General Affairs Council, 24 June 2014

EU candidate status for Albania

The General Affairs Council meeting on 24 June granted EU candidate status to Albania, and adopted the EU maritime strategy and solidarity clause. Ministers also dealt with preparations for the upcoming European Council summit.

The Council decided to grant Albania candidate status. The decision is now subject to approval by the European Council. The Council also urged the Western Balkan country to step up the fight against corruption and organised crime, and do more to help relieve immigration pressures on the Union.

The ministers also made preparations for the next European Council meeting, which will take place on 26 and 27 June.

On 26 June, EU leaders will commemorate the outbreak of the First World War with a ceremony and a dinner in the city of Ypres. They are expected to focus their dinner discussion on the future of the EU, its priorities and purpose in the years to come.

Back to Brussels on 27 June, EU leaders will debate:

• strategic guidelines for the area of freedom, security and justice and some related issues such as data protection and free movement of EU citizens
• growth, competitiveness and jobs, endorsing the country specific recommendations linked to the 2014 European Semester
• climate and energy topics. Leaders will also discuss the recent communication on a European Energy Security Strategy outlining progress to be made on how to reduce dependency on third countries for energy supply

Specific external relations issues, especially relations with Ukraine and Russia and other eastern partners will also be high on the agenda of the European Council.

Leaders will sign the Association Agreements with the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine, and congratulate Lithuania on meeting the convergence criteria to adopt the euro on 1 January 2015.

They will also consider developments on the nomination of the next president of the European Commission.

Other topics on the agenda

EU maritime strategy

The Council adopted a strategy providing the political and strategic framework to address maritime security challenges.

Implementation by the Union of the Solidarity Clause

Ministers adopted a decision on the solidarity clause which provides EU assistance to any member state facing a crisis situation of major proportions such as terrorist attack, natural or man-made disaster. The mechanism is designed to ensure a rapid and coordinated EU political response and a quick mobilisation of all relevant EU crisis structures to these catastrophes.

EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region

Ministers exchanged views on a macro-regional strategy bringing together 8 countries of the region to boost cooperation for more growth and jobs.

18-month programme of the Council

The Council endorsed the programme drawn up by the incoming trio of presidencies (Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg) which sets out the Council's activities for the next 18 months.