European Union (EU) states foreign ministers will convene in Luxembourg to attend the Foreign Affairs Council on Monday.
The Council will start with a discussion on current affairs, allowing ministers to review pressing issues on the international agenda. The Council will discuss Turkey's ongoing drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Operation Peace Spring in Syria. They are expected to touch upon Iran, as well as the situations in Libya, Iraq, Venezuela and Ukraine.
The Agriculture and Fisheries Council will meet on Monday and Tuesday in Luxembourg to discuss fishing opportunities for 2020, forestry and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Ministers will then be informed about a variety of issues such as bio-economy; food safety; African swine fever; and the recently announced U.S. duties on certain EU agro-food products.
The European Parliament’s (EP) political groups will prepare for the Oct. 21-24 session in Strasbourg, where MEPs are set to elect the new European Commission team, following President-elect of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen’s presentation of the College of Commissioners and their program. They will also debate the outcome of the Oct. 17/18 summit, review with the work completed by the commission of outgoing EC president Jean-Claude Juncker and vote on the EU’s budget for 2020.
The General Affairs Council will gather in Luxembourg on Tuesday. The Council will focus on enlargement and the stabilization and association process regarding Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. Ministers will continue with preparations and discuss draft conclusions for the European Council meeting on Oct. 17/18. They will also take stock of the implementation of the previous European Council conclusions.
The EU Leaders Summit will meet on Thursday and Friday in Brussels to discuss the EU’s long-term budget, priorities for the next five years, Brexit and Syria.
Von der Leyen will be invited to present the priorities of the new Commission.
The European Council is also expected to adopt a decision appointing Christine Lagarde as President of the European Central Bank.
Leaders are expected to talk about international aspects of climate change and focus on foreign policy issues including Turkey's drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and Operation Peace Spring in Syria.