Brussels, 09/09/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU General Affairs Council to be held on Monday 12 September in Brussels will discuss the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the EU (2014-2020) and will look at the draft agenda for the next European Council (to be held in October), which will mainly cover economic policy, the G20 summit (in Cannes) and climate change.
The Polish Presidency of the EU Council will present to the Council during public session an inventory on the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020, on the basis of a document summarising the clarifications brought until now at working group level (see EUROPE 10448). During lunch, ministers will discuss certain aspects of the Commission's proposals, namely the duration, structure and flexibility of the next financial framework. The debate will relate to the following issues put forward by the Presidency: - Do delegations agree with the proposed seven-year duration of the next MFF? - Do delegations agree with the general structure (headings and sub-ceilings) proposed? - What is the delegations' opinion on the forms of flexibility proposed? The objective of the Polish Presidency is to provide for a better understanding of the MFF proposals as well as member states' positions so that the negotiation phase can start during the Danish Presidency (January to June 2012).
The Council will examine a draft annotated agenda, drawn up by the president of the European Council in cooperation with the Presidency and the Commission for the European Council meeting to be held on 17-18 October 2011. The European Council is due to focus on: - economic policy: the external aspects of the EU's economic policy, with a view to enhancing competitiveness and growth; - G20: the EU's position for the G20summit to take place in Cannes on 3-4 November; - and climate change: the EU's position for the United Nations conference on climate change to be held in Durban from 28 November to 9 December. (L.C./transl.jl)