COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

Press material Friday, 07 March 2025

● General Secretariat of the Council   07/03/2025 19:14 | Press release | Forward look: 10 - 23 March 2025   Overview of the main topics and events at the Council of EU and European Council for the coming fortnight. 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more 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. Read more Other meetings Eurogroup, 10 March 2025 Informal meeting of research ministers, 10-11 March 2025 EU-South Africa summit, 13 March 2025 Standing with Syria - Brussels ninth conference, 17 March 2025 Informal meeting of transport ministers, 17-18 March 2025 Indicative calendar of meetings under the Polish presidency (1 January - 30 June 2025) Polish presidency

● Council of the EU

07/03/2025 19:06 | Media advisory | Media advisory – Eurogroup meeting of 10 March and Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 11 March 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Monday 10 March - Eurogroup meeting Chaired by Paschal Donohoe, President of the Eurogroup 14.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 14.45 Doorstep by Pascal Donohoe (live streaming) 15.00 Eurogroup meeting in regular format (roundtable): Macroeconomic developments in the euro area Fiscal policy coordination: stocktaking and challenges going forward Miscellaneous 16.30 In inclusive format (roundtable): Follow-up from the February G7 meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Developments in crypto-asset activities and markets and their implications for the euro area and the European economy Preparation of the March Euro Summit (incl. capital markets union stocktake) At the end of the meeting (+/- 19.00) - Press conference with Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe, Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and ESM Managing Director Pierre Gramegna (live streaming). Videos and photos from the event Tuesday 11 March - Economic and Financial Affairs Council Chaired by Andrzej Domanski, Polish minister for finance 08.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.45 Doorstep by Andrzej Domanski (live streaming) 09.00 Ecofin breakfast (roundtable) 10.30 Beginning of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items: - non-legislative list - legislative list (public session) +/- 10.50 Competitiveness and improving business environment (public session) +/- 11.50 Cooperation in the field of taxation (DAC 9) (public session) +/- 12.50 Any other business: - Current legislative proposals in the field of financial services (public session) - Implementation of legislation in the field of financial services +/- 13.10 Economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine +/- 13.55 International meetings - G20 +/- 14.10 Recovery and Resilience Facility At the end of the meeting (+/- 14.45) - Press conference with Minister Andrzej Domanski and Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis (live streaming). Videos and photos from the event Meeting page – Eurogroup meeting of 10 March 2025 Meeting page – Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 11 March 2025

● European Council

07/03/2025 16:38 | Media advisory | Press briefing - EU-South Africa summit of 13 March 2025   The press briefing ahead of the EU-South Africa summit of 13 March 2025 will take place on Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 11.00. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either in person at the Europa Building press room or remotely. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Deadline for registration: Tuesday 11 March 2025 at 10.00 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline ● Council of the EU   07/03/2025 16:32 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - 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. ● Council of the EU   07/03/2025 15:50 | Media advisory | Media advisory - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 10 March 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: Europa building, Brussels Chair: Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Polish Minister for Family, Labour and Social Policy From 09.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 09.15 Dorstep by Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk (live streaming) 10.00 Beginning of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (Employment and Social Policy) Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items: Non-legislative list Legislative list (public session) +/- 10.10 European Semester 2025 (public session) +/- 10.35 Policy debate: Challenges of the silver transformation (public session) +/- 12.10 Any other business: - Presidency events (public session) - Tripartite Social Summit (+/- 12.15 public session) - Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee work programmes for 2025 (+/- 12.20 public session) - Union of Skills (+/- 12.30 public session) - Pact for European Social Dialogue (+/- 12.35 public session) - Need to update Directive 79/7 on the progressive implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in matters of social security (+/- 12.40 public session) - Withdrawal of Equal Treatment Directive (+/- 12.50 public session) +/- 13.00 Working lunch discussion on ’Right to disconnect’ At the end of the meeting (+/- 14.45), press conference in live streaming. Videos and photos from the event ● Council of the EU   07/03/2025 15:35 | Meetings | Main results - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice), 7 March 2025   Justice ministers held a policy debate about a proposed directive to harmonise certain aspects of insolvency law, one of the key initiatives of the Capital Markets Union action plan. ● Council of the EU   07/03/2025 12:35 | Meetings | Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 11 March 2025   Background brief - Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 11 March 2025   ● General Secretariat of the Council   International Women’s Day 2025   As we strive for a safer, fairer, and more gender-equal world, International Women's Day on 8 March  serves as a timely reminder to keep gender equality at the heart of the global conversation. With this in mind, the Council Library has compiled a library guide of relevant resources.