Under the chairmanship of George Ciamba, Romania's Deputy Minister for European Affairs, the General Affairs Council will hold a policy debate on Tuesday 21 May in Brussels on the external action aspect of the proposals on the European Union's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. It will also examine the draft agenda for the European Council meeting on 20 and 21 June 2019, which will focus in particular on the next MFF.
MFF 2021-2027. European Affairs Ministers will discuss the external action elements of the EU budget post-2020, including the integration of the European Development Fund (EDF) into the Neighbourhood, Development Cooperation and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) proposed by the Commission.
EU countries are divided on EDF budgetisation (see EUROPE 12256/23). They will also discuss the proposal to isolate the allocation of the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), taking into account in particular the possibility of transfers to other geographical or thematic pillars.
The Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU wishes to gather "political guidelines" from the Member States on these issues, a European source said on Monday 20 May. It thus hopes that the results of the ministerial debates will help to prepare, in June, a revised and more concise draft of the 'negotiating box', with a view to the debates scheduled for the European Council at the end of June.
The June European Council is invited to provide guidance on a timetable for negotiations on the next MFF and, in particular, on the inclusion of budgetary figures in these discussions.
Rule of law. On Tuesday, the ministers will not discuss the so-called Article 7 procedures on respect for the rule of law in Poland and Romania. According to the Presidency, no Member State requires a new assessment of the situation in the two countries, which, according to the Presidency, has not fundamentally changed since the last progress report in April (see EUROPE 12232/3).
The proximity of the European elections is also not conducive to a discussion that could be exploited, particularly in the countries concerned.
On the other hand, discussions on increased monitoring of respect for the rule of law in the EU may resume once the European Commission has made specific proposals in June. And discussions in the Council of the EU are continuing on the legislative proposal to make the granting of European co-financing after 2020 conditional on respect for the rule of law, a proposal on which the outgoing European Parliament has adopted a position (see EUROPE 12114/7).
June European Summit. European Affairs Ministers will discuss preparations for the June European Council.
In accordance with the wish of Mr Tusk (see EUROPE 12251/2), the Twenty-Eight will be invited, on this occasion, to approve a package of appointments to senior European posts. In addition to a discussion on the MFF 2021-2027, they will adopt their strategic agenda for the next institutional cycle (see EUROPE 12251/1) and will discuss the possibility for the EU to adopt a more ambitious position in the fight against climate change in preparation for the UN summit in September. At nineteen, in euro area format, the leaders will discuss a proposal for fiscal capacity for the euro area (see EUROPE 12257/6). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur and Mathieu Bion)