Priorities during the European Presidencies

The German Presidency should pave the way to a European recovery that invests in a care strategy

In the second half of 2020, Germany will assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The German Presidency comes at a time when the European Union is facing unprecedented challenges. While its programme and organisational possibilities are heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, there is widespread demand and political energy to depart from business-as-usual modus operandi and embrace change.

In the second half of 2019, Finland will hold for the third time the presidency of the Council of the European Union. This is a crucial period when the EU faces many environmental, economic, social and societal challenges, including the still-ongoing Brexit process and threats from populist forces in the Member States.

Main priorities of the Finnish Presidency include sustainable growth, protection of the rule of law, security policy and climate policy. All of these go hand in hand with the priorities of the EESC and form a good basis for future cooperation.

In the second half of 2018 Austria assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the third time and the general motto of its presidency is "A Europe that protects". This publication presents the EESC's priorities during the Austrian Presidency.

In the second half of 2017, Estonia will take on the presidency of the EU Council for the first time.