European Council

Today's Tripartite Social Summit could not have been better timed. We needed this meeting to hear from the social partners on major political issues including Brexit, trade policy and our work-plan for the months ahead reflected in the Bratislava Roadmap.

This was the first time the social partners met formally since the British referendum. There was whole-hearted agreement around the table as regards our approach to Brexit. I really appreciate social partners' strong and impartial position, especially when it comes to the support for our common rules and principles, namely the Single market and four freedoms. Today I saw that people who gathered here feel responsible not only for the interests of their organisations but also for Europe as a whole.

When it comes to the trade deal with Canada I would like to thank the social partners for their engagement and our rich discussion, during which I felt quite a wide support for CETA. On the other hand, it is clear for me and our social partners that in the age of globalisation, people expect trade agreements like TTIP or CETA to be safe for workers, consumers and companies. We have to understand all the doubts and reasons behind them in order to build public support for trade. Because, in the first place, these are the interests of our people that must be protected and respected, and I want to make it very clear.

As you know the challenge now is to find consensus to move forward with the CETA agreement, while addressing the concerns of Belgium. Negotiations are ongoing as we speak, because they have turned out to be politically more difficult than many expected. We know that some work is still needed and we fully respect that. Personally I hope that we will find a way forward on CETA during the European Council.

This week leaders will also discuss trade defence instruments. For trade to be free, it needs to be fair. And this is why making progress on our trade policy also means having the right tools to defend Europe from unfair trading practices. We will do our best to make it happen.  

Tomorrow we will also discuss migration. I am glad to say we are slowly turning the corner. Our actions are best seen on the Eastern Mediterranean route, where we observed a 98% drop in the influx of irregular migrants between September of last year and this year. Now we must reduce the flows across the Central Mediterranean route. To that end, we need to do more on returns of irregular economic migrants. Leaders will discuss this issue in more depth, while the High Representative will update us on the progress with the African countries. Concrete results are expected already in December.

Tomorrow we will also have a strategic discussion about Russia. The objective is to address our overall, long-term relations with this important neighbour. Looking ahead to the decisions we will need to take in December, our main asset in dealing with Russia remains our unity. To date, regardless of our differences, we have always managed to remain united. And we must continue to do so. This will also be crucial when it comes to Russia's role in Syria.  Thank you.

On behalf of the European Council, I would like to convey my warm congratulations on your nomination as Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia.

I am confident that through your commitment and professionalism, Croatia will continue to build on its position as a reliable partner in tackling the many challenges that face Europe today. I have no doubt that your knowledge and understanding of the European Union from your previous roles will help you in this process, producing positive outcomes for your country, for Europe and beyond.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you every success in your term as Prime Minister, and I look forward to welcoming you at the European Council tomorrow.

The Autumn Social summit held a discussion on "Addressing Europe's common challenges: generating growth, creating jobs and ensuring fairness". More particularly, participants at the Summit expressed their views on the following sub-themes: 

• the main challenges in view of the annual growth survey 2017;
• putting the New Skills agenda for Europe into practice: the key role of the social partners;
• the integration of refugees into the labour market and society: lessons learnt so far. 

In his opening statement, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, underlined that: " The Brexit referendum had some characteristics unique to Britain. But we would be foolish to dismiss what the vote told us about the popular view  of globalisation. It is a very negative assessment also widely shared across Europe. Responding to this is the key motivation behind the Bratislava declaration. Bratislava means a necessary shift of emphasis away from lecturing citizens about the benefits of European integration and taking far more seriously their genuine fears about security. Both in the hard sense of securing borders and public order, but also in a soft sense, of securing people's prosperity and way of life. We need a Europe that protects its citizens, a Europe which they can look to as a place of shelter. The summit was also clear that the European Union has a shared responsibility to create a promising economic future for all."

 The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker stressed: "The EU has a clear roadmap and a strong commitment to deliver jobs, growth and social fairness in Europe. Many actions have been undertaken over the last two years - from the Investment Plan for Europe, the deepening of the Single Market based on clear and fair rules, the roll-out of the Youth Guarantee, the launch of a new Skills Agenda, to the ongoing consultation on a European Pillar of Social Rights. Unemployment is decreasing but there is still a long way to go. Social partners have a key role to play and the recent agreement on a "new start for social dialogue" should pave the way for further actions at EU and national level. We look forward to discussing EU priorities at this important point in time."   

From the side of the rotating presidency, Slovakia's Prime Minister, Robert Fico, said that "We need to improve the communication with each other - among Member States, with EU institutions, but most importantly with our citizens. We should inject more clarity into our decisions. Use clear and honest language. Focus on citizens' expectations, with strong courage to challenge simplistic solutions of extreme or populist political opposition in our countries. Social dialogue can contribute to social harmony and to implementation of the commitments which we set ourselves at the Bratislava Summit. We offer to our citizens in these months a vision of an attractive EU they can trust and support. Today's tripartite social summit will allow us to become familiar with the opinions of the social partners on this important subject. The social partners in particular are in direct contact with working people, employees, and they know the situation on the labour market as well as the business environment, which can help to address today's challenges". 

BusinessEurope's President, Emma Marcegaglia, representing employers, said " Europe is at a crossroad. We need strong and efficient EU institutions pulling in the same direction to strengthen the EU three key economic pillars:  the single market, the common international trade policy and the euro. Delivering trade agreements negotiated in compliance with the mandates given to the EU is essential for the credibility of the EU and for job creation. Productive private and public investment must increase. We therefore support the extension of the Juncker investment plan and urge the EU and all its member states to remove obstacles to investment. The EU social partners also underlined that companies and workers must not pay the price for Brexit. Our aim is to maintain as close as possible economic relations between the European Union and the United-Kingdom, while preserving the integrity of the Single Market. Cherry-picking between free movement of goods, services, capital and people is not an option". 

For the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) General Secretary, Luca Visentini, said “Trade unions and employers agree that European solutions are needed to the many crises facing Europe. We call for more public and private investment across Europe to drive growth and quality jobs. Such investment requires a golden rule to exclude it from EU deficit  and debt targets, and call on the European Commission to develop an ambitious industrial policy for Europe. We support the closest possible economic relations between the EU and the UK without compromising the single market and the free movement of people. We want to engage with the negotiators to find solutions that minimise the damage to companies and workers, and workers' rights. The EU needs to strengthen social protection, and give social Europe the same importance as the EU's economic governance.”     

The views cited in this text are those of the individual / organization concerned and do not collectively constitute the point of view of the Council or the European Council.

On 19 October 2016, the Slovak Presidency of the Council called on the European Parliament to take the most recent implementation figures for 2016 into consideration when adopting its amendments to the 2017 EU budget. 

"We have to face reality: the 2016 EU budget is way in excess of actual needs. We must learn from this and align the 2017 EU budget as closely as possible to the most realistic forecasts for expenditure next year", said Ivan Lesay, state secretary for finance of Slovakia and President of the Council after a trilogue-meeting with representatives of the Parliament and the Commission. 

On 30 September the Commission proposed to reduce payments in the 2016 EU budget by €7.27 billion to align it more closely to the latest estimates of needs. 

The lower than expected needs in 2016 are mainly due to the fact that some of the programmes of the 2014-2020 period are not yet fully up and running. This concerns in particular the area of economic, social and territorial cohesion, where the programmes are unlikely to reach cruising speed even in 2017. That is why in its draft 2017 EU budget the Commission estimated the payment needs  for this policy area to be more than 23% lower than in the 2016 EU budget as adopted. Even after bringing this year's budget in line with actual needs, the amounts proposed by the Commission for 2017 are still more than 10% lower than in 2016. 

With regard to the 2017 EU budget the presidency is concerned that the amendments currently being discussed by the Parliament go completely into the opposite direction. The Parliament is in particular considering to increase payments and commitments for almost all policy areas way beyond the expenditure ceilings of the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF). This neither reflects current needs nor respects the MFF agreement. 

The presidency called on the Parliament to direct the available resources towards the EU's current two top priorities. These are measures to address the migration crisis and its root causes, such as strengthening  border controls, providing food, health and education to refugees stranded in Greece and Bulgaria and supporting countries of transit and origin. The other top priority is to help the EU economy to become more competitive and to create new jobs. 

The presidency also invited the other EU institutions to use EU taxpayers' money in the most responsible way, which includes reducing their staff by 5% by 2017 as committed in 2013. 

The presidency also recalled that the 2017 EU budget negotiations and the mid-term review of the MFF for 2014-2020 are two different exercises which should be dealt with separately. 

The Parliament is expected to vote on 26 October on its amendments to the Council's position for the 2017 EU budget. On 28 October a three-week conciliation period will start which is aimed at bridging the gap between the positions of the Council and Parliament by 17 November. 

The €7.27 billion reduction in the 2016 EU budget results in a payment level of €136.61 billion. This is significantly below the €146.46 billion that the Parliament asked for in last year's negotiations on the 2016 EU budget and also well below the €142.12 billion proposed by the Council at that time. 

The Cooperation Council under the EU-Iraq Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Iraq met for the second time in Brussels on 18 October 2016. The meeting was opened by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, who headed the EU delegation. The Iraq delegation was led by the Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and also included the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's Head of Foreign Relations, Falah Mustafa Bakir. The European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, and the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis took part in thematic discussions. 

With the campaign to liberate Mosul from Da'esh under way, ministers' discussions were initially focused on Iraq's immediate humanitarian and stabilisation challenges. Further into the meeting they also reflected on Iraq's longer term needs. 

During the meeting the EU commended the government of Iraq for its efforts to address the current crisis. It outlined the support it is providing for Iraq's immediate needs through humanitarian aid and assistance for displaced people, covering both short and longer term needs, including education for displaced children. It also discussed with the Iraqi representatives the priority areas of support for the stabilisation of liberated areas in Iraq, including the removal of "booby traps", so called improvised explosive device (IEDs), which is a precondition for the return of displaced people. 

Looking further ahead, the process of peacebuilding and reconciliation in a unified and inclusive Iraqi state are central and unavoidable themes to any discussion on Iraq. At the same time, in recognition of the fact that Iraq's present crisis and the country's longer term prospects for stability and prosperity are intricately interwoven, ministers gave considerable thought to Iraq's long-term prosperity and how EU-Iraq relations can help to unlock the country's full potential. The Cooperation Council thus reflected not just on the need for political, but also for economic and social inclusiveness. It discussed in particular the need to build up on parallel strands of effort by the EU and Iraq to strengthen  democracy and human rights, boost the economy and trade, and ensure that  Iraq makes the most of its energy potential. 

As well as reviewing existing cooperation, the meeting discussed further steps, including agreement to launch a working group to explore cooperation on energy issues, and the possibility of an informal dialogue on migration. 

Finally, the EU-Iraq Cooperation Council also addressed Iraq's regional relations with its neighbours. The EU reiterated that it fully supports Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its right to preserve these. It also stressed the importance of fostering dialogue between Iraq and the countries in the region.

"1.             WELCOMES the Paris Agreement's objective to make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development. REITERATES that this requires action by all parties individually and collectively.

2.             REAFFIRMS that the EU and its Member States are committed to scaling up the mobilisation of climate finance, as part of a global effort, led by developed countries, in particular to assist developing countries with respect to mitigation and adaptation to implement their country driven strategies, notably the Nationally Determined Contributions. HIGHLIGHTS that the EU and some EU Member States, in Paris at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, announced scaled up amounts of public climate finance foreseen in the coming years thereby also increasing predictability. HIGHLIGHTS that the EU and its Member States provide a substantial part of public climate finance and STRESSES the need for fair burden sharing amongst developed countries and the future participation of a broader range of contributors. EMPHASISES the importance of an outcome-oriented perspective on climate finance, ensuring the greatest possible impact of funds provided and mobilised.

3.             WELCOMES the work by developed countries to prepare a concrete roadmap to achieve the goal of jointly mobilising USD 100 billion per year by 2020 for mitigation and adaptation from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources of finance, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency of implementation. LOOKS FORWARD to the roadmap's finalisation ahead of the UNFCCC COP22.

4.             AFFIRMS that the EU and its Member States are committed to mobilise their share of the developed countries' goal to jointly mobilise USD 100 billion per year by 2020 and through to 2025 for mitigation and adaptation, from a wide variety of sources, instruments and channels.

5.             REITERATES that public climate finance will continue to play a significant role. CONFIRMS that the EU and its Member States will continue to provide public climate finance for mitigation and adaptation purposes.

6.             REQUESTS the Commission to provide an overview on climate finance from the EU and its Member States for 2015 for the Council to endorse this contribution prior to the UNFCCC COP22.

7.             STRESSES the importance of the scaling up of resources to support those developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of climate change and that have significant capacity constraints.

8.             Also WELCOMES the commitments made by most multilateral development banks (MDBs) to strengthen the integration of climate mitigation, adaption and resilience considerations throughout their portfolios and within their mandates, including their commitments to scale up their climate related investments. ENCOURAGES international and regional financial institutions and UN agencies to provide information to Parties through the UNFCCC secretariat on how they mainstream climate objectives and incorporate climate resilience measures into their development assistance and climate finance programmes.

9.             WELCOMES the important climate finance contributions by some emerging economies and developing countries. HIGHLIGHTS that the Paris Agreement encourages Parties other than those committed under the Convention to provide or continue to provide financial resources on a voluntary basis.

10.         RECOGNISES the private sector as a key source for climate finance and other relevant investment flows. ACKNOWLEDGES that private sector finance is complementary to, but not a substitute for public sector finance, where public finance is needed. NOTES that the EU has in place and will continue to develop a broad set of instruments to mobilise private sector finance for international climate actions including mobilised local private sector finance.

11.         WELCOMES that the Paris Agreement sends a strong signal to the private sector to re-orient financial flows to low-carbon, climate-resilient investments. NOTES ongoing efforts within the EU to align investment incentives to EU climate objectives e.g. through the Capital Markets Union and the Investment Plan for Europe; and in this context WELCOMES the work of the G20 and the Financial Stability Board, as important contributions to reorient private investment. UNDERLINES that carbon pricing is one of the key components of an enabling environment for shifting investments which can be achieved through a variety of tools, including regulation, emission trading and taxes. In this context, SUPPORTS carbon pricing initiatives as well as initiatives promoting the phasing out of environmentally and economically harmful subsidies and inter alia the phasing down of financing for emission intensive projects.

12.         HIGHLIGHTS the efforts of the EU and its Member States to scale up mobilised climate finance as set out in the 2016 submissions on strategies and approaches. RECALLS that scaling up climate finance is an iterative process which goes hand in hand with governments developing enabling environments, investment strategies, projects and programmes which should all include the engagement of private sector action. In this context WELCOMES the efforts undertaken by developing countries.

13.         HIGHLIGHTS the importance of supporting adaptation to help mainstreaming climate objectives into developing countries' development strategies and to build more climate resilient livelihoods. UNDERLINES the importance of achieving a balance between adaptation and mitigation finance in line with countries' own priorities and objectives, and HIGHLIGHTS that the EU and its Member States collectively are making, and will continue to make efforts to channel a substantial share of public climate finance towards adaptation, especially by addressing the needs of the poorest and particularly vulnerable developing countries such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

14.         HIGHLIGHTS that the transparency framework will be key to the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement by improving and accountability of climate finance. STRESSES that this framework should provide clarity on support provided, mobilised and received, including on the actions to make financial flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development, also with a view to informing the global stocktake. The framework should be accompanied by clear and common methodologies, building on existing methodologies and progress achieved in the preparation of the OECD/CPI study. SUPPORTS the development of accounting modalities on financial resources provided and mobilised through public interventions to reflect Parties' efforts of all relevant sources in a credible manner. LOOKS FORWARD TO the Biennial Assessment and overview of climate finance flows of the Standing Committee on Finance to guide further work on Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of support.

15.         STRESSES the importance of support for capacity building for mitigation and adaptation planning and efficient and effective implementation. Further STRESSES the need for development of a pipeline of attractive projects and programmes in order to maximise financial resources and effectiveness, as well as the importance of accessibility of available funds for developing countries and crowding in private finance. HIGHLIGHTS the EU and Member States' continued support for capacity building for developing countries in need, including in the field of technology cooperation. STRESSES the importance of ensuring efficient access to financial resources to support country-driven strategies through simplified approval procedures within the context of the Financial Mechanism and enhanced readiness support for developing countries, in particular LDCs and SIDS.

16.         RECOGNISES and SUPPORTS the importance of ambitious global implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions. HIGHLIGHTS that EU and Member States' development cooperation with third countries should fully take into account the synergies between climate objectives and the sustainable development goals as adopted by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa action agenda for financing for development, and other international agenda. HIGHLIGHTS that co-ordination between stakeholders on financing in support of Nationally Determined Contribution implementation will be essential: each institution will need to act in partnership and coordination with the others to maximise impact on the ground.

17.           WELCOMES that the Financial Mechanism of the Convention shall serve as the Financial Mechanism of the Paris Agreement. HIGHLIGHTS the role of the Green Climate Fund as a key multilateral vehicle to support developing countries in promoting the paradigm shift towards low carbon and climate resilient development pathways. WELCOMES the approval of further projects and programmes, and FURTHER WELCOMES the endorsement of the Green Climate Fund's Strategic Plan and its ambition to enhance the Fund's transformational impact. HIGHLIGHTS that a substantial share of the funds committed (47 per cent) and made available comes from EU Member States. WELCOMES contributions from developing countries to the Green Climate Fund and URGES all countries that are in a position to do so to contribute."

"The Council:

1.       RECOGNISES the progress made in pursuing the ambitious EU agenda for fairer, more transparent and more effective taxation and in strengthening the cooperation between fiscal authorities across the EU;

2.       CONFIRMS the importance of improving further the EU and international tax framework to prevent cross-border tax abuse and illicit financial activity;

3.       WELCOMES the Communication from the Commission of 5 July 2016 on further measures to enhance transparency and the fight against tax evasion and avoidance;

4.       AGREES that recent EU legislation to automatically exchange information on tax rulings and on tax related country-by-country reports of multinationals between Member States' competent authorities is an important step forward;

5.       CALLS for looking at options for enhancing the administrative cooperation between competent authorities within the EU even further, including through considering options inspired by the work of the OECD Joint International Taskforce on Shared Intelligence and Collaboration (JITSIC);

6.       CONSIDERS the proposals by the Commission for revision of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation and of the Anti-Money Laundering Directive in view of the synergies between these two areas as timely and INTENDS to work towards their swift adoption in accordance with the EU legislative process;

7.       CONFIRMS that there is a need for more effective and efficient cooperation between tax authorities and other agencies involved in the fight against tax evasion, money laundering and terrorist financing in line with the appropriate legal safeguards;

8.       STRESSES the need to prevent the large-scale concealment of funds which hinders the effective fight against tax evasion, money laundering and terrorist financing, and to ensure that  the identities of beneficial owners of companies, legal entities or legal arrangements are known;

9.       WELCOMES the initiative for the automatic exchange of information on ultimate beneficial owners whereby many jurisdictions, including all Member States, have agreed to exchange information on the beneficial owners of companies, legal entities and legal arrangements and LOOKS FORWARD to rapid international progress;

10.     INVITES the Commission to analyse the possibility for a  proposal on improving the cross-border access to information on ultimate beneficial owners on the basis of the ongoing work at international level;

11.     NOTES that at its October 2016 meeting the G20 heard initial proposals by OECD and FATF on ways to improve the implementation of the international standards on transparency, including on the availability of beneficial ownership information;

12.     RECALLS the need to increase oversight of enablers and promoters of aggressive tax planning and to introduce more effective disincentives for such activities;

13.     WELCOMES the intention of the Commission to launch in autumn 2016 a public consultation to gather feedback on the most appropriate approach to achieve greater transparency on the activities of intermediaries who assist in tax evasion or avoidance schemes;

14.     NOTES the intention of the Commission to explore possibilities for Mandatory Disclosure Rules inspired by Action 12 of the OECD BEPS project, drawing on the experiences in this area of some EU Member States, and to possibly come forward with a legislative proposal in 2017;

15.     ENCOURAGES the Commission to start reflecting on the possibility for future exchange of such information between tax administrations in the EU;

16.     STRESSES the need to work closely with the OECD and other international partners on a possible global approach to greater transparency in this area;

17.     SUPPORTS the promotion of higher tax good governance standards worldwide and NOTES that technical work in the Council has already started within the Code of Conduct on Business Taxation Group on establishing an EU list of non-cooperative third country jurisdictions to be ready in 2017, including on defining the criteria for listing jurisdictions and on exploring possible countermeasures;

18.     AGREES that the protection of whistle blowers is important and ENCOURAGES the Commission to explore the possibility for future action at EU level while respecting the principle of subsidiarity;

19.     RECOGNISES that improving tax certainty in the EU can contribute to further increase the competitiveness of EU businesses and TAKES NOTE of the intention of the Commission to present proposals aimed at fighting BEPS and tax avoidance while also ensuring a stable and predictable tax environment and eliminating double taxation, namely on improving dispute resolution and the relaunch of the CCCTB."

Let me make couple of remarks on the economy and then go to today's agenda.

Most of us are just back from the Washington IMF meetings therefore the energy level was very low, everyone was jet lagged which made my life a lot easier. The low energy level would also go for the world economy, where trade is slow and risks are in international markets. Interestingly enough, the last years that I've been to the IMF Europe and Eurozone is always considered a risk. But at the moment the growth in the Eurozone is above average of the developed countries and even higher than in the US. So it was, from the Eurozone prospective, quite a change in terms of the debate.

It's fair to say that the Eurozone is more resilient now. The policies and reforms are paying off. Growth is continuing and the growth rate for the Eurozone had actually been upgraded a slight 0.1 percentage point by the IMF, so we're still going in the right direction. It says in my text "all but one of our economies" have returned to growth, but I believe also Greece has now had three consecutive quarters of growth. So that's where we are.

Today we first of all had a discussion on Greece.

We heard from the four institutions on the completion of the implementation of the 15 open milestones which enables us all to close the first review. Important reforms have been undertaken on pensions, energy sector, bank governance, as well as on the setting up of the privatisation fund and the revenue agency. We have issued a statement on that so I can be brief.

This progress enables the ESM to disburse EUR 1.1 bn remaining under the second tranche.

There has also been substantial progress on arrears clearance in July and August, which is essential to strengthen the economic recovery. Technical work will continue to gather the September data. This always takes a number of weeks to complete these data, so that cannot be helped, it cannot be done faster. We hope and presume that before the end of October those data are available. They will then be assessed by the institutions and on that basis the ESM Board of Directors could decide on the disbursement of EUR 1.7 bn. So this is specifically for the clearance of arrears. So that's also good news.

We will now focus on the second review, which we expect to be completed swiftly and we will come back to that in next meetings.

Next on our agenda was one of the thematic discussions on growth and jobs. This time we looked at long-term healthcare and long-term care, looked at public expenditures and how to secure fiscal sustainability.

This is of course an important issue for our countries given our ageing societies. High government debt, and the budgetary pressures posed by population ageing make the sustainability of health systems a matter of common concern. On the basis of a report done by the Commission, we discussed where we are, what the challenges are and what good practices we have.

Expenditure projections indicate substantial risks and financial challenges in health systems, looking at the horizon 2060, and we should be taking steps now to avert those risks. We looked at various policy options and will further investigate how best to take this work forward. This issue will also be tomorrow on the Ecofin agenda.

Finally on our agenda we took stock of current fiscal issues. Work progresses on some adjustments regarding the procedural aspects of draft budgetary plans, how to deal with those, and also we were updated by the Commission on the ongoing structured dialogue with the European Parliament. This is about the suspension of structural funds for Spain and Portugal. Finally we have planned to discuss draft budgetary plans, which will be coming in the coming days at the Commission, to discuss those on the 5th of December in the Eurogroup. That's all from me.

The Eurogroup welcomes the implementation by the Greek authorities of the set of 15 milestones in the context of the first review of the ESM programme. The Eurogroup commends the Greek authorities for adopting the necessary further measures to reform the pension system and the energy sector, to strengthen bank governance, to fully establish the new independent Revenue Agency and to proceed with the privatisation programme. The Eurogroup also notes the further progress in the set-up of the Privatisation and Investment Fund - the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (HCAP). The Eurogroup stresses that the appointment of the members of the Board of Directors of HCAP, including the Chairman and CEO positions, must be pursued as a matter of priority in order to make the fund fully operational before the end of 2016, in the context of the second review of the ESM programme. To this end, we welcome the commitment of the Greek authorities to ensure that the appointment process is in line with the requirements of the HCAP law to ensure that Board members are fully independent, professional and with clear experience and the corporate governance standards will be in line with international best practices.

The implementation of the milestones paves the way for the ESM Board of Directors to approve the remaining disbursement of EUR 1.1 bn under the second tranche for debt servicing needs.

The Eurogroup acknowledges that significant progress has been made towards the clearance of net arrears during July and August and notes the time required for completing the data for September, which would be later in October. The institutions' positive assessment of Greece's clearance of net arrears would pave the way for the ESM Board of Directors to approve the further release of EUR 1.7 bn, which will be disbursed to a dedicated account to be used for arrears clearance.

The Eurogroup will now turn its attention to the next stages of the ESM programme. We call on the Greek authorities to intensify their work with the institutions on the measures needed to complete the second review in a timely manner, and welcome the intention of the institutions to return to Athens in mid-October 2016.

On 10 October 2016 the Council unanimously agreed on next year's total allowable catches (TACs) for the ten commercially most important fish stocks in the Baltic Sea. This agreement paves the way for further negotiations on TACs for the deep sea and the North Sea later this year. 

The agreement includes an increase in catches for herring (except in the Gulf of Riga), plaice, and salmon (except in the Gulf of Finland) in line with the Commission proposal. For the remaining stocks, ministers decided on a smaller increase for sprat and no increase for salmon in the main basin. 

The following reductions were also agreed: 25% for Eastern cod, 56% for Western cod including bag limit provisions for recreational fisheries, 11% for herring in the Gulf of Riga and 20% for salmon in the Gulf of Finland. 

"Today's agreement is an excellent result, both for the environment and the Baltic fishermen. It was not easy but we managed to achieve a good balance between the sustainability of our marine resources and the needs of the fisheries sector of the countries concerned, in full compliance with the new Baltic multiannual plan."

The quantities agreed today take into account the commitment to the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), including the achievement of maximum sustainable yield (MSY), the principles of the multiannual management plan for the Baltic sea, and scientific advice, in particular advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). 

For cod in the Baltic ministers also agreed on a number of additional support measures further aimed to improve the state of the stock.  

Allow me to congratulate you today as you take the oath of office as President of the Republic of Estonia.

Estonia is one of the most innovative, competitive and responsible members of the European Union. Next year, your country will take on the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union six months earlier than planned. This decision is emblematic of the can-do attitude that Estonians are known for throughout the Union.

From your tenure as a Member of the European Court of Auditors, I am aware that you know the European Union well. This will be a great advantage as you steer your country and your people through the difficult times that await as we move towards a Union of 27.

I look forward to working with you.

On 11 October 2016, the Council approved the conclusion of an agreement with Monaco that will improve tax compliance by private savers.

The agreement will require EU member states and Monaco to exchange information automatically as a means of helping to prevent tax evasion.

It will give their tax administrations improved cross-border access to information on the financial accounts of each other's residents.

The agreement upgrades a 2004 agreement that obliged Monaco to apply measures equivalent to those in an EU directive on the taxation of savings income.

The new agreement was signed on 12 July 2016. It was concluded (on 11 October) at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, without discussion.

The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, on behalf of the EU, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland issued a joint Declaration on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2016.

Today, on the European and World Day against the Death Penalty, the Council of Europe and the European Union reaffirm their strong and unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances and for all cases. The death penalty is incompatible with human dignity. It is inhuman and degrading treatment, does not have any proven significant deterrent effect, and allows judicial errors to become irreversible and fatal.

Abolition of the death penalty is a distinctive achievement in Europe. It is a prerequisite for membership in the Council of Europe, and the absolute ban of the death penalty under all circumstances is inscribed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Council of Europe and the European Union urge all European States to ratify the protocols to the European Convention on Human Rights, which aim at the abolition of the death penalty.

The Council of Europe and the European Union strongly urge the political leadership of all European countries to ensure compliance with the legal and political obligations arising from the membership in the Council of Europe and the European Union.

The Council of Europe and the European Union deplore the continuing use of the death penalty in Belarus, the only country on the European continent that still applies the death penalty. They strongly urge the authorities of Belarus to commute the remaining death sentences and establish without delay a formal moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolition of the death penalty. The introduction of the moratorium would be a decisive step in bringing Belarus closer to the pan-European legal standards.

The Council of Europe and the European Union welcome the global trend towards the abolition of capital punishment. Today more than two thirds of all countries have abolished the death penalty in either law or practice. However, the Council of Europe and the European Union regret that the number of executions have risen in some of those countries that retain the death penalty and that some countries which had a de facto moratorium carried out executions. Both Organisations are particularly alarmed when this involves the execution of minors, which is contrary to international law. Some countries continue to apply the death penalty for drug related offences, also in violation of international law.

In June of this year, the 6th World Congress on the Abolition of the Death Penalty took place in Oslo. All participating countries and organisations united behind the call for a global moratorium on the death penalty.

The Council of Europe and the European Union hope to see the momentum created by the World Congress reflected in an increased number of countries supporting the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty which will be put to vote at the 71st session of the UN General Assembly in December 2016. 

Place:        European Convention Centre Luxembourg (ECCL)
Chair:        Peter Kažimír, Minister for finance of Slovakia

All times are approximate and subject to change

From 08.00  Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 08.45
Doorstep by Minister Kažimír

+/- 09.00
Ministerial breakfast (Roundtable)

+/- 11.00
Beginning of the Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda

Adoption of legislative A items (public session)

Any other business - Current financial service legislative proposals (public session)

Fight against fraud (public session)

Adoption of non-legislative legislative A items

Implementation of the Banking Union

Follow-up to the G20 and IMF meetings in Washington on 6-9 October 2016

Climate finance (Preparation of the 22nd Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (Marrakesh, 7-18 November 2016))

European Semester 2016 - Lessons learnt

Joint Report on health systems and fiscal sustainability

Any other business

At the end of the meeting
Press conference (live streaming)

10 October

15.00
Eurogroup

Place:        European Convention Center Luxembourg
Chair:        Gabriela Matečná, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of Slovakia 

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 09.00    
Doorstep by Minister Gabriela Matečná 

+/- 10.00    
Beginning of the meeting (Roundtable TV/Photo opportunity)
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of non-legislative A items
Adoption of legislative A items (public session) 

FISHERIES
+/- 10.15
2017 fishing opportunities in the Baltic Sea 

AGRICULTURE
+/- 11.20
Any other business:   
International financial institutions and animal welfare
Ministerial conference "The consumers have the right to be informed" 
+/- 11.50
Omnibus proposal (public session)    

+/- 15.05   
Any other business:
Conference of paying agencies 
+/- 15.15   
Market situation and support measures
Support programme in pigmeat sector in Poland
Sugar market
+/- 16.15
Joint statement of member states on greening
  +/- 17.00
Consequences of judgement of Case C-113/14 

+/- 17.30     
Press conference with Commissioner Hogan (live streaming) 

FISHERIES
+/- 17.45
EU/Norway: annual consultations for 2017
+/- 18.20
ICCAT special meeting
+/- 19.00
Baltic final compromise 

+/- 19.45 
Press conference with Commissioner Vella (live streaming)

Monday 10 October 2016
Passau (Germany)
18.00 Participation in the "Menschen in Europa 2016" conference

Tuesday 11 October 2016
13.30 Meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament President Martin Schulz (Berlaymont)
17.45 Phone call with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte
19.30 Meeting with a delegation of the EU Committee of the Regions led by President Markku Markkula

Thursday 13 October 2016
17.30 Speech at the European Policy Centre 20th anniversary conference (Palais des Académies)

Friday 14 October 2016
10.00 Meeting with President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović (photo opportunity)
11.30 Meeting with General Secretary Luca Visentini of European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
12.30 Meeting with President Katherina Reiche and General Secretary Valeria Ronzitti of the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public Services (CEEP)
13.30 Presentation of letters of credentials of ambassadors
15.15 Meeting with President Emma Marcegaglia and Director General Markus Beyrer of BusinessEurope

On 6 October 2016, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency is being officially launched, less than a year after it was first proposed by the Commission. The launch event takes place at the Kapitan Andreevo Border Checkpoint at the Bulgarian external border with Turkey and includes a presentation of the vehicles, equipment and teams of the new Agency, as well as a press conference attended by Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Bulgaria Rumiana Bachvarova, State Secretary of the Interior Ministry of the Slovak Republic Denisa Sakova, Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Fabrice Leggeri, EU interior ministers and other senior officials. Building on the foundations of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency will closely monitor the EU's external borders and work together with Member States to quickly identify and address any potential security threats to the EU's external borders. 

Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, holder of the rotating Presidency of the Council, said: "By launching the European Border and Coast Guard, we are creating a new reality at our external borders. This is a tangible outcome of the joint commitment agreed in the Bratislava Roadmap, as well as a practical display of unity among Member States. It will help us to get back to Schengen. The Presidency is determined to help further strengthen the European Border and Coast Guard, as well as translate other commitments from the Roadmap into action."

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said: "Today is a milestone in the history of European border management. From now onwards, the external EU border of one Member State is the external border of all Member States - both legally and operationally. In less than one year we have established a fully-fledged European Border and Coast Guard system, turning into reality the principles of shared responsibility and solidarity among the Member States and the Union. This is exactly the European response that we need for the security and migration challenges of the 21st century."

Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Fabrice Leggeri, said: “This is a historic moment and I am very proud to see Frontex become the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. The new Agency is stronger and better equipped to tackle migration and security challenges at Europe's external borders. Its mandate has wider scope and new powers that will allow it to act effectively. The Agency will conduct stress tests at the external borders to identify vulnerabilities before a crisis hits. It will now also be able to offer operational support to neighbouring non-EU countries who ask for assistance at their border and share intelligence on cross-border criminal activities with national authorities and European agencies in support of criminal investigations.  It also has a key role at Europe's maritime borders through its new coast guard functions.”

Under the new mandate, the Agency's role and activities have been significantly expanded. The Agency's permanent staff will be more than doubled and the Agency will be able to purchase its own equipment and deploy them in border operations at short notice. A rapid reserve pool of at least 1,500 border guards and a technical equipment pool will be put at the disposal of the Agency - meaning there will no longer be shortages of staff or equipment for Agency operations. The European Border and Coast Guard will now ensure the implementation of Union standards of border management through periodic risk analysis and mandatory vulnerability assessments.  

The European Border and Coast Guard will provide a missing link in strengthening Europe's external borders, so that people can continue to live and move freely within the European Union - helping to meet Europe's commitment to get back to the normal functioning of the Schengen area and the lifting of temporary internal border controls by the end of the year, as set out in the Commission's Back to Schengen Roadmap on 4 March. 

Over the next months, the new Agency will be fully rolled out:

• 6 OCTOBER 2016: new Agency is legally operational

• 7 DECEMBER 2016: rapid reaction pool and the rapid reaction equipment pool become operational

• BY DECEMBER 2016: 50 new recruitments in the Agency

• 7 JANUARY 2017: return pools become operational

• JANUARY-MARCH 2017: first vulnerability assessments.

The establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard, as announced by President Juncker in his State of the Union Speech on 9 September 2015, is part of the measures set out under the European Agenda on Migration to reinforce the management and security of the EU's external borders. The Schengen area without internal borders is only sustainable if the external borders are effectively secured and protected. 

On 15 December 2015, the European Commission presented a legislative proposal for the creation of a European Border and Coast Guard, building on existing structures of Frontex, to meet the new challenges and political realities faced by the EU, both as regards migration and internal security. The European Border and Coast Guard was approved by the European Parliament and Council in a record time of just nine months.

The European Border and Coast Guard will help to manage migration more effectively, improve the internal security of the European Union and safeguard the principle of free movement of persons. The establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard will ensure a strong management of the EU's external borders as a shared responsibility between the Union and its Member States.

On 5 October, the European Union and the government of Afghanistan co-hosted the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. This conference brought together  75 countries and 26 international organisations and agencies. 

Participants endorsed the ambitiousreform agenda presented by the Afghan government. They undertook  to ensure continued international political and financial support for Afghanistan over the next four years. The total sum  committed  by the international community is  US$15.2 billion (+/- €13.6 billion). The EU and its member states committed toUS$5.6 billion (+/- €5 million)This is an exceptional level of funding which ensures that Afghanistan will remain on a firm path to political and economic stability, state-building and development. The regional stakeholders and the international community also reaffirmed their commitment to a political process towards lasting peace and reconciliation.

"The Brussels Conference on Afghanistan expressed impressive international commitment. With this support, I am sure that the Afghan government will succeed. Investing in the Afghan people is a way of investing in international stability and our own present and future. It was a very successful conference, both financially and politically, which will inject the new energy needed for the future of Afghanistan."

Federica Mogheri, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policy.

"A promise has been made. Redeeming of the promise doesn't depend on the international community but on the Afghan nation. It will be translated to budget and dispersment, and then to programs and projects. It is a promise to the poor, to the youth, the women, the excluded that they will be citizens of a State that they will enjoy living in and prosper"

Ashraf Ghani, President of Afghanistan at the final press conference

On 5 October 2016, the 75 countries and 26 international organisations participating in the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan on 5 October 2016 issued a communiqué, renewing the partnership for prosperity and peace between the National Unity Government of Afghanistan and the international community. They underlined  their collective commitment to deepen and strengthen their cooperation to achieve Afghanistan's self-reliance in the transformation decade (2015-2024) and to create a political, social and economic environment that will allow Afghanistan to consolidate peace, security, sustainable development and prosperity. They noted that important progress has been achieved on Afghanistan's way to a functioning, accountable and increasingly sustainable state, but the substantial challenges that the country still faces require further efforts to safeguard and build on these joint achievements. To foster this progress, they reaffirmed their commitment to the following three pillars over the transformation decade: 

• Afghan-led state and institution building as outlined by the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and the Self Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF);
• Sustained international support and funding at or near current levels through 2020 with increased aid effectiveness;
• Regional and international support for ending violence to foster economic development and improve regional economic cooperation, and for a political process towards lasting peace and reconciliation.

Two weeks ago in New York, I underlined to leaders in the United Nations that today's conference is a unique opportunity for the rest of the world to show that it cares about supporting a stable Afghanistan. This is why I am very glad to welcome 75 countries and 25 international organisations here this morning. And I especially want to greet President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah and all the representatives of the Afghan government who join us as co-hosts.

In today's world, responsible nations face many serious challenges at the same time. Despite this, the interest and level of engagement in Afghanistan show that the international community's commitment remains strong, even after 15 years.

As of 2017, the EU and its Member States will be the largest donor of development assistance to Afghanistan. We will be supporting international efforts and local capacity building with around 1.3 billion euros this year, and will maintain this effort until 2020. More than 4,100 EU nationals are assisting local security forces, primarily through the NATO-led Operation Resolute Support, but also through the EU's police training mission in Kabul.

These contributions reflect a strategy for a self-reliant Afghanistan, built on security, democracy, economic development and the rule of law.

In many ways the strategy is succeeding, thanks to the joint efforts of the Afghan authorities and international partners. To give a few examples. In 2001, only one million children were in school and almost all of those were boys.  Today, more than 9 million children, nearly 40 per cent of them girls, are enrolled. During the same period, access to primary healthcare has increased from 9% of the population to more than 57%. And reform actions have been overall encouraging, especially in the area of public finance management, and in other sectors including justice, anti-corruption and human rights. More must now be done to make these things a reality in everyday life in Afghanistan.

All of us need to be very pragmatic over the coming months. Without our vigilance and support, Afghanistan could easily slide backward. Violent extremism, narcotics and political factionalism remain ever-present enemies of the country's future. Too many Afghans live below the poverty line. Too many see no future for themselves in Afghanistan. This is why we will focus today on a new Afghan National Peace and Development Framework, solid indicators to measure progress over the next two years, and new national priority programmes. At the same time, we must not ignore the issue of security. It remains the most important component for ensuring the success of all initiatives.

To the countries from the region gathered here today, we want to underline that Afghanistan will overcome the vicious cycle of fragility, poverty and violent extremism only with the help and co-operation of its neighbours. Financial support is very welcome but  far more important is to support the efforts of those pushing for peace. An end to the climate of conflict will bring benefits to every single country in the region, also economically. Therefore I appeal to every country to act responsibly in the interests of a stable Afghanistan.

Europe wants to see the Afghan reform process accelerate and become more robust, for the good of the people of Afghanistan. Political stability, peace and security are essential for economic development to take hold. Then, security and prosperity begin to re-inforce each other in a virtuous cycle. We have experienced this in Europe in our postwar history. To get to that situation in Afghanistan, we need a viable peace process, reform of the judiciary and - in time  - proper parliamentary elections. We need stronger state institutions. That is why the European Union and Afghanistan have signed a State Building contract worth 200 million euros to support stability and good governance in the country.

No global challenge is more divisive or emotionally loaded than the issue of migration, whether we are speaking of refugee protection, internally displaced persons or irregular economic migrants. EU countries are doing the most to support humanitarian relief efforts for internally displaced persons; the most to help host communities support refugees in the region; and are leading the West in the care of asylum seekers. We do not expect praise for this. But we do expect sending countries to take back irregular economic migrants, in line with international standards and obligations. That is why I want to thank the Afghan government for its courage in agreeing a way forward to manage migration fairly in co-operation with the European Union. We will support this agreement with money and job-creation programmes to reintegrate returning migrants to the benefit of their local communities.

The people of Afghanistan are at a crossroads. The Afghan government and international community are holding the signpost. One road leads back to violence, endemic poverty and regional instability. The other leads to self-sufficiency, prosperity and a new generation of healthy, educated Afghan girls and boys. The Afghan people have suffered enough; they deserve peace, security and the freedom to plan a common future in their own country.

Unlike some, I do not believe that the Afghans are doomed to repeat a troubled history over and over.  As the great poet Rumi - who the Afghans call Jalāl ad-Dīn Balkhī - once said: "Yesterday is gone and its tale told. Today new seeds are growing.”

I wish everyone a good conference and that we will plant many new seeds for Afghanistan. Thank you.