Informal meeting of the EU27 heads of state or government, 23 February 2018

Further information:

The meeting takes places under the Leaders' Agenda. As the dicussions are future-oriented, the meeting was held in an EU27 format, thus excluding the United Kingdom.

Background information:

The Leaders' Agenda provides an overview of the main issues that the President of the European Council intends to put on the agenda of the heads of state or government until June 2019.

The European Commission published in advance a set of Communications setting out its contributions to the discussions held during this informal meeting.

+ Communication on 'a new, modern Multiannual Financial Framework for a European Union that delivers efficiently on its priorities post-2020'
+ Communication on 'a Europe that delivers: Institutional options for making the European Union's work more efficient'

An informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government was held on 23 February 2018. The agenda includes the following topics:

+ Discussion on institutional issues, including the European Parliament's composition after the elections in 2019, the potential transnational lists, how the European Union appoints top positions and the so-called 'Spitzenkandidaten' process;

+ Debate on the political priorities of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) after 2020.

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk following the informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government on 23 February 2018 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/02/23/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-following-the-informal-meeting-of-the-27-heads-of-state-or-government-on-23-february-2018/

Reuters, 23.02.18: EU leaders agree to spend more on migration, defense, security https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1G72I6

BBC News, 23.02.18: Brexit: EU leaders debate financial impact of UK's departure http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43169054

EurActiv, 23.02.18: Juncker warns of cuts to MFF despite member states’ promised additional cash https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-priorities-2020/news/juncker-warns-of-cuts-to-mff-despite-member-states-promised-additional-cash/

EurActiv, 23.02.18: Rift between Juncker and Tusk deepens over Spitzenkandidat process https://www.euractiv.com/section/eu-priorities-2020/news/rift-between-juncker-deepens-over-spitzenkandidat-process/

EP: EPRS: Briefing: Post-European Council Briefing, February 2018: Outcome of the informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State or Government of 23 February 2018 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2018/615655/EPRS_BRI(2018)615655_EN.pdf

The Guardian, 23.02.18: Not who but how: EU split over choosing Juncker successor https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/23/not-who-but-how-eu-split-over-choosing-juncker-successor

EUObserver, 23.02.18: EU leaders put 'Spitzenkandidat' on summit menu https://euobserver.com/institutional/141089

Deutsche Welle, 23.02.18: EU leaders meet to discuss post-Brexit budget gap and new EC president election http://p.dw.com/p/2tBtz

Politico, 23.02.18: Europe’s leaders ignore the numbers ahead of ‘disgusting’ budget talks https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-summit-leaders-ignore-numbers-ahead-of-disgusting-budget-talks/

Politico, 21.02.18: EU leaders’ positions on budget and top job https://www.politico.eu/article/where-leaders-stand-on-the-eu-budget-and-spitzenkandidat-process/

Euronews, 22.02.18: Talking cash and top jobs at EU summit http://www.euronews.com/2018/02/22/talking-cash-and-top-jobs-at-eu-summit

ERR News, 23.02.18: Ratas in Brussels to discuss volume, priorities of next EU budget https://news.err.ee/685376/ratas-in-brussels-to-discuss-volume-priorities-of-next-eu-budget

EurActiv, 22.02.18: Macron’s agenda for the informal summit https://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/macrons-agenda-for-the-informal-summit/

---