(Special report by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Lionel Changeur)
INTRODUCTION
On 1 July 2012, the Republic of Cyprus took over the rotating presidency of the European Union for the first time. It will certainly have its work cut out for it during its six months at the helm. Fully occupied with negotiations over a bailout plan to help its banks achieve their capital requirements and to arrange a wider structural adjustment plan for itself, this little island in the eastern Mediterranean will now be closely monitoring developments in the debt crisis, leading negotiations to boost economic governance and ensuring proper application of the latest European Summit decisions (Growth Pact, Banking Union and so on). The presidency will have to arrange agreement among heads of state and government on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020, a virtually impossible task given the scale of disagreement and the host of other pressing issues.
Cyprus, with its 800,000 inhabitants, joined the EU in May 2004 and became a member of the eurozone in January 2008. It is the EU's most easterly member state, only a hundred miles from Syria and the Lebanon. The tricky “Turkish” question runs throughout the country - Turkey has decided to boycott the Cypriot Presidency, and talks to solve the division of the island (following the Turkish invasion of the northern part of Cyprus in 1974) are in deadlock.
INTERVIEW WITH EUROPEAN AFFAIRS MINISTER OF CYPRUS, ANDREAS MAVROYIANNIS
Agence Europe (AE) - Your presidency has chosen the slogan “A Better Europe”. What do you mean by a better Europe?
Andreas Mavroyiannis (AM) - It means that Europe has to mean more for European citizens and the world. It is a way of moving beyond the usual discussions about more or less Europe, whether Europe should be stronger, wider and deeper.
We need a Europe that corresponds better to the concerns of its citizens and is seen as part of the solution to the crisis rather than part of the problem. More than anything, a Europe that gives us hope that by working together we can overcome the problems facing us.
We must always have Europe's fundamental values in mind. Rather than adding to the list of statements and policies that don't have much meaning, we should concentrate on proper and practical application of the things we have already put in place to make a difference on the ground.
(AE) One of your presidency's priorities is making progress with the Multiannual Financial Framework. How do you see the next stages in the negotiations? What are your priorities? The Cohesion Policy? The CAP?
(AM) All of the above! We will be an honest broker. We will try to take negotiations forward and aim to reach agreement by the end of the year. We can't afford not to have a Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) because any delays will be damaging for Europe.
These talks do not only involve the member states, but also the president of the European Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. Hence the complexity of many diverse and opposing interests among the member states. This is a huge challenge, and even the word “challenge” is a euphemism.
(AE) What are you planning to do on transport?
(AM) In the MFF, there is a Connecting Europe Facility with a budget of €50 billion to make progress on transport, energy and telecoms infrastructure. This is one of the EU's priorities and Cyprus as a country is particularly interested in maritime transport.
It is vital that, in the years to come, we create stronger connections among all EU countries and between Europe and the outside world. This is a huge challenge to be taken up - working on transport infrastructure is an excellent way of investing in the future.
(AE) The European Maritime Policy is one of your priorities. What are you planning here?
(AM) In cooperation with the Commission, we will have special action to boost the EU's integrated maritime policy. This policy contains elements like fisheries and preservation of the marine habitat that are geographical, but it also includes maritime transport with a global aspect. There is both a local dimension (for ports, for example), a regional dimension and a global dimension.
(AE) What are your climate change and biodiversity priorities?
(AM) We will continue with the work so excellently done by the previous presidency. We will represent the EU at the United Nations conference on climate change and we hope, in cooperation with the Commission, to take action to get tangible results. We will continue with the work so excellently started on everything connected with the green economy. There are plenty of proposals on the table. As in other domains, it is more a matter of getting down to work and putting thing into practice rather than inventing something new.
(AE) What are your aims in terms of the Single Market?
(AM) Getting all the draft legislation adopted. There are 12 outstanding items and we aim to finalise and complete everything on at least eight of them and start discussions on the very important Single Market Act II. This will involve the digital agenda, digital signatures and slashing red tape - there is a lot to be done to facilitate the job of completing the Single Market. We will try to make progress with the work that has been given a good start.
(AE) How do you see Economic and Monetary Union in five years time?
(AM) I am in favour of European integration. Political integration must arise from sectoral integration and not the other way round. If we carry out all the policies needed to deal with events and situations, then this will result in an ever stronger and more united European Union.
Europe is built by strengthening solidarity in practice, working together when needed. It is crucial that we protect the proven Community Method. It can't just be put to one side in the belief that there may be alternatives, because that is extremely dangerous and risks a two-speed Europe. We have no alternative but to remain united in the face of the big challenges ahead.
We need to move closer to an Economic and Monetary Union, but also see what exactly we mean by that. We don't think that EMU means a huge uniformisation of all policies. For example, we are not in favour of a single company tax rate. We believe it is part of the richness of the EU that there are different systems within it.
(AE) What are you planning to do on the social level to make Europe more meaningful to its citizens?
(AM) This is a big priority for us. We want to breathe this social awareness into all EU policies. We must always bear in mind that in Europe, company competitiveness, economic indicators, everything we do is not an end in itself, but is about protecting Europeans' quality of life, our culture, our civilisation, our way of life. Sometimes this gets forgotten and things get sacrificed that are part of the value of Europe, sacrificed for the sake of indicators. European citizens must not be made to pay the price of social transformation.
There are a lot of things we are going to do. There are a lot of initiatives connected with improving social cohesion that are crucial for us. There are many items of draft legislation; the Commission has done excellent work. In areas where we cannot achieve proposals or get legislation passed, we will organise study meetings to try to see what progress can be made.
(AE) The EU asylum policy is another of your priorities.
(AM) This is not simply a Cypriot Presidency priority, but a priority we have inherited. Europe pledged to have a common European asylum system in place by the end of 2012. There are five items of draft legislation, one of which has already been adopted and four are at an advanced stage. We hope to complete the work so that the system can be in place by the end of the year. Things are progressing well and we are optimistic.
We need to arrange things so we can work together and have common standards and policies so the question can be dealt with humanely, more effectively and with greater solidarity. We have to find a way to share the burden in this domain.
We also have to get citizens to understand that promoting a European asylum system doesn't mean opening the doors to billions of people who want to invade.
(AE) What are your priorities for enlargement?
(AM) We will continue with what's on the table. We hope to make as much progress as possible in the talks on Iceland's accession, apart from the three or four highly sensitive chapters. We believe it will be possible to conclude the negotiations in the other areas. We also need to work on a harmonious ratification process for Croatia.
We would be delighted if it proves to be possible to get progress in the accession talks for Turkey, but this will be very difficult given Ankara's refusal to cooperate in any way with the Cypriot Presidency. There's the decision to open negotiations with Montenegro, which is excellent. Under our presidency, we will see if we can make progress here and if chapters can be opened.
For Serbia, if all goes well, the idea is that at the end of the year, a decision can be made about opening accession talks. But there is so much uncertainty, both in the Serbian political system and in the region about what's happening with Kosovo that it's impossible to predict what will happen.
(AE) How are you planning to manage the boycott under your presidency? Will you suspend the Cyprus reunification talks during your presidency?
(AM) It's Turkey that wants to suspend the inter-community talks. As far as we are concerned, we want them to continue. These are two entirely separate issues. The first of July is meaningless for the Cyprus negotiations. Turkey is still looking for excuses to find artificial deadlines. We don't want Turkey to move away from Europe, but if we invite it to come and it doesn't, what can we do? I hope at least that the situation will be calm and will not become provocative.
We will be dealing with the presidency in a presidential, European, clear and objective manner, despite the persistence of the Cypriot problem. We will not be mixing things up or using our privileged position at the helm of the European Union to promote our own positions. But we will not permit ourselves to be a second-class presidency because of the Cyprus problem. We are working to make the presidency hermetically sealed so it can be carried out independently of any difficulties.
(AE) What are your neighbourhood priorities? Will you be focussing more on the northern Mediterranean?
(AM) The Neighbourhood Policy has several dimensions (East and South). None of these dimensions can be ignored, but it is natural, because we are in the south-east of Europe, for us to focus a little more on policy for countries on the south-eastern rim of the Mediterranean. Another reason for this is the Arab Spring. It is important to accompany these movements for the democratic transformation of these countries and meet the aspirations for greater openness, more democracy and more respect for human rights.
The Cypriot Presidency, like the member states, has a lot to do to move in the right direction. We need a policy with the aim of ensuring pluralism in these countries, ensuring that there are plenty of channels of communication, that there is an expanding civil society that is diverse and in search of direct interlocutors abroad. Another concern is to protect the rights of the many minorities in these countries.
(AE) How will you work with the European Parliament and the European Commission? How will you be dealing with the boycott at the EP?
(AM) These things should not be blown out of proportion. After the Lisbon Treaty came into force, we have had a mushrooming of power centres within the EU. This gives the rotating presidency even more of a role in ensuring coherence and synergy among all the different centres of power. Small flashes of tension among the institutions are things that happen. It is only to be expected that people will try to lay claim to an area and protect their powers. We don't all necessarily interpret the treaty in the same way.
We will work quietly, low key, to reduce tension and reach an understanding so that Europe can move on.
(AE) What are your relations with Denmark and Ireland?
(AM) We have excellent relations with our trio partners, Poland and Denmark, and have been working together on an eighteen-month programme. We are the last in the trio and have therefore hugely benefitted from their experience and from what they've done. There is excellent cooperation among the three countries, good solidarity. The trio set-up has worked very well.
With the Irish who will be following us, there is a gap in the treaties, which mention the trio but not the transmission from one trio to the next. But there is a tradition of one presidency handing over to the next and we are already in very close contact with them.
(AE) How did your little country prepare for taking over the EU presidency? Will Cyprus be using the presidency to point out that the EU is made up of small as well as large nations?
(AM) We will do exactly that. I believe that small countries can have very good presidencies, perfectly proper and effective. It is a question of good organisation, human resources, budget and a vision, and we feel we have been working these past three years to put all these in place. This is a huge amount of work for a small country and the cost, €62 million for Cyprus, is 1% of the country's budget.
Because we're a small country, we will have a presidency that is led far more from Brussels and there will be far less red tape. We will allow the chairs of working groups and the Permanent Representatives to be responsible in their fields under general guidelines from ourselves.
The fact that we are a small country means that, on most of the subjects we will be dealing with, we do not have a strong national view so we will be able to act as an honest broker to try to draw up compromises, an intermediary who can be trusted. The weakness of being small can be turned into a benefit as long as we work very hard and very reliably.
EUROPE IN THE WORLD - A PRESIDENCY BLIGHTED BY ITS DISPUTE WITH TURKEY
One of the Cypriot Presidency's ambitions is to make Europe better, opening it up to the world and bringing it close to its neighbours, but Nicosia has to deal with the fact that it is in conflict with Turkey, which cast a shadow over the presidency even before it began.
For months now, the Turkish government has been warning that they will be boycotting any event organised by the Cypriot Presidency because Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to cooperate with it. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that no Turkish ministry or institution would be in contact with the European Presidency for any activity connected with the Greek Cypriot Presidency, adding that EU-Turkey relations and political contacts already in place will continue as they are.
The island of Cyprus has been partitioned since 1974. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have entered negotiations, under the auspices of the United Nations, on reunification of the island but the talks have made little progress. Cypriot President Demetris Christofias says that his government is fully prepared to continue dialogue to find a solution to the Cyprus problem during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, as long as the other side is too. Cypriot European Affairs Minister Andreas Mavroyiannis says the EU presidency and talks on the Cyprus question are wholly separate issues and the Republic of Cyprus is trying to restore calm in response to the attacks from Turkey. Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis says that her country backs the European prospects and future for Turkey, and Cyprus is prepared to work with the European Commission vis-a-vis Ankara if Turkey decides it wants to work in this direction. Christofis said Cyprus does not want Turkey to remain outside the EU and he backs the idea of Turkey joining the EU when it has put into practice its own commitments and obligations to the EU.
Refusing to be a second-class presidency. Cyprus refuses to be a “second-class presidency” because of financial difficulties and the problem with Turkey, explained the European affairs minister. “We are working to make the presidency hermetically sealed so it can be carried out independently of any difficulties”, he added, explaining that Cyprus would be running a completely European presidency and any problems that Turkey might create would be dealt with collectively in a European manner. Cyprus has the support and solidarity of the leaders of the European institutions, who point out that it is part of the EU and an attack on Cyprus is an attack on the EU as a whole, even though the EU will be continuing its relations with Turkey. The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, says that the EU and the Commission will support Cyprus as a member of the EU in its presidency role, while the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said the presidency must be respected by all. The president of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, said Cyprus was a full member of the EU that is taking over the presidency for the next six months and it is not possible for a country that says it wants to become a member of the EU to change tack and say “we refuse to recognise the EU presidency”. Schulz describes the boycott as “unacceptable”.
Pursuing enlargement. Despite its problems with Turkey, Cyprus would like to see progress in the accession negotiations with Ankara. Mavroyiannis said that Cyprus would be delighted if it were possible to make progress on this issue, but it was very difficult given that Turkey refuses to cooperate in any way with the Cypriot Presidency. His colleague in the Cypriot Foreign Office says that Cyprus will not veto any negotiating chapters other than the ones it has already vetoed.
The presidency has great expectations for the other candidate nations. It hopes to make as much progress as possible with Iceland and may even conclude all the negotiating chapters except the three or four controversial ones, like farming and fisheries. It wants to open EU accession negotiations with Montenegro, seeing what can be done and whether it is possible to open any negotiating chapters yet, explained Mavroyiannis, who also wants to get a decision made by the end of the Cypriot Presidency on opening accession talks with Serbia: “But there is so much uncertainty, both in the Serbian political system and in the region about what's happening with Kosovo, that it's impossible to predict what will happen”.
The presidency wants prospects of a greater European future for all Western Balkan nations, which it describes as a crucially important question. Although Cyprus does not recognise the independence of Kosovo, it will be dealing with the matter in a “presidential manner”.
Prioritising the Southern Partnership. Given its geographical position and without neglecting the key eastern aspect of the EU's Neighbourhood Policy, Cyprus will be focusing on the EU's Mediterranean neighbours and the Arab Spring. Mavroyiannis says the European Union must accompany the Arab Spring movements towards democracy and meet the aspirations for greater openness, more democracy and greater respect for human rights. The EU must have a policy to ensure pluralism in these countries, protecting minority communities and ensuring the development of an expanding, outward-looking civil society, he explained. “We will be promoting all policies based on 'more for more'”.
The presidency wants to work on development too, and get agreement on the scale of EU financing for development and humanitarian aid in 2014-2020 and EU funds connected with future cooperation with developing countries. It wants to ensure that the EU will continue to make progress in its development pledges as part of the global financing of development post-2015. Cyprus will continue working on key humanitarian issues like the creation of an EU humanitarian aid volunteer corps, updating the Humanitarian Aid Instrument and ensuring the interconnection of emergency aid, rehabilitation and development. The Cypriot Presidency will be highlighting the challenges of food safety and improving nutrition in developing countries.
The Republic of Cyprus believes that the EU's foreign trade policy can promote growth and hopes to see the opening of detailed, comprehensive free trade deals with Mediterranean countries, the conclusion of a trade and business deal with Canada, the launch of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Japan and the conclusion of free trade talks with Singapore. Exploring the potential of greater trade with the United States and agreeing on the launch of investment talks with China are also on the agenda.
The presidency says that it will be working closely with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs to ensure coherence and continuity.
MAKING EUROPE MORE EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE
The negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2014-2020 will be the top priority for the Cypriot Presidency. It wants to get the EU leaders to agree on this controversial issue by the end of 2012, as instructed by the European Summit in June. The overall objective is a fair, effective budget that can genuinely breathe new life into growth, competitiveness and employment, particularly jobs for young people, explains the Cypriot Presidency.
The Multiannual Financial Framework will be on the agenda of all the General Affairs Council meeting over the next six months. The Cypriot Presidency will take account of the outcome of its meetings with the member states (10 to 19 July) and the negotiating box submitted in June by the Danish Presidency. Cyprus hopes to get an initial agreement in principle at the European Summit in October. If this is not possible, then talks will continue to prepare to conclude the negotiations in December.
The Cypriot Presidency will be working closely with the presidents of the European Council, European Commission and European Parliament.
The presidency will do as much as it can in the talks on the EU's policies for the future (2014-2020) like the Common Agricultural Policy (partial guidelines are expected in November), the Common Fisheries Policy, Cohesion Policy and the research and innovation policy. It hopes agreement will be reached on other financial instruments like for those foreign policy, justice, home affairs, transport, energy, transport, health, education, youth, sport and culture.
In terms of agriculture, the Cypriot Presidency aims above all to ensure progress in the debate on the future of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), with the objective of preparing the adoption of a partial general approach on the key elements of the CAP reform package for November; adopting in collaboration with the European Parliament proposals for transition measures for direct payments and the wine sector (for 2013); organising focused debates on specific issues of the four main regulations in the CAP reform package (direct payments, rural development, single common market organisation, CMO, and financing the CAP).
Other farm priorities include alignment of agricultural legislation with the Lisbon Treaty, on which the presidency hopes to reach an agreement with the European Parliament on some proposals such as outermost regions and smaller Aegean islands; and the quality schemes for agricultural products on which the presidency will ensure the final adoption of the text following the agreement reached with the European Parliament under the Danish Presidency.
As regards food and veterinary issues, the presidency intends to work on revision of the hygiene package and the regulation on official controls; the new animal health law; the new pet regulation covering the non-commercial movements of pet animals and the animal health requirements in the intra EU trade and the imports of pets.
For fisheries, focus will be on reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) (partial guidelines are expected in October on the new European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020), deciding on the fishing quotas for 2013 (fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks for EU vessels for the deep-sea) and 2013 and 2014 quotas for deep sea species in the Baltic and the Black Sea; penalties for overfishing by non-EU countries and the ban on shark finning.
Progress is expected on the proposals to create a new “own resource” (financing) system for the EU, and the presidency would like a fairer, more rational system.
In line with the conclusions document of the February 2012 European Summit, the Cypriot Presidency will also be focusing on energy policy, with attention concentrating on trans-European transport and telecoms networks, energy, the electricity grid and the mechanism for interconnection in Europe. Other priority areas include sustainable development and following up on the Rio +20 Summit. In the spirit of the EUROPE 2020 Strategy, fair and inclusive green growth will be promoted by means of sustainable resource management, particularly for water. Moreover, the Cypriot Presidency will be re-launching the EU's integrated maritime policy.
EUROPE WITH A HIGH PERFORMANCE ECONOMY BASED ON GROWTH
“The Cyprus Presidency will attach high priority to the effective implementation of the recently adopted initiatives for improving economic governance, ensuring fiscal consolidation, strengthening the European financial services framework and accelerating structural reforms, with a view to enhancing growth potential and social cohesion”' explains the Cypriot work programme for the ECOFIN Council.
In terms of economic governance, the presidency will be monitoring the ratification procedures in the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance within the Economic and Monetary Union (the “Budget Pact” signed at the March 2012 European Summit), a process that will be completed in the first half of 2013. The presidency will be working on the “two-pack” of draft economic governance legislation, viz. a regulation to increase scrutiny and assessment of eurozone member states' budget plans, particularly those subject to excess deficit proceedings, and a regulation to boost surveillance of eurozone nations experiencing financial upheaval or which have requested financial aid. These two draft regulations were unveiled by Commission in November 2011, following adoption of all the “six-pack” measures to boost economic governance. On 21 February 2012, the Council decided on general guidelines for the two-pack. The EP established its negotiating position in June and three-way meetings started in July and will continue in September. The regulations may be discussed at the ECOFIN Council meeting on 14-15 September and the ECOFIN Council of 9 October (where it is hoped that agreement in principle will be reached).
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will come into force early in the Cypriot Presidency (Germany and Italy have yet to ratify it). The Cypriot Presidency will ensure implementation of the Growth and Jobs Pact decided upon at the 29 June 2012 European Summit.
There is a huge workload for financial services under the Cypriot Presidency, namely planned changes to EU bank and investment company capital rules (CRD IV), the Omnibus II insurance directive, market infrastructure (MiFID), market abuse, the transparency directive, credit rating agencies, central depositories, residential mortgages and consumer protection. Early in November, the Commission will unveil draft legalisation to tackle money-laundering.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier said on Tuesday 10 July that during the Cypriot Presidency, he would be making progress on draft legislation on parallel banking, which he said would probably have to be discussed at an informal Council meeting. Barnier said the Erkki Liikanen Group would be publishing a report early in October on separating off risks and managing risk-weighting in the banking system. Later this year, the Commission will publish a report on long-term financing of the real economy.
On the twentieth anniversary of the Single Market, the presidency will be giving a new boost to expansion of the Single Market, by promoting measures focusing on the role of small business. Cyprus will also be promoting an effective digital single market as part of the European Digital Agenda.
The priorities for taxation will be the financial transactions tax, the future of the VAT system, the energy tax directive, the savings tax directive and agreements with tax havens in this connection, along with the Customs and Taxation Programme for 2014-2020.
MAKING EUROPE MORE MEANINGFUL FOR ITS CITIZENS
The Cypriot Presidency wants to bring Europe closer to its citizens, focusing on youth employment. One of the biggest priorities of the presidency is to establish a common European asylum system by the end of the year. Cypriot Home Minister Eleni Mavrou said on 10 July that the presidency would be working closely with the European Parliament to get agreement on the seasonal workers directive and the visa regulation. Cypriot Justice and Public Affairs Minister Loucas Louca said on 10 July that reaching an agreement with Canada on the air passenger question (PNR) and establishment of a PNR system in the EU are crucially important. Another key priority is reform of governance in the Schengen Area, a subject on which there is deep disagreement between MEPs and ministers in Europe. Mavrou said he hoped agreement could be reached on these matters as soon as possible. Cyprus will also be working on expanding the Schengen Area to include Bulgaria and Romania.
The presidency will also be insisting on the participation of social partners, NGOs and local authorities in drawing up and implementing the EUROPE 2020 Strategy. The new legal framework for personal data protection is a further priority.
CYPRIOT PRESIDENCY TIMELINE
July
16 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Brussels)
16-17 Meeting of transport and telecoms ministers (Nicosia)
18-19 Meeting of the Competitiveness Council (Industry) (Nicosia)
20 Meeting of the Competitiveness Council (Research)
23 Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels)
23-24 Meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council (Nicosia)
24 General Affairs Council (Brussels)
26 ECOFIN Council to discuss EU budget (Brussels)
August
30 Meeting of European affairs ministers (Nicosia)
September
7-8 Meeting of foreign ministers (Gymnich) (Paphos and Nicosia)
9-10-11 Meeting of farm and fisheries ministers (Nicosia)
14-15 Meeting of economy and finance ministers (Nicosia)
17 Meeting of energy ministers (Nicosia)
19-20 Justice and Home Affairs Council (Brussels)
20-21 Meeting of EU sports ministers (Nicosia)
24-25 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Brussels)
24 General Affairs Council (Brussels)
26-27 Meeting of defence ministers (Nicosia)
October
4-5 Meeting of education ministers (Nicosia)
4 EPSCO Council (Luxembourg)
8 Eurogroup (Luxembourg)
8 Meeting of ministers to discuss the EU's integrated Maritime Policy (Limassol and Nicosia)
9 ECOFIN Council (Luxembourg)
10-11 Competitiveness Council (Luxembourg)
15 Foreign Affairs Council and Development Council (Luxembourg)
16 General Affairs Council (Luxembourg)
18-19 European Summit
22-23 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Luxembourg)
25-26 JHA Council (Luxembourg)
25 Environment Council (Luxembourg)
29 Transport and Energy Council (Luxembourg)
November
6 Meeting of ministers to discuss the Cohesion Policy (Nicosia)
7 ECOFIN Council to discuss the budget (Brussels)
12 Eurogroup
13 ECOFIN Council
19-20 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Brussels)
19 Foreign Affairs and Defence Council and General Affairs Council (Brussels)
22-23 Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council (Brussels)
23 Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) (Brussels)
26 General Affairs Council (Brussels)
December
3 Transport and Energy Council (Brussels)
4 ECOFIN Council (Brussels)
6-7 JHA and EPSCO Council (Brussels)
10-11 Competitiveness Council (Brussels)
10 General Affairs Council (Brussels)
13-14 European Summit
17-18 Agriculture and Fisheries Council (Brussels)
19 Environment Council (Brussels)
20-21 Transport, Energy and Telecoms Council (Brussels)