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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