European Council, 17-18 October 2019

Summary:

A summit of the European Council was held on 17-18 October 2019. The agenda includes the following items:

• Endorsement of the revised Withdrawal Agreement and related Political Declaration on a future EU-UK relationship, agreed between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU);
• Exchange of views on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2021-2027;
• Exchange of views on the European Commission's contribution to the implementation of the EU's priorities as set out in the strategic agenda;
• Adoption of Decision on the appointment of Christine Lagarde as President of the European Central Bank (ECB);
• Briefing on the outcome of the UN Climate Action Summit;
• Discussion on the opening of accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia;
• Discussion on the relations with Turkey, including the country's military action in northeastern Syria and drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean;
• Briefing on the latest developments relating to the investigation on the downing of MH17 flight.

The conclusions of the summit were subject to discussion at the plenary session of the European Parliament on 22 October.

Official

European Parliament: Press Release, 09/10/2019: MEPs express concern over budget, climate change and Brexit negotiations https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191007IPR63548/

European Council Conclusions, 17 and 18 October 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/41123/17-18-euco-final-conclusions-en.pdf

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the meeting of the European Council (Art. 50) on 17 October 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/10/17/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-the-meeting-of-the-european-council-art-50-on-17-october-2019/

European Council (Art. 50) conclusions, 17 October 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/10/17/european-council-art-50-conclusions-17-october-2019/

European Parliament: President's speech at the European Council, 17 October 2019 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/the-president/en/newsroom/presidents-speech-at-the-european-council

European Commission: Press Corner, 21/10/2019: President Juncker at the European Council https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/WM_19_6141

European Commission: Speech by President Juncker in the Plenary of the European Parliament at the debate on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of 17 and 18 October 2019 (22 October 2019) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_19_6143

European Council: Report and concluding remarks by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on European Council meetings of 17 and 18 October 2019 (22 October 2019) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/10/22/report-by-president-donald-tusk-to-the-european-parliament-on-european-council-meetings-on-17-and-18-october-2019/

European Parliament: Press Release, 22/10/2019: Donald Tusk presents EU summit conclusions for last time https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191017IPR64564/

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News

EurActiv, 18/10/2019: Summit concludes with no progress on EU’s long-term budget https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/summit-concludes-with-no-progress-on-eus-long-term-budget/

EUObserver, 18/10/2019: Deep divisions on display over post-Brexit EU budget https://euobserver.com/economic/146342

Reuters, 18/10/2019: EU leaders split over $1.2 trillion post-Brexit budget https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN1WX0BZ

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Commentary and Analysis

EPRS: Briefing, October 2019: Outcome of the European Council of 17-18 October 2019 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)642801

EPRS: Briefing, October 2019: Outcome of the European Council (Article 50) meeting on 17 October 2019 https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)642802

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