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The Council adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a new partnership with the UK and formally nominating the Commission as the EU negotiator. The Council also adopted negotiating directives which constitute a mandate to the Commission for the negotiations.
The Council has adopted a clear and strong mandate for our negotiator, Michel Barnier. This confirms our readiness to offer an ambitious, wide-ranging and balanced partnership to the UK for the benefit of both sides. The EU is now ready to start negotiations.
Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs
The first formal meeting between the EU and UK negotiators is expected to take place in early March. EU ministers also discussed the next steps in the EU-UK relationship.
Ministers started preparations for the European Council meeting of 27-28 March by discussing an annotated draft agenda.
At their meeting in March, EU leaders will discuss how to strengthen the economic base of the EU. They will also exchange views on the EU's digital policy.
In line with its conclusions of October 2019, the European Council will return to the issue of enlargement. Under external relations, it will hold an exchange of views on preparations for the Western Balkans summit to be held in Zagreb in May. Leaders will also hold a strategic discussion on EU-China relations.
The EU agreed its negotiating mandate and is ready to start talks with the UK on an ambitious partnership.
Enlargement
The Commission presented to ministers its proposals for a revised enlargement methodology.
The proposals were set out in its communication of 5 February 2020 on 'Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans'. Their overall aim is to enhance credibility and trust on both sides and yield better results on the ground.
The Commission is now expected to present updates on the reform process in Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. The presidency’s intention is to pave the way, on the basis of those updates and the revised methodology, for an informed and comprehensive discussion with a view to a positive decision on those two countries.
Andreja Metelko-Zgombić, Croatian State Secretary for European Affairs
The Council discussed legislative work in 2020 and multiannual programming, which will take place for the first time with the 2019-2024 Commission.
Both annual and multiannual programming exercises are provided for in the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, agreed on in 2016. Their aim is to improve cooperation between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament in setting and delivering on the EU's political agenda.
Ministers outlined their views on the areas and legislative proposals to be included in the joint declaration on the EU's legislative priorities for 2020. They also discussed which major policy objectives could be included in the multiannual programme and how to monitor the implementation of the joint conclusions, to be drawn up by the three institutions.
On the basis of the debate, interinstitutional negotiations will start on the joint declaration on the EU's legislative priorities for 2020. The Council is expected to approve that declaration at its meeting on 24 March and return to the multiannual programme in May.
Under 'any other business', the Commission informed ministers about ongoing preparations for the annual rule of law cycle and report, presented in its communication of 17 July 2019.
The Commission focused on the methodology that it intends to follow for preparing its report and the information that it plans to gather. It stressed its intention to involve member states as closely as possible in the process.
The Council has adopted a clear and strong mandate for our negotiator, Michel Barnier. This confirms our readiness to offer an ambitious, wide-ranging and balanced partnership to the UK for the benefit of both sides. The EU is now ready to start negotiations.