The European Affairs Ministers of the EU Member States will discuss, on Tuesday 9 April in Luxembourg, the sensitive aspects of 'cohesion' and 'common agricultural policy' of the proposals on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12217/2).
The General Affairs Council will discuss, under Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), developments concerning the rule of law in Poland and respect for EU values in Hungary. It will adopt conclusions on the Commission's discussion paper entitled 'Towards a sustainable Europe by 2030'.
In addition, over the working lunch, ministers will discuss the European elections, including ways to increase participation and better communicate EU values.
MFF. In line with the approach presented to Ministers on 19 February 2019, the Romanian Presidency of the Council is leading a number of thematic and technical discussions to take forward work on the set of proposals for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
On 15 and 28 March 2019, the ad hoc group on the MFF held an exchange of views on key elements of cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It became clear that new policy guidelines were needed.
CAP. Ministers will be invited to answer the question whether the CAP proposals can contribute to the development of rural areas throughout the Union and ensure a fair standard of living for the agricultural community while increasing the productivity and competitiveness of European agriculture. The second question is: how can the EU's agricultural sector become economically, environmentally and socially sustainable in the long term?
Discussions at Member State level showed in particular criticism of the 5% cut in the CAP budget resulting from the proposals on the MFF 2021-2027, demands for an equivalent level of direct support between Member States and reticence about a mandatory cap on aid for large farms.
Cohesion policy will also be discussed by ministers in public session. The objective of the Romanian Presidency is to obtain political guidance from the ministers on how best to combine the principle of a cohesion policy covering all regions with the need to support the least developed regions as a matter of priority.
Ministers will also be invited to assess the Commission's proposal in the light of new priorities and unforeseen events, such as natural disasters. The thorny issue of the link between cohesion policy and the 'European Semester' budget process (i.e. macroeconomic conditions) should be given particular attention, according to a diplomatic source.
The reduction in the Cohesion Fund allocation (-46% compared to the current budget) will undoubtedly be on many lips, with net contributors (rather the northern and western EU Member States) opposing net beneficiaries (the central and eastern European Member States, as well as those in the South) on this point.
For the time being, negotiations on cohesion policy are progressing slowly. Block 1 (partnerships), Block 2 (ex ante conditions), Block 5 (controls and audits), and Blocks 3 (monitoring, communication and visibility) and 4 (the different supports), as well as the European Social Fund plus (ESF+), have been closed.
Rule of law.
Ministers meeting in Twenty-eight will have a further exchange of views on Hungary and the Article 7 procedure launched in September by the European Parliament. The Commission will be responsible for presenting the facts and the various proceedings against Budapest. On Friday 5 April, Viktor Orbán made a very offensive speech against Brussels, George Soros or European migration policies. During the launch of the European election campaign in Hungary, he accused the Juncker Commission in particular of weakening the EU, letting the United Kingdom go and bringing in migrants through a policy of “legalising” immigration.
The case of the Article 7 procedure against Poland will also be discussed by the ministers. This will be an overview, while the European Commission launched a new infringement procedure against Warsaw on 3 April (see EUROPE 12228/6).
'Article 50' training
The European Affairs Ministers will have met in advance on the morning of 9 April in Article 50 formation to prepare for the extraordinary European summit on 10 April. British Prime Minister Theresa May has already expressed her request for a further extension of the Article 50 period on 5 April in a letter to Donald Tusk. The latter, for his part, circulated to the Twenty-Seven the idea of a long extension of about 1 year, from which the United Kingdom could withdraw if the exit agreement is ratified in the House of Commons (see related article).
The meeting of ministers in Luxembourg should therefore focus on possible new political developments in London in the meantime. The ministers will also try, before the European leaders, to obtain clarity on the new discussions in London between Theresa May and the Head of Labour, Jeremy Corbyn, and their concrete effects. And until this clarity is achieved, "all options remain on the table", explained a diplomatic source, including an exit scenario without agreement. "All preparedness measures have now been adopted", added this source. (Lionel Changeur, Pascal Hansens and Solenn Paulic)