Europäische Union

President Donald Tusk sent the invitation letter and the Leaders' Agenda notes on migration and on the economic and monetary union to the members of the European Council for their meetings on 14 and 15 December 2017.

The seventh meeting of the Accession Conference with Serbia at ministerial level was held on 11 December 2017 in Brussels to open negotiations on Chapter 6 - Company law and Chapter 30 - External relations.

Letter from President Donald Tusk congratulating Mr Mateusz Morawiecki on taking office as Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland

The tenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at ministerial level was held on 11 December 2017 in Brussels to open negotiations on Chapter 2 - Freedom of movement for workers, and Chapter 3 - Right of establishment and freedom to provide services.

The Council discussed and adopted conclusions on the updated EU strategy on aid for trade.

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the alignment of certain third countries with Council Decision (CFSP) 2017/2163 of 20 November 2017 amending Decision 2014/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council has adopted conclusions on the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Council adopted conclusions on Thailand.

The Council established the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), with Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden as participating member states.

Council adopts 2018 catch limits in the Black Sea.

The EU has extended the sanctions in place against 16 persons in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until 12 December 2018.

On 10 December 2017, the Council adopted conclusions at the start of the 11th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference organised in Buenos Aires (Argentina).

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

The EU Market Access Strategy (MAS) and associated Market Access Partnership (MAP) is a EU trade policy operational instrument designed to identify and remove market access restrictions confronting EU firms in third country export markets. Since the 2008 financial crisis, there has been a steady increase in the number of trade restricting measures imposed by EU trading partners. The MAS is a key tool through which the EU seeks to work with third countries to prevent, remove and reduce market access barriers. There is broad support for the MAS among stakeholders who are aware of the mechanism and a virtual consensus that greater emphasis should be given by the European Union to identifying and removing barriers to trade and investment in third countries. Two types of challenges confront the MAS and, as a result, its effectiveness. One centres on the identification of protectionist measures and the ability of the EU to induce policy changes by trading partners. The other is to improve awareness among EU exporters of the existence of the MAP and leveraging the tools that are available to address market access restrictions. The European Parliament can contribute to addressing these challenges by engaging with national parliaments and constituencies on the existence and utility of the MAS and in advocating that market access issues be prioritised in the activities of the European Commission. The European Parliament can also play an increased role in helping to achieve the goals of the MAS and support EU exports by raising market access issues when they engage with third country counterparts.
Source : © European Union, 2017 - EP

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