Main topics and media events 25 June – 8 July 2018

Overview of the main subjects to be discussed at meetings of the Council of the EU over the next two weeks.

Foreign Affairs Council, Monday 25 June 2018

The Foreign Affairs Council will start with a joint session between foreign affairs ministers and defence ministers. They will discuss and adopt conclusions on EU cooperation in security and defence, and will hold a session on EU-NATO cooperation together with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Over lunch, foreign ministers will discuss Yemen with UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. The Council will adopt conclusions.

Foreign ministers will have a discussion on the implementation of the EU Global Strategy, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea (with Council conclusions), and Jordan.  

Environment Council, Monday 25 June 2018

The Council is due to adopt conclusions on delivering the EU action plan for the circular economy. Environment ministers will hold policy debates on the regulation on CO2 standards for cars and vans as well as on the directive on drinking water.

 General Affairs Council, Tuesday 26 June 2018

The Council will discuss draft conclusions of the June European Council and hold a first hearing on the rule of law in Poland. It is expected to adopt conclusions on enlargement and the Stabilisation and Association Process.

General Affairs Council (Art.50), Tuesday 26 June 2018

EU27 ministers will prepare the European Council (Article 50) by discussing the state of play of Brexit negotiations and the conclusions to be adopted by the leaders.

European Council, European Council (Art.50) and Euro summit, Thursday 28 – 29 June 2018

The June European Council will focus on migration, security and defence as well as economic and financial affairs. It will be followed by a Brexit European Council (Article 50) to discuss progress in the talks with the UK and a Euro summit in inclusive format to discuss the reform of the European Monetary Union.

 



Information Note: Informal working meeting on migration and asylum issues

The informal working meeting will take place on Sunday, 24 June 2018.

Meeting times

  • 14.30  Arrival of Heads of State or Government at the VIP entrance of the Berlaymont
  • Doorsteps on the VIP podium (ground floor) upon arrival
  • FOR POOL: Welcome by President Jean-Claude Juncker, Berlaymont 13th floor – for audio-visual technicians only
  • 15.00  FOR POOL: Family photo, lobby Jean Monnet room, Berlaymont 13th floor – for audio-visual technicians only
  • 15.05  Working session for Heads of State or Government, Jean Monnet room
    • FOR POOL: Photo and filming opportunity at the beginning of the meeting – for audio-visual technicians only
  • 19.00  (approximately) End of the Informal Working Meeting
    • Doorsteps on the VIP podium (ground floor) upon departure

    Access to the Commission

    The Commission premises will only be open to already accredited press. No day accreditations will be provided.

    For accredited press:

    A Security perimeter around the Berlaymont will be in place on Sunday, 24 June. Your accreditation status will be verified at the entrance point to the Security Perimeter.

    • If you are an accredited journalist to the European Institutions (yellow badge) or hold a 6-month Council badge you will need to show:
    • your badge
    • your valid ID card/passport
  • If you are travelling with a delegation and have received a valid e-pass from the European Commission you will need to show:
    • your valid ID card/passport
    • your valid national press card
    • a paper or electronic version of the email confirming your registration

    The Berlaymont will be open from 13:30 CET and will close two hours after the end of the meeting.

    After entering the Berlaymont building, please register at the reception desk. You will be asked to show the same documents as above before being able to pass through security.

    Working space

    Extra workstations will be available in the press zone directly outside of the main press room.

    Workspaces cannot be reserved in advance.

    Doorsteps

    Doorsteps will take place at the VIP corner (behind the security check) from 14:00 CET (depending on actual arrival times), and following the end of the informal working meeting.

    No “concluding” press conference is planned.

    No national briefings are planned.

    As per standard practice, photo and video opportunities on the 13th floor of the welcome by President Juncker and the family photo will be accessible to a pool of audio-visual technicians only. The pool is fixed in advance and determined on a rotational basis – no additional applicants will be accepted.

    All images will be available free of charge and free of rights on the audio-visual portal of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/ebs

    Food and drinks

    The press bar will serve food and beverages from 13:00 to 19:00 CET.

    For more information

    For questions about accreditation or logistical assistance onsite: COMM-PRESSROOM-TEAM@ec.europa.eu

    For questions on media opportunities: Oscar.SANCHEZ-BENITEZ@ec.europa.eu

    For media enquiries: Natasha.BERTAUD@ec.europa.eu



    Weekly schedule of President Donald Tusk

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    ESMA clarifies CCPs’ liquidity risk assessment under EMIR

    The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published today an opinion which sets out how central counterparties (CCPs) in the EU should consider in their internal risk models the liquidity risk posed by all entities towards which the CCP has a liquidity exposure, such as liquidity providers. 

    The opinion, published under the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), outlines how CCPs should assess liquidity risk, and by so doing promotes convergent risk management practices and risk control across EU.

    This opinion outlines the assessment of the liquidity risk posed by liquidity providers regardless whether or not these being a clearing member. ESMA clarifies that CCPs should include, in the measurement of their liquidity needs, the default of their top two clearing members in all their capacities vis-à-vis the CCP, in addition to assessing in their stress testing scenarios all entities towards which the CCP has a liquidity exposure.

    ESMA’s opinion is addressed to competent authorities responsible for CCP supervision.



    Steven Maijoor addresses FESE Convention 2018 on MiFID II implementation

    Key areas of focus included:

    Progress on Legal Entity Identifiers and Double Volume Cap

    LEI progress

    “ESMA and NCAs have been closely monitoring the use of LEIs and have observed a steady and substantial increase in its use: currently 95.5% of the instruments reported in our reference data system have the correct LEI”.

    DVC

    “The double volume cap system has been up-and-running and has resulted – to date – in the suspension of dark trading of more than 900 instruments. As a result, the number and volume of transactions in dark pools has significantly decreased”.

    “However, for a number of trading venues we are still dealing with data quality issues. I therefore urge those of you who have not yet submitted all necessary and correct data, to step up your efforts. “

    Systematic Internalisers/Periodic Auctions

    “We are currently carrying out a fact-finding exercise on the different periodic auction trading systems to understand the various features of these systems. This is an exercise that requires an in-depth analysis as no two auction trading systems are the same. If deemed necessary, this may result in further ESMA measures or recommendations.”

    Brexit – 3rd country equivalence and the benefits of a harmonised 3rd country regime

     “The Commission has been proposing to amend the MiFIR equivalence conditions for third country investment firms ahead of Brexit and we would welcome an initiative by the Commission with respect to third country trading venues.

    To ensure a consistent approach, and that risks for the EU related to third country venues are addressed, it is essential to introduce a harmonised EU regulatory and supervisory framework governing third-country venues.”