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European Council Summit (20-21 June 2019)

 

 

 

On 20-21 June, EU leaders met in Brussels for the European Council Summit. Various key topics were on the agenda: appointments of candidates for the top EU positions; adoption of priorities for the New Strategic Agenda 2019-2024; the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF); discussions on climate change, external relations, EU enlargement and Brexit, among others.

The European Council adopted the New Strategic Agenda 2019-2024 outlining the main priorities on which the EU institutions will focus in the next five years. The priorities are:

  • protecting citizens and freedoms;
  • developing a strong and vibrant economic base;
  • building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe;
  • promoting European interests and values on the global stage.

On the MFF negotiations, the European Council will convene an exchange of views in October 2019, hoping to push through an agreement before the end of the year. Heads of state or government also focused on climate action ahead of the UN Secretary-General's Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019 and on how the EU will achieve the target goals set out in the Paris Agreement. On EU external relations, the European Council discussed the latest developments concerning eastern Ukraine, economic sanctions to Russia, the current situation in Libya and the partnership with Africa.

On the nominations of the candidates for the “EU’s top jobs”, the European Council decided to continue the talks during the next summit, on 30 June 2019.

European Council