Raad Algemene Zaken bespreekt cohesiebeleid als voorbereiding op de Europese Raad (en)

European Union ministers of European affairs will discuss Cohesion legislation and preparations for the October European Council at a meeting of the General Affairs Council in Brussels on September 30 chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius.

The ministers will review the progress achieved in negotiations with the European Parliament on the Cohesion policy legislative package for 2014-2020. The main aim of the discussions will be to consider the next steps in search for a final political agreement on Cohesion policy. Lithuanian Presidency is making every effort to ensure that Cohesion policy regulations are adopted before the end of 2013. This would allow the Member States to implement investment programmes in 2014 without delay.

Ministers will also discuss the draft annotated agenda for the European Council meeting on October 24-25, which is due to focus on the digital agenda, innovations and services; growth, jobs and European competitiveness; as well as on the creation of the Economic and Monetary Union.

In Brussels, Minister Linkevičius will as the head of the EU delegation chair the meeting of the EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council on October 1.

On October 2, the Minister will take part in the opening of the annual State of Europe conference, one of the most important Brussels venues for discussions on the future of Europe. This year’s discussion “Tough choices for a troubled Europe” is to focus on how to make Europe a credible and influential actor in the world and is organized in cooperation with the Lithuanian Presidency.