Meetings

The Council took note of the state of play in the discussions between the Irish presidency and representatives of the European Parliament and of the Commission on the EU's multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020.

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• Press release (provisional version)
• Background note
• Agenda

The Council discussed developments in the preparation of the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-20 period. 

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• Press release (provisional version)
• Multiannual financial framework: time to agree (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

The Irish presidency informed ministers on the state of play in the discussions with the European Parliament on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and received guidance from ministers for the negotiations with the European Parliament. 

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• Press release
• EU's seven year budgetary framework: Council ready for a deal (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

The European Council on 8 February 2013 reached agreement on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), which defines the budgetary priorities of the EU for the years 2014-2020.

In line with the consolidation efforts in the Member States, EU leaders agreed to cut, compared to the current MFF 2007-2013, the financial resources which the EU may mobilise. However, in order to enhance growth and jobs, funds for research, innovation and education have been increased. Leaders also agreed on a new initiative dedicated to tackling the pressing challenge of youth unemployment.

For the new MFF to enter into force in January 2014 a final agreement with the European Parliament has yet to be reached.

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• Herman Van Rompuy President of the European Council: A budget for the future
• Summary of the European Council agreement
• Conclusions of the European Council (Multiannual Financial Framework)
• Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the European Council
• MFF agreed by EU leaders (article)
• Multiannual financial framework: Bridging the gap (article)
• Website of the European Council meetings

"The European Council gave its President the mandate together with the President of the European Commission to continue the work and pursue consultations in the coming weeks to find a consensus among the 27 over the Union's Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020.
The bilateral talks and the constructive discussion within the European Council showed a sufficient degree of potential convergence to make an agreement possible in the beginning of next year.
We should be able to bridge existing divergences of views. A European budget is important for the cohesion of the Union and for jobs and growth in all our countries."

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• Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the European Council
• EU seven-year budgetary framework: work will continue (article)
• Invitation letter by Herman Van Rompuy
• Background note

The Council agreed on a fourth partial general approach covering further elements of the cohesion policy legislative package for 2014-2020.
The European Commission presented its work programme for 2013.
The Council took note of the preparations for the special European Council meeting on 22-23 November dedicated to the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020.

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• Press release
• Final preparations for summit on 2014-2020 budget framework (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

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• Press release
• Breakfast discussion on the Multiannual Financial Framework (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Photos

Public deliberation (extracts)

Public deliberation (full debate)

Press conference

The Council discussed a revised negotiating box for the EU's multiannual financial framework 2014-2020.
A presidency press conference was held at the end of the meeting

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• Press release
• Multiannual Financial Framework: negotiations approaching endgame (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• The negotiating box

The Informal Meeting of Ministers and State Secretaries for European Affairs took place in Lefkosia and was be exclusively dedicated to furthering the negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020. During the meeting, the Ministers were joined by Members of the European Commission, the Council Secretariat and the European Parliament.

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• Presidency Issues Paper (en)
• Website of the Cyprus Presidency

Photos

Public deliberation (extracts)

Press conference

The Council took note of a presentation by the Commission of its revised proposals for the multiannual financial framework 2014-2020 and was informed by the Cyprus presidency on the organisation of work on this dossier in the second half of 2012.

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• Press release
• Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): General Affairs Council looks ahead (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Amended proposal for a Council Regulation laying down the multiannual framework for the years 2014-2020
• Organisation of work within the Council in the second semester 2012

The European Council held an in-depth discussion with the President of the European Parliament on the future Multiannual Financial Framework.

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• European Council conclusions

Photos

Public deliberation (extracts)

Press conference

General Affairs Council
Luxembourg

The Council discussed the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period on the basis of a revised negotiating box (11539/12). This served to prepare the first substantial discussion which the European Council held on this subject at its meeting on 28-29 June.

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• Press release
• Public deliberations
• Financial framework 2014-2020 to be discussed at the European Council (article)
• Background note

Document for the discussion

• The negotiating box

Informal General Affairs Council
Aarhus and Horsen, Denmark

On 10-11 June the Ministers for European Affairs met in Aarhus and Horsens for the last informal ministerial meeting during the Danish Presidency. The ministers continued the negotiations on the EU’s MFF and prepared the upcoming meeting of the European Council on 28-29 June.

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• Minister Wammen hosts Growth Meeting in Aarhus and Horsens (article)
• Background note

General Affairs Council
Brussels

At the meeting of the General Affairs Council on 29 May 2012, work on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was taken a step further. Ministers started discussions on the basis of a document - known as the negotiating box - containing the central issues and options as regards both expenditure and revenue.

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• Press release
• Multiannual Financial Framework: opening the negotiating box (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• The negotiating box

General Affairs Council met in Luxembourg for a discussion on cohesion policy.
Luxembourg

The Council discussed, for the first time on the basis of the negotiating box, the following areas of the multiannual financial framework for the 2014-2020 period:

• cohesion policy
• the "Connecting Europe" facility
• heading 2 (sustainable growth: natural resources) and
• the provisions relating to the five funds belonging to these policy fields.

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• Press release
• Financial framework 2014-2020: discussion on agriculture and cohesion policies (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Sections of Negotiating Box relating to Heading 1 (cohesion and CEF), 2 and provisions relating to the funds under the Common Strategic Framework

General Affairs Council discussed headings 1 (except cohesion policy), 3, 4 and 5
Brussels

The negotiating box discussed by ministers covers budget headings 1 (smart and inclusive growth), with the exception of cohesion policy and the "Connecting Europe" facility (CEF)1, 3 (security and citizenship), 4 (global Europe) and 5 (administration), as well as some horizontal issues, in particular the question of whether some instruments should be placed inside or outside the MFF.

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• Press release
• Financial framework 2014-2020: first discussion on the negotiating box (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Sections of Negotiating Box relating to Headings 1 (except cohesion and CEF), 3, 4, 5 and to horizontal issues
  

General Affairs Council discusses main priorities and overall ceilings
Brussels

The Council discussed, in public session, the main priorities and the budgetary framework including the overall amounts presented in the Commission's proposals for the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period.

The Danish presidency announced that the MFF would be on the agenda of each General Affairs Council meeting until the end of June, with the exception of February. The presidency also expressed its intention to organise a conference on the MFF, probably on 22 and 23 March in Brussels.

It is expected that as from May, work on the MFF proposals will have reached sufficient maturity for negotiations to be conducted through a "negotiating box", a draft structure of the conclusions of the European Council, setting out the main issues and options and reflecting the outcome of the orientation debates held in the General Affairs Council.

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• Press release
• Talks on long-term EU budget framework gain momentum (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Commission proposal and accompanying documents
  

The European Council welcomed the intensive preparatory work carried out during this semester on the future multiannual financial framework and took note of the report submitted by the Presidency. It called on the incoming Presidency to press ahead with work aimed at developing a basis for the final stage of negotiations, to be discussed at the European Council in June 2012. It reiterated its invitation to the institutions to cooperate to ensure the adoption of the multiannual financial framework by the end of 2012.

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• European Council Conclusions (European Council website)

General Affairs Council took note of a progress report of the Polish presidency
Brussels

In public session, the Council took note of a progress report from the presidency on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the 2014-2020 period.

Ministers generally supported the progress report, which they considered to be balanced and a good basis for future work.

The incoming Danish presidency expressed its intention to continue the technical exploration of the Commission proposals before trying to narrow the gaps between member states' positions. The aim is to ensure adoption of the MFF by the end of 2012.

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• Press release
• Towards the next long-term budget framework (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Report on progress of work within the Council in the second semester 2011

General Affairs Council held a policy debate on cohesion policy, the Connecting Europe Facility and the Common Agricultural Policy
Brussels

The Council held a policy debate on the EU's multiannual financial framework for the 2014-2020 period, focusing on the following parts of the proposal:

• economic, social and territorial cohesion;
• the "Connecting Europe" facility1;
• the Common Agriculture Policy and Common Fisheries Policy

Read more

• Press release
• Next long-term budget framework: the debate goes on (article)
• Background note
• Agenda

Document for the discussion

• Questionnaire on the economic, social and territorial cohesion, the Connecting Europe Facility, the Common Agriculture Policy and Common Fisheries Policy
  

First exchange of views at a formal General Affairs Council meeting
Brussels

The presidency informed the Council of progress in technical discussions on the duration, structure and flexibility of the EU's next multiannual financial framework (MFF).

All delegations agreed with the proposed seven-year duration (2014-2020), which in their view strikes the right balance between stability and predictability in EU expenditure.

Ministers in general also welcomed the proposed structure of the next MFF.

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• Press release
• First Council discussion on the EU's budget planning (article)
• Backround note
• Agenda

Documents for the discussion

• Fiche on the technical clarifications brought in the Friends of the Presidency
  group
• Questionnaire on duration, structure and flexibility
  

Informal meeting of European Affairs Ministers in Sopot with a first general exchange of views on the proposals
Sopot

The aim of the meeting was to inaugurate a general discussion on the new financial perspective after 2013. European Affairs Ministers from the EU Member States, as well as representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament attended the meeting.

The Commission presents its proposals at the General Affairs Council.

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• Press release
• EU's budget planning on the Council's table (article)
  
• Background note
• Agenda

Documents for the discussion

• Commission proposals and accompanying documents

Commission published its proposals

• Commission proposals and accompanying documents