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Ministers started preparations for the European Council meeting on 15 and 16 December 2022 by discussing an annotated draft agenda.
At their meeting in December, EU leaders will address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in all its dimensions and the EU’s continued support to Ukraine. They will also revert to the topics of energy and economy.
On security and defence, the European Council will discuss the implementation of the Strategic Compass and ways to further increase the EU’s security and defence capacity. It will also give guidance on support to EU partners.
Leaders will also hold a strategic discussion on relations with the Southern Neighbourhood and may address other specific foreign policy issues in the light of events.
As part of the Article 7(1) TEU procedure regarding Hungary, the Council held a hearing.
The hearing covered all the issues raised by the European Parliament in its reasoned proposal from September 2018, which triggered this procedure. The exchanges focused in particular on the fight against corruption, including the recent anti-corruption measures implemented by Hungary, the independence of the judiciary, the functioning of the constitutional and electoral system, media freedom and LGBTIQ rights.
Our dialogue with Hungary on respect for EU values is continuing. In the past months, important developments have taken place on the various issues raised by the Parliament’s reasoned proposal. Hungary has presented a list of reforms that are being implemented or are due to be implemented soon and answered ministers' questions on the details of these reforms as well as Hungary’s other commitments and the Commission’s recommendations. The hearing gave ministers a timely update of the situation on the ground, including as regards the parallel budget conditionality mechanism.
Mikuláš Bek, Czech Minister for European Affairs
Ministers assessed the state of play of EU-UK relations, focusing on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, in particular the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. They reaffirmed their support to the European Commission's approach. They reiterated in particular the EU’s readiness to constructively discuss a negotiated solution within the Protocol to the practical difficulties in implementing it on the ground and called on the UK government to engage seriously and constructively to find joint solutions.
Unilateral action by the UK, such as the proposed Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, makes the work on possible solutions more difficult and undermines long-term legal certainty and predictability for the people and businesses in Northern Ireland. The EU has called on the UK to abandon this path and remains ready to react to any further developments in this direction.
As part of the annual legislative programming exercise, the Commission presented its 2023 work programme to the Council. Ministers exchanged views on the priorities for the work of the EU institutions until the EP elections in 2024. By December, the three EU institutions are set to agree on the Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2023-2024.
Based on a request by the German delegation, the Council briefly addressed the latest state of play on the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe, including the planned programme and preparation of the feedback event.
Cybersecurity
Without discussion, the Council adopted its position on a draft regulation on cybersecurity at the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. The measures set out to improve their resilience and incident response capacities and to address the disparities in their approach by creating a common framework.
The Council decided to authorise the opening of negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia to broaden agreements on Frontex cooperation. On the basis of these mandates, the Commission will now be able to start negotiations with the four countries.
Our dialogue with Hungary on respect for EU values is continuing. In the past months, important developments have taken place on the various issues raised by the Parliament’s reasoned proposal. Hungary has presented a list of reforms that are being implemented or are due to be implemented soon and answered ministers' questions on the details of these reforms as well as Hungary’s other commitments and the Commission’s recommendations. The hearing gave ministers a timely update of the situation on the ground, including as regards the parallel budget conditionality mechanism.
