Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005.
The 4th Eastern Partnership Summit takes place on 21 and 22 May 2015 in Riga. At this occasion, EU leaders will meet representatives of the EaP partner countries to reconfirm the importance the EU attaches to its Eastern Partnership (EaP).
The Middle East peace process is on the top of the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, taking place on 18 May 2015, in Brussels.
Defence ministers review EU military operations, on 18 May 2015, in Brussels.
EU Ministers of Education, Culture, Youth, Sport and Communication meet in Brussels on 18-19 May 2015. The Council will focus on Education and Youth on the first day, and on Culture, Audiovisual and Sport on the second day.
EU Finance Ministers will meet on 12 May 2015 in Brussels to discuss ongoing work on the proposed European fund for strategic investments, the Commission's in-depth reviews of macroeconomic imbalances in the member states, as well as implementation of structural reforms.
To celebrate Europe day, held every year on 9 May, the EU institutions open their doors to the public. Visitors to the Council are be able to take guided tours of the facilities and learn more about the work of the institutions on the available information stands. Events and activities for all ages take place throughout the day.
On 14 November 2005, the Council established an EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories (EUPOL COPPS) under the European Security and Defence Policy. The operational phase began on 1 January 2006 with an initial duration of 3 years.
Eurozone Ministers meet on 11 May 2015 in Brussels, to discuss the economic situation, growth and jobs.
EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries meet on 11 May 2015 in Brussels, to discuss the development of organic production in the EU and the simplification of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The Eastern Partnership aims to strengthen and deepen the EU's relations with its six partner countries to the east, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in areas such as political association, free trade, migration, energy etc.
Point de presse de Michel SAPIN, Ministre français des Finances et des Comptes publics, le 7 mai 2015.
Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, meets EU Leaders.
Formal relations between the European Union and the United Arab Emirates developed in the framework of the 1988 EU-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cooperation Agreement
The EU-CELAC Summit takes place on 10 & 11 June 2015, in Brussels. 33 states - forming the Community of Latin America and Caribbean - are coming to Brussels to meet the EU-28 at the level of Heads of State or government. They will discuss issues such as trade and development and common challenges such as fight against crime and climate change.
In 2003, EU-China relations were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Over ninety dialogues and working groups feed the work of annual EU-China Summit.
The negotiations on TTIP, trade aspects of the EU's Eastern Partnership, and preparations for the WTO's 10th ministerial conference in Nairobi are the main subjects of the Foreign Affairs Council on Trade, on 7 May 2015 in Brussels
The EU-Republic of Korea relationship is based on the 2001 Framework Agreement for Trade and Cooperation. On 6 October, the Parties signed a Free Trade Agreement.
Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, at the European Parliament.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has provided a forum for dialogue between Europeans and Asians since 1996.