" legislative package; Review of the RED II Directive; Review of the Energy Efficiency Directive; Review of the TEN-E Regulation; Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and Gas Market Review;
- Modernization of the Energy Charter Treaty.
High-level events held:
Conference on the future of Europe (debates with citizens);
The Central and South-East Europe Energy Interconnections (CESEC) Ministerial Meeting | September 21st, 2021;
The Informal Meeting of Transport and Energy and Transport Ministers | September 22nd, 2021;
Formal Energy Council Meeting - December 2nd, 2021.
The programme of the Slovenian Presidency can be consulted [here].
Portuguese Presidency 
January 1st to June 30th, 2021
Main priorities of the Portuguese Presidency:
- Promote Europe's recovery, leveraged by the climate and digital transitions;
- Implement the Social Pillar of the European Union as a key element for ensuring a fair and inclusive climate and digital transition;
- Strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy, while maintaining its openness to the world.
Energy priorities:
The Portuguese Presidency has prioritized the achievement of an integrated, interconnected, digitalised and operational Single Energy Market, considering the contribution of the sector to the transition to a carbon-neutral Europe.
The Presidency focused on the revision of the Trans-European Energy Networks Regulation ensuring its consistency with the goal of carbon neutrality, highlighting the importance of energy interconnections.
The storage, the development of energy systems and smart grids, the role of alternative fuels, green taxation, promotion of renewable energy, self-consumption and energy communities were also addressed.
The Presidency also assumed the commitment to green hydrogen as a key factor in the energy transition and as an economic, industrial, scientific and technological opportunity, fostering the growth of the green hydrogen market and the associated regulatory conditions.
The Presidency highlighted the promotion of energy efficiency with a special focus on tackling against energy poverty in the context of the "Renovation Wave Strategy” intended to improve the energy performance of buildings.
The Portuguese Presidency organized high-level events, namely the "Hydrogen and Energy Transition" Conference on April 7th, 2021, and a "Green Mining" Conference on May 5th, both in hybrid format.
The national program of the Portuguese Presidency can be consulted [here].