General Affairs Council, 12 December
2023
Main results
December European Council
Ministers prepared for the European Council meeting on 14-15 December 2023 by
discussing draft conclusions.
At their December meeting, EU leaders will address:
- Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
- the situation in the Middle East
- next steps in the enlargement process
- the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027
- security and defence
- migration and other issues
- work on the EU Strategic Agenda 2024-2029
Enlargement
The Council approved conclusions on enlargement for the six Western Balkans partners,
Türkiye and – for the first time - Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.
Annual rule of law dialogue
The Council reviewed its annual rule of law dialogue and discussed a set of conclusions on
the issue. In the absence of a consensus on the text, the Council presidency decided to
issue presidency conclusions. It concluded that the text was supported or not objected to by
25 delegations.
The conclusions consolidate the existing approach to the Council’s annual rule of law dialogue as a valuable preventive tool in the EU’s rule of law toolbox. They also strengthen the Council’s dialogue by setting out a faster cycle, covering
more member states per year, and by encouraging more frequent exchanges within the
Council, and with external stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Evaluation of the Council’s rule of law dialogue – Presidency conclusions, 12 December
- 2023
- Rule of law (background information)
Demographic change
The Council also approved conclusions on managing demographic change in Europe.
The conclusions welcome the Commission’s demography toolbox, published in October
2023, including its analysis of the demographic challenges in the members states, the call
for a comprehensive approach to managing them and the Commission’s commitment to
support member states in this regard through a set of policy tools available at EU level.
The Council underlines the importance of continuous efforts to address demographic
change and its impact on competitiveness, human capital and equality, in view of further discussions on this topic of strategic importance for the EU.
Association agreement with Andorra and San Marino
Commission Executive Vice-President Šefčovič informed ministers on the agreement
reached among chief negotiators during the last round of the negotiations for an association
agreement with Andorra and San Marino, which took place on 5-7 December 2023.
The association agreement would be a far-reaching agreement, enabling the participation
of Andorra and San Marino in the EU's single market and cooperation in other policy areas.
establish a more coherent and efficient institutional framework for relations.
During the discussion, ministers expressed their full support for building a special and solid
relationship with San Marino and Andorra, also taking into account the current geopolitical
context. Some ministers underlined that, in this process, special attention should be paid to
ensuring the integrity of the single market and a level playing field, in particular in the area of financial services.
- Association agreement with Andorra and San Marino (European Commission press release,
- 12 December 2023)
Council Regulation amending Regulation No 1/1958
The Council held an exchange on the request by Spain to amend Regulation No 1/1958 to
include Catalan, Basque and Galician in the EU's language regime. This was the fourth time
ministers addressed the issue, following earlier discussions on Spain’s request at the General
Affairs Council meetings on 19 September, 24 October and 15 November 2023.
During the discussion, a representative of the Spanish delegation highlighted that on 11 December 2023 José Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain, sent a letter to all the delegations outlining
the elements that make the Spanish case unique.
The Commission referred to its preliminary estimate of the cost implications of Spain’s request, distributed on 6 December 2023.
The incoming Belgian presidency expressed its readiness to take work forward on Spain’s request during its term of office.
European Semester
The Spanish presidency and the incoming Belgian presidency presented the roadmap for European Semester 2024.
Any other business
Under ‘Any other business’, the presidency informed ministers about the Council secretariat’s recent assessment on the follow-up to the Conference on the Future of Europe. This public document is the only detailed and comprehensive assessment providing specific feedback on each of the 49 proposals and 326 measures contained in the final report of the conference.
The assessment shows that, a year and a half after the end of the conference, the overwhelming majority of the conference proposals and measures have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. It demonstrates the Council’s full commitment to respond to the concerns of the citizens as expressed during the conference.
- Assessment of the proposals and measures in the final report of the Conference, 7 December 2023
- Table of the updated assessment, 7 December 2023
- Conference on the Future of Europe (background information)
The presidency also presented a progress report on the work carried out during its term on the future of Europe and informed ministers on a proposal for the creation of an EU Atlantic macro-regional strategy.
The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the list of non-legislative A items
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