EU European affairs ministers will discuss on 17 February the draft EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027 of Charles Michel, president of the European Council, according to several sources, on Friday 31 January (see EUROPE 12415/17).
The EU General Affairs Council on 17 February will thus prepare the European Council meeting starting on 20 February, with a view to reaching a compromise, if possible, on the sensitive issue of the next MFF.
Before submitting his draft ‘negotiating box’ (or ‘draft conclusions’ of the European Council on the main elements of the 2021-2027 MFF), Charles Michel will have a series of bilateral meetings with some Heads of State or Government (including those of Latvia, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Finland and Slovenia, see http://bit.ly/3b2Qndx ) during the week of 3-7 February.
Once ready, the draft of the next MFF will be presented to EU ambassadors (Coreper) ahead of the debate of EU ministers scheduled for the General Affairs Council on 17 February.
The last draft by the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU was heavily criticised by the Member States. EU leaders will have to agree on the total amount of the MFF, financing new priorities and traditional policies, the mechanism to protect the budget against a country’s failure to uphold the rule of law, rebates and new own resources. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)