The EU ministers or secretaries of state for European affairs will hold an exchange of views on the future of the EU on Wednesday 15 November in Brussels.
The ministers could hold an initial exchange of views on the European Commission’s recent proposals to open, subject to conditions, EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova (see EUROPE 13228/1). However, no decision will be taken before the European Council of 14 and 15 December. Following on from the initial discussions held by European leaders in Granada at the beginning of October (see EUROPE 13266/1), the ministers will also discuss how the EU will have to reform itself to be able to function with more than thirty member countries by 2030.
The European Parliament’s request to convene a Convention leading to a reform of the EU’s institutional architecture is expected to be on the agenda of the December ‘General Affairs’ Council (see EUROPE 13275/32).
At the European Council, Charles Michel is continuing his consultations to prepare the EU’s Strategic Agenda 2030. He dined in Berlin on Monday 13 November with the leaders of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Cyprus and Lithuania, with whom he discussed the future of EU policies, how to finance them and how to improve decision-making. He was due to do the same in Copenhagen with the leaders of Denmark, Finland, Bulgaria, Ireland, Sweden and Latvia. A third dinner is scheduled for Thursday 16 November in Zagreb.
EUCO. An initial discussion will also be held in preparation for the December European Council. Already on the agenda of the EU27 are EU support for Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, EU enlargement, the revision of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and the implementation of previous conclusions on security and defence.
To see the annotated draft agenda: https://aeur.eu/f/9jp
EU Electoral Law. The ‘General Affairs’ Council will also discuss the reform of the EU Electoral Law, which has been blocked in the EU Council since June (see EUROPE 13210/26). There is very little chance of a breakthrough on the key element of this reform - the creation of a European electoral constituency - which cannot come into force in time for the European elections in June 2024.
Rule of Law. In addition, the ministers will once again examine the state of the Rule of law in Hungary and Poland, with an exchange of views based on a report presented by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU. The aim is to continue the work on the so-called ‘Article 7 of the EU Treaty’ procedures, but contrary to expectations, particularly on the part of the European Parliament, the Spanish Presidency has not chosen the format of the hearings that were once envisaged.
Faced with the turmoil created in Spain by the new amnesty law for Catalan separatists, which led to a letter from the Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders (see EUROPE 13290/18), expressing his concerns, the Spanish Presidency has swept aside any possible doubts about its commitments in terms of the Rule of law and considers that work on the basis of Article 7 of the Treaty is effective, with ongoing dialogue on these two countries.
In any case, the Spanish Presidency has no intention of putting to the vote a recommendation to the effect that there is a serious risk of a violation of fundamental European values, in this case against Hungary. Unlike Poland, which could soon change political direction after the elections on 15 October, Hungary continues to worry the European Parliament. MEPs are particularly concerned about a law being prepared to target NGOs and make it even more difficult for them to carry out their activities.
Multilingualism. In accordance with Spain’s wishes, the ministers will hold an exchange of views on the legislative proposal to grant Catalan, Basque and Galician the status of official languages of the EU (see EUROPE 13210/26). The Commission could present its assessment of the translation and interpreting costs that will be borne exclusively by Spain.
The Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, which has updated its proposal, will inform ministers of the latest information, an EU source said on Tuesday 14 November.
Work Programme for 2024. The ministers will debate the European Commission’s legislative programme for 2024, the last year of the College’s mandate steered by Ursula von der Leyen (see EUROPE 13273/19, 13272/20). The aim is to reach an Interinstitutional Agreement between the three legislative institutions on the priorities to be implemented next year, in particular finalising the legislative texts of the European Green Deal and reducing the burden on businesses.
In a preparatory document, the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU asks the Member States which areas of action or themes should be given priority by the end of the 2019-2024 legislative period.
Outside the extraordinary procedure, the Parliament is said to have informed Belgium, which will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2024, that an interinstitutional political agreement would have to be concluded by mid-February in order to be adopted in time before the end of the legislature.
To see the Spanish document: https://aeur.eu/f/9jr
United Kingdom. Finally, the ministers will review the implementation of the Windsor Agreement, particularly the situation in Northern Ireland, as well as the benefits of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. Bilateral relations with this partner are now overall stable and positive (see EUROPE 13214/19).
On Wednesday, the Council of the EU is also expected to give the green light to the UK’s participation in the Horizon Europe (see EUROPE 13288/13) and Copernicus (see EUROPE 13245/4) programmes. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion and Solenn Paulic)