Without their British counterpart, the twenty-seven Heads of State or Government of the European Union will have a first exchange of views on Thursday 9 May in Sibiu (Romania) on the direction to be given to European policies in the next institutional cycle.
The services of the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, have been working on defining these political priorities, which they have classified into four categories: - protecting European citizens and civil liberties; - modernising the EU's economic model; - building a more sustainable and just future; - promoting Europe's interests in the world.
This draft strategic agenda by 2025, which was sent to the Member States on Thursday 2 May and of which EUROPE had a copy, will be submitted to European leaders in Sibiu. On the basis of these discussions, Mr Tusk will be responsible for forwarding to them, at the beginning of June, a more detailed draft with a view to adopting the strategic agenda at the June European Council.
It will be up to the future President of the European Commission appointed by the Twenty-eight, if approved by the next European Parliament, to draw inspiration from it in drawing up its work programme. Similarly, Finland's Presidency in the second half of 2019 will be the first Presidency of the Council of the EU to implement the political priorities that will be decided.
Like the European Commission (see EUROPE 12245/7), the President of the European Council is of the opinion that the protection of European citizens must be placed at the top of the EU's priorities for the next 5 years. This includes managing the migration challenge and protecting the Union's external borders, dealing with hybrid threats and guaranteeing cybersecurity, but also defending the rule of law and individual freedoms and combating disinformation.
In Sibiu, according to one source, the Twenty-seven will take stock of the European Union's ability to meet citizens' expectations since the launch in September 2016 in Bratislava (see EUROPE 11626/1) of the reflection process on the future of the EU 2 months after the British chose to leave.
The same source expects some European leaders to ask for clarification of the draft strategic agenda. Among the topics that could be included are a budget for the euro area and strong actions to fight climate change and enforce the rule of law.
See the draft strategic agenda 2019-2024: http://bit.ly/2PJ2PF1.
The unity of the Twenty-seven through "thick and thin"
In Sibiu, the Twenty-seven will adopt the Sibiu Declaration, which aims to recall the fundamental principles that should guide political action at European level.
"We'll stay united, through thick and thin" and "we will speak with one voice", promises the draft declaration prepared by the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU. And the text to add: "We will always seek common solutions", in particular to protect the European way of life, democracy and the rule of law.
The Twenty-seven should support the idea of generalising the principle of fairness in European policies, whether in the labour market or to ensure a successful digital transition of society.
Only in areas where it has a real impact ('be big on big matters'), should the EU work in the future to "further reduce disparities" between Member States. As for action on the international stage, the Union will continue to act as a "responsible world leader", in particular by promoting a multilateral rules-based world order to address global challenges such as climate change.
See the draft Sibiu Declaration: http://bit.ly/2H3gjsR.
Initiate a reflection on the appointments of future presidents
The process leading to appointments to the highest European offices - presidencies of the European Council, the European Commission, the ECB and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - will also be discussed in Sibiu.
While he has already started to consult informally with Member States, Mr Tusk will formally launch this process in Romania. As such, he could announce an extraordinary summit a few days after the European elections (see EUROPE 12243/16).
In particular, the European Council must take into account the results of these elections in order to rapidly propose to the next European Parliament, which will resume its work at the beginning of July, a candidate for the Presidency of the European Commission.
Unlike what happened in 2014, in particular with the appointment of Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the Commission, Mr Tusk wants the June European Council to be able to take a consensual decision on all the expected appointments. If this is not possible, then by a "qualified majority" of the Member States, our source said. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)