European Union - Amélie de Montchalin’s participation in the General Affairs Council (Brussels, 21 May 2019)

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Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, is taking part in the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels today.

The ministers will discuss the following points:

a) the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027

Following the discussions on the fight against climate change and the response to migration challenges within the EU budget (GAC on March 19), as well as on the cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (GAC on April 9), the ministers will exchange views in a public debate on the external dimension of the EU budget.

The minister of state will reaffirm our main priorities, notably the geographical priorities with respect to Africa and the Southern Neighborhood, the flexibility of management practices, the role of member states in governance and the steering of these actions, as well the call for an increase of the climate contribution target.

b) Preparations for the European Council on June 20 and 21

The ministers will discuss the following points: i) the next institutional cycle, with the adoption of the EU’s 2019-2024 strategic agenda, ii) the Multiannual Financial Framework, iii) climate change, iv) other issues on the agenda of the next European Council (European semester, fight against disinformation).

The minister of state will notably highlight the need for the heads of state and government to adopt an ambitious message in June on climate, through the adoption of an EU position on the goal of climate neutrality by 2050, in the run-up to the UN Climate Summit in September.

c) The Commission will present its communication on the strengthening of the rule of law of April 3 which provides an assessment of the situation and identifies possible ways to strengthen the instruments to promote, prevent and respond to deficiencies in the rule of law within the EU;

d) Lastly, the Romanian presidency and France will jointly present the results of the ministerial meeting that took place on May 3 in Paris aimed – following the disastrous fire at Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris – at launching a strong collective initiative to better preserve European heritage.