European Council

During my meeting with President Trump, we discussed foreign policy, security, climate and trade relations. 

My feeling is that we agreed on many areas. First and foremost, on counterterrorism, and I am sure that I do not have to explain why. But some issues remain open, like climate and trade. And I am not 100 per cent sure that we can say today -we meaning Mr. President Trump and myself- that we have a common opinion about Russia, although when it comes to the conflict in Ukraine, it seems that we were on the same line. 

However, my main message to President Trump was that what gives our cooperation and friendship its deepest meaning are fundamental Western values, like freedom, human rights and respect for human dignity. 

The greatest task today is the consolidation of the whole free world around those values, and not just interests. 

Values and principles first - this is what we, Europe and America, should be saying.

When, a few weeks ago, Timothy Garton Ash suggested that I present the laudatio on the occasion of his receipt of the Charlemagne Prize, we could not have  predicted  that our ceremony would be held in the atmosphere of grief and rage because of a certain tragic event. Yet another crime perpetrated by Islamic terrorists seems to confirm the view that we have found ourselves at the very heart of a global civil war. However, the dominant feeling we have is, first of all, the feeling of solidarity with the victims' families and with the UK. And who knows better the meaning of “solidarity” than our laureate ? Timothy, we are with you today,  in our hearts and our thoughts, in Manchester.

 I responded to the Professor 's call with satisfaction and without a moment's hesitation. Not just because of my natural vanity and a feeling of  pride at having been cast in this role by one of the most eminent historians and intellectuals of our time, whose books have offered  me and my whole generation (not only in Poland  and Central Europe) important guidance - for exactly thirty years. And not because he asked me to deliver my remarks in Polish - although I cannot conceal my great pleasure at that suggestion. The most important reason is the feeling - on my part at least - of a special  community with Professor Timothy Garton Ash. Firstly, the community of the road we have travelled; secondly - a community of the  political creed; thirdly - a community of moderate optimism.

Our common road began at the Gdańsk shipyard in August 1980, during the great  strike which gave birth to  “Solidarność” movement. It was there that the desires of all Poles under the communist yoke came together in one focal point: the desire for freedom of speech and creed, for the  truth in public life, the rule of law, human dignity and curbing the omnipotence of the ruling party. At that time I was busy organising an independent student movement, while Timothy was doing research for his book on the Polish revolution. Several years later we published the book in the underground publishing house. It immediately became obligatory reading for the elite of  illegal " Solidarnosc".  As I was reading it, I came to realize that I was involved in the making of history - which was of exceptional significance to a politically involved historian. (Yes, we are both historians; or, strictly speaking, I was just an ordinary student of history; Professor Ash is history's  extraordinary teacher.  I do see the difference -  take my word for it - but, just for the duration of today's ceremony, please let me feel a member of the same fraternity). 

We both profoundly believed in the idea of integration of all Europe and in its future success, and we both worked as hard as we could for it to become reality. My merit here is much smaller: after all, as a Pole I had my egoistic stake in my country's accession. Professor Ash was much more of an idealist in that process; nevertheless, his efforts have brought about very practical results indeed. Not so long ago the tables were turned. During the Brexit dilemma our the winner of today's prize, minding his own good interest, campaigned for the UK to stay in the EU; so did I - and I did it on idealistic grounds. Except that my efforts did not produce any practical results. Let me mention yet another experience we have in common: we were both intensely scrutinised by the Stasi, which resulted in some thick and exceptionally interesting dossiers.                                                 

This is no time or place for nostalgic journeys to the distant past, especially as our protagonist is often referred to as the master of the history of the present. But there is one thing I would like to strongly underline: for the reasonable and struggling Poles, your presence in the difficult moments, your insight,  your empathy, which - forgive me - one would not expect of an Englishman, which accompanied us, Central Europeans on our road to freedom were (and still are) priceless and of the highest order. And then, last but not least, our wives are Polish and we both feel good about that.           

Secondly - the community of political creed. We believe that what unites Europe, what is, or should be, shared by all Europeans is our allegiance to freedom and a few principles, which may seem slightly old-fashioned, but which together constitute a political phenomenon ( in my personal opinion the most important human invention) that has been named “liberal democracy”. Today's Europe is a melting pot of nations and ethnic groups, of many religions and languages, of different traditions and fates. What gives a meaning to our coexistence in this - objectively speaking - best, but still quite troubled spot on Earth is freedom in its different dimensions.  It is also this freedom, besides  culture, which gives a meaning to the West in a political sense. Anyone who tries to alter this,  from within or without, has to be told clearly and repeatedly that freedom is the essence of Europeanism. 

This is why it is so important to keep our relations with the United States as close as possible and as long as possible - at least for as long as this value remains a priority also on the other side of the Atlantic. Tomorrow I am meeting President Trump and I will try to convince him that euroatlantism is primarily cooperation of the free for the sake of freedom; that if we want to prevent the scenario that has already been named by our opponents not so long ago in Munich as the “post-West world order”, we should watch over our legacy of freedom together.      

Our third common trait is moderate optimism. Things are becoming slightly more complicated here. Last January Professor Ash wrote in an article for The New York Review of Books that had he been cryogenically frozen in January 2005, he would have gone to rest as a happy European. At the time the continent was in the process of unification, full of euroenthusiasm, the European constitution was about to become a fact, the common currency - contrary to sceptical opinions - turned out to be a success, the UK under Prime Minister Blair clearly recognised that the English Channel was much narrower than it had seemed, and euro-enthusiasts in the EU's close neighbourhood, as for example in Kiev, were getting a second wind. 

In his article, Professor Ash goes on to say: Cryogenically reanimated in January 2017, I would immediately have died again from shock. For now there is crisis and disintegration wherever I look”. He mentions problems with the euro, Brexit, an anti-liberal drift in his beloved Warsaw and Budapest (as well as in many other places on our continent and elsewhere), the uncertain future of integration, the distrust surrounding the idea and practice of free movement of persons (indeed, one of the main reasons for Brexit), Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Add to this the tragic attacks in Paris, Nice, Brussels, Stockholm, Berlin, Copenhagen, London and Manchester, as well as the still unresolved problem of the mass wave of refugees and migrants.  

Under such circumstances, a politician who displays optimism, even on a moderate scale, is likely to be perceived , at best, naïve, even if he produces rational arguments  in support of his viewpoint. But I will take the risk As for the euro, recent talks with the Greeks within the Eurogroup framework look  quite promising. After a long conversation with the new President of France I know that we have found a new formidable supporter of a reform of the common currency. Ukraine vigorously stands by its pro-European line, one of the results of which is the new visa-free regime. Central Europe is a testimony to how strongly the people - as opposed to some governments - are attached to the European Union and determined to fight for their presence there. In the face of Brexit, the EU-27 countries have become more tightly united than ever before, although I realise this is poor consolation for our prize-winner. The election results in Austria, the Netherlands, Bulgaria and France, as well as the election forecasts for Germany show that the idea of an integrated, democratic Europe is stronger than the populist discourse. This is not enough to bring back the mood of 2005, but provides sufficient justification for Professor Ash's concluding remarks from his article: “On a bad Europe day, and there were too many of those in 2016, one does feel like going into cryogenic hibernation; but this is no time for freezing. The starting point for fighting well is to understand exactly what consequences of which aspects of the post-wall era's economic and social liberalism … have alienated so many people that they now vote for populists, who in turn threaten the foundations of political liberalism …. Having made an accurate diagnosis, the liberal left and liberal right need to come up with policies, and accessible, emotionally appealing language around those policies…. On the outcome of this struggle will depend the character and future name of our currently nameless era.” 

I take this message from Professor Ash as an obligation also for myself and I say it in all seriousness. One of the most important films by Andrzej Wajda for our whole generation was - in Polish - Popiół i diament. The literal English translation of this title is “Ash and Diamond”. It takes on a special meaning in the context of our ceremony today. In your particular case, dear laureate, 'ash'   means  'diamond. 

On 24 May 2017, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional deal offering regions hit by natural disasters a significant increase in EU support. 

Once adopted by the Council and the Parliament the agreed new rules will provide for the EU to meet up to 95% of the reconstruction costs of regions affected by earthquakes, floods or other natural disasters. This signifies that the EU's financial contribution for some regions will almost double from the current level of 50%. Total EU support for disaster stricken regions could reach €9.8 billion for the period 2014-2020. This is in addition to the €500 million from the solidarity fund which the EU is able to mobilise each year to help member states cope with natural disasters. 

"No region in the EU is safe from natural disaster. Today's agreement to increase EU support is an expression of our solidarity. It recognises that we are all vulnerable and have a shared interest in supporting each other in coping with natural disasters", said the Maltese parliamentary secretary for EU Funds and President of the Council, Dr. Ian Borg. 

The increase in the EU financing rate will apply to payments from the European fund for regional development (ERDF). The total volume of the EU financed part of the ERDF of around €196.4 billion for the period 2014-2020 will remain unchanged. 

Next steps 

After today's approval by the Council's Permanent Representatives Committee, the draft regulation has still to be adopted by the Parliament and the Council to enter into force.

The Council reached a general approach on the proposal for a revised directive on audiovisual media services (AVMS) . The aim of the proposal is to respond to the unprecedented technological and market changes that the digital shift has brought about in order to preserve the competitiveness of Europe's audiovisual industry, while preserving fundamental values such as the protection of minors, media pluralism, cultural diversity and consumer protection. 

Following intensive work in Council under the Slovak and Maltese Presidencies, the Maltese Presidency obtained an agreement today at the Council on a compromise text that provides the necessary rules to shape technological developments in order to protect our citizens and particularly our children from harmful audiovisual content, such as hate speech, violence and terrorism, whilst preserving freedom of speech.

The main elements of the text are the following:  

• TV broadcasting and on-demand services will now have to apply the same rules. Furthermore; the scope of the directive has been extended to include video-sharing platforms and social media services that provide a significant amount of audiovisual content.  
• more effective jurisdiction rules and strengthened cooperation procedures were provided for to deal with problems relating to cross-border services, for instance those arising from providers established in one country but targeting an audience in another.  

Furthermore, it will be easier for a member state to take action if it considers that a programme coming from a provider in another member state presents a serious risk to its public security or public health:  

• the promotion of European works will also apply to on-demand service providers in order to ensure cultural diversity. They will have to include in their catalogues a minimum 30% quota of European works. Members states will also have the possibility to require a financial contribution from media service providers, including those established in another member state, with exemptions for start-ups and small enterprises;

Furthermore, and equally important ,more flexible rules on audiovisual commercial communications are also foreseen, but with more stringent requirements on alcohol and cigarette advertising. Provisions guaranteeing the independence of national regulators, safeguard of media pluralism; the transparency of media ownership and ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities are also included.  

Minister Bonnici said "We are very proud to have reached an agreement on audio-visual media services. This is a complex directive which touches on very sensitive issues such as the internal market, fundamental rights and freedoms, cultural diversity and the protection of minors.

But the marketplace and technology are developing rapidly. We have to ensure that the relevant rules keep pace with these changes. Today's agreement in the Council  constitutes a further step forward in the completion of the Digital Single Market, which is vital for Europe's future prosperity.

Next steps 

The agreement at the Council will pave the way for starting negotiations with the European Parliament, with a view to adopting the directive as soon as possible.

Background 

The Commission presented its proposal  in May 2016 as part of its Digital Single Market Strategy. 

The proposal has been under examination in Council during two presidencies and a progress report was presented by the Slovak Presidency in November 2016. 

The Culture and Education Committee (CULT) voted its report on 25 April 2017 and the EP plenary granted a mandate to the CULT Committee on 17 May to start negotiations with the Council.

The Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey
Brussels, 23 May 2017

Representatives of the EU Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as representatives of the central banks of the Western Balkans and Turkey[1] met for their annual economic policy dialogue.[2] The submitted 2017 Economic Reform Programmes (ERPs) of the Western Balkans and Turkey, outline the medium-term macroeconomic and fiscal framework as well as structural reforms (affecting areas such as labour markets and education, energy, innovation and the business environment) to enhance competitiveness and long-term growth. Participants regretted that Serbia's ERP had been submitted with a significant delay. The programmes cover the period 2017-2019.

Participants took note of the Conclusions of the Presidency on 13 December 2016 which states that the General Affairs Council took note of the Commission's communication on the EU Enlargement Policy and the reports, which have a strengthened focus on economic governance. The dialogue on economic governance with the Western Balkans and Turkey is meant to prepare them for their future participation in the EU economic policy coordination. The dialogue reflects to some extent the European Semester process at EU level.

Participants recalled the commitment to set out a new set of targeted policy guidance to support efforts towards fulfilling the Copenhagen economic criteria. In this context, Participants agreed that the elements of the 2016 policy guidance which had not yet been fully implemented remained valid and needed to be addressed by policymakers in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

 [1]    Montenegro, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Turkey are candidate countries for EU accession.

 [2]    The conclusions of this dialogue are without prejudice to EU Member States' positions on the status of Kosovo.   

On 23 May the Council adopted conclusionson culture in the European Union's external relations. The conclusions follow the joint communication from the High Representative and the European Commission of 8 June 2016 entitled "Towards an EU Strategy for international cultural relations" of 8 June 2016". They provide guidance on the EU's strategic approach to international cultural relations.

The conclusions underline that such an approach should be bottom-up and should respect the independence of the cultural sector. They recognise that international cultural relations can only develop by encouraging cultural diversity within the EU, and they call for consistency and coherence of effort. 

In order to take forward this work, the Council has agreed as a next step that a working group will be established to assist in drawing up a comprehensive EU strategic approach to international cultural relations. This work will be supported by the Commission and European External Action Service, drawing on the existing cultural diplomacy platform which was set up in 2016 to help promote the EU's cultural engagement with third countries.  

Good evening and welcome to this press conference. Today we welcomed Bruno Le Maire, the new Minister for the Economy of the French government. We all look forward to working together with him. We had to say goodbye to Michael Noonan, who has announced that he will step down from his post. He could still be with us for the June meeting but I didn't want to take the chances of missing his farewell, so we thanked him for all the work he has done for Ireland and for the eurozone. 

I will only speak about Greece, because I think it is the only topic of interest to you tonight. We have made huge progress on the policy package on which so much work had been done in the last months and on which an agreement had been reached between Greece and the institutions. The Eurogroup, of course, welcomed that very much. We are also very positive on the work done in Greece to implement those agreed measures and reforms in prior actions. The Commissioner will say more about that, but a lot of work has already been done in Greece by the Greek government and they are committed to continue that work as soon as possible, so that we can work towards that next disbursement before the summer. 

Having said that, on debt sustainability, we have always said that if there was an agreement on the second review - and I think we are close to formally closing the second review, with a positive outcome - if there is agreement on that, that would open up the debt discussion to see where we are in terms of debt sustainability. This afternoon and this evening we had a first in-depth discussion on the topic of debt sustainability, looking very carefully at needs, options, constraints. But at this point, we have not reached an overall agreement on that part of our discussion. In the coming weeks, we will continue our work on that. We will try to come to an definite conclusion in the next Eurogroup meeting which will be in 3 weeks time. We will use that time well to work hard with the institutions and all member states involved. 

The Eurogroup today has made quite clear that it is ready and prepared to specify further what could be envisaged if needed, in terms of debt relief. Of course, there are two guiding principles for the Eurogroup: that it needs to be inside the package that we had already agreed on 16 May, and that the final decision on what is actually needed and will be put in place, in terms of debt relief, will be taken at the end of the programme. 

The IMF today also made it clear that they welcomed very much the progress made. They are impressed by the reforms and the work done by the Greeks and they still stand ready to go to the board. But they will also wait for the final discussion that we hope to have in 3 weeks time, in the next Eurogroup, on the issue of debt.

So overall - positive developments from Greece, lots of work done tonight. I think we are very close to that agreement. But tonight, we were unable to close a possible gap between what could be done and what some of us had expected should or could be done. We need to close that by looking at the additional options or by adjusting our expectations. Both are possible, and perhaps both should be done. That I think will surely bring us to a more positive and definite conclusion at the next Eurogroup, in June.

The Council (ECOFIN):

1.      WELCOMES the timely publication of the Commission's country reports analysing the economic policies for each of the Member States, including the in-depth reviews (IDRs) in the context of the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure (MIP), and the implementation of the 2016 country specific recommendation (CSR) follow-up, as well as the accompanying Communication summarising the main results of the IDRs. WELCOMES the integrated analysis and STRESSES the need to keep IDR analysis well identifiable and transparent within the country reports.

2.      WILL take into account these elements, as well as the National Reform Programmes and the Stability and Convergence Programmes and the recommendation on the economic policy the Euro area of March 10th 2017, when adopting the 2017 Country Specific Recommendations.

I.          IN-DEPTH REVIEWS

3.      CONSIDERS that the IDRs present a thorough and mature analysis of the country position in each of the Member States under review, thus presenting the basis for multilateral surveillance, enhanced domestic ownership of reforms and effective policy action. RECOGNISES that the relevant analytical tools have been applied in view of the specific challenges of each economy and complemented by substantive qualitative analysis.

4.      AGREES that 12 of the examined Member States (Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, and Sweden) are experiencing macroeconomic imbalances of various nature and degree of severity under the MIP, and that Finland is no longer experiencing macroeconomic imbalances in the sense of the MIP.

5.      AGREES with the view of the Commission that excessive imbalances exist in 6 Member States (Bulgaria, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, and Portugal). NOTES the Commission's intention to review in May its assessment for three countries identified with excessive imbalances (Italy, Cyprus, and Portugal), in light of structural challenges emerging from the IDR analysis, taking into account the level of ambition of their National Reform Programme. AGREES to carefully consider any further Commission reviews in order to establish if further steps are needed. UNDERLINES that the MIP procedure should be used to its full potential, with the corrective arm applied where appropriate. 

6.      UNDERLINES the continued need for policy action and strong commitment to structural reforms in all Member States, including when they face macroeconomic imbalances affecting the smooth functioning of EMU. Imbalances should be addressed in a durable manner focusing on key challenges, reducing risks, facilitating the rebalancing of the EU economies and creating conditions for sustainable growth and jobs.

7.      RECOGNISES the progress achieved by many Member States in correcting their external and internal imbalances, thus contributing to the rebalancing at euro-area and EU level. UNDERLINES that despite improvements the challenges and risks remain broadly unchanged and further progress on policy action is needed to address imbalances, in particular elevated levels of indebtedness, against the background of declining potential output and productivity growth and unemployment rates that remain historically high. At the same time, elevated current account surpluses in some euro area Member States with relatively low deleveraging needs persist and could under some circumstances indicate large savings and investment imbalances deserving progress on policy actions. NOTES that the rebalancing of deficits to surplus positions in many euro area countries coupled with persistent and high surpluses in others has implied an asymmetric adjustment leading to a large and increasing surplus position of the euro area as a whole whose consequences deserve further attention.

II.        IMPLEMENTATION OF COUNTRY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS (CSRs)

8.      NOTES progress made in addressing the 2016 CSRs but TAKES NOTE that reform implementation has been uneven across policy areas and countries, and that in only a few cases substantial progress has been made in addressing the 2016 CSRs.

9.      WELCOMES the Commission`s new multiannual assessment of CSR implementation, and that good progress on a large majority of recommendations has been made, but NOTES this has been uneven across policy areas, countries and over time. RECALLS that multiannual assessment by the Commission illustrates that a number of CSRs relate to long-term structural issues that take time to be addressed and that tangible results may take time to show.

10.  STRESSES that in the currently relatively favourable macroeconomic environment, reform implementation needs to continue and be stepped up to address the policy challenges outlined below, guarding against reform fatigue and overcoming political economy challenges.

11.  WELCOMES that general government deficits and debt ratios are expected to decline in many Member States, but STRESSES that ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability, including the sustainability of pension systems remains a challenge.

12.  UNDERLINES that further structural reforms to product and services markets should be prioritised to strengthen economic recovery, correct harmful imbalances, improve the investment conditions, and reinforce the single market. More progress could be achieved in generating a business and employment friendly regulatory environment, cutting red tape, strengthening both administrative efficiency and regulatory quality, and eliminate unjustified restrictions in the service sector, particularly by making it significantly easier for service providers to operate across borders.

13.  WELCOMES the emphasis placed on inclusive growth and STRESSES that fostering economic and employment growth, increased investment, and reforms to increase productivity and labour supply are all essential elements in tackling social challenges. Sound public finances and implementing ambitious reforms are a prerequisite for sustainable and inclusive growth.

14.  AGREES that there remains an urgent need to improve investment conditions in order to attract increased private investment in the real economy and ensure high quality public investment and infrastructures. Reform progress has been slow in tackling problems regarding sector specific regulation and other impediments to investment and in reforming public administration, judicial systems, insolvency frameworks and the business environment, including access to finance. Despite some progress, barriers to investment persist in some key sectors in many Member States.

15.  ACKNOWLEDGES that Europe faces a productivity challenge, with productivity growth subdued and lagging behind the growth rates of other advanced economies. In this context UNDERLINES the importance of structural reform to foster innovation, digitalisation and facilitate the diffusion of new technologies, to create a business environment where the most productive firms are allowed to thrive, and to reduce resource misallocation and skill mismatches. The challenge is exacerbated by inter alia ageing populations. The share of working-age persons in the total population is projected to decline across Europe, and this is particularly marked in some economies.

16.  WELCOMES progress in reforming labour markets, but notes that significant challenges and implementation gaps remain. There remains potential to broaden tax bases and reduce the tax burden on labour, and further progress could be made to increase female labour market participation. In some Member States further efforts to reduce youth and long-term unemployment are needed. The successful integration especially of migrants and refugees requires particular attention.

On 23 May 2017, the Council agreed on a new system for resolving double taxation disputes within the EU.

The proposal sets out to improve the mechanisms used for resolving disputes between member states when disputes arise from the interpretation of agreements on the elimination of double taxation. It builds on convention 90/436/EEC on the elimination of double taxation in connection with the adjustments of profits of associated enterprises.

"This directive is an important part of our plan for strengthening tax certainty and improving the business environment in Europe", said Edward Scicluna, minister for finance of Malta, which currently holds the Council presidency.

Situations where different member states tax the same income or capital twice can create serious obstacles to doing business across borders. They create an excessive tax burden, can cause economic distortions and have a negative impact on cross-border investment.

The draft directive requires dispute resolution mechanisms to be mandatory and binding, with clear time limits and an obligation to reach results. It thereby sets out to secure a tax environment where compliance costs for businesses are reduced to a minimum.

The text allows for a 'mutual agreement procedure' to be initiated by the taxpayer, under which member states must reach an agreement within two years. If the procedure fails, an arbitration procedure is launched to resolve the dispute within specified timelines. For this, an advisory panel of three to five independent arbitrators is appointed together with up to two representatives of each member state. The panel ('advisory commission') issues an opinion for eliminating the double taxation in the disputed case, which is binding on the member states involved unless they agree on an alternative solution.

The Council endorsed a compromise reached on the following issues:

• scope of the directive, i.e. the types of disputes that should be covered. The Council agreed on a broad scope but with the possibility, on a case-by-case basis, of excluding disputes that do not involve double taxation;
• 'independent persons of standing': criteria to ensure the independence of those appointed to a pool of independent arbitrators. It was agreed that arbitrators must not be employees of tax advice companies or have given tax advice on a professional basis. Unless agreed otherwise, the panel chair must be a judge;
• standing committee: the possibility of setting up a permanent structure to deal with dispute resolution cases if member states so agree.

Next steps

Agreement was reached at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Council. The Council will adopt the directive once the European Parliament has given its opinion.

Member states will have until 30 June 2019 to transpose the directive into national laws and regulations. It will apply to complaints submitted after that date on questions relating to the tax year starting on or after 1 January 2018. The member states may however agree to apply the directive to complaints related to earlier tax years.

The Council, meeting in an EU27 format, adopted a decision authorising the opening of Brexit negotiations with the UK and formally nominating the Commission as EU negotiator. The Council also adopted negotiating directives for the talks. 

Both texts are based on a recommendation presented by the Commission on 3 May 2017 and build on the guidelines adopted by the European Council (Art.50) on 29 April 2017. Their adoption allows for the start of negotiations with the UK following the notification of its intention to withdraw from the EU (under article 50 of the Treaty of the EU).

"Today we have established the EU position on the key issues for the beginning of the talks. The rights of citizens are at the very top of our agenda and we aim for an ambitious solution, where those affected continue to enjoy their rights".

Louis Grech, Deputy Prime Minister of Malta and President of the CouncilNegotiating directives and phased approach

This first set of negotiating directives is intended to guide the Commission for the first phase of the negotiations. They therefore prioritise issues that have been identified as necessary for an orderly withdrawal of the UK, including citizens' rights, the financial settlement and the situation of Ireland, as well as other matters in which there is a risk of legal uncertainty as a consequence of Brexit.

The first phase of the talks aims to provide as much clarity and legal certainty as possible and to settle the disentanglement of the UK from the EU. Once the European Council deems sufficient progress has been achieved, the negotiations will proceed to the next phase.

An agreement on a future relationship between the EU and the UK can only be concluded once the UK effectively leaves the EU and becomes a third country. However, discussions on an overall understanding of that future relationship could start during a second phase of the negotiations.

The negotiating directives may be amended and supplemented during the negotiations.

Citizens' rights

The first priority for the negotiations is to agree on guarantees to protect the rights of EU and UK citizens, and their family members, that are affected by Brexit. The EU27 insist that such guarantees should be reciprocal and based on equal treatment among EU27 citizens and compared to UK citizens. This should cover, among others, the right to permanent residence after five years of legal residence, including if this period is incomplete on the date of withdrawal but is completed afterwards.

The negotiating directives specify that workers, self-employed persons, students and other inactive persons should be covered, as well as frontier workers and family members. Guarantees should protect residence rights and free movement, as well as all the rights attached to them (such as health care). All rights should be protected for the lifetime of the persons concerned.

Financial settlement

The EU27 agree there must be a single financial settlement and the UK must honour its share of all the obligations undertaken while being a member. The UK should also fully cover the specific costs related to the withdrawal, such as the relocation of EU agencies currently based in the UK. The agreement should include a calculation of the total amount and a schedule of payments, as well as further rules and arrangements to address specific issues.

The situation of Ireland

The EU is committed to continue to support peace, stability and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. Nothing in the UK withdrawal agreement should undermine the objectives and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement. Negotiations should aim to avoid a hard border, while respecting EU law. Issues such as the transit of goods will need to be addressed.

Goods placed on the market and procedures based on EU law

The negotiating directives also cover other issues were arrangements are needed to reduce uncertainty and avoid a legal vacuum. This includes addressing what will happen with procedures based on EU law and with goods already on the market. For instance, if a product is already placed on the single market before the withdrawal, it should be ensured that it can remain in the market afterwards.

Other matters where there may be a need to reduce uncertainty or avoid a legal vacuum, such as services, will be covered in future negotiating directives.

Next steps

The Commission will agree with the UK the dates for the first negotiating sessions. The first formal meeting between the EU and the UK negotiators is likely to take place in June.

Over 350 000 documents are listed in the Council's register, and over 70% of these are public and can be downloaded for free. That is one of the key points in the Council's 2016 report on access to documents which was approved by the Council on 22 May 2017. 

During 2016, 22 671 documents were added to the register, of which 71%, or 16 181 documents, are public. The Council's public register was consulted around 380 000 times and attracted 9% of the Council's website traffic.

To get access to a document in the Council's register that is not public from the outset any interested person can request access. If access is refused at an initial stage a confirmatory application can be made. In 2016, the Council received 2 342 initial requests for access to documents and 24 confirmatory applications, requiring the analysis of 10 232 documents. Full access was granted to 7 307 documents (of which 7 273 at initial stage) and partial access to 556 documents (501 at initial stage). More than 76 % of the documents for which access was requested were released in full, and more than 82 % either in full or partially.

For some documents access was refused on the basis of legitimate reasons outlined in the EU regulation on the access to documents. These include in particular the need to protect the Council's decision-making process and public interest with regard to international relations and public security.

Media programme

+/- 10.00 Arrival of President of the United States Donald Trump
Official welcome at the car
(Europa VIP entrance outside, level 0 - photo/TV opportunity - pool A)

Official handshake
(Europa Forum, level 0 - photo/TV opportunity - pool B)
Meeting with President of the United States Donald Trump, President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker

Enlarged meeting including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and High Representative Federica Mogherini

+/- 11.00 Departure
(Europa VIP entrance, level 0 - photo/TV opportunity - same pool A)

Photographers and cameramen wishing to join one of the pools must express their interest by sending a request by email before Tuesday 22 May 2017, 17.00 to press.centre@consilium.europa.eu.

Pool A & B are incompatible. For security reasons the pool meeting point will be 60 minutes before the event at the Justus Lipsius press centre. No late comers will be accepted. The Council press office is responsible for the composition of the pool.

Access & accreditation

Access to the Council premises is only possible with the specific event badge or 6 month badge (see accreditation information).

Due to security measures, media wishing to access the premises are strongly advised to arrive well in advance. Media access will only be possible through the Justus Lipsius building.

Host broadcaster coverage

Photos and video coverage of the event will be available for preview and download on http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu
Live streaming will be available on http://video.consilium.europa.eu

 

Tuesday 23 May 2017
13.00 Meeting with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg

Wednesday 24 May 2017
Aachen (Germany)
19.30 Speech at the dinner in honour of Charlemagne Prize Laureate 2017, Timothy Garton Ash

Thursday 25 May 2017
EU-US Leaders' meeting (Europa building)
10.00 Welcome of President of the United States Donald Trump
10.05 Meeting with President of the United States Donald Trump and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker
10.20 Enlarged meeting including European Parliament President Antonio Tajani and High Representative Federica Mogherini

13.00 Meeting with President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker

Friday 26 and Saturday 27 May 2017
Taormina (Italy)
10.15 Joint press briefing with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker 

G7 Summit

Sunday 28 May 2017
Bratislava
12.30 Intervention at the Globsec 2017 conference

Place:         Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair:         Louis Grech, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs of Malta

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 09.30
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 10.15
Doorstep by Deputy Prime Minister Grech

11.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda

Decision to create a working party on Article 50

Decision to authorise the opening of Brexit negotiations and nominate the Commission as EU negotiator. Adoption of negotiating directives

Preparation of the European Council (Art. 50) in June 2017

+/- 12.00
Press conference (live streaming)

+/- 12.30
Working lunch

Europa and Justus Lipsius building - Brussels

The 19th bilateral summit between the EU and China will take place on 1-2 June in Brussels. European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will represent the European Union. China will be represented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

Media Programme 

The media programme will be available in the coming days. The meeting is expected to start late afternoon on 1 June and finish around lunchtime on 2 June. 

Accreditation

• Journalists holding a 6-month badge (01.01.2017 - 30.06.2017) do not need to register.
  Journalists without the above badge must apply on https://eventaccreditationjour.consilium.europa.eu
• Media representatives applying for the first time or who have not been recently screened will be the subject of a comprehensive and detailed verification by our security service. Considering the time and resources needed for these verifications, not all requests may be processed. Media are therefore advised to avoid sending representatives falling into these categories. 
• 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 present when collecting your badge. Depending on your profile, the requested documents will include: Passport or ID card, press card and/or a signed original letter from your editor-in chief as well as the signed original of your authorisation for security screening (only for media representatives 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.

Collection of badges

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

• Thursday 1 June - 14.00 - 19.00
• Friday 2 June - 8.30 to the end of the final press conference

Photos and video coverage of the event will be available for preview and download on http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu

Live streaming will be available on http://video.consilium.europa.eu

For more details on the EU-China Summit,  see the meeting page.

Place:        Europa building, Brussels 

Chair(s):    Evarist Bartolo, Minister for Education and Employment of Malta
                   Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government 

All times are approximate and subject to change 

MONDAY, 22 MAY 2017

 +/- 09.30      
Doorstep by Minister Bartolo 

+/- 10.00      
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable)
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of legislative A Items (public session)
Adoption of non-legislative A items 

YOUTH 

+/- 10.35 
Conclusions on the role of youth work in supporting young people's development of essential life skills  Adoption 
+/- 10.45 
Conclusions on the strategic perspectives for European cooperation in the youth field post-2018 - Adoption 
+/- 10.55      
Resolution on the Structured Dialogue and the future development of the dialogue with young people  -Adoption
+/- 11.05      
Building Europe's future - listening to and supporting young people (public session) -Debate 

EDUCATION 

+/- 15.15      
Decision on a common framework for the provision of better services for skills and qualifications (Europass) (public session) - Progress report
+/- 15.25      
Recommendation on the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning - Adoption
+/- 15.35
Giving learners a voice: how to improve and modernise our systems to provide high quality education for all - Debate

+/- 18.00      
Press conference (live streaming) - main press room Justus Lipsius building 

TUESDAY, 22 MAY 2017

+/- 09.15      
Doorstep by Minister Bonnici 

+/- 10.00      
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable) 

AUDIOVISUAL/CULTURE 

+/- 10.10      
Directive on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services in view of changing market realities (public session) 
+/- 11.40      
Council conclusions on an EU strategic approach to international cultural relations -Adoption 

+/- 13.15      
Press conference - tbc (live streaming) - - main press room Justus Lipsius building  

SPORT 

+/- 15.15      
Conclusionson sport as a platform for social inclusion through volunteering -Adoption 
+/- 15.30      
Resolution on the European Union Work Plan for Sport (1 July 2017 - 31 December 2020) - Adoption
+/- 15.40      
Sports media and its role in strengthening social inclusion (public session) - Debate

Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, and Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission held meetings today, in Brussels, with Professor Yoon Je Cho, the Special Envoy of President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea. 

The decision of President Moon to send a special envoy to the European Union is an indication of the strength of the Strategic Partnership between the European Union and the Republic of Korea. President Tusk had earlier today spoken with President Moon, with both sides agreeing to work together to consolidate the Strategic Partnership and to meet at the G20 Summit in Hamburg in July.  

The exchanges with the Special Envoy focused on the Korean Peninsula and other regional and global matters of common interest. President Tusk and the High Representative/Vice-President conveyed that the EU will remain a strong partner in promoting peace, security and an open, rules-based trading system.  

President Tusk and High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini stressed that the European Union is ready to increase its work, in full coordination with the Republic of Korea and the international community, to de-escalate tensions and peacefully denuclearise the Korean Peninsula. The EU will also continue its work to promote respect for human rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and to ensure that the current sanctions regimes regarding North Korea are effectively implemented by the international community. The European Union is implementing all the restrictive measures imposed by the UN Security Council and its additional autonomous restrictive measures on the DPRK are the most stringent the European Union has on any third country. The European Union calls upon North Korea to engage in a credible and meaningful dialogue with the international community and is ready to support such dialogue. The High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini also discussed with Professor Yoon Je Cho the experience the EU has on the nuclear-non-proliferation agenda, that is at the full disposal of the international community.

President Tusk and the High Representative/Vice-President Mogherini both expressed their readiness to work closely with President Moon and the new Korean government.

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels
Chair:        Edward Scicluna, Minister for Finance of Malta

All times are approximate and subject to change.

from 07.00
Arrivals (live streaming)

+/- 07.45 (time to be confirmed)
Doorstep by Minister Scicluna

08.00
Annual EIB governors meeting  (Roundtable)

10.00
Beginning of the Council meeting
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of legislative A items (public session)

Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (public session)

Common Corporate Tax Base (public session)

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

Approval of non-legislative A items

Movement of capital:
-   2016 EFC Report on the movement of capital and the freedom of payments
-   Report from the Commission - accelerating the Capitals Markets Union: Addressing national barriers to capital flows

European Semester 2017
- Macroeconomic Imbalance Procedure (MIP)

Follow-up to the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors on 20-21 April 2017 and of the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings on 21-23 April 2017 in Washington

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

*           *           *

In the margins of the Council:

22 May - Eurogroup meeting

15.00
Roundtable

At the end of the meeting
Press conference

23 May

08.00
Annual EIB governors meeting (Roundtable)

09.00
Ministerial breakfast

14.00
Economic and Financial Dialogue between the EU and the Western Balkans and Turkey  (Roundtable)

On 19 May 2017, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed on a negotiating mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on all four legislative proposals on waste, which are part of the Circular economy package submitted by the Commission on 3 December 2015. 

The four legislative proposals introduce additional measures to reduce waste generation, control waste management, boost recycling and cut resource use. They aim at bringing benefits to our economy, environment and health.  

These new proposals amend six waste related legislation as follows: 

• Waste framework directive
• Packaging waste directive
• Landfill directive
• Directive on electrical and electronic waste, on end-of-life vehicles; and on batteries and accumulators and waste batteries and accumulators

Today's Council mandate is the result of intensive work and discussions on all four proposals during three Council Presidencies (NL, SK and MT). The Maltese Presidency has now obtained support to initiate talks with the European Parliament with a view to a possible first reading agreement. A first trilogue meeting is scheduled on 30 May.

Negotiations are expected to focus on a number of outstanding elements, including the definitions, the setting of binding targets and their calculation rules, end-of-waste criteria, extended producer responsibility schemes and waste prevention. 

Background 

The European Commission presented a new revised circular economy package on 3 December 2015. It consists of four waste legislative proposals and an Action Plan in the form of a Commission Communication. 

The action plan was discussed during the Competitiveness Council on 29 February 2016 and the Environment Council on 4 March 2016. Taking into account both discussions from an economic and environmental perspective, and following further discussions in the working group, the Council adopted conclusions on the plan in the Environment Council of 20 June 2016. 

The Council has been intensively discussing the legislative proposals since the revised package was submitted with the aim of reaching a balanced compromise text.

At its plenary session last 14 March 2017, the European Parliament voted on a mandate to open negotiations with the Council. 

The Council supports the promotion of responsible supply chains in the textile and clothing sector. It adopted conclusions recognising the potential of this sector as a driver of development and emancipation, but also acknowledging the economic, social and environmental challenges posed by the garment value chains. Deadly accidents such as the collapse of the factory in Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013 underline the importance of preventing human rights violations and of promoting corporate social responsibility in the garment sector.