EU European Affairs Ministers will hold a policy debate in Luxembourg on Tuesday 18 June on the most sensitive elements of the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027, including agricultural and cohesion spending (see EUROPE 12232/2).
The EU General Affairs Council will be able to react to the revised draft 'negotiating box' prepared by the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council ahead of discussions on this dossier, scheduled for the European Council on 20 and 21 June in Brussels. The EU ambassadors (Coreper) discussed the document at length at their meeting on Wednesday 12 June and confirmed the differences between EU countries on agricultural and cohesion spending as well as on the EU's own resources.
The 'negotiating box’ is a living document used to structure and facilitate the negotiation process for the MFF. It brings together the elements most likely to require political guidance from EU leaders with a view to adopting the EU Council's position. It is from this ‘negotiating box’ that the draft European Council conclusions on the MFF will emerge, which will be presented on 20 or 21 June by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, to EU Heads of State or Government.
In this revised draft, the Romanian Presidency wanted to clarify a large number of issues and to limit the number of points to be dealt with in the final phase of negotiations. The revised draft negotiating box is drawn up and developed under the responsibility of the Romanian Presidency and is not binding on delegations. The EU Council held several thematic discussions on the next MFF (see EUROPE 12232/2). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)