European Union

Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005.

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MONDAY 18 MAY

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels

Chair:        Mārīte Seile, Minister for Education and Science

All times are approximate and subject to change

Education

+/- 08.00     Arrivals

+/- 08.05     Doorstep by Minister Seile

+/- 08.45     Meeting between representatives of European youth organisations and youth ministers

+/- 10.00     Beginning of Council meeting

                     Adoption of the agenda

                     Approval of legislative A items (in public session)

                     Approval of non-legislative A items

+/- 10.30     European cooperation in education and training (ET 2020) and preparation of the 2015 Joint Report (in public session)

+/- 12.45     Role of early childhood education and primary education

+/- 13.00     Working lunch - Accessibility of Education          

+/- 14.30     Press conference

Youth

+/- 15.00     Beginning of Council meeting

 +/- 15.10     Cross-sectorial policy cooperation

 +/- 15.20     Youth work

 +/- 15.40     Young people political participation in the democratic life of Europe (in public session)

TUESDAY 19 MAY

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels

 Chair:        Dace Melbārde, Minister for Culture

                    Mārīte Seile, Minister for Education and Science

 All times are approximate and subject to change

Audiovisual and culture

+/- 09.00     Arrivals

 +/- 09.00     Doorstep by Minister Melbārde

 +/- 10.00     Beginning of Council meeting

 +/- 10.10     European audiovisual policy (in public session)

 +/- 11.50     Cultural and creative cross-overs

 +/- 12.00     European Capital of Culture for the year 2019

 +/- 13.00     Working lunch - Meeting between sport ministers and representatives of the sport movement

+/- 14.40     Press conference

Sport

+/- 15.00     Beginning of Council meeting

+/- 15.10     Role of grassroots sport

+/- 15.25      Promote physical activity (in particular among young people) (in public session)

Place:        Justus Lipsius building, Brussels

Chair:        Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia  

All times are approximate and subject to change

+/- 07.30    Arrivals

+/- 08.50    Doorstep by Minister Rinkēvičs

 +/- 09.00   Beginning of Council meeting

 +/- 09.05    (poss) Approval of legislative A items (in public session)

                    (poss) Approval of non-legislative A items

                    Follow-up to the Special meeting of the European Council (23 April 2015)      

                    Preparation of the European Council on 25-26 June 2015

                    4 Presidents report on the EMU

+/- 11.30    Press conference

Wednesday 13 May 2015
Aachen, Germany
Participation in the ceremony for the award of the Charlemagne Prize to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz

Thursday 14 May 2015
Aachen, Germany
Participation in the ceremony for the award of the Charlemagne Prize to the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz
10.20 Bilateral meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko

Friday 15 May 2015
Gdansk, Poland
17.00 Participation in the conference "Europe with a view for the future"

Thursday 21 May 2015
Riga
Eastern Partnership summit
20:00 Informal working dinner

Friday 22 May 2015
Riga
Eastern Partnership summit
09.00 Official welcome
09.45 Family photo
10.00 Plenary session
13.45 Press conference

I would first like to thank sincerely Chairman Linden, Mayor Philipp and the citizens of Aachen. It is an honour to be here this evening. Aachen is, of course, a symbol of European unity. But it is also the home region of the person in whose name we gather this evening, Martin Schulz.

Dear Martin, I am delighted for you. Tomorrow, you will be a Karlspreisträger. Their ranks include kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, popes… and Poles. Like you, all have dedicated their lives to the unity of Europe. You are not the first President of the European Parliament to receive the Karlspreis. But your personal contribution to parliamentary democracy in Europe ensures that you will not be the last. After the European elections last year, the body to which you have dedicated over 20 years entered an important new stage of its history.

Martin, I have witnessed at first hand your ferocious work-rate, your total commitment and your tireless efforts as the most vocal spokesperson for democracy in Europe today. When I report to the Parliament after each European Council, I watch with admiration as you steer, with impressive authority, great European debates involving hundreds of parliamentarians from 28 countries. Perhaps I am being too influenced by the sonata we have just heard. But it seems to me that you are like the much-feared conductor of a great democratic orchestra. Everybody who knows you knows that you are impossible to deny. You will never give up and never give in in the fight for the things you believe in, and for that, I warmly salute you.

This year, we go from Schuman to Charlemagne, as we celebrated the beginnings of European integration on May 9th and now award this prestigious honour a few days later on the feast of the Ascension. The Schuman Declaration and the birth of the Coal and Steel Community were the start of Europe's ascension out of the grim cycle of violence and vengeance that haunts its history. I was powerfully reminded of that last weekend in my hometown of Gdansk, when I attended a ceremony to mark the end of the Second World War on Westerplatte, the very place where the War started.

Today - in the first major city liberated from Nazi rule by Western forces - we sit side-by-side as the closest partners, allies and friends. But seventy years ago, our peoples faced each other on the battlefields, and just 25 years ago, they were divided from each other by an Iron Curtain. Our responsibility remains never to forget the catastrophe that happened in Europe, still within living memory: the bitter fruit of economic depression, militant nationalism, racial hatred and totalitarianism. Its' legacy is with us still.

Martin, I know you feel that responsibility heavily. It is one reason for your uncompromising belief in the primacy of democracy and the rights of the individual. Part of the beauty of European integration is that you are in fact the 9th German to receive this prize. An award, in the words of its founder, Dr Kurt Pfeiffer, dedicated to the "voluntary union of the European peoples without constraint, so that in their newfound strength they may defend the highest earthly goods - freedom, humanity and peace."

You were there too, in 2012, when - alongside my colleague Herman (here today) and the President of the European Commission - the Union received the Nobel Peace Prize. It was the ultimate recognition of the unique contribution of European integration as a project for peace and a milestone on a journey not yet complete.

Our duty to remember the past puts the challenges of the present into perspective. Let us not forget the lessons of the 1930s, which W.H. Auden called "a low dishonest decade". Then, political leaders allowed an economic malaise to linger too long. They tolerated the violation of sovereign borders in the name of peace. They dismissed the rise of extremists on the right and left as temporary phenomena.

Every generation has to struggle for Europe. The first post-war generation had to rebuild and reconcile the Western half of the continent. The second had to re-unite the West with its vast Eastern hinterland, crushed under the boot of totalitarianism for half a century. What is then the challenge for the third generation of European unity? Nothing less than to deliver on the promise of Europe with a ruthless determination. To live its values and defend them from enemies inside and on the outside. To avoid the trap of political hypocrisy. To build a roof to protect the house of the European project.

In practice, this means action in several areas, none of which will be a surprise. First, it means doing whatever is necessary now to create a dynamic European economy that brings prosperity to its citizens on a lasting basis. That cannot be done without a satisfactory resolution of the Greek question, pro-investment policies and wide-ranging fiscal and labour market reforms. Ultimately, we must create a genuine Economic and Monetary Union, based on democratic consent, that allows Europe to be both competitive and caring.

Second, it means being aware that our credibility as a global actor was never more at stake than at the present time. To the east, there is a doubt whether Europeans have the courage to stand up to intimidation. We must leave people in no doubt. More broadly, there are those in the world that wonder whether the European Union - an economic giant - is truly aware that it can only shape the global order by having secure access to energy and also the open markets of its allies. When I consider the potential of a new transatlantic trade treaty to secure our prosperity and way of life for a generation, I am amazed that no-one is demonstrating in the streets in favour of the deal. The failure of TTIP would be a blow to Europe's standing in the world. We can either shape global prosperity in the Atlantic or have it decided for us in the Pacific.

Martin, I know that your favourite novel is The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa, whose most famous quotation is "Everything needs to change so everything can stay the same." I could not agree more. On all the issues I have just mentioned, we need to continue delivering change just to keep the status quo. This moment in the European Union's development is not a dress rehearsal. Citizens will not wait forever as mainstream politics fails to deliver prosperity and security. We must do what needs to be done, now, with a strong sense of purpose, or Europe goes backwards. it is as simple as that.

Sadly, the name Lampedusa evokes not just a beautiful novel of a bygone age, but now also the human tragedy unfolding every day in the Mediterranean. It is the third great challenge facing Europe, and unfortunately the one likely to remain with us the longest. We face a difficult summer ahead. In the coming months, we must respond to the crisis as humanely and responsibly as possible. It is a desperately difficult task and one in which we cannot hope to succeed fully without the assistance from the other side of the sea. No country can ignore responsibility if it can help prevent more deaths.

Let me turn aside for a moment to a related issue which absolutely affects the future of the European Union. Britain's European debate is an essential factor in almost everything we will discuss here this evening and tomorrow, whether it has to do with economics or geo-politics. History dictates that whenever Britain and the continent are estranged, the result is very bad for both. No reasonable person wishes for a Europe or a European Union devoid of British influence. We must work together to build a Union that properly serves its 500 million citizens.

It is my dearest hope that many other British names will join Winston Churchill, Roy Jenkins, Edward Heath and Tony Blair as recipients of the prize which Martin will receive tomorrow. King Alfred the Great was a uniting European monarch every bit as much as Charlemagne, his inspiration and model.

In his Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu observed that every democratic system, if it is to function well, needs a clear separation of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary. The European Union is no exception to this. But the European Parliament is exceptional: the world's only supranational, multi-lingual legislator, in conjunction with the Council. Since the passage of the Lisbon treaty, it has matured into perhaps the most remarkable expression of parliamentary power in the world, as anyone who has witnessed the process of co-decision can attest. If - as Spinoza said - the law is the mathematics of freedom, the European Parliament has expanded the freedoms of ordinary Europeans, using its own special calculus.

As you well know Martin, Günter Grass sadly died last month after a remarkable, sometimes controversial, life. He was your compatriot and fellow socialist, and also a Kasubian from Gdańsk, just like me. I was fortunate to have met him several times in my and his city. Grass famously said the job of the citizen is to keep one's mouth open, not shut. In this context, Günter Grass must surely have been very proud of you! I think we can confidently say that the European Parliament has been a great global citizen, often acting as the Union's conscience and remaining unapologetic about giving voice to its highest ideals. As its' most eloquent and fearless spokesperson, you can be proud of that, Martin - as I am sure your fellow parliamentarians are of you as their champion this evening.

However, let me insert one word of caution here. Despite all your efforts, we have to accept that the rise of the directly-elected Parliament has not coincided with a comparable increase in support for Europe across the continent. Populism is by no means a European, or Eurozone phenomenon; it is a political reality all over the world. But in our own backyard, just constructing and empowering institutions is no answer in itself. To maintain consent, institutions must deliver. Those that deliver just words become footnotes of history.

Dear Martin,
I find it hard to believe that it is now five years ago since I sat where you now sit and that I return this evening as President of the European Council. I can only wish you and Mrs Schulz the same joy that my wife and I experienced then. You truly both deserve it.

Dear Martin,
We represent two different political camps. You the democratic left, and me, the moderate right. But we have understood each other in the long years of our friendship, better than believers in the same ideas maybe because life is more important than ideology, and indeed our life stories have so much in common. You matured politically as a Socialist; I was thrown in jail by the Polish Communists. But my intuition tells me, that if you were a Pole, you would have shared the same prison cell with me.

We both know what the daily hard work is all about; when you sold books, I worked for many years as a construction worker. Yes, we have both been well-educated by life.

Your wife comes from today's Polish town of Szprotawa (Sprottau), while my parents grew up in Freistadt Danzig, that is why we both know that the friendship between Poles and Germans is one of the keys to a free and secure Europe. And, last but not least, we both dreamed about the same, completely apolitical career, the career of a professional football player: you played for your beloved Rhenania 05, Würselen, while I played for Lechia Gdańsk. If not for our injuries and some deficiencies in the football technique we could have played against each other in the World Cup in Spain in 1982. Without you on the team, the Germans only won the silver medal, when Poland without me on the field, just got the bronze. Now, de facto, we are playing in the same club, and tomorrow, you will join the golden medallists.

Martin, welcome to our golden team.

Martin, herzlich Willkommen in unserer goldenen Mannschaft.
 

On 19 May 2015, the EU Military Committee will meet at the level of Chiefs of Defence (CHODs).  

On this occasion CHODs will host Mr. Hervé Ladsous, Under Secretary General of the UN - Head of Department of Peacekeeping Operations, and Lieutenant General Viktor Muzhenko, Chief of Defence of Ukraine.  

They will discuss recent developments regarding current and planned EU military missions and operations.  

For the first time, CHODs from partner nations engaged in EU military operations and missions have been invited to discuss with the 28 EU CHODs. Thus, CHODs from Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Switzerland will express their view as well as their experience and recommendations.  

The 28 EU CHODs will also have an exchange of views with Colonel General Viktor Muzhenko, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the current situation in the country.

The CHODs will also focus attention on the deliverables for the next European Council of June and the foreseen follow-up work.

On this International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, the EU stands together with LGBTI people all around the world in the struggle to end discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity. All human beings are equal in dignity and all are entitled to enjoy their rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Over the past years in some parts of the world LGBTI persons have made substantial progress towards obtaining equal rights. Yet in many places they continue to suffer discrimination and violence on account of their sexual orientation and gender identity. In several countries, same sex sexual relations between consenting adults are still criminalised and carry sentences of imprisonment or even the death penalty.

We will continue to make the case for the respect of human rights for all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation and gender identity, in line with the EU's Guidelines on the rights of LGBTI persons. Through dialogues with third countries, our work in multilateral fora, public statements, and through our support to civil society, the EU will continue to advocate measures to combat discrimination and violence against LGBTI persons, and to actively promote their rights.

The member states permanent representatives endorsed the informal agreement reached between Council and European Parliament representatives on the decision concerning the establishment and operation of a market stability reserve (MSR) at their meeting on 13 May 2015.

The consolidated text presented today will be reviewed by the Lawyer-Linguists and then formally adopted by the Council at one of its forthcoming meetings.

The decision, which introduces measures to tackle structural supply-demand imbalances in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) caused by a surplus of emission allowances accumulating since 2009, is an important step in the fight against climate change and paves the way for the wider review of the EU ETS.

"I am pleased that the agreement is reached and COREPER approved it today" said Kaspars Gerhards, Latvian Minister for Environment, "It was a priority for the Latvian Presidency to establish the Market Stability Reserve in order to improve the operation of the carbon market in the EU. This is certainly a success."

In 2013 the emission allowances surplus reached approximately 2,1 billion allowances - which was partly due to the economic crisis and has significantly weakened the carbon price. Furthermore, the structural surplus is expected to remain in the system up to and beyond 2020.

The decision proposes therefore to automatically withdraw from the market a percentage of EU  ETS allowances that will be placed into a reserve if the total number of allowances exceeded a certain threshold. In the opposite case, allowances will be returned to the market.

• a market stability reserve will be established in 2018 and will be operational from 1 January 2019
• "backloaded" allowances (the 900 million allowances whose auctioning was postposed from the years 2014-2016 until 2019-2020) will be placed in the market reserve
• unallocated allowances will be transferred directly to the MSR in 2020 and their future usage is to be considered under the wider EU ETS review
• temporary exemption of the "10% solidarity component" of allowances from the scope of the MSR until the end of 2025
• the EU ETS review is to consider the possible use of a limited number of allowances before 2021 to supplement existing resources to promote CCS, renewables and low-carbon industrial innovation projects
• the EU ETS and MSR reviews to take into account carbon leakage and competitiveness aspects, as well employment and GDP related issues.

The aim of the EU ETS is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an economically efficient manner.

The EU ETS is based on the so-called "cap-and-trade" approach: each year the EU establishes a limit (cap) for overall emissions from power plants, energy-intensive industry and commercial airlines covered by the system.

Within this limit, companies can buy and sell emission allowances as needed. Each allowance gives the holder the right to emit one tonne of CO2, the main greenhouse gas, or the equivalent amount of another greenhouse gas.

From 2013 to 2020, the cap is reduced annually by 1.74% and from 2021 onwards by 2.2%, reflecting the EU's new 2030 target for greenhouse gas emission reductions.

Altogether the EU ETS covers around 45% of total greenhouse gas emissions from the 28 EU countries.

The Commission submitted its proposal on a market stability reserve to the Council in January 2014, alongside its communication on "A policy framework for climate and energy in the period from 2020 to 2030".

In its October 2014 conclusions, the European Council agreed on the 2030 climate and energy policy framework for the European Union and endorsed a binding EU target of an at least 40% domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 1990. 

As regards the EU ETS, the European Council stated that a well-functioning, reformed Emissions Trading System with an instrument to stabilise the market will be the main European instrument to achieve this target and gave a number of further orientations, including on free allocation and the continuation of existing measures after 2020 to prevent the risk of carbon leakage.

A compromise text for a new directive to increase protection of seafarers' labour rights was confirmed by the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper). The Coreper approved the agreement reached by the Presidency with the European Parliament in a trilogue on 6 May 2015.

The new piece of legislation gives seafarers the same rights with regard to information and consultation as those enjoyed by workers on shore while taking into account the particular nature of the shipping sector. It is based on a joint position reached by the social partners in the maritime sector.  

Apart from ensuring a level playing field in the maritime sector, the directive aims at increasing the quality of maritime jobs. The goal is to reverse the current decline in the number of young Europeans entering certain maritime professions and to retain skilled workers in the profession.  

It also intends to remedy the current legal situation which gives rise to unequal treatment of the same category of workers by different member states. Currently this differs depending on whether or not they apply the exemptions and derogations allowed by the current legislation. Most member states have made little or no use of the exclusions.  

The European Parliament's Employment Committee is expected to confirm the text during its meeting on 28 May 2015. Following lawyer-linguist revision, the text could be voted by the European Parliament's Plenary in July 2015 and signed by the two institutions in September. 

The Council has agreed to reinforce the civilian mission EUCAP Sahel Niger as part of the actions of the European Union to prevent irregular migration.

The EU will offer the Nigerien authorities support in preventing irregular immigration and combatting associated crimes. This would include advice on a related strategy and training to the Nigerien security services. EUCAP Sahel Niger would also have an outpost in Agadez, a major trafficking hub on the road to Libya.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "Today the EU confirms that it is taking up its responsibilities, in partnership with key countries and in a comprehensive way. Two weeks after the European Council's request to increase our support to partner countries to prevent irregular migration flows, we have agreed on reinforcing our presence in Niger: 90% of migrants from Western Africa travel through Niger. Only by working jointly with countries of origin and transit, with the African Union and the UN, we will succeed to tackle the root causes of the emergency while disrupting criminal organisations and helping migrants to escape from them".  

Niger is in a critical geographical location for migration flows to Europe: 90% of migrants from Western Africa travel through Niger on their way to Libya. Half of the migrants arriving irregularly in Italy in 2014 came through Libya, according to the EU's border management agency Frontex.  

EUCAP Sahel Niger already provides advice and training to support the Nigerien authorities in strengthening their capacities to combat terrorism and organised crime. The mission works to promote the interoperability of Nigerien security forces, to develop criminal investigation capacities, to facilitate coordination in the fight against terrorism and organised crime as well as to improve the sustainability of the security forces. EUCAP is embedded in the EU regional strategy for security and development in the Sahel.  

Around 50 international experts from 12 EU member states currently work in the mission, which is based in Niamey. Since May 2014, Filip de Ceuninck from Belgium has been Head of Mission.  

The decision was taken in the Council's Political and Security Committee.

Another round of constructive discussions on new EU rules for novel foods took place between the Latvian presidency and representatives of the European Parliament and the Commission on 12 May 2015. Despite certain convergence on some elements further work is required to reach an agreement. The presidency will brief the Council's Committee of Permanent Representatives on 13 May to reflect on the next steps. Novel foods are foods not consumed in the EU to a significant degree before May 1997. They include for instance foods to which a new production process is applied.  

The rules under discussion are aimed at making the authorisation process of novel foods faster and cheaper while preserving the high level of protection of human health. The draft new rules are also expected to facilitate the access to the EU market for traditional foods from third countries having a history of safe food use.  

Two of the most challenging elements of the discussions that remain to be addressed are the reference to cloning and the choice of the type of secondary decisions to authorise novel foods.  

The novel foods authorised under the current rules in the EU include for instance "rapeseed oil high in unsaponifiable matter", "rye bread with added phytosterols/phytostanols", "milk type products and yoghurt type products with added phytosterol esters", "coagulated potato proteins and hydrolysates thereof" and "phospholipids from egg yolk".