Competitiveness Council, 22-23 May 2023

nternal market and industry
Regulation on machinery
Ministers made the final approval of the regulation on machinery.

Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life
The updated rules will provide legal certainty for the European machinery industry for the foreseeable future. They will ensure a high level of protection for our workers and our citizens while increasing the reputation of machines made in the EU.

Paulina Brandberg, Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life
New rules for machinery: Council gives its final approval (press release, 22 May 2023)
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Ecodesign regulation
Ministers adopted a Council position (general approach) on the Ecodesing regulation.

The new regulation builds on the 2009 Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC), which only covers energy-related products, and transforms it into a regulation, applicable to almost all categories of products.

Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister
If we want really sustainable European products on the market, we need to address the issue from the starting point: their design. The Ecodesign regulation will make sure that products sold in the EU market are fit and ready for the green transition.

Ebba Busch, Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister
Ecodesign regulation: Council adopts position (press release, 22 May 2023)
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Other topics on the agenda
The ministers discussed four important files related to the European competitiveness:

Long term competitiveness
Net-Zero industry act
Single Market at 30 and beyond (during working lunch), and
Critical raw materials act.
These four sessions provided an in-depth vision of the member states on the important package on competitiveness that the Commission presented on 16 March.

This debate at the minister level will allow the Council to advance on negotiating positions for these files.

Long-term competitiveness of the EU: looking beyond 2030
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Unitary Patent System
The presidency also took the opportunity to celebrate Unitary Patent System's entry into force next 1 June, after a long and complex process that started in 2012.

The Unitary Patent System will make access to the European patent system easier and less costly and will improve the level of patent protection, by making it possible to obtain uniform patent protection in all the participating EU member states.

The Unitary Patent System – Note from the presidency
Statement of Swedish minister of justice, Gunnar Strömmer with invited personalities
Research
Scholarly publishing
The Council adopted conclusions on ‘high quality, transparent, open, trustworthy and equitable scholarly publishing’ where it calls for immediate and unrestricted open access in publishing research involving public funds.

Mats Persson, Minister for Education, Ministry of Education and Research
If we really believe in open science, we need to make sure that researchers can make their findings available and re-usable and that high-quality scientific articles are openly accessible to anyone that needs to read them. This should be particularly the case for research that benefits from public funding: what has been paid by all should be accessible to all.

Mats Persson, Minister for Education, Ministry of Education and Research
Council calls for transparent, equitable, and open access to scholarly publications (press release, 23 May 2023)
Council conclusions on high-quality, transparent, open, trustworthy and equitable scholarly publishing, 23 May 2023
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Other topics on the agenda

Presidency note on "Knowledge security and responsible internationalisation”
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Under any other business, ministers were informed by the European Commission about the Seals of Excellence.

The Italian delegation made a presentation on the candidature of Rome to host the EXPO 2030.

Over an informal lunch, ministers discussed on science denial.

Space
Fair and sustainable use of space
Ministers adopted Council conclusions on 'Fair and Sustainable Use of Space', where they called for a European approach on space traffic management.

Space orbits are a common good that we all need to look after not only for ourselves but also for the future generations. We need to continue profiting of the opportunities of satellite technologies but in a way that is sustainable, safe and fair for all the peoples of the planet.

Mats Persson, Minister for Education, Ministry of Education and Research
Council calls for a European approach on space traffic management (press release, 23 May 2023)
Council conclusions on fair and sustainable use of space, 23 May 2023
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Infographic - EU in space

Illustration: The EU has launched a new space programmeSee full infographic
Other topics on the agenda
Ministers held a policy debate on EU Space Policy in a new Geopolitical Landscape. The discussion was based on Commission’s and EEAS' joint communication ‘European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence’ that was presented on 10 March 2023.

Ministers discussed the influence of the EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence influence on the implementation of the current Space Programmes and the synergies that could be obtained while safeguarding the space programmes’ policy objectives.

European Union Space Strategy for Security and Defence
EU space policy (background information)
Ministers were informed by the Spanish delegation on the programme for their upcoming presidency.

The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items.