Editor's note
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Tuesday, 19.03.2024, 09:34
Croatia: Council’s Presidency in 2020
The presidency of
the Council of the European Union (or just “the Council”) rotates among the EU
member states every 6 months. During the 6-month period, the presidency chairs
meetings at every level in the Council while helping to ensure the continuity
of the European integration process in the Council of Ministers.
Member states
holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called “trios”
or trilogies; the system which was introduced by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. As
a rule, the trio sets long-term goals and prepares a common agenda determining
the topics and major issues that will be addressed by the Council over 18-month
period; the present program was adopted in November 2018.
More in: http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-14518-2018-INIT/en/pdf
On the basis of
this programme, each of the three countries - the current trio is made up of
the presidencies of the Romania, Finland and Croatia – is preparing its own
more detailed 6-month program.
Reference to: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/presidency-council-eu/
The rotating Presidency- two main tasks:
First, it is chairing meetings of the different Council of Ministers’ configurations
- presently ten (with the exception of the Foreign Affairs Council), and the
Council's preparatory bodies, which include permanent committees such as the
Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper), and working parties and
committees dealing with the EU specific spheres.
Second, the presidency represents the Council in relations with the other EU
institutions, particularly with the Commission and the European Parliament. In
this role, the Presidency is to try and reach agreement on legislative files
through trilogies, informal negotiation meetings and Conciliation Committee
meetings.
Priorities of the previous Finish Presidency
The priorities of
Finland's presidency have been driven by its motto: "Sustainable Europe -
Sustainable Future".
The presidency
programme was focused on four main priorities: - strengthen common values
and the rule of law; - making the EU more competitive and socially inclusive; -
strengthening the EU's position as a global leader in climate action; and - protecting
the security of the EU citizens.
Finland has been
the first presidency to integrate the new priorities of the Strategic Agenda
2019-2024 into the Council's work.
Croatia’s preparations and Presidency’s priorities
Croatian
Ambassador to the EU, Josip Buljević introduced
Croatian Presidency priorities already in December 2019. Together with Irena Andrassy, Permanent
Representative of Croatia to the EU they formulated and delivered Croatia’s
four main priorities and activities up to the end of June 2020.
The following four priorities will streamline Croatia’s
Presidency:
- A strong Europe in
a world of challenges: The EU’ economy and labour market face new global
challenges and demographic changes. In such circumstances, further deepening of
the single market, encouraging the digitalisation, investment in research and
innovation, greater accessibility of high-quality and lifelong learning and
developing new skills adjusted to jobs of the future are guarantees for the
Union’s competitiveness. In the context of this priority, the Presidency wants
to address, not only economic development within the EU, but also the climate
and demographic challenges.
- A Europe that
develops. Balanced regional development becomes a vital priority,
including: reduction of differences among the member states; fostering economic
and social cohesion and convergence; strengthening the Economic and Monetary
Union and the international role of the euro; further development of the
Capital Markets Union; using the potentials of macro-regional cooperation, and
ensuring “unanimous’ products’ quality in all member states.
Among other aspects
in this priority, there are negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial
Framework, 2021-2027 that will consume considerable time and energy, given that
a consensus on the future MFF still needs to be reached.
- A Europe that
connects: as soon as progress in the EU in great extend depends on a “networking
economy” and making full use of its infrastructural and human potential, under
this priority, the Croatian Presidency will seek to improve the transport,
energy, digital infrastructure and interconnection, as well as people-to-people
contacts through education, culture and sports.
As the new Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen underlined,
Croatian rotating Presidency “must
demonstrate to Western Balkans that we share the same continent, the same
history, the same culture and that we will share the same destiny too”.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_19_6408
- A Europe that
protects; like its predecessors, the Croatian Presidency also aims to make
progress in the area of migration and asylum policy, and reinforce cooperation
with third countries in the framework of “a Europe that protects”. This also
includes becoming more effective in the fight against terrorism and terrorist
financing, and reinforcing the EU’s capabilities with respect to hybrid
threats, cybersecurity and disinformation.
In the field of freedom and democracy’s protection, the
Presidency aims at: a) returning to a full and efficient Schengen Area; b) personal
data protection and protection of privacy; c) comprehensive approach to the
rule of law, and d) strengthening of the EU democratic principles and
fundamental values.
- An influential
Europe’s priority, “An influential Europe”, which seeks to give the EU a
stronger voice externally.
In this regard, there will be a special focus on the Western
Balkans and the enlargement process, with the EU-Western Balkans Summit in
Zagreb in May 2020 as one of the key Presidency events.
References to Croatian Presidency’s priorities in: https://eu2020.hr/Uploads/EUPDev/files/priorities-of-the-croatian-presidency.pdf?utm_source
“The Baltic Course
Magazine” wishes Croatian Presidency in the Council success in implementing abovementioned
priorities and would like to render all possible media support in fulfilling
the priority goals.