25 February 2020

General Affairs Council

The Council exchanged views on relations with the UK and adopted the negotiating mandate for the upcoming talks. Ministers also discussed plans for legislative work and heard presentations on the revised enlargement methodology and the new European rule of law mechanism.

EU-UK relations

The Council adopted a decision authorising the opening of negotiations for a new partnership with the UK and formally nominating the Commission as the EU negotiator. The Council also adopted negotiating directives which constitute a mandate to the Commission for the negotiations.

The first formal meeting between the EU and UK negotiators is expected to take place in early March. EU ministers also discussed the next steps in the EU-UK relationship.

EU-UK relations: Council gives go-ahead for talks to start and adopts negotiating directives

March European Council

Ministers started preparations for the European Council meeting of 27-28 March by discussing an annotated draft agenda. 

At their meeting in March, EU leaders will discuss how to strengthen the economic base of the EU. They will also exchange views on the EU's digital policy.

In line with its conclusions of October 2019, the European Council will return to the issue of enlargement. Under external relations, it will hold an exchange of views on preparations for the Western Balkans summit to be held in Zagreb in May. Leaders will also hold a strategic discussion on EU-China relations.

Enlargement

The Commission presented to ministers its proposals for a revised enlargement methodology.

The proposals were set out in its communication of 5 February 2020 on 'Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans'. Their overall aim is to enhance credibility and trust on both sides and yield better results on the ground.

Legislative programming

The Council discussed legislative work in 2020 and multiannual programming, which will take place for the first time with the 2019-2024 Commission.

Both annual and multiannual programming exercises are provided for in the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, agreed on in 2016. Their aim is to improve cooperation between the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament in setting and delivering on the EU's political agenda.

Ministers outlined their views on the areas and legislative proposals to be included in the joint declaration on the EU's legislative priorities for 2020. They also discussed which major policy objectives could be included in the multiannual programme and how to monitor the implementation of the joint conclusions, to be drawn up by the three institutions.

European rule of law mechanism

Under 'any other business', the Commission informed ministers about ongoing preparations for the annual rule of law cycle and report, presented in its communication of 17 July 2019.

The Commission focused on the methodology that it intends to follow for preparing its report and the information that it plans to gather. It stressed its intention to involve member states as closely as possible in the process.

Full press release

© European Council