Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight.
The Council’s General Secretariat will be closed between 23 December 2024 and 2 January 2025.
The next issue of the Forward Look will be published on 10 January 2025.
Foreign Affairs Council, 16 December 2024
The December Foreign Affairs Council will start at 10.00 in Brussels, and be chaired for the first time by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
Ministers will exchange views on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference.
They will then hold discussions on Georgia, and the situation in the Middle East, including Syria.
Under current affairs, the Council will exchange views on Belarus.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 16 December 2024
EU energy ministers will seek to approve conclusions on the promotion of geothermal energy, following the presentation of a report on the future of geothermal energy. They will also exchange views on the future of energy policy in view of a genuine Energy Union.
Environment Council, 17 December 2024
EU environment ministers will meet in Brussels to reach a general approach for a regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses. They will also discuss the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles and the communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target.
General Affairs Council, 17 December 2024
Ministers will focus on preparations for the December European Council, legislative planning, the future of Europe, as well as EU relations with the UK and Switzerland. The Council will also be invited to approve conclusions on enlargement and endorse its next 18-month programme.
European Council, 19 December 2024
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to address the following topics: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukraine and its people; the situation in the Middle East; EU’s global engagement and priorities in the current geopolitical context; migration; EU resilience, preparedness, crisis prevention and response capacities, and other foreign policy items.
Other meetings
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Seventeenth Accession Conference with Montenegro, 16 December 2024
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Third Accession Conference with Albania, 17 December 2024
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EU-Western Balkans summit, 18 December 2024