Under the slogan "Together for Europe's recovery " Germany will take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2020 © dpa
Germany's presidency of the Council of the EU
European Project
Germany's Council Presidency is starting in 2020 under special circumstances: taking centre stage is the COVID-19 pandemic and its health, economic and societal consequences for all of Europe.
The most important task will be to work together and in a forward-looking manner to successfully master the challenges of the pandemic on a durable basis. Germany will place itself at the service of Europe and will do everything in its power to ensure that the European Union and its Member states emerge strengthened from the crisis.
By assuming the Presidency, Germany has taken on the role of “honest broker” and will seek to find compromises and solutions among the Member states in the Council. Our national positions will thus move into the background so that we can play a mediating role among the positions of the 27 EU Member states. Especially at an extraordinary time such as this, the overriding goal of the German Presidency will be to ensure that the Member states come together to reach good joint outcomes to the benefit of the EU and its Member states.
Germany has adopted a programme for its Presidency and has thus set clear priorities. The focus will be on overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic in the long term and economic recovery, a stronger and more innovative Europe, a fair and sustainable Europe; a Europe of security and common values; a Europe capable of taking action in the world.
The crisis has clearly revealed Europe’s weaknesses as well as its strengths: during this crisis, no region in the world has acted in the spirit of solidarity which the European Union has shown. Solidarity, economic and social security as well as the capability to find compromises are what make the European Union unique. In this spirit, we want to work together to tackle the major issues that will define our future such as climate change mitigation, the digital revolution or the transformation of the job market. More than ever, we have to remember that only by working together can we make Europe strong again.
The guiding principles of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The guiding principles of Germany's Presidency of the Council of the EU © Bundesregierung
Under the motto “Together for Europe’s recovery”, Germany has established its guiding principles for the country's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The guiding principles of Germany’s Council Presidency are as follows:
- overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic permanently, as well as the economic recovery
- a stronger and more innovative Europe
- a fair Europe
- a sustainable Europe
- a Europe of security and common values
- a strong Europe in the world.
In the past, crises have always been an opportunity in the EU to revisit the status quo and to be even better prepared to face the challenges of the future. Together, we must focus our attention on the major transformation processes of our time such as climate change, the digital transformation and the evolving world of work. The European Union also stands for the environmental, social and economically sustainable prosperity to which it gives rise.
Germany is committed to the rapid adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFR) and to the swift establishment of a recovery fund in order to bring about sustainable economic and social recovery with ambitious investments in climate protection, research and the digital transformation. In this way, the European Union can address the challenges posed by this crisis and pursue its longer-term strategic goals in a fast-changing world with renewed vigour.
In a world of increasing rivalry between major powers, European policy must strengthen Europe’s ability to act in the wider world in order to defend European interests and values and to assume our responsibility in the world. Germany is committed to an international order based on rules and human rights in which the European Union plays a role in shaping standards and norms worldwide.
Migration policy continues to be a pressing issue. Europe needs a fresh start in reforming the common asylum system. The political dialogue on the rule of law is to be strengthened among the Member States in the long term with comprehensive discussions on the basis of the Commission’s new Rule of Law Report. Intensive negotiations on relations with the UK are to take place by the end of the year, which will be conducted on the European Union’s behalf by the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Germany will work to ensure the continued cohesion of the EU27. Our objective is an attractive agreement for both sides on the basis of the jointly agreed Political Declaration.
Programme for Germany's Presidency of the Council of the European Union
The Presidency Programme describes the guiding principles of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the period from 1 July to 31 December 2020.
In the motto, “Together for Europe’s recovery”, the German Government is putting the focus of its Presidency on overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking answers to the challenges of the future that we need to address now, thus also expressing its goal of making Europe stronger, more equitable and more sustainable. The Strategic Agenda of the European Council of June 2019 and the European Commission’s adjusted Work Programme form cornerstones of Germany’s programme.
For more information about the program, please click on the following link: https://www.eu2020.de/blob/2360248/e0312c50f910931819ab67f630d15b2f/06-30-pdf-programm-en-data.pdf
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