Brussels, 28/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Preparation of the European Council of 4 February will be a central feature of the General Affairs Council which will meet on Monday 31 January under the Chairmanship of Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi. The agenda is as follows:
Hungarian Presidency programme. Ministers will hold a public debate on the Hungarian work programme constructed around four priorities: economy and growth, energy, enlargement, and European citizens.
European Council of 4 February. On Monday, ministers will discuss the summit's draft conclusions which, for the moment, refer only to the two main issues on the official agenda: energy and innovation (see related article). Other issues will certainly be discussed by heads of state and government at lunch on Friday (the situation in the euro area, progress on revising the Treaty to put in place a permanent crisis management mechanism, possible extension of the European Financial Stability Fund), but these will not be debated by ministers on Monday. It is also possible that the European Council will take stock of the situation in Tunisia and Egypt and that this will be mentioned in the conclusions.
European semester. The Council will take stock of progress in implementing the first “European semester” on supervision of member states' budgetary policies and structural reforms which began with the Commission's publication on 12 January of growth forecasts.
European framework for the integration of the Roma. The Hungarian Presidency will submit a roadmap to ministers which it is hoped will lead to the adoption of a “common European framework on national Roma integration strategies” by the Council in June. The hard work will begin after the publication of the Commission communication on 5 April.
EU strategy for the Danube Region. Ministers will note the Commission communication of 8 December. The Council will adopt conclusions at its meeting on 18 April. (H.B./transl.rt)