European Council

July's events in South Sudan continue to loom large.   During the fighting in July, hundreds lost their lives and atrocious acts of sexual violence were committed.  Those responsible must be brought to justice.  The EU calls for investigations to be opened into all crimes committed during the most recent fighting with a view to the prosecution of those responsible.  In this context, the EU reiterates its call for the rapid establishment of the Hybrid Court for South Sudan.

The EU welcomes UN Security Council Resolution 2304 (2016) which extended the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 December 2016 and authorised the deployment of a regional protection force, as part of UNMISS, with the responsibility of providing a secure environment.  Swift deployment of this force is an important step to help ensure peace and stability in South Sudan. 

The EU welcomes the spirit of co-operation demonstrated by the Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan in the joint communiqué issued after the visit of the UN Security Council to Juba on 2-4 September.  The commitments made in the joint communiqué, including to work with UNMISS and with the regional protection force, must be fully implemented by the Transitional Government.

The EU commends the continuous engagement on this issue by the African Union and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the responsible stance of neighbouring countries during recent events.  The EU reiterates its call on all South Sudanese parties to implement the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in good faith.  The EU remains ready to impose sanctions against any individual responsible for undermining the peace process in South Sudan, and - noting that the EU has long maintained an arms embargo on South Sudan - supports the UN Security Council's willingness to consider additional measures, including an arms embargo, should obstruction of UNMISS continue.

The EU recalls that humanitarian action is independent and neutral, and is provided solely on the basis of the immense needs of the most vulnerable South Sudanese. The EU urges the Transitional Government of National Unity to adhere to its obligations under International Humanitarian Law to facilitate rapid and unimpeded relief to all South Sudanese affected by the conflict, regardless of ethnic, tribal or political affiliations and to ensure full respect for all organisations providing humanitarian relief and their staff.

On 20 September 2016, the Council adopted a legal framework  which, for the first time, will allow the EU to apply sanctions autonomously to ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida and persons and entities associated or supporting them. Until now sanctions could only be applied to persons and entities listed by the United Nations or by EU member states acting individually.

The EU will be able to impose a travel ban on individuals and an asset freeze on individuals and entities that are identified as being associated with ISIL (Da'esh)/ Al-Qaida. This means that all their assets in the EU will be frozen and that EU persons and entities will also be prohibited from making any funds available to listed persons or entities.

The individuals and entities targeted include those who have participated in the planning or perpetrating of terrorist attacks or have provided ISIL (Da'esh)/ Al-Qaida with financing, oil or arms, or have received terrorist training from them. Persons or entities could also be listed for activities such as recruiting; inciting or publicly provoking acts and activities in support of these organisations, or being involved in serious abuses of human rights outside the EU, including abduction, rape, sexual violence, forced marriage and enslavement of persons.

The EU will also be able to impose restrictive measures on individuals travelling or seeking to travel both outside the EU, and into the EU, with the aim of supporting, ISIL (Da'esh)/Al-Qaida or receiving training from them. Such measures will target particularly the so-called "foreign fighters". As a result the EU will be able to list any person who  meets the criteria - including EU nationals who have supported these organisations outside the EU and who then return. The travel ban will prevent listed persons from entering any EU member state. In the case of a listed EU national, the travel ban will prevent the listed person from travelling to any EU member state other than the member state of which that person is a national. 

Upon agreement on listing proposals from member states, persons and entities will be listed through a Council decision and a Council regulation adopted unanimously.

The Council adopted the "country and regional issues" part of the EU annual report on human rights and democracy in the world in 2015 which complements the thematic part of the report published on 20 June 2016. 

In 2015, the EU continued defending and promoting human rights, inclusive and democratic societies. The 2015 annual report sets out the efforts of the EU, through the High Representative Federica Mogherini, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Stavros Lambrinidis and the EU global network of delegations, to promote the universality of human rights across the world. The "country and regional issues" section of the report provides a short overview of the human rights situation and covers EU policy support on the ground on a country by country basis.

 The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1.             On 15 February 2016, the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Dragan Čović, presented the application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for membership of the European Union. The Council decided to implement the procedure laid down in Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union. Accordingly, the Commission is invited to submit its opinion. 

2.             Recalling the renewed consensus on enlargement as expressed in the conclusions of the European Council of 14/15 December 2006, the Council reaffirms that the future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union. It reiterates that each country's progress towards the European Union depends on its individual efforts to comply with the Copenhagen criteria and the conditionality of the Stabilisation and Association Process. 

3.             Reiterating previous Council conclusions, in particular those of 15 December 2015, and its unequivocal commitment to Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU perspective as a single, united and sovereign country, the Council welcomes the meaningful progress in the implementation of the Reform Agenda which has been agreed by the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities at all levels. The Council calls on Bosnia and Herzegovina to continue its efforts to ensure effective implementation of the Reform Agenda in line with the schedule of the action plan agreed by the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities, to the benefit of its citizens and in close cooperation with the European Union, international financial institutions and international partners, as well as civil society. This should continue to include, as well as socio-economic reforms, reforms in the area of rule of law and public administration. The Council invites the Commission to further report on the implementation of the Reform Agenda including the coordination mechanism. When preparing its opinion on the membership application of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council asks the Commission to pay particular attention to the implementation of the Sejdić-Finci ruling.

 4.             The Council welcomes the initialling of the Protocol on the adaptation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement to take account of Croatia's accession to the European Union. The full implementation of the SAA, including its adaptation, is an important element of the country's commitment to the EU integration process. 

5.             The Council further welcomes the agreement on establishing a coordination mechanism on EU matters. It calls on all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure its effective implementation, as an important step towards improving functionality and efficiency."

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

The European Union welcomes this ambitious initiative, as no other global problem is more urgent today than the ongoing migration of millions of people. The United Nations still needs to strengthen its tools and find the money to deal with the humanitarian needs and other problems triggered by this unprecedented wave of migration. There is a lot of catching up to do. We hope that today's declaration will mark a new pragmatic approach and a shift towards a global system of more orderly movement, where the responsibility is shared and where no one will bear the burden alone.

You have to know that today the European Union has a clear objective to restore order on  its external borders. As a result, this will lead to the further reduction of the irregular flows to the EU. There will be no repeat of the year 2015 with more than 1 and a half million irregular migrants.

At the same time, we are ready to increase humanitarian and development assistance for refugees, internally displaced persons and host communities. Our new initiatives are already underway.

We are finalising Compacts with Jordan and Lebanon with an aim to provide an appropriate and safe environment for refugees and displaced persons from Syria, in exchange for additional EU funds. We are also setting up new partnership agreements with African countries. Moreover, we are determined to continue our cooperation with Turkey and with the Western Balkans countries.

In all the above-mentioned issues, the strengthening of EU's external borders and increasing financial assistance for those in need, I want to underline that the EU Member States stand united, which was confirmed by our meeting in Bratislava three days ago.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Global migration will accompany us in the future. And it is in our power to decide whether our future in this context will be orderly, stable and safe; or disorderly, unstable and unsafe. We need the political will, responsibility sharing and practical co-operation of all players, and not two years from now but here and now. Our discussion today gives me hope that we can make it happen. Thank you very much.

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair:        Ivan Korčok, Minister for the EU of the Slovak Republic 

All times are approximate and subject to change

 +/- 08.30 
 Arrivals (live streaming) 

+/-  09.20
Doorstep by Delegated Minister for the EU Ivan Korčok 

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Council meeting (roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of legislative A items (public session)
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020 (public session) 
Adoption of non-legislative A items
Preparation of the European Council on 20-21 October 2016
European Council follow-up
Legislative programming                     

+/- 13.00
Press conference (live streaming)              

 

                    

On 20 September 2016, the Council issued a recommendation calling on the eurozone member states to establish national productivity boards. 

The boards will  analyse developments and policies that can affect productivity and competitiveness. They will provide independent analyses and reinforce policy dialogue at the national level.

This will help reforms aimed at achieving sustainable economic growth and convergence.

Potential economic growth in the euro area and the EU as a whole has slowed considerably since the turn of the century. This trend is due in particular to a decline in total factor productivity. Since 2008, growth has been further weakened by a drop in investment. 

Looking forward, economic growth will depend on increasing productivity. This requires well-balanced policies aimed at supporting innovation, increasing skills, reducing rigidities in labour and product markets and allowing a better allocation of resources. 

Research and analysis carried out by the productivity boards will encourage developments that should help the smooth functioning of the EU's economic and monetary union. 

Five presidents' report

The recommendation is part of the Commission's October 2015 package of measures giving substance to the so-called five presidents' report on the further development of the EU's economic and monetary union (EMU). 

It was endorsed by the European Council on 28 June 2016. 

The five presidents' report was prepared by the president of the Commission, in close cooperation with the presidents of the European Council, the Eurogroup, the European Central Bank and the European Parliament. It was submitted to the European Council in June 2015.

Tasks

The draft recommendation calls on each member state to set up a national board responsible for: 

• diagnosis and analysis of productivity and competitiveness developments; 
• independent analysis of policy challenges in this field. 

Addressed to the eurozone countries, the recommendation encourages other member states to set up similar bodies. It calls for productivity boards to engage in dialogue and the exchange of best practices, and where appropriate produce joint analyses. 

Communication and information

The recommendation foresees that the boards will operate separately from public authorities as concerns public communication, procedures for nominating board members and access to information. As a rule, their analyses should be made public. 

The independent expertise provided by the boards, including through the presentation of annual reports, will be used by the member states and the Commission in the context of the "European Semester" annual policy monitoring process. 

The recommendation was adopted at a meeting of the General Affairs Council, without discussion. 

On 20 September 2016, the Council approved the conclusion of an agreement with Andorra that will improve tax compliance by private savers. 

The agreement will help clamp down on tax evasion by requiring EU member states and Andorra to exchange information automatically. 

This 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 Andorra to apply measures equivalent to those in an EU directive on the taxation of savings income. It will extend the automatic exchange of information on financial accounts in order to prevent taxpayers from hiding capital representing income or assets for which tax has not been paid. 

The new agreement was signed on 12 February 2016. It was concluded (on 20 September) at a meeting of the General Affairs Council, without discussion.

First of all let me thank Prime Minister Fico for inviting us to Bratislava. My words of gratitude also go to the Slovak people for their hospitality and patience. I know that it is not always easy, especially with all the security measures in place, but you did a great job. 

Bratislava is the first summit during which we discussed the common EU future of 27 States, without the UK. It was a sad moment for Europe when the British people decided to leave, and so it required an honest diagnosis. Today we had a frank discussion about the root causes of the current political situation in Europe. The fact that millions of Europeans feel insecure is real. People are concerned about, what they  see, as lack of control, and express fears over migration, terrorism and last but not least, about their economic and social future.

Our assessment is sober but not defeatist. While we all agree that the European Union is not perfect, we also agree that it is the best instrument we have. That is why we are determined to correct the past mistakes and move on with common solutions as the EU of 27. We will not continue business as usual. To move the EU forward we have discussed a Bratislava roadmap, which sets out the objectives for our work ahead of the Rome meeting in March next year, when we want to conclude this process.

Let me mention some of the objectives discussed today:

- Never to allow for the return of uncontrolled refugee flows of last year and to ensure full control of our external border to get back to Schengen. We are determined to continue our co-operation with Turkey and Western Balkans but also to establish migration compacts with African countries;

- To do everything necessary to support Member States in ensuring internal security and fighting terrorism. Intensification of information-exchange among security services of Member States is an urgent priority;

- To strengthen EU cooperation on external security and defence. In December, the European Council will decide on how to make best use of the options available in the Treaties;

- To create a promising economic future for all, by strengthening the single market and increasing investments;

- and finally, to safeguard our way of life and to provide better opportunities for the young Europeans. These objectives are matched by a number of very concrete measures. I will not go into all the details, you can find them in the roadmap. Let me just mention that a number of leaders have decided to immediately deploy extra personnel and equipment to help guard Bulgaria's border with Turkey. I want to thank them for this cooperation.

We should deliver more practical and tangible decisions in the next months. To that end, let me congratulate President Juncker for his excellent initiatives, which he presented in his State of the European Union speech. We discussed many of them today and I hope that all the institutions will cooperate on their implementation.

To conclude, let me say that the Bratislava Roadmap will guide our actions when we meet during our regular European Councils meetings in October and December, and also in Valletta, and later in Rome for informal meetings. I hope that the Bratislava Summit will lead to the renewing of trust and confidence in the European Union. This will only happen if and when people realise that we are delivering on our promises through loyal cooperation between Member States and institutions. Today I can say that there is hope. Thank you. 

Today we meet in Bratislava at a critical time for our European project. The Bratislava Summit of 27 Member States has been devoted to diagnose together the present state of the European Union and discuss our common future. We all agreed on the following general principles.

On 19 September 2016, the Council, by common accord with the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, appointed Julian King as the new commissioner for security union. The appointment applies for the remainder of the current term of office of the Commission which ends on 31 October 2019.

Julian King is a British national and has been UK ambassador to France since January 2016. He replaces Jonathan Hill who resigned on 25 June 2016.

UN General Assembly, New York

Sunday 18 September 2016
(local time)
17.00 Meeting with UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon 

Monday 19 September 2016
(local time)
08.30 Opening ceremony of the High-Level Plenary Meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants
09.30 Meeting with President of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
10.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key
+/- 13.50 Speech at the High-Level Plenary Meeting
14.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of Kosovo Isa Mustafa
15.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg
15.30 Meeting with the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov

Tuesday 20 September 2016
(local time)
09.00 Opening of the 71st UN General Assembly
12.00 Meeting with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Bakir Izetbegović
12.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull
13.15 Luncheon hosted by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon
15.30 Leaders' summit on the global refugee crisis
ttbc Address at the Leaders' summit on the global refugee crisis
19.00 Reception at the EU delegation to the UN

Wednesday 21 September 2016
(local time)
+/- 12.15 Address at the 71st UN General Assembly debate
15.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi
16.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina
17.00 Meeting with Prime Minister of Republic of Moldova, Pavel Filip
17.30 Meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili

We haven't come to Bratislava to comfort each other. Or even worse, to deny the real challenges we face. In this particular moment in the history of our community, after the vote in the UK, the only thing that makes sense is to have a sober and brutally honest assessment of the situation.

What we need today is an optimistic scenario for the future, no doubts. But it requires a realistic diagnosis of the causes of Brexit, and its political consequences for all Europe. One thing must be absolutely clear here in Bratislava: that we can't start our discussions tomorrow with this kind of blissful conviction that nothing is wrong, that everything was and is okay.

I am absolutely sure that we have to assure, here in Bratislava and also after our meeting, our citizens that we have learned the lessons from Brexit, and that we are able to bring back stability and a sense of security and effective protection. I hope that the so-called "Bratislava Roadmap" I will present tomorrow will be a first step in this direction.

It is true that Europe has recently been shaken by all kinds of crises but as the same time it is my feeling that the best motto for the Bratislava meeting is that we must not let these crises go to waste.

After my consultations with the leaders, as you may know I have talked to all of them in the last two weeks, I am absolutely sure that no-one thinks otherwise.

The Council prolonged by 6 months the application of EU restrictive measures targeting actions against Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. These sanctions consist of an asset freeze and a travel ban against 146 persons and 37 entities. They have been extended until 15 March 2017.

The measures had been introduced in March 2014 and were last extended in March 2016.The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the regime of sanctions nor in the list of persons and entities under restrictive measures. Information and statement of reasons for listing related to these persons and entities were updated as necessary.  

The legal acts are available in the EU Official Journal of 16 September 2016. The decision was adopted by written procedure.

Several EU measures are in place in response to the crisis in Ukraine including: 

- economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy, currently in place until 31 January 2017;

- restrictive measures in response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol, limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, currently in place until 23 June 2017.

Dear colleagues,

After having consulted most of you and in order to better prepare our summit in Bratislava, let me share some personal reflections. I think it is important that we make an honest assessment of the current situation to provide the best possible basis for building our future together.

I
We are meeting in Bratislava at a particularly historic moment. Twenty-seven leaders of Europe are to discuss the future of our Union, following the first ever decision of a country to leave the EU. We all feel that in these turbulent times marked by crises and conflicts, what we need more than ever before is a confirmation of the sense of our community, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary in a few months' time.

Brexit not only challenges us with the task of negotiating new relations with the United Kingdom. In this respect, our position should remain clear and unambiguous ("No negotiations without notification"). The Treaty provisions drawn up in case of an EU exit protect the interests of the Union. Our objective in the future negotiations should be, on the one hand, to establish the best possible relations with the UK; on the other hand, however, we should stick to the Treaty and be coolheaded, consistent, and fully united as well as firm in insisting on a balance of rights and obligations. If we do so, there will be no room for doubt that it is a good thing to be a member of the Union.

II
While waiting for the UK government to trigger negotiations, we should diagnose the state and the prospects of a post-Brexit EU. It would be a fatal error to assume that the negative result in the UK referendum represents a specifically British issue; that British Euroscepticism is a symptom of political aberration or merely a cynical game of populists exploiting social frustrations. It is true that the Leave campaign was full of false arguments and unacceptable generalisations. But it is also true that the Brexit vote is a desperate attempt to answer the questions that millions of Europeans ask themselves daily, questions about the very essence of politics. Questions about the guarantees of security of the citizens and their territory, questions about the protection of their interests, cultural heritage and way of life. These are questions we would have to face even if the UK had voted to remain.

People in Europe want to know if the political elites are capable of restoring control over events and processes which overwhelm, disorientate, and sometimes terrify them. Today many people, not only in the UK, think that being part of the European Union stands in the way of stability and security.

People quite rightly expect their leaders to protect the space they live in and ensure their security. If the belief that we have abandoned this responsibility is further strengthened, they will start looking for alternatives. And they will find them. History has taught us that this can lead to a massive turn away from freedom and the other fundamental values that the European Union is founded upon. It is therefore crucial to restore the balance between the need for freedom and security, and between the need for openness and protection. In this context, the effective control of our external borders comes first, and has both a practical and a symbolic dimension.

III
The migration crisis was the tipping point. Last year's chaos on our borders, new images every day of hundreds of thousands of people moving across our continent without any control, created a feeling of threat among many Europeans. They had to wait too long for action to bring the situation under control, such as the closure of the Western Balkan route and the EU-Turkey deal. Instead, all too often they heard politically correct statements that Europe cannot become a fortress, that it must remain open. The lack of rapid action and of a uniform European strategy have weakened citizens' trust in their governments, the institutions and in the wider establishment, already undermined since the financial crisis. Rebuilding this trust has become an urgent necessity, which Brexit has demonstrated very clearly.

We do not have too much time to spare. Bratislava will have to be a turning point in terms of protecting the Union's external borders. We must demonstrate to our citizens that we are willing and able to protect them from a repeat of the chaos of 2015. This will require the full cooperation of all the governments and European institutions.

IV
It is equally important to combat terrorism effectively. In principle we all agree, and yet there are still too many practical and legislative obstacles. Someone must give back to Europeans their sense of security. The question is who and by what means. The main instruments in this field remain at national level, but we can and must do more together. We should cooperate more closely among our police forces and other services when it comes to the exchange of information and operations. We can also do more in terms of facilitating the cooperation of internet providers in removing content which incites hatred and promotes terrorism. At external borders, we must ensure that everybody is checked against our databases, so that potential terrorists cannot enter the EU unhindered. And in each of our countries we must do more to fight radicalisation. Without genuine determination to fight terrorist threats, we will fail to stem radical and increasingly aggressive behaviour and attitudes. These had until recently represented only a narrow margin of politics and public debate in Europe, but today are becoming mainstream with growing audacity.

The promise of a ruthless crackdown on terrorism has become one of the main slogans of right-wing extremists. Furthermore, the fact that despite our best efforts it was not possible to prevent a number of attacks makes their anti-European and anti-democratic rhetoric even more attractive.

V
Our citizens also expect the European Union to better protect their economic and social interests. Especially today, in the age of globalisation, the need for access to proper information, enforcing fair rules, setting clear standards, and the reassurance that their leaders (i.e. their governments and the European institutions) will stand by them in the confrontation with outside competitors, is visible more than ever. It is obvious that free trade and global competition lie in the interest of Europeans, but it is equally obvious that they pose significant and often unprecedented challenges.

This is why, while we continue to work on future trade deals, we must guarantee and reassure our citizens and European companies that we are above all representing and protecting their interests in this process. Europe has enough arguments to be a champion of global competition, but a sine qua non condition for this to happen is to reinstate the trust of the main actors, i.e. workers, consumers and entrepreneurs, in those who represent them. In this case time also plays a key role. Failing to reach trade agreements (and we are talking months, not years) will inevitably create an impression that Brexit has sparked a process of eliminating us from the global game. Today its biggest participants, as the G20 Summit has confirmed, respect and recognise Europe's position as a trade and economic power, and an attractive partner.

VI
I am aware that the future of Europe will depend not only on how we handle the migration crisis, terrorism, and the fears associated with globalisation. Bringing back the feeling of security and order, the trust of EU citizens in their political leadership as well as rebuilding the reputation of the Union as a synonym of protection and stability, are all crucial and indispensable, but they are insufficient. Bratislava should therefore also provide a road map for other equally important endeavours (such as economic and social development, jobs and opportunities for the young, the single market, the digital agenda and investments). We should take formal decisions on the above and other areas at our regular European Council summits in October and December. We will continue our informal work as 27 also in the winter of 2017. As I have already announced, our relations with Russia will be reviewed during a separate session at the October European Council summit. In December we will return to how to strengthen practical cooperation in defence to give it more substance without duplicating NATO. Later we will also have to come back to other important issues such as the Banking Union and the further development of the Economic and Monetary Union.

VII
Following Brexit, business as usual is not an option. We can either come out of this crisis weaker and conflicted, or stronger and more united. There is no fatalism hanging over our future, everything is still in our hands, hearts and minds. The economic and cultural potential of our twenty-seven countries, the talent and education of our citizens, is more than enough to believe in Europe and its ability to compete with the rest of the world in an effective and secure manner.

Our deficits, as compared with other global powers, are visible in "hard politics" (such as defense and executive powers). We will not, however, change the European Union into a single state. Therefore, it will be crucial for the Member States to better cooperate among one another, to bring our forces together in the Union. My talks with you clearly show that giving new powers to European institutions is not the desired recipe. National electorates want more influence on the decisions of the Union. Adopting this direction would nonetheless require a change of attitude of national governments towards the European Union as such.

Today the EU is often treated as a necessary evil, not a common good. The slogan "less power for Brussels", which sounds attractive in political campaigns, should translate as more responsibility for the Union in national capitals. This responsibility for the Union is nothing other than a readiness to sacrifice part of one's own interests for the sake of the community. It also means refraining from the constant accusations aimed at the Union, which sometimes are justified, but more often than not they serve as an easy excuse for one's own failures. This was also one of the reasons behind the Brexit vote.

The keys to a healthy balance between the priorities of Member States and those of the Union lie in national capitals. The institutions should support the priorities as agreed among Member States, and not impose their own ones. This is another conclusion I have drawn from my consultations with you.

VIII
Between the scepticism of the pessimists on the one hand, and the Euro-enthusiasm on the other there is ample room for "real optimism". Critical diagnosis must be at its source. We need to do everything not to let it degenerate into a blame game, so futile and so typical of recent years, or a bidding competition for best-sounding slogans, such as "better Europe", "less Europe" or "more Europe". After all, someone might eventually cut it short with "no more Europe".

IX
Today we are not in the situation of the heroes of The Leopard, a novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. We do not have to change everything if we want things to stay as they are. We must rectify a number of things in order to preserve what is best. For that to succeed we need readiness to take several difficult, yet in fact simple decisions. This is not about new treaties or procedural changes. What we need is a strong political will and imagination. The time has come to rise to the challenge. In fact, there is no other way. Yours sincerely,

On 14 September 2016, the Council gave its final approval to the European Border and Coast Guard. The adoption of the regulation, which the Council approved by written procedure, paves the way for the Border and Coast Guard to begin its activities in mid-October. 

Robert Kaliňák, Minister for the Interior of Slovakia and President of the Council, said "I welcome the speed and the efficiency with which the Council and the Parliament have acted on this important issue. The way we manage our external borders directly affects the entire Schengen area, including its internal borders. The European Border and Coast Guard will help us better face today's challenges together. Only with effective management of our external borders can we return to normality within Schengen. There is no other way." 

The main role of the European Border and Coast Guard is to help provide integrated border management at the external borders. It will ensure the effective management of migration flows and provide a high level of security for the EU. At the same time it will help safeguard free movement within the EU and respect fully fundamental rights. 

It will consist of a European Border and Coast guard agency (the current Frontex agency with expanded tasks) and those national authorities responsible for border management. The main focus of its activities will be the establishment of an operational strategy for border management and the coordination of assistance from all member states.  

The tasks required to carry this out include: 

• drafting of vulnerability assessment of member states' border control capacity;
• organising joint operations and rapid border interventions to strengthen the capacity of the member states control the external borders, and to tackle challenges at the external border resulting from illegal immigration or cross-border crime
• assisting the Commission in the coordination of support teams when a member state faces disproportionate migratory pressures at specific points on their external border;
• ensuring a practical response in cases requiring urgent action at the external borders;
• providing technical and operational assistance in support of search and rescue operations for persons in distress at sea during border surveillance operations;
• helping establish a rapid reserve pool of at least 1500 border guards;
• appointing liaison officers of the agency in member states;
• organising, coordinating and conducting return operations and interventions;
• promoting operational cooperation between member states and third countries on border management.

 As part of an overall improvement in coast guard functions, there will be better cooperation between competent agencies. For this reason, the mandates of the European Fisheries Control Agency and the European Maritime Safety Agency have been aligned to that of the new European Border Guard.

The European Border and Coast Guard will start its activities once the regulation enters into force on 6 October 2016 (20 days after its publication in the Official Journal). The provisions related to the setting up of the reserve and technical equipment pools will enter into force two months after the rest of the regulation and those related to the return pools, three months after the rest of the regulation.

On 12 September 2016, the Council adopted its position on the draft EU budget for 2017. The Council's main objective is to ensure that the limited  financial resources available are directed towards the EU's top priorities. These are measures to address the migration crisis and its root causes, and actions to boost Europe's economy and create jobs. Overall the Council's aim is to secure a sustainable and effective budget at a time of continuing budgetary constraint.

"I believe that the Council's position reflects a balanced approach that makes the most effective use of the EU budget under the current circumstances and constraints. It targets the available financial resources on our current priorities, provides  enough financial leeway to react to unforeseen needs and avoids unnecessary burdens on member states' national budgets by striving to match the budget  to actual needs. I am confident that together with the European Parliament we can work towards securing a sustainable budget", said Vazil Hudák, chief negotiator for the EU budget of the Slovak Presidency of the Council.

Top priorities

The Council accepted all the figures put forward by the Commission for tackling the migration crisis. Heading 3 (security and citizenship) therefore benefits from an increase of 4.9% in commitments and 24.4% in payments compared to 2016. The Council also approved the figures proposed by the Commission within heading 4 (global Europe) for migration-related measures, such as the fight against the root causes of migration. The Council also agreed to the figures for humanitarian aid.

To help boost economic growth  and create new jobs the Council approved an increase in the  resources available under sub-heading 1a (competitiveness for growth and jobs) by almost 9% in both commitments and payments compared to 2016. This covers  instruments such as the European fund for strategic investments, the EU programme for the competitiveness of enterprises and Erasmus +.

Cautious reductions

Aside from these top priorities the Council identified a number of areas where it reduced the increases proposed by the Commission. This is particularly the case for budget lines where, on the basis of a technical analysis, the Council concluded that the Commission has over-estimated the actual needs. However those programmes which are performing well or starting to deliver are generally protected.

The Council also  scrutinized very carefully all administrative expenditure. It called on the other EU institutions to make every effort to reduce their staff by 5% by 2017 as  agreed in 2013.

A summary of the Council's position is set out in the table below:

 Description122/1Budget 2016
(AB No 1 to 2/2016 incl.)Council position on DB 2017Difference
(%)c/ap/ac/ap/ac/ap/a1Smart and inclusive growth69.866.374.356.1+6,36%-15,31%1.aCompetitiveness for growth and jobs19.017.420.719.0+8,95%+8,89%1.bEconomic, social and territorial cohesion50.848.853.637.1+5,39%-23,94%2Sustainable growth: natural resources62.555.158.755.0-6,02%-0,15%3Security and citizenship4.13.04.23.8+4,84%+24,42%4Global Europe9.210.29.39.2+1,74%-9,22%5Administration8.98.99.39.3+3,67%+3,70%MFF headings154.5143.5155.8133.4+0,88%-7,04%Emergency aid reserve0.30.30.30.3+1,94%+1,94%European globalisation adjustment fund0.20.030.20.03+2,00%-16,67%European Union solidarity fund0.050.050.050.05+0,00%+0,00%Special instruments0.50.40.50.4+1,78%+0,26%Total appropriations155.0143.9156.4133.8+0,89%-7,02%

in billion €; c/a: commitments, p/a: payments, AB: amending budget, DB: draft budget

Next steps

If the European Parliament adopts amendments to the Council's position by 27 October, a three-week conciliation period will start on 28 October 2016. The aim of this conciliation process is to reach a joint position of both institutions on the budget. This should happen by 17 November 2016 at the latest.

European Council meeting will take place on 20-21 October 2016 in Justus Lipsius building in Brussels. 

 Application deadline: 5 October, 12.00 (noon)
Procedure

• If this is your first registration, please make sure you have a recent ID-size photograph in JPEG format (.jpg) and the number of your passport or identity card ready before starting the online process.
• You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by email. Please read it carefully as it includes the list of original documents you will be asked to provide when collecting your badge. Depending on your profile, the requested document will include: Passport or ID card, press card and/or a letter from your editor-in chief as well as the signed original of your authorisation for security screening (only for media representatives of Belgian nationality or resident in Belgium). The press centre may contact you to request additional information if necessary. No accreditation badge will be issued if you cannot provide all required documents.
• Under certain conditions it is possible to organise a group registration/collection of badges for journalists working for the same media. Select group registration at the beginning of the accreditation process and follow the instructions.
• Trainees with media organisations who do not possess a press card are not entitled to request accreditation

Journalists holding a 6-month badge (30.06.2016 - 31.12.2016) do not need to register

6-month badges can be collected at the accreditation centre of the LEX building during summits. Please ensure that you have all the required documents when collecting your badge.

Collection of badges

Accreditation badges must be collected in person from the LEX building (145 rue de la Loi, Brussels)  

• Wednesday 19 October - 9.30 - 13.00 and 14.00 - 18.00
• Thursday 20 October - 8.30 - 20.00 
• Friday 21 October , from 08.00 to the end of the final press conference (latest 22.00) 

Practical information on the press centre and the media programme will follow.

For more details on the European Council meeting, see the meeting page.

Monday 12 September 2016
Valletta
11.45 Meeting with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Madrid
16.30 Meeting with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy

Tuesday 13 September
Warsaw
09.00 Meeting with Prime Minister Beata Szydło
Budapest
15.35 Meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán

Wednesday 14 September 2016
Phone calls with Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka

Thursday 15 September 2016
Bratislava
19.00 Dinner with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Parliament President Martin Schulz

Friday 16 September 2016
Bratislava
Informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government
09.30 Joint welcome with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico of the heads of state or government
10.00 First working session
12.45 Family photo
13.00 Informal lunch
16.00 Second working session
18.30 Press conference

Good afternoon. I am happy to be back again in Stockholm. And thank you Stefan for your warm hospitality.

My visit to Stockholm this time is prompted by the result of the UK referendum. Our meeting in Bratislava next week will mark the beginning of the reflection process and I am currently consulting the 27 on their ideas and expectations.

In short, to me the aim of the Bratislava summit is to bring back the political control of our common future. We need to come up with a diagnosis of the Union's current shortcomings. And more importantly, the Union and its Member States must demonstrate our strong determination and ability to address the major concerns and worries of its citizens. Based on my consultations so far, I have no doubt that the three main challenges are uncontrolled irregular migration, terrorism, and the fears of globalisation. These three challenges are not unique for Europe but they are essential for understanding the increasing lack of trust in the European Union. My ambition is that in Bratislava we can agree on the main priorities and what we need to do about them in the next few months.

For me it is clear that our first priority must be to secure our external borders. This is also a necessary precondition for a common European asylum policy. In Bratislava I would like to see a critical number of Member States sending border guards and equipment to help Bulgaria protect its border with Turkey. This would be a concrete example of support to an EU country that is seeing more migrants trying to cross illegally into the EU. And it would be an important signal that we are serious and will not hesitate to act if and when needed. Never again can we allow our borders to be overrun by waves of irregular migrants as in 2015.

Fighting the threat of terrorism in Europe and elsewhere is another priority, and where there is no alternative to greater European cooperation and coordination. In Bratislava I want us to pledge that all persons, including EU citizens, that cross the Union's external borders are checked against the relevant databases. It is a question of our security.

In a wider sense we also need to bring back control of globalisation to make sure that it is an opportunity and not a threat. We need to find a way to safeguard the interests of our citizens while remaining open to the world.

This is how I see the situation and how I suggest solving some of our collective problems. I look forward to discussing this with you, Stefan. Thank you.