Forward look: 10 – 23 March 2025
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Social policy), 10 March 2025
In the context of the European Semester, the Council will hold a policy debate on ways to mitigate the challenges of the ‘silver transformation’ for the EU’s workforce.
Other topics on the agenda relating to the European Semester autumn package include the employment and social aspects of the 2025 recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area, the 2025 Joint Employment Report, and the aspects of the medium-term fiscal-structural plans that relate to the EPSCO Council.
Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 11 March 2025
Ministers will hold a policy debate on competitiveness and regulatory burden reduction and the Commission will present the omnibus package. The Council aims to reach a political agreement on the Directive on Administrative Cooperation in the Field of Taxation (DAC9).Ministers will take note of the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Ministers will be briefed on the main outcomes of the G20 and will mandate the EFC to prepare for the next G20 meeting. The Council will adopt implementing decisions approving amended recovery and resilience plans.
Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry), 12 March 2025
Ministers responsible for industry and the internal market will hold four policy debates. The first debate will be on European industry, the competitiveness compass and the clean industrial deal; the second on the single market and the need for an action plan for services; the third on the two recently published omnibus simplification packages; the fourth on EU industry in the context of the carbon border adjustment mechanism. During working lunch, ministers will discuss safe and sustainable e-commerce. The meeting will close with information points on the single market, industrial policy, chemicals industry and automotive industry action plan.
Foreign Affairs Council, 17 March 2025
Ministers will exchange views on the Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, after a short intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha via videoconference. They will then hold discussions on the situation in the Middle East, Iran and touch on EU-US relations. They will be also informed about current affairs.
Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (Energy), 17 March 2025
EU energy ministers will meet in Brussels to discuss the action plan for affordable energy and to exchange views on the EU’s energy security architecture. They will receive information on the energy situation in Ukraine and on EU electricity and gas market developments.
General Affairs Council, 18 March 2025
Ministers responsible for European affairs will meet in Brussels to continue preparations for the European Council meeting on 20-21 March 2025 and hold an exchange of views on the state of play of EU-UK relations. Ministers will also focus on the 2025 European Semester. Finally, the Council will approve a joint declaration on the EU legislative priorities for 2025, as well as joint conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for 2025-2029.
European Council, 20-21 March 2025
EU leaders will meet in Brussels to address the following topics: Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the EU’s support to Ukraine and its people; the situation in the Middle East; European defence; migration; EU’s economy and competitiveness; the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and new own resources; oceans, and other foreign policy items.
