COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

MAIN TOPICS FOR THE COMING FORTNIGHT1

5 - 18 May 2014

Monday 5 May
Eurogroup
Tuesday 6 May
Economic and Financial Affairs Council
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Overview of the agenda .....................................................................................................3

Thursday 8 May
Foreign Affairs Council (Trade)
-

Overview of the agenda .....................................................................................................4

Monday 12 May
Foreign Affairs Council
-

Overview of the agenda .....................................................................................................5

Tuesday 13 May
General Affairs Council
-

Overview of the agenda .....................................................................................................6

This document has been prepared under the sole responsibility of the Press Office.
Information may be subject to change, depending on further developments.

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Agenda of the President of the European Council (5 - 8 May) ..............................................7

Other events..............................................................................................................................8

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For video coverage of Council sessions and audiovisual material, please see the following
Council websites:

http://video.consilium.europa.eu (live webcast of public deliberations, public debates and press

conferences), and

www.eucouncil.tv (audiovisual material available for download in broadcast quality).

For photo coverage: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/council/photographic-library.aspx?lang=en.

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Tuesday 6 May 2014

Economic and Financial Affairs Council - Overview of the agenda

The Council will attempt to reach political agreement on a directive amending existing rules on the
common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of
different member states (16918/13). The amendments aim to avoid situations of double nontaxation deriving from mismatches in the tax treatment of profit distributions between member
states.
The Council will take note of progress on a directive implementing enhanced cooperation in the
area of financial transaction tax (6442/13).
It is also expected to adopt conclusions on in-depth reviews according to the macroeconomic
imbalances procedure (15808/13 + COR 1).
Furthermore, it will be informed by the Presidency and the Commission on the follow-up to the G20
finance ministers and governors (10-11 April) and IMF/World Bank (11-13 April) meetings in
Washington.
Monday 5 May

Eurogroup (15.00)

Tuesday 6 May

Annual EIB Governors meeting (8.30)

Ministerial dialogue with candidate countries

Further information

Eurozone portal: http://www.eurozone.europa.eu

European Investment Bank: http://www.eib.org

Events
Meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council - Justus Lipsius building, Brussels (10.00),
preceded by a ministerial breakfast at 09.00.
Press conferences will be held at the end of the Eurogroup meeting and of the Council meeting
respectively.

Contacts
Press officers:
Franois Head, tel. +32 2 281 60 83, francois.head@consilium.europa.eu
Azadeh Sharafshahi, tel. +32 2 281 31 95, azadeh.sharafshahi@consilium.europa.eu
Greek presidency: Alexandros Vidouris, tel. +32 2 02 551 56 36, a.vidouris@rp-grece.be

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Thursday 8 May 2014

Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) - Overview of the agenda

The Council will take note of the state of play concerning the negotiations for a comprehensive
economic and trade agreement (CETA) with Canada. The EU and Canada reached a political
agreement on the key elements of a CETA in October 2013. Since then, work has continued on the
remaining outstanding technical issues.
The Council will also take stock of progress achieved in the free trade talks with Japan. The talks
were officially launched in March 2013, and the third round took place in October 2013.
Ministers will discuss the EU's strategy regarding the definition of the WTO Doha Development
Agenda post-Bali work programme, following a policy debate at their informal meeting in
February.
In addition, the Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the multilateral Green Goods
Initiative, which aims to eliminate tariffs on a broad list of goods that protect the environment and
combat climate change.
During a working lunch, ministers will take stock of the negotiations with the United States for a
transatlantic trade and investment partnership (TTIP).

Further information

EU trade policy - Canada

EU trade policy - Japan
EU trade policy - Doha Development Agenda
Outcome of the WTO Bali ministerial conference in December 2013
EU and the Green Goods Initiative
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Events
Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council (trade issues) - Justus Lipsius building, Brussels (10.00).
The Presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room on Monday 5 May at 09.30. A press
conference will take place at the end of the meeting.

Contacts
Press officers:
Franois Head, tel. +32 2 281 60 83, francois.head@consilium.europa.eu
Azadeh Sharafshahi, tel. +32 2 281 31 95, azadeh.sharafshahi@consilium.europa.eu
Greek presidency: Alexandros Vidouris, tel. +32 2 02 551 56 36, a.vidouris@rp-grece.be

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Monday 12 May 2014

Foreign Affairs Council - overview of the agenda

The Council, chaired by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, will discuss the Ukraine crisis
and take stock of ongoing work, including on the EU policy regarding Crimea, diplomatic efforts to
promote de-escalation of the situation and restrictive measures.
The Council will also debate the state of play regarding the Middle East peace process, taking
also into account the statement of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton of 27 April.
It will discuss the EU's neighbourhood policy for 2014 on the basis of a joint communication of
the Commission and the High Representative. This annual stocktaking of the implementation of EU
neighbourhood policy reports on the Union's engagement with, and support of, its neighbours to
the East and South.
A stabilisation and association Council with Albania will take place in the margins of the Foreign
Affairs Council on 12 May. On 13 May, the EU-Algeria Association Council will be held.

Further information

Council website: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/

European External Action Service website: http://eeas.europa.eu
Statement of HR Catherine Ashton of 27 April on the latest developments in the Middle
East peace process

Events
Meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council - Justus Lipsius building, Brussels (9.30).
A background briefing will be held in the Council press room on 8 May at 14.00.
A press conference will take place at the end of the meeting.

Contacts
Press officer: Susanne Kiefer, tel. + 32 2 281 94 42, susanne.kiefer@consilium.europa.eu
Spokespersons for the High Representative for Foreign Affairs:
Michael Mann, tel. +32 2 299 9780, Michael.Mann@eeas.europa.eu
Maja Kocijancic, tel. +32 2 298 6570, +32 498 984 425, Maja.Kocijancic@ec.europa.eu

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Tuesday 13 May 2014

General Affairs Council - overview of the agenda

The Council meeting will be devoted to the preparation of the European Council on 26-27 June.
For that purpose, ministers will examine the draft annotated agenda.

Event
Meeting of the General Affairs Council - Justus Lipsius building, Brussels (10.00).
The Presidency will hold a briefing in the Council press room on Thursday 8 May at 16.30.
A press conference will take place at the end of the meeting.

Contacts
Press officer: Jri Laas, tel. +32 2 281 55 23, juri.laas@consilium.europa.eu
Greek presidency: Alexandros Vidouris, tel. +32 2 02 551 56 36, a.vidouris@rp-grece.be

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Agenda of the President of the European Council2

5 - 8 May

Monday 5 May
-

Debate on the new book by Herman Van Rompuy "Europe in the storm - Lessons and
Challenges" (Palais des Beaux-Arts, 20.00)

Tuesday 6 May
-

Informal dinner prior the EU-Japan Summit (19.30, Val Duchesse)

Wednesday 7 May
EU-JAPAN SUMMIT
-

Arrival of Prime Minister of Japan Shinz Abe (10.25)

Plenary meeting (10.30)
Press conference (12.00)
Working lunch (12.30)

Thursday 8 May
-

Opening speech at the second sponsor summit of the Special Olympics Summer
games 2014 (Palais des Beaux-Arts, 10.00)
Opening speech at the exhibition "The legacy of Charlemagne" (18.30, OudenaardeBelgium)

Further information
European Council - the president

Contacts
Spokesperson of the president:
Dirk De Backer, tel. + 32 2 281 97 68, mobile + 32 497 59 99 19,
e-mail: press.president@consilium.europa.eu
Deputy spokesperson of the president:
Preben Aamann, tel. + 32 2 281 20 60, mobile + 32 476 85 05 43,
e-mail: press.president@consilium.europa.eu

Information included in this page may be subject to last minute changes. Please check regularly the
President's website.

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Other events

Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 May

Informal meeting of ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries (Athens)
Wednesday 7 May
EU-Japan summit (Brussels)
Informal meeting of ministers for Maritime Affairs (Athens)

Thursday 8 May
Informal meeting of ministers for Transport and Telecommunications (Transport) (Athens)
Ministerial conference EU - Western Balkans (Thessaloniki, Greece)

Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 May

Informal meeting of ministers for Competitiveness (Athens)
-

Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 May

Informal meeting of ministers for Environment (Athens)

Thursday 15 and Friday 16 May

Informal meeting of ministers for Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (Energy)
(Athens)

http://gr2014.eu

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