Forward look: 25 November - 8 December 2019 - Main contents
Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council.
Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 25 November 2019
The Council will discuss the future financial architecture for sustainable development and neighbourhood and how the EU and member states can work better together to support the development of countries in transition, focusing on the cases of Ethiopia and Sudan. Development ministers will have an exchange of view on gender and education with the Minister of Education of Ethiopia, Dr. Tilaye Gete.
Competitiveness Council, 28-29 November
The two-days Council will be asked to agree on representative actions for consumers, country-by-country reporting, regulation on the European Institute of Technology (EIT), recitals and annex IV of the Horizon Europe regulation and (possibly) Euratom research programme. It will debate external dimension of the European competitiveness and ways of fostering a sustainable space economy. Finally, it will adopt conclusions on space solutions for a sustainable Arctic, on circular economy in the construction sector and on the updated EU bioeconomy strategy.
Justice and Home Affairs Council, 2 and 3 December 2019
On Monday home affairs ministers will hold two thematic debates on the implementation of the strategic agenda 2019-2024, one in the field of EU migration and asylum policy and a second on EU internal security. On Tuesday, justice ministers will aim to reach general approaches on the regulation on the service of documents and the regulation on the taking of evidence, and exchange views on the issue of environmental crime. They will also aim to adopt conclusions on victims' rights and alternative measures to detention, as part of discussions on the implementation of the strategic agenda.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport issues), 2 December 2019
The Council will aim to agree its position three proposals: updating rail passengers' rights, streamlining permit-granting measures for the trans-European transport network (TEN-T), and revising EU road charging rules (Eurovignette). Ministers will discuss 'digital transport services for people: the next steps for sustainable European solutions' and the future of the Single European Sky.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecomms issues), 3 December 2019
The Council agenda will include a proposal to update privacy rules for electronic communications (ePrivacy). Ministers will discuss the European Union as a hub for ethical data use. The Council will adopt conclusions on the significance of 5G to the European Economy and the need to mitigate security risks linked to 5G.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy issues), 4 December 2019
The Council will discuss smart sector integration, the new Commission's energy policy priorities, and follow-up to the draft national energy and climate plans.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 5 December 2019
The ECOFIN Council will take stock of progress on banking union. It will also adopt a work plan on climate action and conclusions on energy taxation, money laundering, capital markets union, non performing loans and the financial architecture for development.
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