Media advisory – Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council of 17-18 May 2021

Indicative programme 

Monday 17 May

from 08.30
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.00
Doorstep by Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education of Portugal

+/- 09.35
Doorstep by Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, Minister of Education of Portugal

+/- 10.00
Beginning of the meeting of Education ministers
– Adoption of the agenda
– Adoption of non-legislative A items
– Conclusions on equity and inclusion in education and training in order to promote educational success for all
– Conclusions on the European Universities initiative – Bridging higher education, research, innovation and society: Paving the way for a new dimension in European higher education
– Evolving scenarios for the transformation of EU Higher Education – Policy debate (+/- 10.40 public session)
– Any other business

At the end of the meeting (+/- 12.40) press conference in live streaming.

+/- 15.00
Beginning of the meeting of ministers responsible for youth

– Conclusions on strengthening multi-level governance when promoting the participation of young people in decision-making processes
– A rights-based approach to youth policies: The drive for commitment in the future? – Policy debate (+/- 15.30 public session)
– Any other business

At the end of the meeting (+/- 18.00) press conference in live streaming.

Tuesday 18 May

time to be confirmed
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 09.00
Doorstep by Graça Fonseca, Minister of Culture of Portugal

+/- 10.00
Beginning of the meeting of ministers responsible for culture

– Conclusions on the recovery, resilience and sustainability of the cultural and creative sectors
– Conclusions on “Europe’s Media in the Digital Decade: An Action Plan to Support Recovery and Transformation”-
– Diversification of funding sources and mechanisms for the safeguarding and protection of European cultural heritage – Policy debate (+/- 10.30 public session)
– Any other business (public session)

At the end of the meeting (+/- 13.00) press conference in live streaming.

+/- 15.00
Beginning of the meeting of ministers responsible for sport

– Conclusions on sport innovation
– Sport diplomacy: Promoting Europe’s Interests and Values in the World – Policy debate (+/- 15.20 public session)
– Any other business (public session)

At the end of the meeting (+/- 18.00) press conference in live streaming.

Arrangements for the press conferences

Please note that there will be no physical press conferences. EU accredited journalists will be able to ask questions remotely using this link.

Journalists who already registered for previous Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council press conferences do not need to register again.

– Deadline: Monday, 17 May 2021, 11.40

Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants approximately half an hour after the deadline.

Videos and photos from the event



12 arrested in France in latest hit against tobacco smugglers

Earlier this week, the French Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale) with the support of the French Judicial Customs (SEJF) arrested 5 individuals and seized 250 000 counterfeit cigarettes in a series of raids in the city of Nantes. 

This action follows an earlier one on 9 April which saw 7 other members of the same organised crime group arrested in the cities of Nantes, Rodez and Montpellier. On this occasion, close to 5 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes were seized, alongside €37 000 in cash.

Europol deployed specialists from its European Financial Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) on both these actions days to support the French authorities. 

This organised crime group received the illegal cigarettes from two criminal networks based abroad, arranged for their storage in various cities in France and then managed their subsequent distribution through a number of criminal wholesalers – composed mostly of Georgian, Armenian and Ukrainian nationals – onto the French black market. 

The same organised crime group was also involved in the management of payments and the corresponding financial flows. This criminal group has now been fully dismantled. 

Since the start of the investigation, the French investigators collected evidence that over 75 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes were imported and distributed throughout France for a loss to the French budget estimated close to €22 million.

Europol support 

Europol’s Analysis Project (AP) Smoke as part of the EFECC has supported this investigation from the onset and organised coordination meetings with the national investigators involved to discuss procedural requirements and identify a clear way forward. 

Its experts there after organised the intensive exchange of information needed to prepare for the action days in France.

This investigation was carried out in the framework of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats. 

EMPACT

In 2010 the European Union set up a four-year Policy Cycle to ensure greater continuity in the fight against serious international and organised crime. In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 – 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Excise fraud is one of the priorities for the Policy Cycle.



Trading scheme resulting in €30 million in losses uncovered

The German authorities initiated the investigation into this large-scale online investment fraud network with hundreds of victims across Europe

On 11 May 2021, a large criminal network involved in investment fraud and money laundering was dismantled as a result of a cross border operation supported by Europol and Eurojust. The investigation, led by Germany, involved law enforcement and judicial authorities from Bulgaria, Israel, Latvia, North-Macedonia, Poland, Spain and Sweden. 

 Final results of the investigation:

  • 11 arrested (5 in Bulgaria and 1 in Israel on the action day and 5 previously in Spain) 
  • A dozen of locations were searched in Bulgaria, Israel, Poland, North Macedonia and Sweden
  • Seizures include numerous electronic devices, real estate, jewellery, high-end vehicles and approximately €2 million in cash
  • Bank accounts have also been frozen

At least €7 million in losses in Germany alone

The criminal network created different trading online platforms advertising substantial profits from investments in high-risk options and cryptocurrencies. The criminal group ran at least four of such professionally looking trading platforms, luring victims through advertisements in social media and search engines. The members of the criminal group were posing as experienced brokers when contacting the victims via the call centre they had set-up. The suspects were using manipulated software to show the gains from the investments and to motivate the victims to invest even more. 

The fraud scheme, organised mainly by Israeli nationals, included call centres, ran from Bulgaria and North-Macedonia. In total, the criminal network defrauded victims across Europe of an estimated €30 million. Victims from Germany alone suffered at least €7 million in losses while 300 complains were filed in Spain. The suspects laundered the illegal profits through bank accounts controlled or owned by shell companies based in different EU countries. 

Europol supported the operation by facilitating information exchange and providing analytical support and operational coordination. During the action day, Europol experts cross-checked operational information in real-time against Europol’s databases to provide leads to investigators in the field. 

Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, we support the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime and other serious and organised forms of crime. We also work with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.



ECDC Director discusses agency’s mandate on “European Health Union Now!” podcast

A strengthened mandate for ECDC is included in the European Health Union legislative package proposed by the European Commission, and is currently under negotiation in the European Council and the European Parliament.

What would a new mandate for ECDC involve in the context of pandemic surveillance, preparedness, and response? How could a strengthened ECDC mandate better protect Europeans and support Member States? And how does this proposal fit into a larger framework with a more ambitious vision of working closely together in solidarity on future health threats in Europe?

In the podcast, Andrea Ammon also shares some of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and discusses the need for after-action reviews and close collaboration across borders. She highlights the urgency of additional investment in public health and a new generation of dedicated public health professionals. Finally, she finally reflects on the importance of establishing trust, creating a dialogue through community engagement, and the role ECDC has played in addressing the so-called “infodemic”.



Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar/Burma

On 22 March 2021 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2021/6391 concerning restrictive measures against Myanmar/Burma.

The Council added ten persons and two entities in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures in the Annex to Decision 2013/184/CFSP

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania2, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this Council Decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

1 Published on 19.04.2021 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L132I, p. 12
2 The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.