Overview of the main subjects to be discussed at meetings of the Council of the EU over the next two weeks.

Foreign Affairs Council (Trade issues), Tuesday 22 May 2018

The Council is expected to adopt a decision recommending the opening of trade negotiations with Australia and New Zealand, as well as Council conclusions on the new architecture of trade agreements. Trade ministers will also discuss the follow up to the WTO ministerial conference in Buenos Aires and the trade agreements with Japan and Singapore. Over lunch, ministers will exchange views on trade relations with the United States. 

Foreign Affairs Council (Development issues), Tuesday 22 May 2018

The Council will discuss the EU emergency trust fund for Africa, the post-Cotonou framework or the future of external financing instruments.

Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 May 2018

The Council will discuss the potential of universities, the commercialisation of elite sports, the future of the EU youth policy and of culture after 2020. It will also adopt various sets of conclusions, including on the European Education area and on bringing cultural heritage to the fore across policies in the EU.

Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Friday 25 May 2018

Ministers will be called on to agree measures to reduce risk in the banking sector. They will discuss macroeconomic imbalances and age-related expenditure in the member states.

Foreign Affairs Council, Monday 28 May 2018

The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss the the latest developments on the Iran nuclear deal. Foreign ministers will also discuss the political situation in Venezuela and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as on and the future partnership between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries which is set to replace the current agreement, the Cotonou agreement, after it expires in 2020. 

Competitiveness Council (Internal market and Industry), Monday 28 May 2018

The Council will carry out a competitiveness check-up on the impact of the internal market on industry. It will hold discussions on mutual recognition of goods and on online platforms-to-business relations.

Competitiveness Council (Research and Space), Tuesday 29 May 2018

The Council will debate on space policy, the extension of the EURATOM research programme as well as research and innovation in the context of the next EU’s multiannual budget. It is due to adopt conclusions on knowledge circulation and the European Open Science Cloud. It will also take note of a report on high performance computing.

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Your request will be handled by the Press Office of the General Secretariat of the Council in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

Your data will be stored in the database until you unsubscribe from the service.

Certain data (name, e-mail address, preferred language, media name, media type) may be disclosed to the press offices of the European institutions, the Permanent Representations of the Member States and to European Union agencies, under the conditions laid down in Articles 7 and 8 of Regulation 45/2001.

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Place:        Europa building, Brussels
Chair(s):    Mr Krasimir Valchev, Minister for Education and Science of Bulgaria  
                   Mr. Krasen Kralev, Minister for Youth and Sports of Bulgaria
                   Mr. Boil Banov, Minister for Culture of Bulgaria

All times are approximate and subject to change

TUESDAY, 22 MAY 2018

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minister Valchev

EDUCATION

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable Education)
Adoption of the agenda
Adoption of non-legislative A items
Adoption of legislative A items (public session)

+/- 10.25
Recommendation on key competences for lifelong learning

+/- 10.35
Recommendation on promoting common values, inclusive education, and the European dimension of teaching

+/- 10.45
Conclusions on moving towards a vision of a European Education Area

+/- 10.55
The potential of universities for regional growth and for promoting entrepreneurial and   innovative skills (public session)

+/- 12.35
Any other business:
– Addressing anti-Semitism through education – guidelines for policymakers
– The European school sport day (29 September 2018)
– Work programme of the incoming presidency

YOUTH

+/- 13.00
Working lunch: “Restructuring of Structured Dialogue”

+/- 14.20
Press conference (in Europa building) (live streaming)

+/- 15.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable Youth)

+/- 15.15
Conclusions on the role of young people in building a secure, cohesive and harmonious society in Europe

+/- 15.25
Conclusions on the role of youth in addressing the demographic challenges within the European Union

+/- 15.35
Future priorities for EU Youth policy (public session)

+/- 17.15
Any other business
– European Youth Together
– The Franco-Belgian declaration of ministers responsible for youth on the prevention of violent radicalisation
– Work programme of the incoming presidency

WEDNESDAY, 23 MAY 2018

+/- 09.15
Doorstep by Minister Banov

CULTURE

+/- 10.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable Culture)

+/- 10.25
Conclusions on the need of bringing cultural heritage to the fore across policies in the EU

+/- 10.35
The way ahead: Long term vision for the contribution of culture to the EU after 2020 (public session)

+/- 12.15
Any other business
– Directive amending Directive (2006/112/EC) as regards rates of value added tax–actively engaging in negotiations from a cultural policy perspective (public session)
– Regulation on the import of cultural goods (public session)
– European Capitals of Culture 2022
– Work programme of the incoming presidency

SPORT

+/- 13.00
Working lunch: “The future of club and national team competitions”

+/- 14.30
Press conference (in Justus Lipsius building) (live streaming)

+/- 15.00
Beginning of Council meeting (Roundtable Sport)

+/- 15.15
Conclusions on promoting the common values of the EU through sport

+/- 15.25
Commercialisation of elite sports and the sustainability of the European model of sport (public session)

+/- 17.05
Any other business
– World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) meetings (Montreal, 16-17 May 2018)
– Informal meeting of the EU ministers for sport (Paris, 31 May 2018) – Signing of a declaration for a Europe of Sport on the horizon of the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games
– Work programme of the incoming presidency

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On 12 April 2018, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2018/568[1] amending Council Decision 2011/235/CFSP. 

The Council Decision renews the existing restrictive measures for a further twelve months, until 13 April 2019, and amends the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP.

The Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro* and Albania*, the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova, align themselves with this declaration.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it. 

[1] Published on 13.04.2018 in the Official Journal of the European Union n°. L 95, p. 14 

* The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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