December 6, 2024 (press release) –
Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight.
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, 9-10 December 2024
Fisheries ministers will aim to reach a political agreement on two Commission proposals on fishing opportunities, namely the proposal for fishing opportunities in the Atlantic and the North Sea for 2025 and, in the case of some stocks, also for 2026, and the proposal on fishing opportunities for 2025 in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas.
As far as agriculture is concerned, the Council will hold a policy debate on future opportunities for the bioeconomy. Ministers will also follow up on the discussions on a farmer-focused post-2027 common agricultural policy.
The Hungarian presidency will also provide the Council with progress reports on several legislative files, i.e. the proposals on plant reproductive material, on forest reproductive material, on a forest monitoring framework, and on the protection of animals during transport.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 10 December 2024
Ministers will be informed of the progress of work on the customs reform. They will hold a policy debate on the revision of the energy taxation directive. The Commission will present draft Council recommendations in the context of the implementation of the economic governance review. Ministers will consider the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The Council will approve the bi-annual ECOFIN report to the European Council on tax issues.
Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 12 December 2024
Home affairs ministers will take a decision about the date for the lifting of checks on persons at the internal land border with and between Bulgaria and Romania. They will further address the external dimension of addressing migration challenges. Also on the agenda is the Entry Exit System (EES). The Commission will brief ministers on the way forward on its start of operations.
Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 13 December 2024
On the second day of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, ministers of justice will aim to reach a common position on directives to curb migrant smuggling, to combat child sexual abuse and to harmonise certain aspects of insolvency law.
Foreign Affairs Council, 16 December 2024
The December Foreign Affairs Council will start at 10.00 in Brussels, and be chaired for the first time by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Ministers will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference.
They will then hold discussions on the situation in the Middle East and Georgia.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 December 2024
EU energy ministers will seek to approve conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of a report on the future of geothermal energy. They will also exchange views on the future of energy policy in view of a genuine Energy Union.
Environment Council, 17 December 2024
EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They will also discuss the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles and the communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target.
General Affairs Council, 17 December 2024
Ministers will focus on preparations for the December European Council, legislative planning, the future of Europe, as well as EU relations with the UK and Switzerland. The Council will also be invited to approve conclusions on enlargement and endorse its next 18-month programme.
European Council, 19-20 December 2024
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to address the following topics: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukraine and its people; the situation in the Middle East; EU’s global engagement and priorities in the current geopolitical context; migration; EU resilience, preparedness, crisis prevention and response capacities, and other foreign policy items.
Other meetings
- Indicative calendar of meetings under the Hungarian presidency (1 July - 31 December 2024)
- Hungarian presidency website
This website is the official website of the Council of the EU and the European Council. It is managed by the General Secretariat of the Council, the body of staff responsible for assisting the Council of the EU and the European Council.
* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistribute or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.