POLITICS
(Brussels) Economic affairs will top the agenda of the spring European Council convened in Brussels on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 March. The meeting of the Heads of State or Government will also address other urgent matters, including taxation and foreign affairs. EU leaders will also discuss Brexit (in a EU27 format, that is, without British Prime Minister Theresa May) and the eurozone (in a Euro Summit format). With regard to economic affairs, the Council will adopt conclusions on various issues including the progress achieved so far in the implementation of the Single Market strategy, the Digital Single Market strategy, the Capital Markets Union Action Plan and the Energy Union; among the topics to be discussed are also the priorities for the 2018 European Semester and social issues, “notably – the agenda reads – the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the upcoming Commission proposal on a European Labour Authority”. Discussion will also focus on tariffs, in the wake of those imposed by the Trump administration in the US on steel and aluminium. The European Council is also due to adopt conclusions on the Western Balkans, ahead of the May summit in Sofia. The leaders will also discuss recent developments in relations with Turkey. Today the EU’s Council of Ministers has agreed that next European Parliament election will be held on 23-26 May 2019.
