State Secretary Metelko-Zgombić attends GAC

State Secretary for European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić 18 July 2019 in Brussels attended a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC)

State Secretary for European Affairs Andreja Metelko-Zgombić 18 July 2019 in Brussels attended a meeting of the EU General Affairs Council (GAC).

The Finnish presidency informed ministers about its plans regarding work on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. Metelko-Zgombić supported reaching an agreement on the MFF by end-2019. She underscored the importance of maintaining a suitable level of financing the Cohesion and Common Agricultural Policy, as well as keeping the extant implementation rules and stimulating demographic measures.

Croatia welcomed the Finnish presidency’s priorities for the next six months, under the banner of “Sustainable Europe – Sustainable Future”. These include strengthening common values and the rule of law, making the EU more competitive and socially inclusive, strengthening the EU’s position as a global leader in climate action, and protecting the security of citizens comprehensively. They follow for the most part the 18-month presidency programme outlined by the Trio (Romania, Finland and Croatia).

Ministers exchanged views on the implementation of the 2019-2024 Strategic Agenda. Finland is the first presidency to integrate the new priorities of the Agenda into the Council’s work. Metelko-Zgombić said Croatia advocated greater coherence and synergy in the Council’s work, addressing the Agenda’s priorities in all Council of the EU formats, and brining the EU even closer to the citizens. She underlined the importance of adopting new strategic guidelines in the areas of freedom, security and justice, which Croatia will continue to push for and which will determine the main activities in said areas for the next five-year period.

The European Commission presented its communication on strengthening the rule of law in the EU, which consists of three levels: promotion, prevention and EU-wide response.

The last item on the agenda addressed the rule of law in Poland in the light of recent developments. The Council approved the standard modalities for hearings under Article 7(1) TEU procedures.

 

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