EU Ministers responsible for European Affairs meet on Tuesday 8 January in Brussels to discuss the spread of misinformation and the continuation of negotiations on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027.
At this first General Affairs Council of 2019, the Romanian Presidency of the Council will present a general outline of its priorities for the next six months (see EUROPE 12165). The Presidency's priorities are structured around four axes: a Europe of convergence, a more secure Europe, a stronger Europe on the international stage and a Europe of common values.
MFF. The Presidency will inform ministers of its intentions regarding the organisation of work on the next MFF, with EU leaders aiming to complete the dossier under the Finnish Presidency in autumn of 2019 (see EUROPE 12159). Tuesday's Council does not plan a substantive debate on the dossier, but rather discussions on the organisation of work under the Romanian Presidency. A diplomatic source said that the MFF would be on the agenda of all General Affairs Councils during the Romanian Presidency.
Work on the Negotiating Box document will have to continue in the coming months in order to facilitate the conclusion of a political agreement by Member States on the MFF 2021-2027.
Disinformation. Ministers will exchange views on disinformation, following the European Council's requests for a coordinated response to this problem (see EUROPE 12158). The European Council called for a rapid and coordinated implementation of the Joint Action Plan against Disinformation, presented in early December by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12153). The Council is invited to continue work on this issue and to report back to the European Council in March 2019.
According to the Council, ministers should discuss which key points of the Action Plan should be addressed as a priority, in view of the May European elections, and how best to ensure coherence between the internal and external dimensions of the fight against disinformation. Finally, they will be asked how the EU and Member States could step up their efforts to raise society’s awareness of disinformation and to strengthen the resilience of citizens in EU Member States and in partner countries and enable them to form informed opinions.
The subject of disinformation will also be on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Ministers on 21 January, according to a diplomatic source.
Over a working lunch, ministers will exchange views on how to better communicate with citizens about Europe. "We need to do more to bring closer the citizens and the institutions and to bring closer the citizens to the decision-making process to help them to understand what we are doing here and how it benefits their daily life," the diplomatic source explained.
Finally, the Council will examine the state of progress of the legislative dossiers to be completed before the European elections in May 2019 (see EUROPE 12123). According to the Commission, nearly 240 proposals have yet to be adopted. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur with Camille-Cerise Gessant)