On 17 December 2024, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dace Melbārde, will take part in a meeting of the General Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in Brussels.
The participants will draft conclusions for the European Council of 19–20 December and discuss the European Commission’s work programme for 2025 and the next five years. Representatives from the Member States will also hear out the next “trio” of countries, Poland, Denmark and Cyprus, presenting programmes for their Presidencies of the EU Council.
A discussion on EU enlargement is to assess the progress made by the enlargement countries over the past year.
The meeting will launch discussions on the 2025 European Semester process, in which economic, fiscal, employment and social policies of EU Member States are coordinated.
There will also follow an exchange of views on the EU’s relations with the UK and Switzerland, as well as on competitiveness issues.
About the EU General Affairs Council
The General Affairs Council deals with matters affecting more than one EU policy, such as negotiations on EU enlargement, preparations for the meeting of the European Council, development of the EU’s multiannual budget, as well as the rule of law, institutional and administrative matters.