Forward look: 28 November – 11 December 2022
Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight.
Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 28-29 November 2022
A recommendation on “pathways to school success”, policy debates on the 2022 European Year of Youth and on turning recent crises into an opportunity for the development of sport as well as a discussion on solidarity with the Ukrainian cultural sector will be centre stage of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
Foreign Affairs Council (Development), 28 November 2022
Ministers will follow-up on the EU-African Union summit and will hold an exchange of views with the chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki. Member states will also discuss Team Europe’s crisis response with a focus on Ukraine and Afghanistan.
EU-Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) ministerial meeting, 29 November 2022
After three years of focusing on the future of the EU-OACPS relations, ministers of the two sides will meet in Brussels on 29 November to exchange views on the many issues of importance for the Partnership.
Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 1 December 2022
Ministers responsible for the internal market and industry will meet in Brussels and aim to adopt a Council position on the Chips Act, the directive on corporate sustainability due diligence and the regulation on geographical indication protection for crafts and industrial products.
Competitiveness Council (Research and space), 2 December 2022
Ministers responsible for research and space will meet to discuss research infrastructures and the New European Innovation Agenda. EU space data exploitation will also be on the agenda.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), 5 December 2022
The Council is invited to adopt a general approach on the revised regulation for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), approve conclusions on the ongoing development of inland waterway transport (NAIADES III) and discuss the state of play of current legislative files in the field of transport.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Telecommunications), 6 December 2022
The Council is expected to adopt a general approach on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act and the regulation establishing a framework for a European digital identity (eID), and take note of progress reports on the regulation on harmonised rules on fair access and use of data (Data Act) and on the regulation on horizontal cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements (Cyber Resilience Act). Ministers will also hold a policy debate on digital skills for the digital decade.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 6 December 2022
The Council will discuss the communication on the economic governance review, the revision of the energy taxation directive and the European Semester 2023.
Justice and Home Affairs Council, 8-9 December 2022
Home affairs ministers will discuss the full application of the Schengen acquis in Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania and will look at the overall state of the Schengen area. Ministers will assess progress on the regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse. They will also exchange views on the external dimension of migration and the situation along the main migratory routes, as well as on the home affairs aspects of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Justice ministers will aim to adopt general approaches on the digitalisation of judicial cooperation and on the environmental crime directive. They will discuss the directive against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) and will exchange views on the fight against antisemitism. Ministers will aim to adopt conclusions on the fight against impunity regarding crimes committed in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and social policy), 8 December 2022
Ministers of employment and social affairs will seek to reach a Council position on two proposed directives: on improving working conditions in platform work and on the protection of workers from the risks related to the exposure to asbestos. Also on the agenda: the European Care Strategy and the European Semester.
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Health), 9 December 2022
Ministers of health plan to adopt a new recommendation on cancer screening and will discuss the issue of COVID-19 vaccine procurement.
