Thank you Angela.

This morning we had a good discussion even though some of us arrived late because we were caught in the Berlin rain.

We talked very intensively about trade issues; that is important for G20. I reported on the progress we have made in the negotiations with Japan and with Canada. There are still a few sticking points. I have therefore sent the European Agriculture Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner to Japan so that these discussions can be concluded before the summit between the European Union and Japan on 6 July. The trade agreement with Japan, if it materialises, is important. And I am assuming that it will materialise. It will fully comply with all European rules, requirements and standards.

We are in the process of getting the free trade agreement with Canada into a shape in which it can come into force on a provisional basis. Again, there are still a few problems that we will be solving over the next few days.

We listened closely to the Italian Prime Minister’s report on the refugee situation. I would like to say here that as far as the Commission is concerned we have for a long time taken the view that neither Italy nor Greece can be left on their own. And the Commission will be there to support what I would call the heroic efforts made by Italy to meet this challenge. Italy will not be on its own.

As of 1 July Estonia will hold its first ever six month Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The four priorities of the presidency focus on issues related to innovation, safety and security, digitalisation and free movement of data.  These priorities are all, directly or indirectly, linked to the responsibilities of eu-LISA, the European Agency in charge of the operational management of large-scale IT systems for security and justice.

On 17-18 October eu-LISA will host a high-level conference ‘Going Digital for a Safe and Secure Europe‘ in Tallinn, supported by the Estonian Presidency, to focus on IT solutions that help ensure Europe’s internal security. Further details are also available in the events section of the presidency website.

With the headquarters of the Agency located in Tallinn, Estonia, eu-LISA is honoured to also host several groups of stakeholders that will convene for presidency events and are interested to learn directly about eu-LISA’s present and near future core tasks.

Background:

Contacts:

e-mail: press@eulisa.europa.eu

mob: +372 588 78 668

for general information: info@eulisa.europa.eu

As of 1 July Estonia will hold its first ever six month Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The four priorities of the presidency focus on issues related to innovation, safety and security, digitalisation and free movement of data.  These priorities are all, directly or indirectly, linked to the responsibilities of eu-LISA, the European Agency in charge of the operational management of large-scale IT systems for security and justice.

On 17-18 October eu-LISA will host a high-level conference ‘Going Digital for a Safe and Secure Europe‘ in Tallinn, supported by the Estonian Presidency, to focus on IT solutions that help ensure Europe’s internal security. Further details are also available in the events section of the presidency website.

With the headquarters of the Agency located in Tallinn, Estonia, eu-LISA is honoured to also host several groups of stakeholders that will convene for presidency events and are interested to learn directly about eu-LISA’s present and near future core tasks.

Background:

Contacts:

e-mail: press@eulisa.europa.eu

mob: +372 588 78 668

for general information: info@eulisa.europa.eu