2019 in the European Union explained

Events of 2019 in the European Union.

Incumbents

• President of the European Council
  • Donald Tusk (to 30 November 2019)
  • Charles Michel (from 1 December 2019)
• Commission President
  • Jean-Claude Juncker (to 30 November 2019)
  • Ursula von der Leyen (from 1 December 2019)
• Council Presidency
  • Romania (Jan – Jun 2019)
  • Finland (July – Dec 2019)
    • Parliament President Antonio Tajani (to 3 July 2019)
  • David Sassoli (from 3 July 2019)
• High Representative
  • Federica Mogherini (to 30 November 2019)
  • Josep Borrell (from 1 December 2019)

Events

January

• January 1 – Romania takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
• Heavy winter storms paralyzed parts of Scandinavia and the Alps, including northern Norway and Sweden, southern Germany, and Austria.^[1]
• European border agency Frontex estimated 150,000 people entered the EU through irregular crossings in 2018, a 92% drop from the peak recorded in 2015, mainly due to a dramatic drop in arrivals from Libya, Algeria, and Tunisia using the central Mediterranean route through Italy.^[2]

March

• March 13  - the European Parliament unanimously accepted the call for a halt to the full membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey.^[3]
• March 26  - The European Parliament votes by 348 to 278 in favour of the controversial Article 13 of the EU Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, which expands legal liability for websites.^{[4] [5]}

July

• July 1 – Finland takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Notes and References

1. News: Snow brings parts of Europe to standstill. BBC News. 2019-01-12.
2. News: Illegal migration to EU falls to lowest level in 5 years -- but spikes in Spain. CNN. 2019-01-13.
3. Web site: European Parliament calls for suspension of Turkey EU accession talks . en. March 13, 2019 . Euronews .
4. Web site: Article 13: Memes exempt as EU backs controversial copyright law. 26 March 2019. 26 March 2019. BBC News.
5. Web site: European Parliament approves new copyright rules for the internet. 26 March 2019. 26 March 2019. European Parliament.