General Affairs Council: November 2018

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Tuesday 6th November 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Written Statements
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Robin Walker Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Robin Walker)
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Lord Callanan, Minister of State for Exiting the European Union, has made the following statement:

I will attend the General Affairs Council in Brussels on 12 November 2018 to represent the UK. Until we leave the European Union, we remain committed to fulfilling our rights and obligations as a full member.

The provisional agenda includes:

Multiannual financial framework 2021-27

Ministers will discuss progress on the multiannual financial framework proposals with the presidency.

Preparation of the European Council on 13 and 14 December 2018

The Council will discuss the draft agenda for the December European Council.

European Semester 2019—road map

The Austrian presidency and the incoming Romanian presidency will present the timetable for the 2019 European semester, which will provide a framework for the co-ordination of economic policies across the EU.

Legislative programming—Commission’s work programme 2019

The Commission will set out the legislative and other initiatives that it intends to present to the Council and European Parliament during 2019.

Subsidiarity package

The Commission will present its subsidiarity package which was published on 23 October. In those areas which do not form part of the EU’s exclusive competence, the principle of subsidiarity means that action should only be taken at EU level when the desired objectives cannot be effectively achieved by action taken at national or regional level.

Annual rule of law dialogue

An annual rule of law dialogue has formed part of the GAC agenda since 2014. The presidency has invited Ministers to consider the topic of trust in public institutions’ for this year’s dialogue.

Rule of law in Poland—article 7(1) TEU reasoned proposal

The Commission will provide Ministers with an update on the rule of law in Poland.

Values of the Union—Hungary/article 7(1) TEU reasoned proposal

Ministers will discuss the article 7(1) procedure in relation to Hungary.

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