Preparation of the upcoming European Council

President Juncker convenes an informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues

Today the College of Commissioners met in Brussels where a number of important issues were discussed in the context of the upcoming European Council, notably migration and the Commission’s proposals on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union.

President Juncker debriefed the College about his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel i and French President Emmanuel Macron i in Meseberg yesterday, where he said: "I am very satisfied with the French-German paper, which builds on the Commission’s proposals. Overall, this is an important contribution to European progress in many areas.” As a follow-up to the Meseberg meeting, President Juncker is convening an informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues, which will take place this Sunday, 24 June in Brussels.

On the College agenda was also the Stability Support Programme for Greece on which discussions were held ahead of the Eurogroup meeting on 21 June, and the conclusion of the Programme in August this year, as well as on the state of play of the proposals on the Economic and Monetary Union ahead of the European Council next week.

In this context, today the Commission published a note on deepening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) which forms the basis of the Commission's contribution to the European Council discussions on the EMU.

Article 50 negotiations with the UK

The Commission's Chief Negotiator for Article 50 negotiations with the UK, Michel Barnier, also attended the College meeting today to provide an overview of the latest developments in the negotiations ahead of the European Council and following the publication of a joint statement by the European Commission and the United Kingdom, outlining the progress that has been achieved on the terms of the draft Withdrawal Agreement since the negotiation round that took place on 16-19 March 2018.

Rule of law dialogue with Poland

First Vice-President Timmermans debriefed the College on the latest state of play of the rule of law dialogue with Poland, following his visit to Warsaw this week where he had met with the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki i on Monday. While a number of measures have been taken by the Polish authorities in the past months, they are not sufficient to eliminate the clear risk of a serious breach of the rule of law, leaving key concerns of the Commission unaddressed. While the dialogue will continue, the next step is the hearing in the General Affairs Council on 26 June where the European Commission will reiterate its position as laid down in the reasoned proposal of December 2017.

The College also received the Prime Minister of France, Edouard Philippe which was followed by a joint press point.