Main topics and media events 13 - 26 November 2017 - Main contents
Overview of the main subjects to be discussed at meetings of the Council of the EU over the next two weeks.
Foreign Affairs Council (including Defence), 13 November 2017
The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss Africa-EU relations and EU strategic communications. Over lunch, foreign ministers will be joined by defence ministers to discuss security and defence. The Council will adopt conclusions on security and defence. Defence ministers will then discuss EU-NATO cooperation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The European Defence Agency's steering board meeting with the Defence ministers will be held after the Foreign Affairs Council (defence).
In the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, those member states who intend to join the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) are expected to jointly sign the notification letter addressed to the Council and the High Representative.
General Affairs Council (Cohesion policy), 15 November 2017
The Council will be updated on ongoing work to amend the Common Provisions Regulation. It will also discuss on the future of Cohesion Policy post 2020.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget), 17 November 2017
The Council will prepare negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU's general budget for 2018. The negotiations will be held at a conciliation committee meeting the same day.
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 20 and 21 November 2017
The Council will discuss a wide range of topics. During the Youth session ministers will aim to reach a general approach on the European Solidarity Corps, as well as adopt conclusions on Smart Youth Work. Education ministers will then discuss the renewed EU agenda for higher education, as well as school development and excellent teaching.
On the second day, the Culture session will focus on the adoption of conclusions on promoting access to culture via digital means with a focus on audience. During the final session on Sports, ministers will adopt conclusions on the role of coaches in society and close up the meeting with a resolution on further developing the EU Structured Dialogue on sport.
General Affairs Council, 20 November 2017
The Council will start preparations for the December European Council. Also on the agenda are the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, the Commission's work programme for 2018, and the 2018 European Semester roadmap. In addition, the Council will adopt conclusions on cybersecurity.
General Affairs Council (Art. 50), 20 November 2017
EU27 ministers will discuss the state of play of the Brexit negotiations and in the margins of the meeting will vote on the new locations for the EU agencies currently based in the UK.
Eastern Partnership Summit, 24 November 2017
The 5th Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit will take place in Brussels. Leaders will take stock of what has been achieved since the last summit and look forward to future cooperation on 4 priority areas, economy, governance, connectivity and society, focusing on tangible benefits to deliver to the citizens.
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