On Tuesday 22 March, the EU’s Ministers of European Affairs will attempt to reach a partial political agreement over the proposed regulation revising the framework for European political parties and their foundations.
A compromise proposal put forward by the French Presidency of the EU Council – which was welcomed by Member States’ ambassadors to the EU (see EUROPE 12912/12) – calls for the removal of provisions that would have allowed European political parties to receive financial contributions from member parties based in a Council of Europe country, but outside of the EU.
There has also been a suggestion to introduce a due diligence mechanism for donations above €1500, since the European Commission had initially proposed a threshold of €3000 (see EUROPE 12840/4).
If confirmed by Ministers, the agreement will only remain partial, since it does not include the provisions on political advertising, which are linked to a specific piece of legislation that may be agreed at the General Affairs Council in April (see EUROPE 12840/5).
European Council. Ministers are preparing for the Spring European Council on Thursday 24 and Friday 25 March in Brussels, which, 2 weeks after the Versailles summit (see EUROPE 12909/1), will focus on the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
In the presence of US President Joe Biden, the EU27 leaders are due to discuss political, military and economic support for Ukraine, as well as the potential for strengthening international sanctions against Russia. Other issues on the agenda to be discussed include reducing Europe’s dependence on Russian hydrocarbons, specific measures to relieve consumers and businesses that have been impacted by soaring energy prices, and a deepening of defence cooperation, together with the formal adoption of the ‘strategic compass’ (see other news).
On Friday, the European Council is due to close the ‘European’ component of the ‘European Semester’ budgetary process, including the adoption of socio-economic policy recommendations for the euro area, which advocate adopting a relatively expansionary position at this stage (see EUROPE 12867/9). A Euro Summit is to be held on the sidelines of the EU Summit on Friday.
It should be noted that the French Presidency of the Council of the EU has initiated the procedure for renewing the Presidency of the European Council. Charles Michel, whose two-and-a-half-year term ends in May, is running for his own succession.
Conference on the Future of Europe. On Tuesday, the French Presidency would like Member States to discuss the method that will be used to formalise their position within the plenary assembly of the Conference on the Future of Europe.
This consultation exercise has entered the phase during which recommendations are prepared ready for participants to address to the Conference co-chairs on 9 May, Europe Day (see EUROPE 12890/17).
Three additional plenary meetings are expected to be convened between now and the final deadline on 25–26 March, 8–9 April and 29–30 April in order to finalise the final recommendations of the Conference.
Brexit. Finally, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič will present Member States with a proposal for a regulation setting out the autonomous measures that the EU could take in the event of non-compliance with the ‘level playing field’ that is enshrined in the agreement on post-Brexit relations between the EU and the UK (see EUROPE 12909/28). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)