Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July to December 2018

Summary:

Overview and information relating to the Austrian presidency of the Council of the European Union, running from 1 July to 31 December 2018.

Further information:

Austria took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2019. This was the third occasion since its accession to the European Union. The motto of the Austrian Presidency is 'A Europe that Protects'. This Presidency focused on security and the fight against illegal migration, security prosperity and competitiveness through digitalisation, and stability in the European neighbourhood.

Following the conclusion of the rotating presidency, the European Parliament's plenary session reviewed its outcome on 15 January 2019.

Official

Official Website of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://www.eu2018.at/

Work Programme of the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union https://www.eu2018.at/agenda-priorities/programme.html

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk at the opening ceremony of the Austrian Presidency (30 June 2018) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/06/30/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-at-the-opening-ceremony-of-the-austrian-presidency/

European Parliament: Press Release, 03/07/2018: Austria’s EU Presidency: Chancellor Sebastian Kurz aims to 'build bridges' http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180628IPR06811/

European Parliament: Press Release, 10/07/2018: Austrian Presidency priorities discussed in committees http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180710IPR07609/

European Parliament: Press Release, 15/01/2019: Austrian Council Presidency positively reviewed http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190109IPR23014/

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News

EurActiv: Topic: Austrian Presidency https://www.euractiv.com/topics/austrian-presidency/

The Local (Austria): Tag: EU Presidency https://www.thelocal.at/20180630/austrias-priorities-as-it-takes-european-union-helm

Deutsche Welle, 02/07/2018: Austria brings hard-line refugee policy to EU https://p.dw.com/p/30hW6

Hürriyet Daily News, 03/07/2018: Ankara to have minimum dialogue with new EU president Austria http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ankara-to-have-minimum-dialogue-with-new-eu-president-austria-134094

EurActiv, 15/01/2019: Progressive forces criticise Austrian presidency over UN migration pact https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/progressive-forces-criticise-austrian-presidency-over-un-migration-pact/

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Commentary and Analysis

LSE: EUROPP Blog, 28/06/2018: What should we expect from Austria’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union? http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/06/28/what-should-we-expect-from-austrias-upcoming-presidency-of-the-council-of-the-european-union/

Deutsche Welle, 30/06/2018: Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz: The EU's new power broker? https://p.dw.com/p/30Zfl

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