On Monday 14 May, the European affairs ministers will hold an initial public discussion on the European Commission’s recent proposals concerning the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
Following the presentation of the draft MFF by the European Commissioner for the Budget, Günther Oettinger, the ministers will give their initial reactions to the Commission’s proposal of opting for a level of 1.114% of the gross national income (GNI) of the EU of 27 (€1.135 trillion in commitments at 2018 prices and €1.105 trillion in payments), compared to a level of 1.03% of GNI for the period 2014-2020 (see EUROPE 12013).
Broadly, the draft proportionally reduces the funds earmarked for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the cohesion policy, makes more funding available for the ‘new’ political priorities (innovation, security, migration), whilst taking account of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the EU.
The ministers will also respond to the suggestion of creating a mechanism to link the granting of European funds and compliance with the rule of law in the member states.
The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU considers that the draft on the table is a good starting point for discussions. “The intention is to have an agreement before the European elections” of May 2019, but “much will of course depend on the member states”, a senior official said on Monday 7 May, adding that the current Bulgarian Presidency and its Austrian and Romanian successors are already working together to steer the work at a brisk pace.
For instance, the Bulgarian authorities have scheduled seven expert meetings between now and the end of June and the dossier was expected to feature once again on the agenda of the ‘General Affairs’ Council. At the end of June, the European Council will be called upon to set orientations on the timetable for the work leading to a unanimous agreement of the member states.
Poland. On the basis of information provided by the First Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, the ministers will also take stock of the so-called ‘article 7’ procedure of the treaty, which was launched by the Commission in December against Poland over the rule of law (see EUROPE 11930).
The Commission has not yet closed the procedure and will ask the European ministers for their opinions on the subject on 14 May. “No decisions will be made at this stage”, the same source said. On the basis of the opinion expressed, the Commission will have to decide on the next steps.
In April, the Polish parliament adopted a few amendments that are likely to respond to some of the concerns raised, for instance on the retirement age for male and female judges and the powers conferred upon the Justice Ministry (see EUROPE 12001). However, these amendments are not yet law.
Brexit. Meeting in ‘General Affairs Council - article 50’ configuration, the ministers of the Twenty-Seven will be briefed by negotiator Michel Barnier on the state of Brexit negotiations with London, for instance on the British withdrawal agreement and the framework for future relations after the transition period.
Some of the month of April was given over to the Irish question, for instance identifying a solution that would avoid a return to a physical border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to avoid having to trigger the backstop solution (see EUROPE 12015).
A new round of discussions will take place in the week of 21 May.
The EU electoral law dossier is not officially an agenda item, but on Monday, it was not certain that it might not be added. The written procedure to approve a unanimous agreement on the reform has still not been initiated, due to Italy’s incapacity to make a decision as it does not yet have a government in place (see EUROPE 12009). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion and Solenn Paulic)