Council Decision (EU) 2025/1258 of 23 June 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union within the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1258 26.6.2025
(1) The Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (‘the Agreement’)(1)was signed by the Union on 14 December 2022 and has been provisionally applied since 20 October 2024 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2022/2562(2).
(2) Pursuant to Article 52(5) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to adopt its own rules of procedure.
(3) The Joint Committee, during its first meeting, is to adopt its rules of procedure, establish specialised working groups and adopt the terms of reference of those groups.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of the terms of reference of those groups, as the decisions of the Joint Committee will be binding on the Union.
(5) The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decisions of the Joint Committee,
(1) Parts of the Agreement have been applied provisionally since 20 October 2024.
(2) The Joint Committee should therefore adopt its rules of procedure,
(1) Pursuant to Article 13 of its Rules of Procedure, the Joint Committee may set up Specialised Working Groups to assist it in the performance of its tasks.
(2) The adoption of the terms of reference of the Specialised Working Groups set out in Annex II is without prejudice to the continuation and procedures of the EU-Thailand Labour Dialogue or the EU-Thailand Working Group on combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing,
(1) Specialised Working Group on Human Rights and Governance
(2) Specialised Working Group on Trade and Investment
(3) Specialised Working Group on Sustainable Development and Green Transition
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 209 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part (‘the Agreement’) (1) was signed by the Union on 14 December 2022 and has been provisionally applied since 20 October 2024 in accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2022/2562 (2).
(2) Pursuant to Article 52(5) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee is to adopt its own rules of procedure.
(3) The Joint Committee, during its first meeting, is to adopt its rules of procedure, establish specialised working groups and adopt the terms of reference of those groups.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the Joint Committee as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of specialised working groups and the adoption of the terms of reference of those groups, as the decisions of the Joint Committee will be binding on the Union.
(5) The position of the Union within the Joint Committee should therefore be based on the attached draft decisions of the Joint Committee,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf within the Joint Committee established by the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, of the other part, as regards the adoption of the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee, the establishment of its specialised working groups and the adoption of their terms of reference shall be based on the draft decisions of the Joint Committee attached to this Decision.
Minor changes to the draft decisions of the Joint Committee may be agreed to by the representatives of the Union within the Joint Committee without a further decision of the Council.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
The Rules of Procedure of the Joint Committee, as set out in the Annex to this Decision, are hereby adopted.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
1. The Joint Committee’s Specialised Working Groups, as set out in Annex I to this Decision, are hereby established.

2. The terms of reference of the Joint Committee’s Specialised Working Groups, as set out in the Annex II to this Decision, are hereby adopted.

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Article 1
Tasks and composition 1. The Joint Committee, established in accordance with Article 52 of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation between the European Union and its Member States, on the one part, and the Kingdom of Thailand, on the other part (the ‘Agreement’), shall perform its tasks as provided for in the Agreement and in these Rules of Procedure. 2. Pursuant to Article 52(4) of the Agreement, the Joint Committee shall have the prerogative to discuss the functioning and implementation of any specific agreement as referred to in Article 53(1). As part of the common institutional framework, the Joint Committee shall discuss the matters referred to it by committees set up under any specific agreement referred to in Article 53(1) and those of the subcommittees of those committees set up under the specific agreements. 3. The Joint Committee shall be composed of representatives of both Parties at the highest possible level.

Article 2
Chairing 1. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand shall chair the Joint Committee when convened at Ministerial level. This function can be delegated to a senior official. 2. The Joint Committee shall be chaired alternately by each of the Parties, for a period of one year, from 1 January to 31 December of the same year. The other Party shall act as Co-Chair.

Article 3
Meetings 1. The Joint Committee shall normally meet in Brussels and Bangkok alternately once every year or as otherwise agreed by the co-chairs. The meetings of the Joint Committee shall be convened by the Chair hosting the meeting on a date fixed by mutual agreement. Extraordinary meetings of the Joint Committee may be held at the request of either Party, if the Parties so agree. 2. If both Parties agree, the meetings of the Joint Committee may exceptionally be held by means of video- or teleconference. 3. The Joint Committee shall meet at ministerial level but may meet at the level of senior officials if the Parties so agree. 4. Unless otherwise decided by the co-chairs, meetings of the Joint Committee shall not be public.

Article 4
Participants 1. Before each meeting, each Party shall inform the co-chairs, through the Secretariat, of the intended composition of its delegation. 2. Where appropriate and by mutual agreement between the Parties, experts or representatives of other bodies may be invited to attend the meetings of the Joint Committee as observers or in order to provide information on a particular subject.

Article 5
Secretariat
A representative of the European External Action Service and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand shall act jointly as Secretaries of the Joint Committee. All communications to and from the co-chairs of the Joint Committee shall be forwarded to the Secretaries. Correspondence to and from the co-chairs of the Joint Committee may be by any written means, including electronic mail.

Article 6
Agendas for meetings 1. The Chair shall draw up a provisional agenda for each meeting. The provisional agenda shall be forwarded, together with the relevant documents, to the other Party no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the meeting. 2. Items to be included in the provisional agenda shall be submitted to the Chair no later than 21 calendar days before the beginning of the meeting. 3. The agenda shall be adopted by the Joint Committee at the beginning of each meeting. Items other than those on the provisional agenda may be placed on the agenda if the two Parties so agree. 4. The Chair may, in agreement with the Co-Chair, shorten the time limits referred to in paragraph 1 in order to take account of the requirements of a particular case.

Article 7
Minutes 1. Draft minutes of each meeting shall be drawn up jointly by the two Secretaries, normally within 30 calendar days from the date of the meeting. The draft minutes shall be based on a summing up by the Chair of the conclusions arrived at by the Joint Committee. 2. The minutes shall be approved by both Parties within 45 calendar days of the date of the meeting or by any date agreed by the Parties. Once there is agreement on the draft minutes, two original copies shall be signed by the Chair and the Co-Chair. Each Party shall receive one original copy.

Article 8
Decisions and recommendations 1. The Joint Committee may take decisions and make recommendations in order to attain the objectives of the Agreement. Decisions and recommendations of the Joint Committee shall be adopted by mutual agreement of the Parties. Decisions and recommendations shall be adopted following completion by the Parties of their respective internal procedures in accordance with their laws and regulations. 2. Each decision shall be binding as of the date of its adoption. 3. When the Joint Committee adopts decisions or recommendations, such acts shall be entitled ‘Decision’ or ‘Recommendation’ respectively, followed by a serial number, the date of their adoption and a description of the subject matter. 4. The Joint Committee may take decisions or make recommendations by written procedure if both Parties so agree. By mutual agreement of the Parties, a deadline may be foreseen for the completion of the written procedure, at the end of which the Chair and the Co-Chair of the Joint Committee may declare, unless any of the Parties communicates the contrary, that a mutual agreement of the Parties has been reached. 5. Decisions and recommendations adopted by the Joint Committee shall be authenticated by two original copies. 6. Each Party may decide on the publication of the decisions and recommendations of the Joint Committee in its respective official publication.

Article 9
Correspondence 1. Correspondence addressed to the Joint Committee shall be directed to one of the Secretaries, who will in turn inform the other Secretary. 2. The Secretariat shall ensure that correspondence addressed to the Joint Committee is forwarded to the Chair and the Co-Chair and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 10 of these rules of procedure. 3. Correspondence from the Chair and the Co-Chair shall be sent to the Parties by the Secretariat and circulated, where appropriate, as documents referred to in Article 10 of these rules of procedure.

Article 10
Documents 1. Where the deliberations of the Joint Committee are based on written supporting documents, such documents shall be numbered and circulated by the Secretariat to the Members. 2. Each Secretary shall be responsible for circulating the documents to the respective representatives in the Joint Committee and systematically copying the other Secretary. 3. When a Party submits information destined to be treated confidentially, the other Party shall treat the information as such.

Article 11
Expenses 1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of the Joint Committee with regard to staff, travel, and subsistence expenditure as well as postal and telecommunications expenditure. 2. Expenditure in connection with the organisation of meetings and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting.

Article 12
Amendment of rules of procedure
These rules of procedure may be amended by mutual agreement of the Parties, through a decision of the Joint Committee in accordance with Article 8.

Article 13
Specialised Working Groups 1. The Joint Committee may decide to set up specialised working groups to assist it in the performance of its tasks. 2. The Joint Committee shall determine the terms of reference of the specialised working groups set up pursuant to paragraph 1. 3. The specialised working groups shall report to the Joint Committee after each of their meetings. 4. The specialised working groups shall not have any decision-making power but may submit recommendations to the Joint Committee.

(1) Specialised Working Group on Human Rights and Governance

(2) Specialised Working Group on Trade and Investment

(3) Specialised Working Group on Sustainable Development and Green Transition

Article 1 1. At its meetings, each specialised working group may deal with the implementation of the Agreement in the areas it covers. 2. The specialised working groups may also discuss subjects or specific projects related to the relevant area of bilateral cooperation. 3. Individual cases may also be raised when either Party requires.

Article 2
The specialised working groups shall work under the authority of the Joint Committee. They shall report and transmit their minutes and conclusions to the Chair of the Joint Committee within 30 calendar days after each meeting.

Article 3
Each specialised working group shall be composed of representatives of the Parties competent for the matters it covers. Upon agreement of the Parties, the specialised working groups may invite experts to their meetings and may hear from them regarding specific points on the agenda, as appropriate.

Article 4
The specialised working groups shall be chaired by the Parties alternately, according to the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee. The other Party shall act as Co-Chair. The Chair and Co-Chair shall be a representative of the authority competent for the matters covered by each body.

Article 5
A representative of the European External Action Service and a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand shall act jointly as Secretaries of the specialised working groups, unless otherwise determined by each Party based on the tasks of the given specialised working group. All communications concerning the specific specialised working groups shall be forwarded to the two Secretaries.

Article 6 1. The specialised working groups shall meet not less than every two years in Bangkok and Brussels alternately. Each meeting shall be held at a place and date agreed by the Parties. 2. Upon receipt of a request by one of the Parties for a meeting of a specialised working group, the Secretary of the other Party shall reply within 15 calendar days. 3. In cases of particular urgency, specialised working groups meetings may be convened at shorter notice, subject to the agreement of both Parties. 4. If both Parties agree, the meetings of the specialised working groups may exceptionally be held by means of video- or teleconference. 5. Before each meeting, the Chair and Co-Chair shall be informed of the intended composition of the delegation of both Parties. 6. Meetings of the specialised working groups are convened jointly by the two Secretaries.

Article 7
Items for inclusion on the agenda shall be submitted to the Secretaries at least 20 calendar days prior to the date of the specialised working group meeting in question. Any supporting documentation shall be provided to the Secretaries at least 15 calendar days before the meeting. The Secretaries will communicate the draft agenda no later than 10 calendar days before the meeting. The agenda shall be finalised upon the agreement of both Parties. In exceptional circumstances, upon agreement of the Parties, items may be added to the agenda at short notice.

Article 8 1. Minutes shall be taken for each meeting. 2. Unless otherwise decided, specialised working groups’ meetings shall not be public.

Article 9 1. Each Party shall meet any expenses it incurs as a result of participating in the meetings of a specialised working group with regard to staff, travel, and subsistence expenditure as well as postal and telecommunications expenditure. 2. Expenditure in connection with the organisation of meetings and reproduction of documents shall be borne by the Party hosting the meeting.

Article 10
For other aspects not covered by these terms of reference, the rules of procedure of the Joint Committee shall apply by analogy.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1255 of 23 June 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1255 23.6.2025
(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999(1).
(2) On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.
(3) In March 2025, a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal region created a high number of victims, including many civilians. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union in which the Union condemned the horrific crimes committed against civilians, including arbitrary killings. Furthermore, actors related to the former al-Assad regime continue to play a destabilising role and are responsible for or provide support for serious human rights violations or abuses in Syria.
(4) In that context, five persons should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,
Names (Transliteration into Latin script) Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing
‘121. Miqdad Lu’ay FATIHAa.k.a. Miqdad FATIHA, Miqdad FUTAIHA, Abu Jafar, Abu Jaafar, Abu Ja’ afar مقداد لؤيّ فتيحةمقداد فتيحة(Arabic spelling) DOB: 19.6.1989POB: Jableh, Latakia, SyriaNationality: SyrianGender: maleAddress: Syria/Lebanon Miqdad Fatiha is a former member of the Syrian Republican Guard, which has since been disbanded. In this role he has been responsible for many serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners.After the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024, Miqdad Fatiha has formed militias in the coastal regions of Syria, stoking sectarian tensions and inciting violence. Units under his command were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.As the leader of the militias, Miqdad Fatiha is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. 23.6.2025
122. Ghaith DALLAa.k.a. Ghiath Suleiman DALLA, Ghyath DALLA, Ghayth DALLA غياث سليمان دلاغياث سليمان دلّا(Arabic spelling) DOB: 31.7.1971POB: Beit Yashout, SyriaNationality: SyrianGender: maleAssociated individuals: Maher Al-AssadAssociated entities: Fourth Division of the Syrian Army, Military Council for the Liberation of Syria Ghaith Dalla is a former Brigadier General with Syria’s notorious Fourth Army Division during the al-Assad regime. In this role, he has been responsible for many serious and well-documented human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial killings and cruel punishment by way of starvation.After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Ghaith Dalla went on to establish and lead the “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Ghaith Dalla’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.Therefore, Ghaith Dalla is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses. 23.6.2025
123. Suhayl AL-HASANa.k.a. Suhail Salman AL-HASAN, Suhail AL-HASSAN سهيل سلمان الحسن(Arabic spelling) DOB: 10.6.1970POB: Jableh, Latakia, SyriaNationality: SyrianGender: maleAddress: Tartus, Syria Suhayl al-Hasan is a Former Commander of Division 25 Special Mission Forces of the Syrian armed forces under the al-Assad regime. In this role, as well as in the numerous other positions he held in the Syrian Armed Forces, he has committed and overseen countless severe human rights violations or abuses that include torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests. He is also reported to have overseen the deployment of chemical weapons.After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Suhayl al-Hasan went on to establish the “Coastal Shield Brigade” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Suhayl al-Hasan’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.Therefore, Suhayl al-Hasan is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses. 23.6.2025
124. Mudalal KHOURYa.k.a. Madalal (Mtanyus) KHURI, Mudallal KHOURY, Mudallal KHOURI مدلل خوري(Arabic spelling) DOB: 18.6.1957POB: Homs, SyriaNationality: Syrian, RussianGender: maleAddress: MoscowAssociated individual: Imad Khoury Mudalal Khoury is a Syrian-Russian businessman operating from Russia. He is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Mudalal Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests in Russia. Amongst other things, he provided front companies to be used for the al-Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic weapons programmes.Therefore, Mudalal Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity. 23.6.2025
125. Imad KHOURYa.k.a. Emad KHOURY, Mtanyus KHURY, KHURI, KHOURI عماد خوري(Arabic spelling) DOB: 3.10.1964Nationality: Syrian, RussianGender: maleAssociated individual: Mudalal Khoury Imad Khoury is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Imad Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests. Amongst other things, he founded a company that was part of a money laundering scheme supporting the al-Assad regime. In this way, together with his brother Mudalal Khoury, he helped finance the severe crimes against humanity committed under the al-Assad regime.Therefore, Imad Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity. 23.6.2025’.
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 (1).
(2) On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.
(3) In March 2025, a wave of violence in Syria’s coastal region created a high number of victims, including many civilians. On 11 March 2025, the High Representative issued a statement on behalf of the Union in which the Union condemned the horrific crimes committed against civilians, including arbitrary killings. Furthermore, actors related to the former al-Assad regime continue to play a destabilising role and are responsible for or provide support for serious human rights violations or abuses in Syria.
(4) In that context, five persons should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.
(5) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

In the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999, the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:

Names (Transliteration into Latin script)
Names
Identifying information
Reasons for listing
Date of listing
‘121. Miqdad Lu’ay FATIHA
a.k.a. Miqdad FATIHA, Miqdad FUTAIHA, Abu Jafar, Abu Jaafar, Abu Ja’ afar
مقداد لؤيّ فتيحة
مقداد فتيحة
(Arabic spelling)
DOB: 19.6.1989
POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Address: Syria/Lebanon
Miqdad Fatiha is a former member of the Syrian Republican Guard, which has since been disbanded. In this role he has been responsible for many serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel treatment of prisoners.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime in December 2024, Miqdad Fatiha has formed militias in the coastal regions of Syria, stoking sectarian tensions and inciting violence. Units under his command were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
As the leader of the militias, Miqdad Fatiha is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.
23.6.2025 122. Ghaith DALLA
a.k.a. Ghiath Suleiman DALLA, Ghyath DALLA, Ghayth DALLA
غياث سليمان دلا
غياث سليمان دلّا
(Arabic spelling)
DOB: 31.7.1971
POB: Beit Yashout, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Associated individuals: Maher Al-Assad
Associated entities: Fourth Division of the Syrian Army, Military Council for the Liberation of Syria
Ghaith Dalla is a former Brigadier General with Syria’s notorious Fourth Army Division during the al-Assad regime. In this role, he has been responsible for many serious and well-documented human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial killings and cruel punishment by way of starvation.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Ghaith Dalla went on to establish and lead the “Military Council for the Liberation of Syria” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Ghaith Dalla’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
Therefore, Ghaith Dalla is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses.
23.6.2025 123. Suhayl AL-HASAN
a.k.a. Suhail Salman AL-HASAN, Suhail AL-HASSAN
سهيل سلمان الحسن
(Arabic spelling)
DOB: 10.6.1970
POB: Jableh, Latakia, Syria
Nationality: Syrian
Gender: male
Address: Tartus, Syria
Suhayl al-Hasan is a Former Commander of Division 25 Special Mission Forces of the Syrian armed forces under the al-Assad regime. In this role, as well as in the numerous other positions he held in the Syrian Armed Forces, he has committed and overseen countless severe human rights violations or abuses that include torture, extrajudicial killings and arbitrary arrests. He is also reported to have overseen the deployment of chemical weapons.
After the fall of the al-Assad regime, Suhayl al-Hasan went on to establish the “Coastal Shield Brigade” in March 2025. His militia has since stoked sectarian tensions and incited violence in the coastal region of Syria. Suhayl al-Hasan’s units were involved in the March 2025 sectarian violence in the coastal region of Syria that resulted in the loss of hundreds of civilian lives.
Therefore, Suhayl al-Hasan is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses.
23.6.2025 124. Mudalal KHOURY
a.k.a. Madalal (Mtanyus) KHURI, Mudallal KHOURY, Mudallal KHOURI
مدلل خوري
(Arabic spelling)
DOB: 18.6.1957
POB: Homs, Syria
Nationality: Syrian, Russian
Gender: male
Address: Moscow
Associated individual: Imad Khoury
Mudalal Khoury is a Syrian-Russian businessman operating from Russia. He is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Mudalal Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests in Russia. Amongst other things, he provided front companies to be used for the al-Assad regime’s chemical and ballistic weapons programmes.
Therefore, Mudalal Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity.
23.6.2025 125. Imad KHOURY
a.k.a. Emad KHOURY, Mtanyus KHURY, KHURI, KHOURI
عماد خوري
(Arabic spelling)
DOB: 3.10.1964
Nationality: Syrian, Russian
Gender: male
Associated individual: Mudalal Khoury
Imad Khoury is one of the most prominent Syrian businessmen who supported the al-Assad regime. In a context where the al-Assad regime used barrel bombs and chemical weapons against the civilian population of Syria, Imad Khoury represented the regime’s business and financial interests. Amongst other things, he founded a company that was part of a money laundering scheme supporting the al-Assad regime. In this way, together with his brother Mudalal Khoury, he helped finance the severe crimes against humanity committed under the al-Assad regime.
Therefore, Imad Khoury has provided financial, technical and material support for serious human rights violations or abuses, in particular crimes against humanity.
23.6.2025’.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1252 of 23 June 2025 appointing the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1252 24.6.2025
(1) On 26 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CSFP) 2024/758(1), appointing Mr Olof SKOOG as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights for a period of 24 months until 28 February 2026.
(2) Following the appointment of Mr Olof SKOOG to another position, Ms Kajsa OLLONGREN should be appointed as the EUSR for Human Rights from 23 June 2025 until 28 February 2026,
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 33 and Article 31(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 26 February 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CSFP) 2024/758 (1), appointing Mr Olof SKOOG as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights for a period of 24 months until 28 February 2026.
(2) Following the appointment of Mr Olof SKOOG to another position, Ms Kajsa OLLONGREN should be appointed as the EUSR for Human Rights from 23 June 2025 until 28 February 2026,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
1. The mandate of Mr Olof SKOOG as the European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Human Rights is hereby terminated as of 1 March 2025.
2. Ms Kajsa OLLONGREN is hereby appointed as the EUSR for Human Rights from 23 June 2025 until 28 February 2026. She shall exercise her mandate in accordance with Decision (CSFP) 2024/758.
3. The Council may decide that the mandate of the EUSR be terminated earlier, on the basis of an assessment by the Political and Security Committee and a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
1. Expenditure related to the administrative continuity between the EUSR’s mandates during the period from 1 March 2025 until 22 June 2025 shall be covered by the financial reference amount set out in Article 5(1) of Decision (CFSP) 2024/758.
2. Expenditure related to the implementation of the EUSR’s mandate during the period from 23 June 2025 until 28 February 2026 shall be covered by the financial reference amount set out in Article 5(1) of Decision (CFSP) 2024/758.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Council Decision (EU) 2025/1251 of 16 June 2025 on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union at the 17th session of the Committee of Technical Experts of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) as regards the revision of the Uniform Technical Prescriptions applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’, to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, to vehicle marking, to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’, and to the subsystem ‘Telematics applications for freight services’, and as regards the update of the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1251 27.6.2025
(1) The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (the ‘COTIF’), by means of Council Decision 2013/103/EU(1)and the Agreement between the European Union and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) on the Accession of the European Union to the COTIF Convention(2).
(2) Pursuant to Article 13(1)(f) of the COTIF, the Committee of Technical Experts (‘CTE’) of OTIF was set up.
(3) Pursuant to Article 20(1)(b) of the COTIF, and in accordance with Article 6(1) of the Uniform Rules concerning the Validation of Technical Standards and the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions applicable to Railway Material intended to be used in International Traffic (APTU) – Appendix F to COTIF, the CTE is competent to adopt or to amend, inter alia, the Uniform Technical Prescriptions (UTP) applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’ (UTP LOC&PAS), to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (UTP PRM), to vehicle marking (UTP Marking), to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’ (UTP INF) and to the subsystem ‘telematics applications for freight services’ (UTP TAF).
(4) Pursuant to Article 20(1)(e) of the COTIF, and in accordance with Article 21(4) of the Uniform Rules concerning the Technical Admission of Railway Material used in International Traffic (ATMF – Appendix G to the Convention), the CTE is competent to adopt or to amend, inter alia, the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules.
(5) The CTE has included in the agenda of its 17th session, which will take place on 17 and 18 June 2025, a proposal for decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS, the UTP PRM, the UTP Marking, and the UTP INF, to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF, and to update the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules.
(6) The envisaged acts of the CTE will have legal effects.
(7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the CTE, as the proposed decisions will be binding on the Union, pursuant to Article 6(1) APTU and Article 35(3) and (4) of the COTIF.
(8) The objectives of those decisions are to align the UTP LOC&PAS, UTP PRM, UTP Marking, and UTP INF to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1694(3)(the ‘2023 TSI package’), to align the references to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)’s Technical Documents of technical specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight’ (TAF TSI) listed in Appendix I of UTP TAF to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014(4), and to update the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules taking into account the feedback on experience from COTIF Contracting States.
(9) The envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP PRM, the UTP Marking, and the UTP INF are in line with the law and the strategic objectives of the Union by contributing to the alignment of OTIF legislation with the corresponding provisions of Union law, and should therefore be supported by the Union.
(10) The envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS and to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF are also generally in line with the law and the strategic objectives of the Union, and contribute to the alignment of OTIF legislation with the equivalent provisions of Union law. However, some of the changes proposed by OTIF should be aligned with the 2023 TSI Package. It is therefore necessary to propose amendments to the envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS and to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF, in order to ensure alignment with Unionacquisas amended by the 2023 TSI Package. The Union should thus support the envisaged decisions subject to the condition that those amendments are introduced,
(1) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed revision of UTP LOC&PAS applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25003 UTP LOC&PAS, subject to the following amendments:(a)in section 1 (Introduction) of the Annex, second paragraph, replace the word ‘infrastructure’ by ‘network(s)’;(b)in point 2.1 (The rolling stock subsystem as part of the rail system) of the Annex, fourth paragraph, delete, ‘UTP WAG’;(c)in point 2.2.1 (Train formation), paragraph (1), replace the term ‘OTIF technical admission’ by ‘UTP verification procedure’;(d)delete points 3.2.1 (General requirements, requirements related to maintenance and operation) and 3.2.2 (Requirements specific to other subsystems);(e)in point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), replace the title of paragraph (d) (Interfaces between the unit and the control-command and signalling subsystem) by ‘Additional requirements regarding interface with on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem’;(f)in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), in paragraphs (3) and (4) of point 4.2.4.3 (Type of brake system), in paragraph (3) of point 4.2.4.4.1 (Emergency braking command), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.4.4.2 (Service braking command), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.4.4.4 (Dynamic braking command), in paragraph (6) of point 4.2.4.8.2 (Magnetic track brake), in paragraph (9) of point 4.2.4.8.3 (Eddy current track brake), in paragraph (2) of point 4.2.5.5.6 (Door opening), in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.8.1.2 (Requirements on performance), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.8.2.4 (Maximum power and current from the overhead contact line), in paragraph (5), second subparagraph, of point 4.2.8.2.9.8 (Running through phase or system separation sections (RST level)), in paragraphs (5) and (6) of point 4.2.9.1.6 (Driver’s desk-Ergonomics), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.9.3.6 (Radio Remote control function by staff for shunting operation), in points 4.2.9.3.8.1 (Sleeping mode), 4.2.9.3.8.2 (Passive shunting), 4.2.9.3.8.3 (Non leading), 4.2.9.3.9 (Traction status), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.10.4.2 (Smoke Control), in point 4.2.13 (Interface requirements with Automated Train Operation on-board):—replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;(g)in point 4.2.4.6.1 (Limit of wheel rail adhesion profile), delete the wording ‘Note to points (1) – (4):’;(h)in point 4.2.4.7 (Dynamic brake – Braking system linked to traction system), replace the third paragraph by ‘For electric units, in case the presence on-board the unit of the voltage delivered by the external power supply is a condition for the dynamic brake application, the safety analysis shall cover failures leading to absence on-board the unit of that voltage.’;(i)in point 4.2.7.1.4 (Lamp controls), paragraph (3), replace ‘a flashing/blinking mode’ by ‘an automatic flashing/blinking mode’;(j)in paragraph (1) of point 4.2.9.6 (Recording device), replace the fourth subparagraph by ‘Additional data pertaining to the on-board control-command and signalling subsystem may be required to be recorded’;(k)in point 4.2.12.2 (General documentation), paragraph (24):—in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;(l)in point 6.2.6 (Assessment of documentation requested for operation and maintenance), paragraph (1), delete ‘and assessing entity’;(m)in point 7.3.2 (List of specific cases), delete all specific cases for the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland; (a) in section 1 (Introduction) of the Annex, second paragraph, replace the word ‘infrastructure’ by ‘network(s)’; (b) in point 2.1 (The rolling stock subsystem as part of the rail system) of the Annex, fourth paragraph, delete, ‘UTP WAG’; (c) in point 2.2.1 (Train formation), paragraph (1), replace the term ‘OTIF technical admission’ by ‘UTP verification procedure’; (d) delete points 3.2.1 (General requirements, requirements related to maintenance and operation) and 3.2.2 (Requirements specific to other subsystems); (e) in point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), replace the title of paragraph (d) (Interfaces between the unit and the control-command and signalling subsystem) by ‘Additional requirements regarding interface with on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem’; (f) in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), in paragraphs (3) and (4) of point 4.2.4.3 (Type of brake system), in paragraph (3) of point 4.2.4.4.1 (Emergency braking command), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.4.4.2 (Service braking command), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.4.4.4 (Dynamic braking command), in paragraph (6) of point 4.2.4.8.2 (Magnetic track brake), in paragraph (9) of point 4.2.4.8.3 (Eddy current track brake), in paragraph (2) of point 4.2.5.5.6 (Door opening), in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.8.1.2 (Requirements on performance), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.8.2.4 (Maximum power and current from the overhead contact line), in paragraph (5), second subparagraph, of point 4.2.8.2.9.8 (Running through phase or system separation sections (RST level)), in paragraphs (5) and (6) of point 4.2.9.1.6 (Driver’s desk-Ergonomics), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.9.3.6 (Radio Remote control function by staff for shunting operation), in points 4.2.9.3.8.1 (Sleeping mode), 4.2.9.3.8.2 (Passive shunting), 4.2.9.3.8.3 (Non leading), 4.2.9.3.9 (Traction status), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.10.4.2 (Smoke Control), in point 4.2.13 (Interface requirements with Automated Train Operation on-board):—replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—delete ‘See point 4.3.4’; — replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — delete ‘See point 4.3.4’; (g) in point 4.2.4.6.1 (Limit of wheel rail adhesion profile), delete the wording ‘Note to points (1) – (4):’; (h) in point 4.2.4.7 (Dynamic brake – Braking system linked to traction system), replace the third paragraph by ‘For electric units, in case the presence on-board the unit of the voltage delivered by the external power supply is a condition for the dynamic brake application, the safety analysis shall cover failures leading to absence on-board the unit of that voltage.’; (i) in point 4.2.7.1.4 (Lamp controls), paragraph (3), replace ‘a flashing/blinking mode’ by ‘an automatic flashing/blinking mode’; (j) in paragraph (1) of point 4.2.9.6 (Recording device), replace the fourth subparagraph by ‘Additional data pertaining to the on-board control-command and signalling subsystem may be required to be recorded’; (k) in point 4.2.12.2 (General documentation), paragraph (24):—in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’; — in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’; (l) in point 6.2.6 (Assessment of documentation requested for operation and maintenance), paragraph (1), delete ‘and assessing entity’; (m) in point 7.3.2 (List of specific cases), delete all specific cases for the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland;
(a) in section 1 (Introduction) of the Annex, second paragraph, replace the word ‘infrastructure’ by ‘network(s)’;
(b) in point 2.1 (The rolling stock subsystem as part of the rail system) of the Annex, fourth paragraph, delete, ‘UTP WAG’;
(c) in point 2.2.1 (Train formation), paragraph (1), replace the term ‘OTIF technical admission’ by ‘UTP verification procedure’;
(d) delete points 3.2.1 (General requirements, requirements related to maintenance and operation) and 3.2.2 (Requirements specific to other subsystems);
(e) in point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), replace the title of paragraph (d) (Interfaces between the unit and the control-command and signalling subsystem) by ‘Additional requirements regarding interface with on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem’;
(f) in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), in paragraphs (3) and (4) of point 4.2.4.3 (Type of brake system), in paragraph (3) of point 4.2.4.4.1 (Emergency braking command), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.4.4.2 (Service braking command), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.4.4.4 (Dynamic braking command), in paragraph (6) of point 4.2.4.8.2 (Magnetic track brake), in paragraph (9) of point 4.2.4.8.3 (Eddy current track brake), in paragraph (2) of point 4.2.5.5.6 (Door opening), in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.8.1.2 (Requirements on performance), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.8.2.4 (Maximum power and current from the overhead contact line), in paragraph (5), second subparagraph, of point 4.2.8.2.9.8 (Running through phase or system separation sections (RST level)), in paragraphs (5) and (6) of point 4.2.9.1.6 (Driver’s desk-Ergonomics), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.9.3.6 (Radio Remote control function by staff for shunting operation), in points 4.2.9.3.8.1 (Sleeping mode), 4.2.9.3.8.2 (Passive shunting), 4.2.9.3.8.3 (Non leading), 4.2.9.3.9 (Traction status), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.10.4.2 (Smoke Control), in point 4.2.13 (Interface requirements with Automated Train Operation on-board):—replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—delete ‘See point 4.3.4’; — replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
— replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
(g) in point 4.2.4.6.1 (Limit of wheel rail adhesion profile), delete the wording ‘Note to points (1) – (4):’;
(h) in point 4.2.4.7 (Dynamic brake – Braking system linked to traction system), replace the third paragraph by ‘For electric units, in case the presence on-board the unit of the voltage delivered by the external power supply is a condition for the dynamic brake application, the safety analysis shall cover failures leading to absence on-board the unit of that voltage.’;
(i) in point 4.2.7.1.4 (Lamp controls), paragraph (3), replace ‘a flashing/blinking mode’ by ‘an automatic flashing/blinking mode’;
(j) in paragraph (1) of point 4.2.9.6 (Recording device), replace the fourth subparagraph by ‘Additional data pertaining to the on-board control-command and signalling subsystem may be required to be recorded’;
(k) in point 4.2.12.2 (General documentation), paragraph (24):—in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’; — in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
— in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
(l) in point 6.2.6 (Assessment of documentation requested for operation and maintenance), paragraph (1), delete ‘and assessing entity’;
(m) in point 7.3.2 (List of specific cases), delete all specific cases for the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland;
(a) in section 1 (Introduction) of the Annex, second paragraph, replace the word ‘infrastructure’ by ‘network(s)’;
(b) in point 2.1 (The rolling stock subsystem as part of the rail system) of the Annex, fourth paragraph, delete, ‘UTP WAG’;
(c) in point 2.2.1 (Train formation), paragraph (1), replace the term ‘OTIF technical admission’ by ‘UTP verification procedure’;
(d) delete points 3.2.1 (General requirements, requirements related to maintenance and operation) and 3.2.2 (Requirements specific to other subsystems);
(e) in point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), replace the title of paragraph (d) (Interfaces between the unit and the control-command and signalling subsystem) by ‘Additional requirements regarding interface with on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem’;
(f) in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), in paragraphs (3) and (4) of point 4.2.4.3 (Type of brake system), in paragraph (3) of point 4.2.4.4.1 (Emergency braking command), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.4.4.2 (Service braking command), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.4.4.4 (Dynamic braking command), in paragraph (6) of point 4.2.4.8.2 (Magnetic track brake), in paragraph (9) of point 4.2.4.8.3 (Eddy current track brake), in paragraph (2) of point 4.2.5.5.6 (Door opening), in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.8.1.2 (Requirements on performance), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.8.2.4 (Maximum power and current from the overhead contact line), in paragraph (5), second subparagraph, of point 4.2.8.2.9.8 (Running through phase or system separation sections (RST level)), in paragraphs (5) and (6) of point 4.2.9.1.6 (Driver’s desk-Ergonomics), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.9.3.6 (Radio Remote control function by staff for shunting operation), in points 4.2.9.3.8.1 (Sleeping mode), 4.2.9.3.8.2 (Passive shunting), 4.2.9.3.8.3 (Non leading), 4.2.9.3.9 (Traction status), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.10.4.2 (Smoke Control), in point 4.2.13 (Interface requirements with Automated Train Operation on-board):—replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—delete ‘See point 4.3.4’; — replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
— replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
— replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
(g) in point 4.2.4.6.1 (Limit of wheel rail adhesion profile), delete the wording ‘Note to points (1) – (4):’;
(h) in point 4.2.4.7 (Dynamic brake – Braking system linked to traction system), replace the third paragraph by ‘For electric units, in case the presence on-board the unit of the voltage delivered by the external power supply is a condition for the dynamic brake application, the safety analysis shall cover failures leading to absence on-board the unit of that voltage.’;
(i) in point 4.2.7.1.4 (Lamp controls), paragraph (3), replace ‘a flashing/blinking mode’ by ‘an automatic flashing/blinking mode’;
(j) in paragraph (1) of point 4.2.9.6 (Recording device), replace the fourth subparagraph by ‘Additional data pertaining to the on-board control-command and signalling subsystem may be required to be recorded’;
(k) in point 4.2.12.2 (General documentation), paragraph (24):—in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;—replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’; — in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’; — replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
— in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
— in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
— replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
(l) in point 6.2.6 (Assessment of documentation requested for operation and maintenance), paragraph (1), delete ‘and assessing entity’;
(m) in point 7.3.2 (List of specific cases), delete all specific cases for the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland;
(2) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP PRM applicable to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25004 UTP PRM;
(3) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP Marking applicable to vehicle marking, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25005 UTP Marking;
(4) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP INF applicable to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25006 UTP INF;
(5) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to align the references to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)’s Technical Documents relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight’ (TAF TSI) listed in Appendix I of UTP TAF to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25007 UTP TAF, subject to the following amendment:—in the table in Appendix I, replace the line number 6 as follows:6ERA-TD-105TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model3.5.115.12.2024 — in the table in Appendix I, replace the line number 6 as follows:6ERA-TD-105TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model3.5.115.12.2024 6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
— in the table in Appendix I, replace the line number 6 as follows:6ERA-TD-105TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model3.5.115.12.2024 6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
— in the table in Appendix I, replace the line number 6 as follows:6ERA-TD-105TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model3.5.115.12.2024 6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
6 ERA-TD-105 TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model 3.5.1 15.12.2024
(6) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to Update of the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25011 Handbook, subject to the following amendments:—Point 5.3.3 – SPECIFIC CASES—in the first indent, replace ‘A specific case is primarily used’ by ‘A specific case should be used’;—in the first indent, add ‘due to technical constraints affecting compatibility with the existing system.’ to ‘deviation from a requirement in the UTP.’;—in the first indent, replace ‘and national technical requirements are mainly used to define requirements in addition to the UTP’ by ‘A national technical requirement should be used to define a requirement other than those laid down in the UTPs.’;—in the fifth indent, replace ‘the specific case may refer to a national technical requirement for this purpose’ by ‘the specific case in the UTP may refer instead to a specific national technical requirement defining corresponding assessment method’;—Point 5.4 – NATIONAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS—in the fourth paragraph, replace ‘In some cases, the NTR can be transferred into the UTP, in full or in part, in the form of a specific case’ by ‘In case a national technical requirement falls, in full or in part, within the scope of a requirement laid down in the UTP, it should be transferred into the UTP in the form of a specific case’;—Point 10.3 – CORRELATION WITH UNION LAW—in the second paragraph, replace ‘whether an ECM’ by ‘whether their ECM’;—in the fourth paragraph, first indent, replace ‘should be accepted’ by ‘should be accepted in international traffic’;—in the fourth paragraph, second indent, replace ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services,’ by ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services on the territory of a Contracting State’, and replace ‘Contracting States’ by ‘that Contracting State’; — Point 5.3.3 – SPECIFIC CASES — in the first indent, replace ‘A specific case is primarily used’ by ‘A specific case should be used’; — in the first indent, add ‘due to technical constraints affecting compatibility with the existing system.’ to ‘deviation from a requirement in the UTP.’; — in the first indent, replace ‘and national technical requirements are mainly used to define requirements in addition to the UTP’ by ‘A national technical requirement should be used to define a requirement other than those laid down in the UTPs.’; — in the fifth indent, replace ‘the specific case may refer to a national technical requirement for this purpose’ by ‘the specific case in the UTP may refer instead to a specific national technical requirement defining corresponding assessment method’; — Point 5.4 – NATIONAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS — in the fourth paragraph, replace ‘In some cases, the NTR can be transferred into the UTP, in full or in part, in the form of a specific case’ by ‘In case a national technical requirement falls, in full or in part, within the scope of a requirement laid down in the UTP, it should be transferred into the UTP in the form of a specific case’; — Point 10.3 – CORRELATION WITH UNION LAW — in the second paragraph, replace ‘whether an ECM’ by ‘whether their ECM’; — in the fourth paragraph, first indent, replace ‘should be accepted’ by ‘should be accepted in international traffic’; — in the fourth paragraph, second indent, replace ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services,’ by ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services on the territory of a Contracting State’, and replace ‘Contracting States’ by ‘that Contracting State’;
— Point 5.3.3 – SPECIFIC CASES
— in the first indent, replace ‘A specific case is primarily used’ by ‘A specific case should be used’;
— in the first indent, add ‘due to technical constraints affecting compatibility with the existing system.’ to ‘deviation from a requirement in the UTP.’;
— in the first indent, replace ‘and national technical requirements are mainly used to define requirements in addition to the UTP’ by ‘A national technical requirement should be used to define a requirement other than those laid down in the UTPs.’;
— in the fifth indent, replace ‘the specific case may refer to a national technical requirement for this purpose’ by ‘the specific case in the UTP may refer instead to a specific national technical requirement defining corresponding assessment method’;
— Point 5.4 – NATIONAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
— in the fourth paragraph, replace ‘In some cases, the NTR can be transferred into the UTP, in full or in part, in the form of a specific case’ by ‘In case a national technical requirement falls, in full or in part, within the scope of a requirement laid down in the UTP, it should be transferred into the UTP in the form of a specific case’;
— Point 10.3 – CORRELATION WITH UNION LAW
— in the second paragraph, replace ‘whether an ECM’ by ‘whether their ECM’;
— in the fourth paragraph, first indent, replace ‘should be accepted’ by ‘should be accepted in international traffic’;
— in the fourth paragraph, second indent, replace ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services,’ by ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services on the territory of a Contracting State’, and replace ‘Contracting States’ by ‘that Contracting State’;
— Point 5.3.3 – SPECIFIC CASES
— in the first indent, replace ‘A specific case is primarily used’ by ‘A specific case should be used’;
— in the first indent, add ‘due to technical constraints affecting compatibility with the existing system.’ to ‘deviation from a requirement in the UTP.’;
— in the first indent, replace ‘and national technical requirements are mainly used to define requirements in addition to the UTP’ by ‘A national technical requirement should be used to define a requirement other than those laid down in the UTPs.’;
— in the fifth indent, replace ‘the specific case may refer to a national technical requirement for this purpose’ by ‘the specific case in the UTP may refer instead to a specific national technical requirement defining corresponding assessment method’;
— Point 5.4 – NATIONAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
— in the fourth paragraph, replace ‘In some cases, the NTR can be transferred into the UTP, in full or in part, in the form of a specific case’ by ‘In case a national technical requirement falls, in full or in part, within the scope of a requirement laid down in the UTP, it should be transferred into the UTP in the form of a specific case’;
— Point 10.3 – CORRELATION WITH UNION LAW
— in the second paragraph, replace ‘whether an ECM’ by ‘whether their ECM’;
— in the fourth paragraph, first indent, replace ‘should be accepted’ by ‘should be accepted in international traffic’;
— in the fourth paragraph, second indent, replace ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services,’ by ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services on the territory of a Contracting State’, and replace ‘Contracting States’ by ‘that Contracting State’;
(7) minor changes may be agreed to the acts of the CTE set out in this Article by the Commission, without a further decision of the Council.
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The Union acceded to the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail of 9 May 1980, as amended by the Vilnius Protocol of 3 June 1999 (the ‘COTIF’), by means of Council Decision 2013/103/EU (1) and the Agreement between the European Union and the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF) on the Accession of the European Union to the COTIF Convention (2).
(2) Pursuant to Article 13(1)(f) of the COTIF, the Committee of Technical Experts (‘CTE’) of OTIF was set up.
(3) Pursuant to Article 20(1)(b) of the COTIF, and in accordance with Article 6(1) of the Uniform Rules concerning the Validation of Technical Standards and the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions applicable to Railway Material intended to be used in International Traffic (APTU) – Appendix F to COTIF, the CTE is competent to adopt or to amend, inter alia, the Uniform Technical Prescriptions (UTP) applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’ (UTP LOC&PAS), to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (UTP PRM), to vehicle marking (UTP Marking), to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’ (UTP INF) and to the subsystem ‘telematics applications for freight services’ (UTP TAF).
(4) Pursuant to Article 20(1)(e) of the COTIF, and in accordance with Article 21(4) of the Uniform Rules concerning the Technical Admission of Railway Material used in International Traffic (ATMF – Appendix G to the Convention), the CTE is competent to adopt or to amend, inter alia, the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules.
(5) The CTE has included in the agenda of its 17th session, which will take place on 17 and 18 June 2025, a proposal for decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS, the UTP PRM, the UTP Marking, and the UTP INF, to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF, and to update the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules.
(6) The envisaged acts of the CTE will have legal effects.
(7) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on the Union’s behalf in the CTE, as the proposed decisions will be binding on the Union, pursuant to Article 6(1) APTU and Article 35(3) and (4) of the COTIF.
(8) The objectives of those decisions are to align the UTP LOC&PAS, UTP PRM, UTP Marking, and UTP INF to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1694 (3) (the ‘2023 TSI package’), to align the references to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)’s Technical Documents of technical specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight’ (TAF TSI) listed in Appendix I of UTP TAF to Commission Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014 (4), and to update the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules taking into account the feedback on experience from COTIF Contracting States.
(9) The envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP PRM, the UTP Marking, and the UTP INF are in line with the law and the strategic objectives of the Union by contributing to the alignment of OTIF legislation with the corresponding provisions of Union law, and should therefore be supported by the Union.
(10) The envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS and to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF are also generally in line with the law and the strategic objectives of the Union, and contribute to the alignment of OTIF legislation with the equivalent provisions of Union law. However, some of the changes proposed by OTIF should be aligned with the 2023 TSI Package. It is therefore necessary to propose amendments to the envisaged OTIF decisions to revise the UTP LOC&PAS and to modify Appendix I of UTP TAF, in order to ensure alignment with Union acquis as amended by the 2023 TSI Package. The Union should thus support the envisaged decisions subject to the condition that those amendments are introduced,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The position to be taken on the Union’s behalf at the 17th session of the Committee of Technical Experts (CTE) of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail (OTIF), as regards the revision of the Uniform Technical Prescriptions (UTP) applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’ (UTP LOC&PAS), to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (UTP PRM), to vehicle marking (UTP Marking), to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’ (UTP INF), as regards aligning the references to the Technical Documents of technical specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight’ (TAF TSI) listed in Appendix I of UTP relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight services’ (UTP TAF) and as regards the update of the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules shall be the following:

(1) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed revision of UTP LOC&PAS applicable to the subsystem ‘rolling stock – locomotives and passenger rolling stock’, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25003 UTP LOC&PAS, subject to the following amendments:
(a) in section 1 (Introduction) of the Annex, second paragraph, replace the word ‘infrastructure’ by ‘network(s)’;
(b) in point 2.1 (The rolling stock subsystem as part of the rail system) of the Annex, fourth paragraph, delete, ‘UTP WAG’;
(c) in point 2.2.1 (Train formation), paragraph (1), replace the term ‘OTIF technical admission’ by ‘UTP verification procedure’;
(d) delete points 3.2.1 (General requirements, requirements related to maintenance and operation) and 3.2.2 (Requirements specific to other subsystems);
(e) in point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), replace the title of paragraph (d) (Interfaces between the unit and the control-command and signalling subsystem) by ‘Additional requirements regarding interface with on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem’;
(f) in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.3.4.2 (Running dynamic behaviour), in paragraphs (3) and (4) of point 4.2.4.3 (Type of brake system), in paragraph (3) of point 4.2.4.4.1 (Emergency braking command), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.4.4.2 (Service braking command), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.4.4.4 (Dynamic braking command), in paragraph (6) of point 4.2.4.8.2 (Magnetic track brake), in paragraph (9) of point 4.2.4.8.3 (Eddy current track brake), in paragraph (2) of point 4.2.5.5.6 (Door opening), in paragraph (8) of point 4.2.8.1.2 (Requirements on performance), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.8.2.4 (Maximum power and current from the overhead contact line), in paragraph (5), second subparagraph, of point 4.2.8.2.9.8 (Running through phase or system separation sections (RST level)), in paragraphs (5) and (6) of point 4.2.9.1.6 (Driver’s desk-Ergonomics), in paragraph (4) of point 4.2.9.3.6 (Radio Remote control function by staff for shunting operation), in points 4.2.9.3.8.1 (Sleeping mode), 4.2.9.3.8.2 (Passive shunting), 4.2.9.3.8.3 (Non leading), 4.2.9.3.9 (Traction status), in paragraph (5) of point 4.2.10.4.2 (Smoke Control), in point 4.2.13 (Interface requirements with Automated Train Operation on-board):
—
replace ‘signalling system’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
—
delete ‘See point 4.3.4’;
(g) in point 4.2.4.6.1 (Limit of wheel rail adhesion profile), delete the wording ‘Note to points (1) – (4):’;
(h) in point 4.2.4.7 (Dynamic brake – Braking system linked to traction system), replace the third paragraph by ‘For electric units, in case the presence on-board the unit of the voltage delivered by the external power supply is a condition for the dynamic brake application, the safety analysis shall cover failures leading to absence on-board the unit of that voltage.’;
(i) in point 4.2.7.1.4 (Lamp controls), paragraph (3), replace ‘a flashing/blinking mode’ by ‘an automatic flashing/blinking mode’;
(j) in paragraph (1) of point 4.2.9.6 (Recording device), replace the fourth subparagraph by ‘Additional data pertaining to the on-board control-command and signalling subsystem may be required to be recorded’;
(k) in point 4.2.12.2 (General documentation), paragraph (24):
—
in the first indent, replace ‘signalling equipment’ by ‘control-command and signalling subsystem’;
—
replace the second indent by ‘conditions for the installation of on-board part of the control-command and signalling subsystem (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.).’;
(l) in point 6.2.6 (Assessment of documentation requested for operation and maintenance), paragraph (1), delete ‘and assessing entity’;
(m) in point 7.3.2 (List of specific cases), delete all specific cases for the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland;
(2) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP PRM applicable to the accessibility of the rail system for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25004 UTP PRM;
(3) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP Marking applicable to vehicle marking, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25005 UTP Marking;
(4) to vote in favour of the CTE proposed amendments to UTP INF applicable to the subsystem ‘infrastructure’, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25006 UTP INF;
(5) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to align the references to the European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)’s Technical Documents relating to the ‘telematics applications for freight’ (TAF TSI) listed in Appendix I of UTP TAF to Regulation (EU) No 1305/2014, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25007 UTP TAF, subject to the following amendment:
—
in the table in Appendix I, replace the line number 6 as follows:
6
ERA-TD-105
TAF TSI – Annex D.2: Appendix F – TAF TSI Data and Message Model
3.5.1
15.12.2024
(6) to vote in favour of the CTE proposal to Update of the Handbook for the implementation and application of the APTU and ATMF Uniform Rules, as found in the CTE Working Document TECH-25011 Handbook, subject to the following amendments:
—
Point 5.3.3 – SPECIFIC CASES
—
in the first indent, replace ‘A specific case is primarily used’ by ‘A specific case should be used’;
—
in the first indent, add ‘due to technical constraints affecting compatibility with the existing system.’ to ‘deviation from a requirement in the UTP.’;
—
in the first indent, replace ‘and national technical requirements are mainly used to define requirements in addition to the UTP’ by ‘A national technical requirement should be used to define a requirement other than those laid down in the UTPs.’;
—
in the fifth indent, replace ‘the specific case may refer to a national technical requirement for this purpose’ by ‘the specific case in the UTP may refer instead to a specific national technical requirement defining corresponding assessment method’;
—
Point 5.4 – NATIONAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
—
in the fourth paragraph, replace ‘In some cases, the NTR can be transferred into the UTP, in full or in part, in the form of a specific case’ by ‘In case a national technical requirement falls, in full or in part, within the scope of a requirement laid down in the UTP, it should be transferred into the UTP in the form of a specific case’;
—
Point 10.3 – CORRELATION WITH UNION LAW
—
in the second paragraph, replace ‘whether an ECM’ by ‘whether their ECM’;
—
in the fourth paragraph, first indent, replace ‘should be accepted’ by ‘should be accepted in international traffic’;
—
in the fourth paragraph, second indent, replace ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services,’ by ‘For the purpose of providing ECM services on the territory of a Contracting State’, and replace ‘Contracting States’ by ‘that Contracting State’;
(7) minor changes may be agreed to the acts of the CTE set out in this Article by the Commission, without a further decision of the Council.

Once adopted, the decisions of the CTE shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, indicating the date of their entry into force.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1250 of 19 June 2025 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 concerning certain emergency measures relating to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania (notified under document C(2025) 4049)

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1250 24.6.2025
(1) Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus is an infectious disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.
(2) In the event of an outbreak of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.
(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687(2)supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882(3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision 2025/638(4)was adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and lays down certain emergency measures relating to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania in response to the outbreak confirmed on 5 March 2025 in Bihor county. More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones to be established by that Member State, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, following the outbreak of that disease are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.
(5) In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 establishes the areas in the territory of Romania where further measures, such as those applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, must be applied, and from where movements of ovine and caprine animals are to be prohibited, for a certain period of time, after the expiry of the dates for the measures foreseen in the protection and surveillance zones.
(6) In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 prohibits movements of ovine and caprine animals from the entire territory of Romania to other Member States for a certain period of time.
(7) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, the available data on disease surveillance in Bihor County, as well as the rest of the territory of Romania, remain insufficient to evaluate the epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in that Member State.
(8) In view of the ongoing uncertainty and the lack of information regarding the current epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania, it is therefore necessary to also prohibit movements of ovine and caprine animals from the entire territory of that Member State through the territories of other Member States for a period of time that is sufficient to prevent further spread in the Union.
(9) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and the need to prevent the disease from spreading from the affected establishments in Romania to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision should apply as soon as possible.
(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
‘(c) movements of caprine and ovine animals from the entire territory of Romania to a destination located in or passing through another Member State are prohibited until 30 September 2025.’
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (1), and in particular Article 259(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Infection with peste des petits ruminants virus is an infectious disease affecting caprine and ovine animals and can have a severe impact on the concerned animal population and the profitability of farming causing disturbance to movements of consignments of those animals and products thereof within the Union and exports to third countries.
(2) In the event of an outbreak of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in caprine or ovine animals, there is a serious risk of the spread of that disease to other establishments of caprine or ovine animals.
(3) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 (2) supplements the rules for the control of the listed diseases referred to in Article 9(1), points (a), (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and defined as category A, B and C diseases in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 (3). In particular, Articles 21 and 22 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 provide for the establishment of a restricted zone in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease, including infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and for certain measures to be applied therein. In addition, Article 21(1) of that Delegated Regulation provides that the restricted zone is to comprise a protection zone, a surveillance zone, and, if necessary, further restricted zones around or adjacent to the protection and surveillance zones.
(4) Commission Implementing Decision 2025/638 (4) was adopted on the basis of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and lays down certain emergency measures relating to infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania in response to the outbreak confirmed on 5 March 2025 in Bihor county. More particularly, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 provides that the protection, surveillance and further restricted zones to be established by that Member State, in accordance with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, following the outbreak of that disease are to comprise at least the areas listed in the Annex to that Implementing Decision.
(5) In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 establishes the areas in the territory of Romania where further measures, such as those applicable to further restricted zones, as provided for in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687, must be applied, and from where movements of ovine and caprine animals are to be prohibited, for a certain period of time, after the expiry of the dates for the measures foreseen in the protection and surveillance zones.
(6) In addition, Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 prohibits movements of ovine and caprine animals from the entire territory of Romania to other Member States for a certain period of time.
(7) Since the date of adoption of Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638, the available data on disease surveillance in Bihor County, as well as the rest of the territory of Romania, remain insufficient to evaluate the epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in that Member State.
(8) In view of the ongoing uncertainty and the lack of information regarding the current epidemiological situation regarding infection with peste des petits ruminants virus in Romania, it is therefore necessary to also prohibit movements of ovine and caprine animals from the entire territory of that Member State through the territories of other Member States for a period of time that is sufficient to prevent further spread in the Union.
(9) Given the urgency of the epidemiological situation in the Union as regards the spread of infection with peste des petits ruminants virus, and the need to prevent the disease from spreading from the affected establishments in Romania to other parts of that Member State or to other Member States, the measures laid down in this Implementing Decision should apply as soon as possible.
(10) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/638 is amended as follows:
In Article 1, point (c) is replaced by the text below:

‘(c) movements of caprine and ovine animals from the entire territory of Romania to a destination located in or passing through another Member State are prohibited until 30 September 2025.’

This Decision is addressed to Romania.

Decision (EU) 2025/1241 of the European Central Bank of 11 June 2025 amending Decision (EU) 2020/440 on a temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme (ECB/2020/17) (ECB/2025/21)

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1241 20.6.2025
(1) Taking into account the exceptional economic and financial circumstances associated with the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on 18 March 2020, the Governing Council decided to launch a temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) including all the asset categories eligible under the ECB’s asset purchase programme, consisting of the secondary markets public sector asset purchase programme, the third covered bond purchase programme (CBPP3), the asset-backed securities purchase programme, and the corporate sector purchase programme (CSPP).
(2) The CBPP3 was established by Decision ECB/2014/40 of the European Central Bank(1), which was recast in Decision (EU) 2020/187 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/8)(2). It contains a number of safeguards to ensure that the purchases and holding of covered bonds will be proportionate to its aims. These safeguards should also ensure that related financial risks are taken into account in the design of the CBPP3, and therefore also the PEPP, and should reflect risk management perspectives.
(3) Accordingly, the Governing Council decided on 24 April 2025 to amend the rule applicable to securities lending transactions of covered bonds held by the Eurosystem under the CBPP3 and the PEPP to reflect risk management considerations.
(4) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2020/440 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/17)(3)should be amended accordingly,
THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 127(2), first indent, thereof,
Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 12.1, second subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 3.1, first indent, and Article 18.1 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Taking into account the exceptional economic and financial circumstances associated with the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), on 18 March 2020, the Governing Council decided to launch a temporary pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) including all the asset categories eligible under the ECB’s asset purchase programme, consisting of the secondary markets public sector asset purchase programme, the third covered bond purchase programme (CBPP3), the asset-backed securities purchase programme, and the corporate sector purchase programme (CSPP).
(2) The CBPP3 was established by Decision ECB/2014/40 of the European Central Bank (1), which was recast in Decision (EU) 2020/187 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/8) (2). It contains a number of safeguards to ensure that the purchases and holding of covered bonds will be proportionate to its aims. These safeguards should also ensure that related financial risks are taken into account in the design of the CBPP3, and therefore also the PEPP, and should reflect risk management perspectives.
(3) Accordingly, the Governing Council decided on 24 April 2025 to amend the rule applicable to securities lending transactions of covered bonds held by the Eurosystem under the CBPP3 and the PEPP to reflect risk management considerations.
(4) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2020/440 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/17) (3) should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Amendment

Article 7 of Decision (EU) 2020/440 (ECB/2020/17) is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7
Securities lending
Except for securities that no longer meet the credit quality requirements for securities purchased under the corporate sector purchase programme or the third covered bond purchase programme, the Eurosystem shall make securities purchased under the PEPP available for lending, including repos, with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of the PEPP.’

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the fifth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Council Decision (EU) 2025/1244 of 19 June 2025 establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union with regard to certain resolutions to be voted at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1244 20.6.2025
(1) The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will examine and possibly adopt certain resolutions (the ‘draft OIV resolutions’) at its next General Assembly to be held on 20 June 2025. The draft OIV resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects within the meaning of Article 218(9) of the Treaty.
(2) The Union is not a member of the OIV. However, on 20 October 2017, the OIV granted to the Union the particular status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV.
(3) Twenty Member States of the Union are also members of the OIV. Those Member States have the possibility to propose amendments to the draft OIV resolutions, and will be asked to adopt the draft OIV resolutions at the next OIV General Assembly.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union at the OIV meetings with regard to the draft OIV resolutions in relation to matters within its competence. That position should be expressed at the OIV meetings by the Member States which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.
(5) Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1)and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934(2), certain resolutions adopted and published by the OIV will have legal effects.
(6) Article 80(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when authorising oenological practices, is to take into account the oenological practices and methods of analysis recommended and published by the OIV.
(7) Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when laying down methods of analysis for determining the composition of the products of the wine sector, is to base those methods on any relevant methods recommended and published by the OIV unless they would be ineffective or inappropriate in view of the objective pursued by the Union.
(8) Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that products of the wine sector imported into the Union are to be produced in accordance with oenological practices authorised by the Union pursuant to that Regulation or, prior to that authorisation, produced in accordance with oenological practices recommended and published by the OIV.
(9) Article 9(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 provides that, where the purity and identification specifications of substances used in oenological practices are not laid down by the Commission, the specifications are to be those referred to in column 4 of Table 2 of Part A of Annex I to that Regulation, which refer to OIV recommendations.
(10) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-MICRO 22-713A and OENO-MICRO 22-713B propose a new method for yeast cell counting in musts, wines and yeast cultures. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-MICRO 23-739 validates a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, those resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(11) Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B establishes specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised wines. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-730 introduces a maximum acceptable limit of sorbic acid concentration in wine. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-738 introduces a new oenological practice on the use of fumaric acid for the control of the malolactic fermentation in musts. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a), and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(12) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-SPECIF 21-691 and OENO-SPECIF 23-728 concern methods for the determination of isotopic ratios of tartaric acid and chitosan, respectively. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934, these resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(13) The draft OIV resolutions, which have been extensively discussed by scientific and technical experts of the wine sector, should contribute to the international harmonisation of the wine standards and will set a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the wine sector. They should, therefore, be supported.
(14) Another draft OIV resolution producing, if adopted, legal effects on Union law which was submitted for adoption by the General Assembly is Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540A, which establishes specific oenological practices for de-alcoholised wines, including the addition of glycerol (E 422) at a maximum total concentration of 50 g/L. The allowed maximum level has been proposed based on insufficient scientific evidence regarding the effects on the product and on consumer health. This draft OIV resolution should, therefore, not be supported until a proper assessment is made, in particular on safe maximum levels of glycerol (E 422) for the product category de-alcoholised wine. In addition, the section on ‘Sweetening’, in particular the definition ‘Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised wine’, should be interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘Prescription’; the same should be noted in relation to Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B.
(15) In order to allow for the necessary flexibility during the negotiations ahead of the next OIV General Assembly to be held on 20 June 2025, Member States which are also members of the OIV should be authorised to agree to technical changes to the draft OIV resolutions provided that such changes do not alter the substance thereof,
— OENO-MICRO 22-713A: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in grape musts and wines;
— OENO-MICRO 22-713B: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in yeast cultures;
— OENO-MICRO 23-739: Validation of a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties ofS. cerevisiaestrains;
— OENO-TECHNO 14-540B: Specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised wine, subject to the understanding that the section on ‘Sweetening’ and in particular the Definition ‘Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised wine’ should be interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘Prescription’;
— OENO-TECHNO 23-730: Limit of sorbic acid in wine;
— OENO-TECHNO 23-738: Treatment of musts with fumaric acid for microbiological control;
— OENO-SPECIF 21-691: Determination of tartaric acid (L+) isotopic ratios13C/12C and18O/16O by isotope ratio mass spectrometry;
— OENO-SPECIF 23-728: Determination of chitosan isotopic ratios13C/12C and15N/14N by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
— OENO-TECHNO 14-540A: Specific oenological practices for de-alcoholised wine.
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43, in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) will examine and possibly adopt certain resolutions (the ‘draft OIV resolutions’) at its next General Assembly to be held on 20 June 2025. The draft OIV resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects within the meaning of Article 218(9) of the Treaty.
(2) The Union is not a member of the OIV. However, on 20 October 2017, the OIV granted to the Union the particular status provided for in Article 4 of the Rules of Procedure of the OIV.
(3) Twenty Member States of the Union are also members of the OIV. Those Member States have the possibility to propose amendments to the draft OIV resolutions, and will be asked to adopt the draft OIV resolutions at the next OIV General Assembly.
(4) It is appropriate to establish the position to be taken on behalf of the Union at the OIV meetings with regard to the draft OIV resolutions in relation to matters within its competence. That position should be expressed at the OIV meetings by the Member States which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.
(5) Pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 (2), certain resolutions adopted and published by the OIV will have legal effects.
(6) Article 80(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when authorising oenological practices, is to take into account the oenological practices and methods of analysis recommended and published by the OIV.
(7) Article 80(5) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that the Commission, when laying down methods of analysis for determining the composition of the products of the wine sector, is to base those methods on any relevant methods recommended and published by the OIV unless they would be ineffective or inappropriate in view of the objective pursued by the Union.
(8) Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 provides that products of the wine sector imported into the Union are to be produced in accordance with oenological practices authorised by the Union pursuant to that Regulation or, prior to that authorisation, produced in accordance with oenological practices recommended and published by the OIV.
(9) Article 9(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934 provides that, where the purity and identification specifications of substances used in oenological practices are not laid down by the Commission, the specifications are to be those referred to in column 4 of Table 2 of Part A of Annex I to that Regulation, which refer to OIV recommendations.
(10) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-MICRO 22-713A and OENO-MICRO 22-713B propose a new method for yeast cell counting in musts, wines and yeast cultures. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-MICRO 23-739 validates a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, those resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(11) Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B establishes specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised wines. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-730 introduces a maximum acceptable limit of sorbic acid concentration in wine. Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 23-738 introduces a new oenological practice on the use of fumaric acid for the control of the malolactic fermentation in musts. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a), and Article 90(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, these resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(12) Draft OIV Resolutions OENO-SPECIF 21-691 and OENO-SPECIF 23-728 concern methods for the determination of isotopic ratios of tartaric acid and chitosan, respectively. In accordance with Article 80(3), point (a) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and with Article 9 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/934, these resolutions, if adopted, will have legal effects.
(13) The draft OIV resolutions, which have been extensively discussed by scientific and technical experts of the wine sector, should contribute to the international harmonisation of the wine standards and will set a framework which will ensure fair competition in the trading of products of the wine sector. They should, therefore, be supported.
(14) Another draft OIV resolution producing, if adopted, legal effects on Union law which was submitted for adoption by the General Assembly is Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540A, which establishes specific oenological practices for de-alcoholised wines, including the addition of glycerol (E 422) at a maximum total concentration of 50 g/L. The allowed maximum level has been proposed based on insufficient scientific evidence regarding the effects on the product and on consumer health. This draft OIV resolution should, therefore, not be supported until a proper assessment is made, in particular on safe maximum levels of glycerol (E 422) for the product category de-alcoholised wine. In addition, the section on ‘Sweetening’, in particular the definition ‘Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised wine’, should be interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘Prescription’; the same should be noted in relation to Draft OIV Resolution OENO-TECHNO 14-540B.
(15) In order to allow for the necessary flexibility during the negotiations ahead of the next OIV General Assembly to be held on 20 June 2025, Member States which are also members of the OIV should be authorised to agree to technical changes to the draft OIV resolutions provided that such changes do not alter the substance thereof,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
The position to be taken on behalf of the Union at the 23rd General Assembly of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), to be held on 20 June 2025, is set out in the Annex to this Decision.
The position referred to in Article 1 shall be expressed by the Member States of the Union which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union.
1. Where the position referred to in Article 1 is likely to be affected by new scientific or technical information presented before or during the OIV meetings, Member States which are also members of the OIV shall request that the voting in the OIV General Assembly be postponed until the position of the Union is established on the basis of the new information.

2. Following coordination and without further decision of the Council establishing the position to be taken on behalf of the Union, the Member States which are also members of the OIV, acting jointly in the interest of the Union, may agree to technical changes to the draft OIV resolutions referred to in the Annex to this Decision which do not alter the substance thereof.

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

The Member States of the Union that are Members of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV) acting jointly on behalf of the Union, and subject to any future review on the basis of new developments, shall support the following draft resolutions at step 7 during the OIV General Assembly scheduled for 20 June 2025:

—
OENO-MICRO 22-713A: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in grape musts and wines;

—
OENO-MICRO 22-713B: Yeast cell counting using flow cytometry in yeast cultures;

—
OENO-MICRO 23-739: Validation of a standard protocol to evaluate the fermentation properties of S. cerevisiae strains;

—
OENO-TECHNO 14-540B: Specific oenological practices for partially de-alcoholised wine, subject to the understanding that the section on ‘Sweetening’ and in particular the Definition ‘
Addition of sweeteners to de-alcoholised wine
’ should be interpreted as limited to the products listed in ‘
Prescription’
;

—
OENO-TECHNO 23-730: Limit of sorbic acid in wine;

—
OENO-TECHNO 23-738: Treatment of musts with fumaric acid for microbiological control;

—
OENO-SPECIF 21-691: Determination of tartaric acid (L+) isotopic ratios 13C/12C and 18O/16O by isotope ratio mass spectrometry;

—
OENO-SPECIF 23-728: Determination of chitosan isotopic ratios 13C/12C and 15N/14N by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

The Member States of the Union that are Members of the International Organisation for Vine and Wine (OIV) acting jointly on behalf of the Union, and subject to any future review on the basis of new developments, shall not support the following draft resolution at step 7 during the OIV General Assembly scheduled for 20 June 2025:

—
OENO-TECHNO 14-540A: Specific oenological practices for de-alcoholised wine.

Decision (EU) 2025/1240 of the European Central Bank of 11 June 2025 amending Decision (EU) 2020/187 on the implementation of the third covered bond purchase programme (ECB/2020/8) (ECB/2025/20)

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1240 20.6.2025
(1) Decision ECB/2014/40 of the European Central Bank(1)established the third covered bond purchase programme (CBPP3) and has been recast in Decision (EU) 2020/187 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/8)(2). The CBPP3 contains a number of safeguards to ensure that the purchases and holding of covered bonds will be proportionate to its aims. These safeguards should also ensure that related financial risks are taken into account in the CBPP3’s design and should reflect risk management perspectives.
(2) Accordingly, the Governing Council decided on 24 April 2025 to amend the provisions on eligible counterparties for the CBPP3 to permit Eurosystem central banks to participate in standard market transactions such as repurchase transactions by issuers of covered bonds (‘buybacks’).
(3) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2020/187 (ECB/2020/8) should be amended accordingly,
(a) entities that fulfil the eligibility criteria to participate in Eurosystem monetary policy operations pursuant to Article 55 of Guideline (EU) 2015/510 (ECB/2014/60);
(b) any other counterparties that are used by Eurosystem central banks for the investment of their euro-denominated investment portfolios, including non-euro area counterparties active in the covered bonds markets; and
(c) issuers of covered bonds held in the CBPP3 Eurosystem portfolios to which neither point (a) nor point (b) applies, but only in the case of a repurchase of the relevant covered bond by that issuer pursuant to a buyback.’.
THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 127(2), first indent, thereof,
Having regard to the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank, and in particular Article 12.1, second subparagraph, in conjunction with Article 3.1, first indent, and Article 18.1 thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Decision ECB/2014/40 of the European Central Bank (1) established the third covered bond purchase programme (CBPP3) and has been recast in Decision (EU) 2020/187 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2020/8) (2). The CBPP3 contains a number of safeguards to ensure that the purchases and holding of covered bonds will be proportionate to its aims. These safeguards should also ensure that related financial risks are taken into account in the CBPP3’s design and should reflect risk management perspectives.
(2) Accordingly, the Governing Council decided on 24 April 2025 to amend the provisions on eligible counterparties for the CBPP3 to permit Eurosystem central banks to participate in standard market transactions such as repurchase transactions by issuers of covered bonds (‘buybacks’).
(3) Therefore, Decision (EU) 2020/187 (ECB/2020/8) should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Amendment

Article 4 of Decision (EU) 2020/187 (ECB/2020/8) is replaced by the following:

‘Article 4
Eligible counterparties
The following shall be eligible counterparties for the CBPP3, both for outright transactions and for securities lending transactions involving covered bonds held in the CBPP3 Eurosystem portfolios:
(a) entities that fulfil the eligibility criteria to participate in Eurosystem monetary policy operations pursuant to Article 55 of Guideline (EU) 2015/510 (ECB/2014/60);
(b) any other counterparties that are used by Eurosystem central banks for the investment of their euro-denominated investment portfolios, including non-euro area counterparties active in the covered bonds markets; and
(c) issuers of covered bonds held in the CBPP3 Eurosystem portfolios to which neither point (a) nor point (b) applies, but only in the case of a repurchase of the relevant covered bond by that issuer pursuant to a buyback.’.

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the fifth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/1238 of 25 June 2025 setting up the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems European Research Infrastructure Consortium (DANUBIUS-ERIC) (notified under document C(2025) 3989)

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1238 27.6.2025
(1) Austria, Czechia, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom submitted to the Commission an application in accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 to set up the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems European Research Infrastructure Consortium (DANUBIUS-ERIC) (‘the application’).
(2) The applicants have agreed that Romania would be the host Member State of DANUBIUS-ERIC.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 has been incorporated in the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 72/2015(2).
(4) The Commission has, pursuant to Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009, assessed the application and concluded that it meets the requirements set out in that Regulation. In the course of the assessment, the Commission obtained the views of independent experts in the field of Environment.
(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009,
1. There shall be a European distributed research infrastructure called the ‘International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems’, hereinafter referred to as ‘DANUBIUS’.
2. DANUBIUS shall have the legal form of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) under Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 and be named ‘DANUBIUS-ERIC’.
3. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be operational in DANUBIUS-ERIC member countries, as well as in other countries where it has concluded relevant agreements.
4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall have its statutory seat in Murighiol, Tulcea County (Romania).
1. The main objective and task of DANUBIUS-ERIC is to establish and operate a pan-European distributed research infrastructure to facilitate and contribute excellent science on the continuum from river source to sea; to offer state-of-the art research infrastructure; and to provide the integrated knowledge required to sustainably manage and protect River-Sea Systems. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be supported by the DANUBIUS Partners, who shall provide major scientific equipment or sets of instruments, research facilities, resources and related services to the DANUBIUS Components and through them to Users, enabling the conduct of top-level research in their respective fields.
2. To this end, DANUBIUS-ERIC shall provide an effective governance framework, coordinate and harmonize the activities carried out by the DANUBIUS Components in relation to river-sea systems. In particular, it shall undertake and coordinate the following activities:a)subject to the access policy, provide a single point of access for applications to use the DANUBIUS Components;b)facilitation of relevant European and international research programmes and projects;c)mobilisation of relevant knowledge, build research capacity and encourage mobility of researchers to increase the European intellectual potential and lead international research on river-sea systems;d)development of technology, standards and protocols to advance studies in fresh, ground and coastal, marine and transitional water systems;e)build collaboration and synergies with other research infrastructures in Europe and worldwide;f)use of the DANUBIUS research infrastructure and expertise in support of research on river-sea systems worldwide;g)enter into agreements with third parties in order to achieve its objective and carry out its tasks; andh)any other related activity that promotes the achievement of DANUBIUS-ERIC main objectives and task. a) subject to the access policy, provide a single point of access for applications to use the DANUBIUS Components; b) facilitation of relevant European and international research programmes and projects; c) mobilisation of relevant knowledge, build research capacity and encourage mobility of researchers to increase the European intellectual potential and lead international research on river-sea systems; d) development of technology, standards and protocols to advance studies in fresh, ground and coastal, marine and transitional water systems; e) build collaboration and synergies with other research infrastructures in Europe and worldwide; f) use of the DANUBIUS research infrastructure and expertise in support of research on river-sea systems worldwide; g) enter into agreements with third parties in order to achieve its objective and carry out its tasks; and h) any other related activity that promotes the achievement of DANUBIUS-ERIC main objectives and task.
a) subject to the access policy, provide a single point of access for applications to use the DANUBIUS Components;
b) facilitation of relevant European and international research programmes and projects;
c) mobilisation of relevant knowledge, build research capacity and encourage mobility of researchers to increase the European intellectual potential and lead international research on river-sea systems;
d) development of technology, standards and protocols to advance studies in fresh, ground and coastal, marine and transitional water systems;
e) build collaboration and synergies with other research infrastructures in Europe and worldwide;
f) use of the DANUBIUS research infrastructure and expertise in support of research on river-sea systems worldwide;
g) enter into agreements with third parties in order to achieve its objective and carry out its tasks; and
h) any other related activity that promotes the achievement of DANUBIUS-ERIC main objectives and task.
a) subject to the access policy, provide a single point of access for applications to use the DANUBIUS Components;
b) facilitation of relevant European and international research programmes and projects;
c) mobilisation of relevant knowledge, build research capacity and encourage mobility of researchers to increase the European intellectual potential and lead international research on river-sea systems;
d) development of technology, standards and protocols to advance studies in fresh, ground and coastal, marine and transitional water systems;
e) build collaboration and synergies with other research infrastructures in Europe and worldwide;
f) use of the DANUBIUS research infrastructure and expertise in support of research on river-sea systems worldwide;
g) enter into agreements with third parties in order to achieve its objective and carry out its tasks; and
h) any other related activity that promotes the achievement of DANUBIUS-ERIC main objectives and task.
3. DANUBIUS-ERIC, through its Components, shall provide effective access to facilities, services, advice and data to promote and drive interdisciplinary research and innovation across river-sea systems. For this purpose, DANUBIUS-ERIC may enter into Service Level Agreements which sets out the terms and conditions on which DANUBIUS Components shall provide resources and services to the DANUBIUS-ERIC, to other DANUBIUS Components and to Users.
4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall pursue its main task on a non-economic basis, however it may carry out limited economic activities, provided that they are closely related to its main task and that they do not jeopardize the achievement thereof. Any income generated by these limited economic activities shall be used by DANUBIUS-ERIC to further its main objectives and task.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall exist for an indefinite period of time.
2. The winding up of the DANUBIUS-ERIC shall require a decision by the General Assembly in accordance with Article 17(6)(c).
3. Without undue delay and in any event within ten working days of the winding up decision, the DANUBIUS-ERIC shall notify the European Commission of its decision.
4. Assets remaining after payment of DANUBIUS-ERIC debts shall be apportioned among the members in proportion to their annual accumulated contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC over the last five consecutive years prior to winding up.
5. Without prejudice to Article 4, liabilities remaining after winding up, shall be apportioned among the members in proportion to their accumulated annual contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC, as set out in Annex 2, not exceeding the amount of one average annual contribution in the last five consecutive years prior to the year when the decision to wind-up DANUBIUS-ERIC was taken.
6. Within 10 days after the closure of the winding-up procedure, DANUBIUS-ERIC shall notify the European Commission thereof.
7. The DANUBIUS-ERIC shall cease to exist on the day on which the European Commission publishes the appropriate notice in theOfficial Journal of the European Union.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be liable for its debts.
2. The members shall not be jointly liable for the debts of DANUBIUS-ERIC.
3. The financial liability of the members for DANUBIUS-ERIC’s debts shall be limited to their respective annual contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC.
4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall take appropriate insurance to cover the risks specific to its activities.
1. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and Users, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by Users shall be owned by those Users.
2. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and a DANUBIUS Partner, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by a DANUBIUS Partner shall be owned by the DANUBIUS Partner.
3. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and a DANUBIUS Component, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by a DANUBIUS Component shall be owned by the DANUBIUS Component.
4. Intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be owned by DANUBIUS-ERIC.
5. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt a policy on intellectual property rights, for approval by the General Assembly.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be a facilitator of research and shall, as a general rule, apply open science and open access principles to research data as further developed in the DANUBIUS-ERIC’s IPR and Data policies.
2. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall, as a general rule, encourage Users to make their research results publicly available or publish in peer-reviewed scientific literature, to present at scientific conferences, as well as in other media, social or otherwise, targeted at larger audiences (including without limitation the general public, the press, citizen groups and for education purposes).
3. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall use several channels to reach the target audiences, including web portal, newsletter, workshops, presence in conferences, articles in magazines, daily newspapers and any other relevant media.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall maintain secure, fair and transparent procedures to provide access to DANUBIUS Components and services to Users.
2. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt an access policy, for approval by the General Assembly.
1. The activities of DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be evaluated every five years by an independent panel, composed of international experts of the highest quality, appointed by the General Assembly.
2. The expert panel shall evaluate DANUBIUS-ERIC activities, scientific and strategic orientation as well as the operation of the DANUBIUS Components. Special attention shall be given to the fulfilment of User requirements.
3. The results of the evaluations shall be reported to the General Assembly.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC employment policy shall be governed by the laws of the country in which staff is employed or usually carry out their activities.
2. Vacant positions at DANUBIUS-ERIC shall follow a transparent, non-discriminatory procedure and respect the principles of equal opportunity, subject to applicable labour laws.
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt its own procurement rules, to be approved by the General Assembly.
2. The procurement rules shall respect the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and competition.
3. Purchases made by the DANUBIUS Partners, intended exclusively for use by the DANUBIUS Components for the purpose of fulfilling the objective and tasks of DANUBIUS-ERIC, shall be awarded and organised in accordance with the procurement rules of DANUBIUS-ERIC.
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 of 25 June 2009 on the Community legal framework for a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) (1), and in particular Article 6(1), point (a), thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Austria, Czechia, Italy, Moldova, the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom submitted to the Commission an application in accordance with Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 to set up the International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems European Research Infrastructure Consortium (DANUBIUS-ERIC) (‘the application’).
(2) The applicants have agreed that Romania would be the host Member State of DANUBIUS-ERIC.
(3) Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 has been incorporated in the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) by Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 72/2015 (2).
(4) The Commission has, pursuant to Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009, assessed the application and concluded that it meets the requirements set out in that Regulation. In the course of the assessment, the Commission obtained the views of independent experts in the field of Environment.
(5) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
1. The International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems European Research Infrastructure Consortium (DANUBIUS-ERIC) is set up.

2. The essential elements of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC as referred to in Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 are set out in the Annex.

This Decision is addressed to the Republic of Austria, the Czech Republic, the Italian Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Romania and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

1.   Name and statutory seat

(Article 1 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. There shall be a European distributed research infrastructure called the ‘International Centre for Advanced Studies on River-Sea Systems’, hereinafter referred to as ‘DANUBIUS’.

2. DANUBIUS shall have the legal form of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) under Regulation (EC) No 723/2009 and be named ‘DANUBIUS-ERIC’.

3. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be operational in DANUBIUS-ERIC member countries, as well as in other countries where it has concluded relevant agreements.

4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall have its statutory seat in Murighiol, Tulcea County (Romania).

2. Objective, task and activities

(Article 2 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. The main objective and task of DANUBIUS-ERIC is to establish and operate a pan-European distributed research infrastructure to facilitate and contribute excellent science on the continuum from river source to sea; to offer state-of-the art research infrastructure; and to provide the integrated knowledge required to sustainably manage and protect River-Sea Systems. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be supported by the DANUBIUS Partners, who shall provide major scientific equipment or sets of instruments, research facilities, resources and related services to the DANUBIUS Components and through them to Users, enabling the conduct of top-level research in their respective fields.

2. To this end, DANUBIUS-ERIC shall provide an effective governance framework, coordinate and harmonize the activities carried out by the DANUBIUS Components in relation to river-sea systems. In particular, it shall undertake and coordinate the following activities: a)
subject to the access policy, provide a single point of access for applications to use the DANUBIUS Components; b)
facilitation of relevant European and international research programmes and projects; c)
mobilisation of relevant knowledge, build research capacity and encourage mobility of researchers to increase the European intellectual potential and lead international research on river-sea systems; d)
development of technology, standards and protocols to advance studies in fresh, ground and coastal, marine and transitional water systems; e)
build collaboration and synergies with other research infrastructures in Europe and worldwide; f)
use of the DANUBIUS research infrastructure and expertise in support of research on river-sea systems worldwide; g)
enter into agreements with third parties in order to achieve its objective and carry out its tasks; and h)
any other related activity that promotes the achievement of DANUBIUS-ERIC main objectives and task.

3. DANUBIUS-ERIC, through its Components, shall provide effective access to facilities, services, advice and data to promote and drive interdisciplinary research and innovation across river-sea systems. For this purpose, DANUBIUS-ERIC may enter into Service Level Agreements which sets out the terms and conditions on which DANUBIUS Components shall provide resources and services to the DANUBIUS-ERIC, to other DANUBIUS Components and to Users.

4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall pursue its main task on a non-economic basis, however it may carry out limited economic activities, provided that they are closely related to its main task and that they do not jeopardize the achievement thereof. Any income generated by these limited economic activities shall be used by DANUBIUS-ERIC to further its main objectives and task.

3. Duration and Winding up

(Article 3 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall exist for an indefinite period of time.

2. The winding up of the DANUBIUS-ERIC shall require a decision by the General Assembly in accordance with Article 17(6)(c).

3. Without undue delay and in any event within ten working days of the winding up decision, the DANUBIUS-ERIC shall notify the European Commission of its decision.

4. Assets remaining after payment of DANUBIUS-ERIC debts shall be apportioned among the members in proportion to their annual accumulated contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC over the last five consecutive years prior to winding up.

5. Without prejudice to Article 4, liabilities remaining after winding up, shall be apportioned among the members in proportion to their accumulated annual contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC, as set out in Annex 2, not exceeding the amount of one average annual contribution in the last five consecutive years prior to the year when the decision to wind-up DANUBIUS-ERIC was taken.

6. Within 10 days after the closure of the winding-up procedure, DANUBIUS-ERIC shall notify the European Commission thereof.

7. The DANUBIUS-ERIC shall cease to exist on the day on which the European Commission publishes the appropriate notice in the Official Journal of the European Union.

4. Liability and insurance

(Article 4 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be liable for its debts.

2. The members shall not be jointly liable for the debts of DANUBIUS-ERIC.

3. The financial liability of the members for DANUBIUS-ERIC’s debts shall be limited to their respective annual contribution to DANUBIUS-ERIC.

4. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall take appropriate insurance to cover the risks specific to its activities.

5. Intellectual property rights poliy

(Article 5 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and Users, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by Users shall be owned by those Users.

2. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and a DANUBIUS Partner, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by a DANUBIUS Partner shall be owned by the DANUBIUS Partner.

3. Subject to any contract between DANUBIUS-ERIC and a DANUBIUS Component, intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by a DANUBIUS Component shall be owned by the DANUBIUS Component.

4. Intellectual property rights created, obtained or developed by DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be owned by DANUBIUS-ERIC.

5. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt a policy on intellectual property rights, for approval by the General Assembly.

6. Dissemination policy

(Article 6 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be a facilitator of research and shall, as a general rule, apply open science and open access principles to research data as further developed in the DANUBIUS-ERIC’s IPR and Data policies.

2. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall, as a general rule, encourage Users to make their research results publicly available or publish in peer-reviewed scientific literature, to present at scientific conferences, as well as in other media, social or otherwise, targeted at larger audiences (including without limitation the general public, the press, citizen groups and for education purposes).

3. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall use several channels to reach the target audiences, including web portal, newsletter, workshops, presence in conferences, articles in magazines, daily newspapers and any other relevant media.

7. Access Policy

(Article 7 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall maintain secure, fair and transparent procedures to provide access to DANUBIUS Components and services to Users.

2. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt an access policy, for approval by the General Assembly.

8. Scientific Evaluation Policy

(Article 8 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. The activities of DANUBIUS-ERIC shall be evaluated every five years by an independent panel, composed of international experts of the highest quality, appointed by the General Assembly.

2. The expert panel shall evaluate DANUBIUS-ERIC activities, scientific and strategic orientation as well as the operation of the DANUBIUS Components. Special attention shall be given to the fulfilment of User requirements.

3. The results of the evaluations shall be reported to the General Assembly.

9. Employment policy

(Article 9 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC employment policy shall be governed by the laws of the country in which staff is employed or usually carry out their activities.

2. Vacant positions at DANUBIUS-ERIC shall follow a transparent, non-discriminatory procedure and respect the principles of equal opportunity, subject to applicable labour laws.

10. Procurement policy

(Article 10 of the Statutes of DANUBIUS-ERIC)
1. DANUBIUS-ERIC shall adopt its own procurement rules, to be approved by the General Assembly.

2. The procurement rules shall respect the principles of transparency, non-discrimination and competition.

3. Purchases made by the DANUBIUS Partners, intended exclusively for use by the DANUBIUS Components for the purpose of fulfilling the objective and tasks of DANUBIUS-ERIC, shall be awarded and organised in accordance with the procurement rules of DANUBIUS-ERIC.

Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1236 of 16 June 2025 appointing the Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union

January 13, 2026
Official Journalof the European Union ENL series
2025/1236 20.6.2025
(1) Pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Annex to Decision 2001/79/CFSP, when absent, the Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (the ‘Military Committee’) is to be replaced by the permanent Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (the ‘Deputy Chairman’), if it is so decided to create and fill the post.
(2) On 15 October 2024, the Military Committee, meeting at the level of the Chiefs of Defence, agreed to create the post of Deputy Chairman. The Deputy Chairman should be appointed by the Council on the recommendation of the Military Committee.
(3) At its meeting on 30 April 2025, the Military Committee recommended that Major General Enrico BARDUANI be appointed as the Deputy Chairman for a period of 3 years, from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2028,
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 240 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2001/79/CFSP of 22 January 2001 setting up the Military Committee of the European Union (1),
Whereas:
(1) Pursuant to paragraph 4 of the Annex to Decision 2001/79/CFSP, when absent, the Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (the ‘Military Committee’) is to be replaced by the permanent Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union (the ‘Deputy Chairman’), if it is so decided to create and fill the post.
(2) On 15 October 2024, the Military Committee, meeting at the level of the Chiefs of Defence, agreed to create the post of Deputy Chairman. The Deputy Chairman should be appointed by the Council on the recommendation of the Military Committee.
(3) At its meeting on 30 April 2025, the Military Committee recommended that Major General Enrico BARDUANI be appointed as the Deputy Chairman for a period of 3 years, from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2028,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Major General Enrico BARDUANI is hereby appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union, for a period of 3 years, from 1 December 2025 to 30 November 2028.
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.