As Sweden takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the ongoing crises of the war in Europe, the accelerating energy crisis and economic stagnation continue to be among the main political focus points. Our shared aims are to safeguard sustainable growth and competitiveness, while executing the green and digital transition and define our standing in the world and the well-being of our citizens.
The EESC is committed to contributing to the Swedish presidency and to working together to restore much needed balance and stability in Europe.
The Czech presidency of the Council of the EU will have to cope not only with the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine but also with the lingering economic consequences of this war. The fact that Europe has not yet fully recovered from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic only makes the challenge greater.
The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a vital moment, while the European Union is facing many challenges – health, social, economic and environmental.
The European Economic and Social Committee is committed to collaborating closely with the French presidency and is looking forward to working together for a strong European Union, close to its citizens.
In the second half of 2021, Slovenia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU. One of the Slovenian presidency’s key priorities focuses on the EU’s preparedness for and resilience to crises – particularly in the areas of pandemics and health, but also of cybersecurity. The EESC is looking forward to working closely with the Slovenian Presidency, especially since our priorities are closely aligned: the EESC is also focusing on recovery, on fair, green and digital transitions, and on defending the rule of law.
"The EESC is looking forward to cooperating closely with the Portuguese Presidency, especially since our own priorities are very much in line with theirs: we are advocating for an EU that prospers economically, and that is socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable."
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 first half of 2020, Croatia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first time since it joined the EU. The Croatian Presidency programme will rest on four pillars that will promote a strong, prosperous and sustainable Europe based on common values and the principles of equality, inclusiveness, cohesion and convergence.
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 first half of 2019 Romania assumes, for the first time, the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. During this semester, key matters are at the forefront of the EU agenda: the debate on the Future of Europe, the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and on the cohesion policy, the Brexit and the European elections in May 2019. Romania will need to steer discussions, demonstrate vision and have the responsibility of making decisions that impact the entire European Union.
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.
