Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
A European statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of General Affairs in the European Union said that a draft agenda for the European summit scheduled in Brussels next month has been drawn up and will include a number of files, most notably the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, immigration and other files. The statement said that the ministers began with an informal lunch, during which they discussed the role of cohesion policy in enhancing the competitiveness of the European Union. The statement quoted Janos Bucca, Minister for EU Affairs of Hungary, whose country holds the rotating EU Presidency, as saying: “The Hungarian Presidency prioritises the formulation of cohesion policy to create an economic environment that supports resilience and growth in all Member States. Cohesion policy remains a crucial tool for building competitiveness within the EU, enabling regions to bridge the innovation gap, supporting regional innovation systems and promoting smart specialisation strategies that drive sustainable economic development.

The Council also prepared for the European Council meeting “Summit” on 19-20 December 2024 by discussing a pending draft agenda.

At their meeting in December, EU leaders will address:

Ukraine

The Middle East

The EU’s role in the world

Resilience, preparedness, prevention and response to crises

Migration

Other items
As part of the annual dialogue on the rule of law, ministers discussed the rule of law situation in Malta, the Netherlands, Austria and Poland.

The annual dialogue on the rule of law in the Council began in 2014. It allows for an open exchange of comments and best practices On developments in the rule of law across the EU and in individual Member States, ensuring objectivity, non-discrimination and equal treatment for all Member States.
Article 7 procedure
As part of the Article 7(1) procedure of the Treaty on European Union, ministers discussed the current situation with regard to respect for EU values ​​in Hungary.
The Commission provided ministers with an update on the latest developments in Hungary, and ministers had the opportunity to comment. Hungary provided its observations.
The Presidency concluded that the General Affairs Council was still considering the matter.
The European Parliament launched the Article 7 procedure on Hungary in 2018. It was last on the Council’s agenda in June 2024, when a hearing was held for Hungary.
A reasonable proposal to trigger the Article 7 procedure for Hungary
The Council also adopted without debate the items included in the lists of legislative and non-legislative items in category A.