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Ministers continued preparations for the European Council meeting on 29 and 30 June 2023 by discussing draft conclusions.
At their meeting, EU leaders will focus on:
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
economic issues
cooperation in the field of security and defence
migration
China and the upcoming EU-CELAC summit
Leaders will also receive information on the process towards the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029.
A lot of work has been done in the past few months on the main issues on the European political agenda. As we hand over the presidency to our Spanish colleagues, I am very proud of the progress achieved. The EU has provided strong support for Ukraine and is ready to continue doing so for as long as it takes. We have achieved a historic agreement on the migration pact, and the EU’s long-term competitiveness is now firmly the focus of our work.
Jessika Roswall, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs of Sweden
In public session, the Council took stock of work on the European Parliament's proposal for revising EU rules on European Parliament elections.
The proposal was last discussed among ministers at the General Affairs Council meeting in October 2022. Since then, the presidency has conducted a survey of member states’ detailed views on the different provisions of the EP proposal.
During the discussion at the Council meeting, ministers highlighted the main provisions that they are open to discussing further, as well as the proposals that they find difficult to support.
The debate confirmed member states’ strongsupport forefforts to strengthen the European dimension of EP elections, as well as their varying viewson specific elements of the EP proposal.
Several ministers stressed the importance of respecting national specificities in organising elections and expressed reservations about various proposals to harmonise the electoral process across the EU. The biggest difficulties concerned the proposals regarding the lead candidate process and an EU-wide constituency based on transnational lists.
The incoming Spanish presidency stated its intention to take forward work on the proposed revision of European electoral law on the basis of the results of the survey.
The Council endorsed its18-month programme, covering the period 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2024.
The programme was prepared by the Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian presidencies, and the High Representative as regards the Foreign Affairs Council, in cooperation with the Commission.
Against the backdrop of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, combined with increasing global uncertainty, the programme places focus on:
reinforcing the EU’s global competitiveness by strengthening Europe’s industrial base
ensuring the twin transitions are fair, just and inclusive by enhancing the social dimension of Europe
strengthening international partnerships, multilateral cooperation, and security in all its dimensions
As part of the 2023 European Semester, the Council approvedintegrated country-specific recommendations (CSRs) and decided to transmit them to the European Council for endorsement.
The CSRs provide member states with yearly guidance on national reforms. They adapt priorities identified at EU level to the national level.
After their endorsement by EU leaders in June, they are due to be formally adopted in the Council in July.
The Council received information from Poland regarding the EU Emissions Trading System, increasing energy prices and the related socio-economic challenges.
Any other business
Under 'Any other business', the presidency informed ministers about the Stockholm symposium on democracy and the rule of law, which took place on 21 and 22 June 2023.
The Council also approved the items on the lists of legislative and non-legislative A items without discussion.
Informal exchange with Nicolae Popescu
Over lunch, ministers held an informal exchange with Nicolae Popescu, Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration, on Moldova’s EU integration and reforms towards EU membership.
A lot of work has been done in the past few months on the main issues on the European political agenda. As we hand over the presidency to our Spanish colleagues, I am very proud of the progress achieved. The EU has provided strong support for Ukraine and is ready to continue doing so for as long as it takes. We have achieved a historic agreement on the migration pact, and the EU’s long-term competitiveness is now firmly the focus of our work.