The European Council will start on Thursday at 15.00 with the traditional exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani.
At the first working session the Bulgarian Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, of the current rotating presidency of the Council, will provide a state of play on the implementation of previous European Council conclusions.
Leaders will start their deliberations by discussing EU-NATO cooperation in the presence of NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, before addressing the wider conclusions on security and defence. In this first session the heads of state or government will also discuss and adopt conclusions on jobs, growth and competitiveness, including trade, as well as innovation and digital.
The European Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on the downing of flight MH17, endorse the enlargement conclusions agreed by the General Affairs Council on 26 June, as well as welcome the agreement by Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev on the name issue. The European Council will also adopt the decision on the composition of the European Parliament. Over dinner the heads of state or government will discuss migration.
President Tusk will also debrief on the outcome and the discussions at the G7 in Canada, while Chancellor Merkel and President Macron should update the European Council on the implementation of the Minsk Agreement. Prime Minister May is expected to say a few words on Brexit from a UK perspective.
Starting at 09.00 on Friday morning, the European Council (Article 50), in EU 27 format, will review progress on Brexit negotiations and adopt conclusions, assessing the state of play. This will be followed by a Euro Summit, in inclusive format, starting around 11.15. The leaders will discuss the reform of Economic and Monetary Union and adopt a first set of decisions.
Migration : Leaders will discuss migration policy. They are expected to underline the need for a comprehensive approach to migration and the importance of effective control at the EU’s external borders.
Economy and Finance EU leaders are expected to adopt conclusions on several issues recently debated under the Leaders’ Agenda, such as digital taxation, tax avoidance and evasion.
Trade will be discussed in light of recent, global and growing trade tensions. The European Council is expected to underline the importance of the multilateral rules-based system, call for improvements to the functioning of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and emphasise the EU’s positive trade agenda.
The European Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the downing of flight MH17, calling on the Russian Federation to accept responsibility and fully cooperate will all efforts to establish the truth, justice and accountability.
It will also review the state of play of Brexit negotiations and adopt conclusions on progress made.
