On Tuesday 15 December 2015, several Luxembourg Ministers will be in Brussels to participate in the 'General Affairs' Council (GAC) of the European Union.
The Council will be chaired by Luxembourg Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean Asselborn, and will be geared primarily towards preparations for the European Council on 17 and 18 December 2015. Ministers will discuss in particular findings and will review the report of the five presidents on completing the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Minister Asselborn is expected to inform his political counterparts, on behalf of the Luxembourg Presidency, of the outcome of discussions within the Council on the proposals contained in the report. Ministers will also exchange views on issues of migration, the fight against terrorism, the internal market and climate policy, as well as the role of the UK within the EU.
The Council will then deal with negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the institutional agreement on better law-making ('IIA'). After three months of intensive negotiations by the Luxembourg Presidency, the Council will examine the draft text agreed by the negotiators of the three institutions. This will be covered by Luxembourg Minister of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy, Minister in charge of relations with the European Parliament and Chief Negotiator for the Council, Nicolas Schmit. Once formally adopted the agreement will formalise the terms of better inter-institutional cooperation for coming years and provide quality legislation through a transparent and effective legislative process.
The Luxembourg Presidency will present the results of the COP21 climate conference in Paris. In addition, at the request of the European Parliament, the Council Presidency will present a statement on the situation of asylum seekers in the EU. Minister Schmit will replace the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, in discussions on EU relations with China, the 20th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords and the implementation of an EU common position on arms exports.
The Commission will then present its annual review of 2015 growth, marking the launch of the European semester. This is the annual cycle of economic governance in the EU, which sets the overall priorities of the EU in economic and social matters.
Ministers will then have the opportunity to hold an annual exchange of views on enlargement and the process of stabilisation and association on the basis of draft conclusions prepared by the Presidency. Under the Luxembourg Presidency, new negotiatings chapters will be opened with Turkey and Montenegro, whilst first chapters will be opened with Serbia.
Finally, the GAC will follow the presentation of the Council's work programme for the next eighteen months, developed by the trio of presidencies of the Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta, in close collaboration with the Commission and the President of the European Council.
Photo by MAEE (Jean Asselborn)
