On Thursday 15 December, Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis will participate in the European Council meeting in Brussels to discuss current issues of the European Union.
The last European Council meeting of this year is supposed to discuss the migration, security, economic and social development, as well as external relations.
As regards security issues, the EU Heads of State and Government will discuss the implementation of the EU Security Agenda. In order to react against terrorist threats, the European Commission made a proposal on 3 December 2015 regarding the Directive on Combatting Terrorism. It is aimed at strengthening the EU regulatory framework to prevent terrorist attacks by criminalising such actions as obtaining training on terrorism, travelling for terrorism purposes, as well as organizing or encouraging such travelling. The directive strengthens the rights of victims of terrorism and establishes stricter rules on the exchange of information between the Member States relating to terrorist offenses that is collected in criminal proceedings.
The European Council will discuss the strengthening of the EU cooperation in the field of external security and defence, further work on the implementation of the conclusions adopted by the Foreign Affairs' Council on 14 November regarding the implementation of the EU global strategy in the area of security and defence, the implementation of the EU-NATO Senior Officials' Declaration, as well as address the European Defence Action Plan published by the European Commission on 8 July 2016.
Concerning the economic development, the European Council is expected to briefly address the implementation of various Single Market Strategies and the Energy Union. Particular attention will be given to the implementation of the Digital Single Market Strategy. More extensive discussion on these issues is planned at the European Council meeting of March 2017 where the officials will take stock of the progress as regards the implementation of all Single Market Strategies.
The European Council will assess the progress of implementation of migration policy and provide guidelines for future work. The European Council is expected to look at the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement, partnership with countries of origin of illegal migration and transit, the Foreign Investment Plan, work on the Common European Asylum System reform, and other issues.
As for external relations, more attention will be paid to the ratification of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement in the Netherlands, as well as the situation in Syria.
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone: 29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv