euinside is covering the European Council onJune 23 and 24, 2011
euinside is again in Brussels to follow closely the European Council on June 23 and 24. Each council is interesting, but this one seems to be different both in format and in content. Although it was envisaged the council to be one day, then it had to be extended because of the Greek crisis. This will be the main topic of the first day of the council, together with the package of measures, aimed at enhancing the economic governance of the EU, including the European Stability Mechanism and the bank stress tests. The leaders will discuss the recommendations to the member states in the framework of the European semester, as well as the commitments made under the Euro Plus Pact. The 27 heads of state and government will arrive in Brussels in the late afternoon and will start work in 19.30 local time (20.30 Bulgarian time), so we will probably be able to learn the first news around midnight.
The second day of the council is dedicated to migration, the south neighbourhood of the Union and Schengen. The issue of justice and home affairs will be a subject of a serious discussion at the European Council for the first time in many years, because of the immigrants from North Africa and because of Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to Schengen. It is expected the leaders to welcome the ending of the negotiations for Croatia's accession in the end of this month and to confirm the date, proposed by the Commission for accession - July 1st 2013.
| © euinsideSven Giegold: Deficit reduction but socially justified
European Union's economic governance has been the leading topic for Europe for the past year. It will continue to be since a compromise has not been reached between the European Parliament and the Council on European Commission's six pack, aimed at tightening member states' fiscal discipline an ...
| © European UnionNumber 28? Let him come in
Many are the reasons why the European Union has decided to accelerate Croatia's accession process. For example, because indeed Croatia demonstrates something more than a "momentum for reforms" and "political will" (as is the case of Bulgaria) to tackle corruption and organised crime. Or because, ...
| © The Council of the European UnionThe European Council called for national unity in Greece
The European leaders have urged the Greek Parliament to adopt as a matter of urgency" the reform package, as well as the key laws on fiscal strategy and privatisation agreed with the EU, the ECB and IMF. Avoiding the word "condition", the European Council's conclusions state that "this will prov ...
| © The Council of the European UnionGreek economic plan lacks 5.5 billion euros
Before being approved the Greek economic plan, worth 28 billion euros, is already insufficient. This has been revealed by the Troika team, sent to Athens this week, The Financial Times reports citing Greek officials. Before the plan is approved by Parliament next week, a "black hole" of 5.5 bill ...
| © The Council of the European Union