European Council, 20-21 June 2019

Summary:

A summit of the European Council was held on 20-21 June 2019. The agenda includes the following items:

• Discussion on the appointments to lead the main bodies of the European Union;
• Adoption of a Strategic Agenda for the European Union (EU) for the period 2019-2024;
• Briefing on the work conducted by the Council of the European Union as regards the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-2027;
• Discussion on climate change and the transition to a climate-neutral European Union;
• Briefing on the fight against disinformation and on cybersecurity;
• Discussions on several matters relating to external relations:
  • Discussion on the latest development and situation in eastern Ukraine and the Azov Sea;
  • Briefing on the overall implementation of the Minsk agreement and the negotiations in the Normandy format;
  • Discussion on the situation in Libya;
  • Discussion on Turkey's drilling activities in the eastern Mediterranean;
  • Discussion on the EU's strategic partnership with Africa;
  • Discussion on the bilateral relations between Morocco and the European Union;
  • Discussion on the peaceful transfer of power in Moldova;
• Endorsement of the conclusions on Enlargement adopted by the Council of the European Union earlier in the month;
• Discussion on the country-specific recommendations, in the context of the annual European Semester process;

At the Euro Summit held on 21 June, the leaders analysed the economic situation and discussed the work done by the Eurogroup regarding the deepening of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). At the end of the European Council, EU27 leaders briefly addressed the United Kingdom's withdrawal of the European Union (Brexit) with an update on the state of play, considering the latest political developments in the country.

Official

Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the members of the European Council ahead of their meeting on 20 and 21 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/06/19/invitation-letter-by-president-donald-tusk-to-the-members-of-the-european-council-ahead-of-their-meeting-on-20-and-21-june-2019/

European Council conclusions, 20 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39922/20-21-euco-final-conclusions-en.pdf

Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meeting on 20 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/06/21/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-the-european-council-meeting-on-20-june-2019/

Euro Summit, 21 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/euro-summit/2019/06/21/

Statement of the Euro Summit, 21 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/06/21/statement-of-the-euro-summit-21-june-2019/

European Council: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the Euro summit meeting on 21 June 2019 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/06/21/remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-the-euro-summit-meeting-on-21-june-2019/

UK Government: Statement from Prime Minister to the House of Commons on European Council, 24 June 2019 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-statement-on-european-council-24-june-2019

European Commission: Speech by Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of President Juncker at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament on the Conclusions of the European Council meeting of 20 and 21 June 2019 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-19-3712_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 04/07/2019: Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the last European Council meetings https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2019/07/04/report-by-president-donald-tusk-to-the-european-parliament-on-the-last-european-council-meetings/

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Commentary and Analysis

Politico, 21/06/2019: 5 takeaways from EU’s leadership failure summit https://www.politico.eu/article/5-takeaways-from-eus-leadership-failure-summit/

Euronews, 21/06/2019: The five key takeaways from the EU summit https://www.euronews.com/2019/06/19/eu-summit-six-things-to-look-out-for-as-leaders-face-bumpy-start-to-new-eu-era

EPRS: Briefing, June 2019: Outcome of the European Council and Euro Summit, 20-21 June 2019 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)631755

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ESO Records

European Council conclusions on the MFF, climate change, disinformation and hybrid threats, external relations, enlargement and the European Semester, 20 June 2019 https://www.europeansources.info/record/conclusions-on-the-mff-climate-change-disinformation-and-hybrid-threats-external-relations-enlargement-and-the-european-semester/

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