EU - Participation of Laurence Boone in the General Affairs Council (18 November 2022)

Share

Laurence Boone, Minister of State for Europe, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, will take part in the November 18th General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.

Discussions will focus on preparations for the European Council of December 15 and 16. France will reaffirm the EU’s continued support for Ukraine. With regard to the EU response to economic and energy issues, the Minister of State will underscore the need for measures to lower electricity prices; they include reforming the electricity market. She will also express support for projects to strengthen European security and defense. With regard to the EU’s southern neighborhood, she will raise awareness among her counterparts of the importance of defining shared priorities in order to concretely strengthen our ties with that region.

EU-UK relations will be reviewed following the formation of a new British government. Ms. Boone will emphasize the approach advocated by the Commission, which combines open dialogue with a firm, proportionate, gradual response to any unilateral challenges to the agreements signed by the two Parties.

Following the Commission’s presentation of its legislative program, the Minister will stress France’s priorities ahead of the 2024 European elections. Among other things, she will mention the strengthening of the EU’s strategic autonomy and the environmental ambitions of the Fit for 55 package.
The ministers attending the General Affairs Council meeting will also prepare for the feedback event for citizens on December 2 relating to EU follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Lastly, the Council will proceed with a new hearing on Hungary under the Article 7 Procedure of the Treaty on the Rule of Law in order to assess developments relating to the independence of the judiciary, freedom of the press and academic freedom. France and Germany will draft a joint statement in this regard.