MAIN TOPICS FOR THE COMING FORTNIGHT November Monday 13 November Foreign Affairs Council (including Defence)... 2

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1 Council of the European Union PRESS EN ANNOTATED AGENDA Brussels, 10 November 2017 MAIN TOPICS FOR THE COMING FORTNIGHT November 2017 Monday 13 November Foreign Affairs Council (including Defence)... 2 Wednesday 15 November General Affairs Council (Cohesion policy)... 3 Friday 17 November Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget)... 4 Monday 20 November Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Youth and Education)... 5 General Affairs Council... 6 General Affairs Council (Art.50)... 7 Tuesday 21 November Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Culture and Sport)... 8 Friday 24 November Eastern Partnership Summit... 9 Other events Agenda of the President of the European Council * * * For video coverage of Council sessions and audiovisual material, please see the following Council websites: (live webcast of public deliberations, public debates and press conferences), and (video material available for download in broadcast quality and photo gallery). 1 This document has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the Press Office. Information may be subject to change, depending on further developments. Press office - General Secretariat of the Council Rue de la Loi B-1048 BRUSSELS - Tel.: +32 (0) press.office@consilium.europa.eu - 1/1

2 Monday 13 November 2017 (09.00) Foreign Affairs Council (including Defence issues) The Foreign Affairs Council, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, will start with a discussion on Africa-EU relations, as part of the preparations for the 5th Africa-EU Summit that will take place on November in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Foreign ministers will then take stock of the current work on EU strategic communications and have an exchange of views on its future. The Council is expected to adopt a number of conclusions without debate, including conclusions on Venezuela. Over lunch, foreign ministers and defence ministers will have a discussion on security and defence in the context of the implementation of the EU Global Strategy. The Council will adopt conclusions on security and defence. The Foreign Affairs Council (defence) will discuss EU-NATO cooperation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The European Defence Agency's steering board meeting with Defence ministers is scheduled to take place after the Foreign Affairs Council (defence). In the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, those member states who intend to join the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) are expected to sign the notification letter addressed to the Council and the High Representative. Further information: EU-Africa relations (background information) EU cooperation on Security and Defence EU-NATO cooperation Permanent Structured Cooperation Press officer: Virginie Battu, , , virginie.battu@consilium.europa.eu Spokespersons for the High Representative for Foreign Affairs & Security Policy: Catherine Ray, , , catherine.ray@ec.europa.eu Maja Kocijancic, , , maja.kocijancic@ec.europa.eu 2/2

3 Wednesday 15 November 2017 (10.00) General Affairs Council (Cohesion policy) The meeting will concentrate on two items. Firstly, the Presidency will present the progress made in the legislative process concerning the modification of the Common Provisions Regulation, in particular on the European Structural and Investment Funds provisions included in the so-called "Omnibus" Commission proposal. Secondly, Ministers will be invited to discuss the future of Cohesion Policy post 2020, based on the recent 7th Commission report on economic, social and territorial cohesion. The debate will feed into the preparatory process undertaken by the Commission with a view to a new legislative package for Cohesion Policy post 2020 to be issued next year. Press briefing: Tuesday, 14 November at Further information: Commission proposal amending the Common Provisions Regulation 7th report on economic, social and territorial cohesion Press officer: Victor Flavián, , victor.flavian@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Jüri Laas, , juri.laas@mfa.ee 3/3

4 Friday 17 November 2017 (10.00) Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Budget issues) The Council will prepare negotiations with the European Parliament on the EU's general budget for The negotiations will be held at a conciliation committee meeting the same day. On 25 October, the Council announced that it cannot accept all of the Parliament's amendments for the 2018 budget. As a result, a three-week conciliation process started on 31 October, aimed at bridging the differences between the two institutions. The Parliament is asking for total commitments to be increased to billion and total payments to billion. The Council set total commitments at billion and total payments at billion. The conciliation committee is composed of the 28 member states and 28 members of the Parliament. A first meeting took place on 6 November, and an informal 'trilogue' (Estonian presidency, Parliament and Commission) on 9 November. If the committee agrees on a joint text, Council and Parliament will have 14 days to approve it. Press briefing: Thursday 16 November at Press officer: Francois Head, , francois.head@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Jüri Laas, , juri.laas@mfa.ee 4/4

5 Monday 20 November 2017 (10.00) Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Youth and Education) During its youth session, the Council will aim to reach a general approach on the proposal for a Regulation on the European Solidarity Corps (ESC). The ESC is an initiative that promotes common European values and principles, but also offers the possibility for young people to expand and develop their competences through solidarity activities. The Council will also adopt conclusions on Smart Youth Work. The conclusions propose the creation of digital tools for young people to enable them to face the challenges and seize opportunities generated by the digital age. At its education session, the Council will adopt conclusions on school development and excellent teaching, as well as on a renewed EU agenda for higher education. The first are part of a modernisation package presented by the Commission, with view to offering top quality education to young people. The second set of conclusions - the renewed EU agenda for higher education - reflect the need for highly skilled individuals to ensure the future prosperity of Europe. The overall aim is to modernise higher education so that it keeps up with a rapidly changing world. Another part of the renewed agenda is the proposal for a council recommendation on tracking graduates, on which ministers are also expected to adopt conclusions. Monitoring the activities of graduates after their education and training will help to understand the causes of graduate employability. The proposal will also improve the quality and relevance of education and thereby develop key skills. In public deliberation, ministers will discuss how to develop the future of skills and the changing role of vocational education and training. Press briefing: Friday 17 November at Further information: Structured dialogue on "how dialogue in Europe with young people can be further developed" (08.30). Working lunch of education ministers on school education and extra-curricular activities within the school environment" ( ). Press officer: Veronica Huertas Cerdeira, , veronica.huertas-cerdeira@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Annikky Lamp, tel. +32 (0) , Annikky.Lamp@mfa.ee 5/5

6 Monday 20 November 2017 (09.30) General Affairs Council The Council will start preparations for the European Council on 14 and 15 December on the basis of an annotated draft agenda. It will also take stock of the implementation of the October European Council conclusions. The Council will take note of the state of play of the implementation of an interinstitutional agreement on better law-making. In the context of the annual legislative programming exercise, ministers will have an exchange of views on the Commission's work programme for 2018, which will first be presented by the Commission. As part of the preparation of the European Semester 2018, the Estonian presidency and the incoming Bulgarian presidency will present the 2018 European Semester roadmap. The Council is also expected to adopt, without discussion, conclusions on cybersecurity. Press briefing: Thursday 16 November at Press room of EUROPA building Further information European Council European Semester Reform of cybersecurity in Europe Press officer: Päivikki Ala-Honkola, , , paivikki.alahonkola@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Jüri Laas, , juri.laas@mfa.ee 6/6

7 Monday 20 November 2017 (14.45) General Affairs Council (Art. 50) The Council, in an EU27 format, will discuss the state of play of the Brexit negotiations. The Commission's Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, is expected to inform ministers on the progress made so far. Ministers will also start preparations of the European Council (Article 50) of December by examining the annotated draft agenda for the summit. In the margins of the General Affairs Council (Article 50), EU27 ministers will also vote on the relocation of the two EU agencies currently located in the UK: the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority. The two agencies will need to be relocated in the context of the UK withdrawal from the EU. The future location is to be decided through a specific procedure endorsed by the EU27 leaders on 22 June Press briefing: Thursday 16 November, 10:00 - Press room of EUROPA building Further information Brexit - background information and timeline Relocation of the UK-based EU agencies Press officer: Ester Araúzo Azofra, , , ester.arauzoazofra@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Jüri Laas, , juri.laas@mfa.ee 7/7

8 Monday 21 November 2017 (09.30) Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (Culture and Sport) At its culture and audiovisual session, the Council will adopt conclusions on promoting access to culture via digital means. In order to reinforce their relevance to society, cultural organisations need to embrace digital technologies. The conclusions aim to facilitate access to culture in general. During a public debate, the ministers will discuss the role of culture in building cohesive societies in Europe. The Council will end with the sports session. Ministers will adopt conclusions on the role of coaches in society. Coaches play an important role in today's society, considering that their responsibilities extend further than just sport. For instance, they can also improve transversal and "soft" skills of young athletes, as well as help develop their human and social capital. The Council will also adopt a resolution on further developing the EU Structured Dialogue on sport. The high level structured dialogue between EU institutions, member states authorities and representatives of the sport movement was established in This resolution aims to further develop this dialogue by introducing a greater degree of flexibility and adapting it to new challenges. Press briefing: Friday 17 November at Further information: Structured dialogue with Thomas Bach on "cooperation between the EU, governments and sport movements" ( ). Press officers: Maria Daniela Lenzu, , maria-daniela.lenzu@consilium.europa.eu Maria Tomasik, , , maria.tomasik@consilium.europa.eu Estonian Presidency: Annikky Lamp, tel. +32 (0) , Annikky.Lamp@mfa.ee 8/8

9 Friday 24 November 2017 (09.00) Eastern Partnership Summit The 5th Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit will take place for the first time in Brussels. Heads of state or government from the EU member states and the six Eastern partner countries will take stock of what has been achieved since the last summit, and look forward to future cooperation on 4 priority areas, focusing on tangible benefits to deliver to the citizens: stronger economy: economic development and better market opportunities; stronger governance: strengthening of institutions and good governance; stronger connectivity: enhancing interconnections, notably in the areas of transport and energy; stronger society: increasing mobility and contacts between people. 20 deliverables for 2020 in these four areas were identified by the EEAS and the European Commission in a joint staff working document: Eastern Partnership - Focusing on key priorities and deliverables (Joint staff working document) Press briefing: Tuesday, 21 November at Further information: The Eastern Partnership (background information) The Eastern Partnership (EEAS) The Eastern Partnership (European Commission, Neighbourhood - Enlargement) Spokesperson of the President of the European Council: Preben Aamann, , , preben.aamann@european-council.europa.eu Press officer: Alain Taverriti, , , alain.taverriti@consilium.europa.eu 9/9

10 Other events Friday 10 to Tuesday 14 November (Manila) ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings Tuesday 14 November (Brussels) European Economic Area Council Wednesday 15 November (Brussels) EU-Albania Stabilisation and Association Council Thursday 16 November (Brussels) EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council Friday 17 November (Brussels) EU-Kosovo Stabilisation and Association Council Friday 17 November (Gothenburg, Sweden) Gothenburg social summit Informal meeting of the 28 heads of state or government Estonian presidency website 10/10