Ministers van Financiën gaan 29 mei de meerjarenbegroting en G20-top bespreken (en)

Brussels, 25 May 2012

BACKGROUND¹ GERAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL Tuesday 29 May in Brussels

The Council will start at 10.00 with a discussion on a comprehensive version of the negotiating box for the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020.

The Council will discuss a draft annotated agenda for the June meeting of the European Council. It will also hold an exchange of views in preparation for the G20 summit to be held in Mexico in June.

A presidency press conference will be held at the end of the Council (+/-13.30).

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This note has been drawn up under the responsibility of the press office

Council of the European Union General Secretariat - press office press.office@consilium.europa.eu Tel.: +32 (0)2 281 63 19

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Multiannual financial framework - public session

The Council will discuss the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period on the basis of a negotiating box which, for the first time, covers all elements of the MFF on both the expenditure and the revenue side (REV 1 + ).

The negotiating box is a paper drafted by the presidency outlining the main elements and options for the MFF negotiations. It is constantly updated as negotiations move forward and is ultimately intended as the basis for an agreement of the European Council. Once an agreement is reached, its content will feed into legislative work on the different legal acts

For the time being, the negotiating box only contains a small number of figures in square brackets. Later in the negotiation process figures for the ceilings of the individual headings of the MFF will be added. The Commission is also expected to come forward with an updated proposal on the MFF which among other things will integrate its spring economic forecast into the proposals

Ministers will continue their work on the MFF at an informal meeting in Horsens (Denmark) on 10 and 11 June and at a General Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg on 26 June

The European Council will hold a first substantial discussion on the MFF 2014-2020 on 28 and 29 June (see next item). It will also discuss the issue of how the new MFF can best contribute to the creation of growth. It is expected to approve procedural conclusions to guide the negotiation process in line with the agreed timetable

The aim is to reach an agreement and adopt the MFF regulation before the end of this year. Preparation of the June European Council

The Council will examine a draft annotated agenda, drawn up by the President of the European Council in cooperation with the presidency and the Commission, for the European Council meeting to be held on 28 and 29 June ().

The European Council is due to focus on:

o Economic policy: conclusion of the 2012 European Semester (annual monitoring of budgetary policies and structural reforms), EU agenda for growth (discussed at 23 May informal European Council meeting), trade and investment partnerships with international partners;

o Multiannual financial framework: first substantial discussion on the 2014-2020 MFF (see previous item);

o Other issues: progress on dossiers relating to justice and home affairs files, including Schengen governance and asylum

The annotated draft agenda will serve as the basis for draft European Council conclusions to be submitted to the Permanent Representatives Committee in the run-up to the meeting

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G20 summit in Mexico

The Council will take stock of preparations for the G20 summit to be held in Los Cabos (Mexico) on 18-19 June ().

The summit is expected to focus on five priority areas:

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  economic stabilization and structural reforms as foundations for growth and employment;

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  strengthening the financial system and fostering financial inclusion to promote economic growth;

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  improving the international financial architecture in an interconnected world;

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  enhancing food security and addressing commodity price volatility; and

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  promoting sustainable development, green growth and the fight against climate change

The European Council in March agreed priorities to be pursued with a view to the summit. Moreover, the presidents of the European Council and the Commission are expected to send a joint letter to EU heads of state and government setting out their expectations

Enlargement - Croatia

The Council will briefly discuss the monitoring of Croatia's preparations for accession to the EU, on the basis of a report from the Commission (). It is expected to adopt conclusions

An accession treaty was signed in Brussels in December 2011, and ratification procedures are underway with a view to Croatia's scheduled accession on 1 July 2013. During the course of the seven-year accession negotiations, Croatia agreed to a number of commitments that must be implemented by the date of accession

As required by the accession treaty, the Commission is monitoring these commitments, focusing on competition policy, judiciary and fundamental rights and provisions relative to justice, freedom and security. Six-monthly assessments of implementation are due up to the date of accession

The Council is expected to note that, overall, Croatia's preparation for EU membership are on track and that it has reached a considerable degree of alignment with the EU's acquis. It is expected to call on Croatia to use the time remaining to step up its efforts in building on reforms it has implemented and the track records it developed in the accession negotiations

Croatia is expected to provide an update on progress at an EU-Croatia Stabilisation and Association Council scheduled for 6 June