Brussels briefing, June 17

- Diplomacy

EU’s Foreign Affairs Council will gather in Luxemburg on Monday. Council will discuss current affairs, allowing ministers to review pressing issues on the international agenda. This may include the situation in Venezuela as well as recent developments regarding the Helms Burton Act.

EU foreign ministers, joined by defense ministers, will have a comprehensive discussion on the EU Global Strategy. Foreign ministers will discuss the situation Sudan, in light of recent developments in the country. EU foreign ministers will have an exchange of views on development in the Middle East with the Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi.

European Council, also known as EU Leaders Summit, will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. EU leaders will discuss the appointments for the next institutional cycle. They are expected to adopt the EU's strategic agenda for 2019-2024.  They will also discuss the issue of the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF). The European Council will also discuss climate change and the leaders will take note of a report on disinformation and elections.

- Economics and Finance

EU’s General Affairs Council will meet in Luxemburg on Tuesday. The Council will hold a policy debate on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). The Council will prepare for the European Council meeting on 20-21 June 2019 by examining draft conclusions.  The Council will discuss the 2019 enlargement package presented by the Commission on 29 May.

EU’s Agriculture and Fisheries Council will gather in Luxemburg on Tuesday. Ministers are expected to discuss European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) for the next programming period 2021-2027. Ministers will be presented with a communication on the state of play of the common fisheries policy and the 2020 fishing opportunities. The EU sets annual catch limits for most commercial fish stocks, called fishing opportunities or total allowable catches (TACs). The Council will discuss the post 2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform package.

On Friday following the European Council, EU27 leaders will meet for a Euro Summit in an extended format. The heads of states or governments are expected to discuss the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). They will discuss in particular the design, modalities of implementation and timing of a budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro-area, changes to the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism and progress on the strengthening of the banking union.