On Tuesday 19 March, the European affairs ministers of the EU Member States will prepare for the European Council discussions on 21 and 22 March, and will exchange views on the future of Europe.
The Spring European Council will focus mainly on security issues and foreign affairs. The EU27 will debate measures to strengthen European defence policy, with priority given to developing the EU’s industrial and technological base so that it can continue to support Ukraine’s war effort against Russia (see EUROPE 13370/2).
In accordance with the commitments made in December (see EUROPE 13314/1), the heads of state or government will have to give their opinion on the efforts made by Bosnia and Herzegovina in its rapprochement with the EU and, perhaps, decide to officially open accession negotiations with this Western Balkan country, as recommended by the European Commission (see EUROPE 13369/1). The European Council’s conclusions will also focus on the progress made by Ukraine and Moldova, with some raising the possibility of convening an Intergovernmental Conference to launch negotiations with Ukraine before the end of June.
In terms of foreign affairs, the day after the Foreign Affairs Council (see other news), the EU27 will also address the dramatic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, which is worsening due to Israeli restrictions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians (see EUROPE 13370/3).
The matter of whether a ceasefire should be temporary or permanent has yet to be decided, according to a European source on Friday 15 March, noting a significant “convergence” in the views of the Member States.
According to draft European Council conclusions dated 11 March, the heads of state or government could call for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a lasting ceasefire” in Gaza.
The EU27 will also take stock of the measures taken to alleviate the difficulties in the agricultural sector and the work being done to manage migratory flows into the EU, with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Egypt this weekend to sign a comprehensive agreement with the Egyptian authorities (see other news).
View the European Council’s draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/baa
Future of Europe. Over lunch, the General Affairs Council will hold an exchange of views on the development of the EU’s common policies with the prospect of the Union growing to more than 30 Member States, on the basis of a preparatory note from the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council (see EUROPE 13370/8).
The ‘governance’ and ‘budget’ aspects will be dealt with at a later meeting of the General Affairs Council, said this European source.
See the Belgian Presidency’s document: https://aeur.eu/f/bap
European Semester. The ministers will approve a report summarising the work carried out as part of the 2024 ‘European Semester’ budgetary process.
In particular, the Spring European Council will be asked to adopt the socio-economic policy recommendation for the euro area, which advocates a restrictive budgetary stance this year in order to consolidate public finances (see EUROPE 13328/25).
See the Belgian Presidency’s synthesis report: https://aeur.eu/f/bct
Miscellaneous. Several national delegations will be briefing Member States on the following subjects: - Spain will circulate a memorandum on its request for Catalan, Basque and Galician to be granted the status of official languages of the EU (see EUROPE 13332/20); - Poland will provide information on work underway to ensure respect for the rule of law (see EUROPE 13354/2); - Germany will discuss elections in EU candidate countries; - Austria will share its position on the future of the internal market; - France will raise the issue of unilateral measures taken by the United Kingdom in the area of fisheries. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)