On Friday 7 June, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, forwarded to the Member States his detailed Strategic Agenda draft for the next institutional cycle, which the Twenty-Seven will be invited to adopt at the European Council on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 June.
This four-page document, of which EUROPE has had a copy, takes up and develops the four main lines of the first draft presented in Sibiu in early May to European leaders, namely: - 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 (see EUROPE 12251/1, 12247/1).
"Europe must be a place where people feel free and safe”, says the draft agenda, which stresses the importance for the European Union "to decide who sets foot on EU territory”. In order to defend the EU's democratic model, attacks from "criminal gangs, hostile State and non-State actors” must be addressed. Similarly, the "rule of law must be fully respected by all Member States”.
On the economic front, in addition to deepening the single market, in particular to adapt to the digital revolution, the EU will need to adopt "a more ambitious, comprehensive and coordinated industrial policy" and put in place "fair and effective taxation". And, at the international level, to ensure a level playing field, the text states that "unfair practices and security risks from third countries” should be fought.
The draft strategic agenda stresses the importance of "urgently intensifying" action to address the "existential threat” of climate change. The EU will have to be a "world leader in 'green' economy" by fully integrating the notion of a circular economy. Nevertheless, future developments will involve "short-term costs and challenges", he acknowledged, and as such, it will be necessary to help communities and individuals adapt to them.
At the international level, the EU must continue to defend multilateralism and a rules-based system. To better defend its interests and shape international relations, it will need to be more united and speak with a stronger voice.
Parallel exercise in the European Parliament
Also wanting to weigh in on the definition of strategic priorities for the next institutional cycle, the European Parliament has set up working groups for five specific themes: - the environment and climate change, sustainable mobility and zero waste; - economic and social policy, trade, competition and industrial policy, Economic and Monetary Union reform; - innovation, the single market and consumer protection; - the rule of law and fundamental rights, security and migration; - Europe in the world.
The participating political groups - EPP, S&D, ALDE&R, Greens/EFA - will each appoint two MEPs per working group, the ECR group, having refused to play the game will not participate. Work will have to be completed on Monday 17 June, with a view to rapid validation and a declaration to be forwarded to the European Council on 20 and 21 June.
"We are doing things in the right order": first the strategic priorities, then the appointment of people to make them happen, said Greens/EFA Group Co-President Philippe Lamberts of Belgium on Friday 7 June to EUROPE.
According to the political groups EPP, S&D, ALDE&R, Greens/EFA, the declaration should provide a basis on which the next president of the European Commission should commit himself, if he wants to benefit from "a large and stable majority in the European Parliament”.
On Friday evening, the prime ministers designated from the European People's Party (the Latvian Krišjānis Kariņš and the Croatian Andrej Plenković), the Party of European Socialists (the Spaniard Pedro Sánchez and the Portuguese António Costa) and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (the Belgian Charles Michel and the Dutch Mark Rutte) also raised the issue of appointments to senior European positions, including that of the presidency of the European Commission, at a dinner hosted by Mr Michel in his residence. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)