On Tuesday 17 November 2015, the 'General Affairs' Council (GAC) of the European Union (EU) was held in Brussels, as Luxembourg prepares to hand over the Presidency of the Council of the EU to the Netherlands for 2016.
The meeting was chaired by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, and was also attended by Nicolas Schmit, Minister of Labour, Employment and Immigration in charge of European Parliament relations.
The GAC first attended to preparations for the European Council of 17 and 18 December 2015, exchanging views on the migration crisis, the economic and monetary union, the single market and the role of the UK within the EU. Also at the heart of discussions was the fight against terrorism, following the attacks which erupted in Paris last Friday.
Ministers then held the first dialogue on the rule of law within the European Union. The Luxembourg Presidency invited ministers to share examples of both good practices and challenges faced in this domain. Minister Asselborn welcomed the Dutch Presidency, which will be taken up in January 2016, to initiate constructive monitoring to strengthen the rule of law in the EU, whilst being able to rely on the experience of the first dialogue under the Luxembourg Presidency.
The Paris attacks on 13 November led to the ministers discussing the relationship between the rule of law and the fight against terrorism, with the Luxembourg Foreign Minister emphasising that "the fight against terrorism can only be done on the foundations of the rule of law". The rule of law was then evaluated in the context of the digital age and on the basis of a Presidency discussion paper. The Council heard a presentation from the Commission on the results of its annual conference on human rights, which took place on 1 and 2 October earlier this year.
Minister Nicolas Schmit then informed those present of the progress of negotiations between the Council, the European Commision and the European Parliament on the interinstitutional agreement on better regulation (IIA). Ministers exchanged views on the basis of a Presidency note for the finalisation of the negotiations, which Minister Asselborn deemed could be concluded before the end of the year.
This was followed up by a presentation of the Commission's work programme for the year 2016 and a discussion of the annual programme, before the Presidency, in consultancy with the future Dutch Presidency of the Council of the EU, presented the roadmap for the European Semester 2016.
Photo by MAEE (L-R: Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Belgium, Didier Reynders; Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg; French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Harlem Désir)
