Forward look: 6 – 19 December 2021
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December 2021
The Council will aim to reach general approaches on a directive on adequate minimum wages in the EU and on a directive on binding pay transparency measures. It will also seek to approve conclusions on sustainable work over the life course and conclusions on the impact of artificial intelligence on gender equality in the labour market.
The presidency will present a state of play on a Council regulation on the emergency framework regarding medical countermeasures. Ministers will also exchange views on current and future responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and aim to approve conclusions on strengthening a European Health Union.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Tuesday 7 December 2021
Ministers will be invited to agree on the proposal for a Council Directive regarding rates of value added tax. Ministers will exchange views, for instance, the Capital Markets Union package, the progress made in strengthening the banking union, the legislative package on the anti-money-laundering and take note of progress made on the Fit for 55 package.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Transport), Thursday 9 December 2021
The Council will hold a policy debate on ensuring a level playing-field for sustainable air transport, supporting the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure and promoting the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, all under the Fit for 55 package.
Justice and Home Affairs Council, Thursday 9 and Friday 10 December 2021
Home affairs ministers will discuss the issue of hybrid attacks and of migrant smuggling. They will also discuss the Next Generation EU recovery funds and how infiltration by organised crime can best be prevented. Ministers will take stock of progress regarding the directive on the resilience of critical entities and the Council regulation on a Schengen evaluation and monitoring mechanism.
Justice ministers will discuss lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic for the functioning of courts and the judicial review and scrutiny of emergency measures. They will be updated on the state of play of the EU accession to the European Convention of Human rights. Ministers will also take stock of progress regarding the e-evidence regulation.
Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Sunday 12 and Monday 13 December 2021
Agriculture and fisheries ministers will gather in Brussels to agree on fishing opportunities for 2022 in EU and non-EU waters, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The Council will also seek to adopt conclusions on the new contingency plan for food security, and a policy debate will take place on unfair trading practices in the food supply chain.
Under other business, delegations will discuss topics including the fisheries control regulation, the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, and the proposed regulation on deforestation-free products.
Foreign Affairs Council, Monday 13 December 2021
The Foreign Affairs Council will exchange views on EU-Africa relations, Central Asia and Venezuela, and be informed about current affairs. It is also due to adopt conclusions on the Civil CSDP Compact.
General Affairs Council, Tuesday 14 December 2021
Enlargement, European Council preparations and Rule of Law will be on the agenda of the General Affairs Council on 14 December.
Eastern Partnership Summit, Wednesday 15 December 2021
The leaders of the EU, EU member states and of the Eastern Partners countries will meet for the sixth Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels. The summit will focus on support to five key areas – economy, governance, the environment, digital and society.
European Council, Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2021
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss developments related to COVID-19, crisis management and resilience, energy prices, security and defence, migration and the situation in Belarus.
