General Affairs Council (18 September 2018)

Robin Walker Excerpts

Thursday 13th September 2018 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Mr Robin Walker)]

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 18 September 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.

Presentation of the priorities of the Austrian presidency

The presidency is expected to present its top priority areas during its six-month tenure. These are: security and illegal migration; maintaining competitiveness through digitalisation; stability in the western Balkans; and securing an orderly Brexit.

Preparation of the European Council on 18 October 2018

The Council will discuss the draft conclusions for the October European Council. The conclusions are expected to cover migration; internal security; and external relations.

Rule of law in Poland/article 7(1)

The Council will hold a hearing on article 7(1). The Commission and Poland will provide updates on the issue, and member states will be invited to pose questions to Poland on its response to the Commission’s concerns on the rule of law.

Legislative programming

On 12 September 2018, the Commission published a letter of intent which set out its proposals for the Commission work programme for 2019. Ministers will debate the proposals included in the letter before the CWP for 2019 is adopted in October. Ministers will also consider progress on legislative files in the joint declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for 2018-19.

[HCWS962]