Priorities and key dates of the Maltese Presidency January – June 2017 Contents
Internal Policies
General Affairs Internal Market, Competitiveness, Industry, Consumer Affairs Economic and Financial Affairs, Investment, Taxation Justice and Home Affairs, Civil Liberties Employment, Social Dialogue, Youth Environment and Climate Energy Agriculture and Fisheries Transport, Infrastructure, Tourism Research and Innovation, Space Telecommunications and Information Society Culture and Education, Sport Health
External Policies
Foreign Affairs Trade
Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
General Affairs
Ms Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca Strategic Agenda: January 23/24 - Informal Ministerial President Economic growth, sustainability and Meeting of Ministers and State Secretaries employment for EU Affairs Dr Joseph Muscat Ensuring competitiveness Prime Minister Citizen protection February 3 - Informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State or Government Unity in energy for the EU Mr Louis Grech Follow-up to the Bratislava Improvements in climate Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for declaration Security, justice and liberty European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto Work Programme’ 6 priorities: February 7 - General Affairs Council Sustainable European future Migration Dr Ian Borg Parliamentary Secretary for the EU Internal market February 21 - Economic and Financial Affairs Presidency and EU Funds Security Council Social inclusion Anti-Tax Avoidance Dr Konrad Mizzi Neighbourhood Policy Budget 2018 Minister within the Office of the Prime Maritime sector Minister March 7 - General Affairs Council
Brexit Dr Deborah Schembri European Semester Better Law-making Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Budget: Simplification of Administrative Processes Cooperation and Verification MFF review Mechanism Omnibus proposal Simon Cachia Presidency Coordinator Follow-up to the High Level Group on March 8/9/10 - European Council [email protected] Own Resources report Tripartite Social Summit
March 25 - 60th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
April 25 - General Affairs Council (Cohesion) Modification of the Common Provisions Regulation implementation of ESI Funds
May 15/16 - 9th European Quality Conference on improving public administrations
May 16 - General Affairs Council Rule of Law Dialogue
May 23 - Economic and Financial Affairs Council Budget for 2018
June 8/9 - Informal meeting of the General Affairs Council
June 20 - General Affairs Council European Semester
June 22/23 - European Council
June 26/27: High level meeting of Small States Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates Internal Market, Competitiveness,
Industry, Consumer Affairs Dr Emmanuel Mallia Single Market Strategy: February 20 - Competitiveness Council Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Services Package Consumer protection Maritime and Services Economy SOLVIT and the Single Market Services Package Information Tool Competitiveness "check-up" Dr Helena Dalli Start-up and Scale-up Initiative Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer The Better Regulation Agenda: Affairs and Civil Liberties Unitary Patent and Patent Court REFIT and SME tests of EU legislation March 21 - European Consumer Day Mark Seychell SMEs: Conference Internal Market and Horizontal Improving the business environment Competitiveness matters April 6 - Informal Meeting of for SMEs [email protected] Competitiveness Ministers Startup and Scale Up initiative Joseph Vella April 6/7 - Foreign Direct Investment Senior Policy Officer– Tourism, Consumer Company Law: Conference EFRAG Affairs and Competition: Unit Coordinator April 26/27 - European Consumer Centre Country By Country Reporting [email protected] Conference
April 28 - Consumer and Competition Day
May 29 - Competitiveness Council Services Package Competitiveness "check-up" Implementation of the Single Market Strategy Industrial Policy for the EU
June 19 - Single Market Forum
Economic and Financial Affairs,
Investment, Taxation
Prof. Edward Scicluna Ensuring funding for SMEs through January 27 - Economic and Financial Affairs Minister for Finance action on the Capital Markets Union Council Growth and jobs VAT: Reverse Charge Mechanism Dr Christian Cardona Strengthening the European Fund for Financial services proposals Minister for the Economy, Investment and Strategic Investment to facilitate European Semester 2017 Small Business private investment Basel IV (possibly)
Concluding the European Deposit Nancy Caruana February 21 - Economic and Financial Affairs Insurance Scheme Permanent Secretary Council Progressing on the Common [email protected] Anti-Tax Avoidance Consolidated Corporate Tax Base Budget 2018 Clinton-Domenic Flores Tackling terrorist financing: coming to Technical Attaché- Trade, Economic and an agreement on amendments to the March 21 - Economic and Financial Affairs Financial Affairs fourth Anti-Money Laundering Council [email protected] Directive European Semester 2017 Working on the banking reform Retail financial services package Charles Abela Financial services proposals Senior Policy Officer– Trade, Economic and Country By Country Reporting Financial Affairs April 7/8 - Informal Meeting of Economic [email protected] and Financial Affairs Ministers
May 23 - Economic and Financial Affairs Council Budget for 2018 Double Taxation Dispute Resolution Mechanisms Reduced VAT for electronically supplied publications European Semester 2017 Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
June 16 - Economic and Financial Affairs Council Banking Union Capital Markets Union Tax issues: CCCTB, FTT, Business taxation European Semester 2017
Justice and Home Affairs,
Civil Liberties
Mr Carmelo Abela Migration: January 26/27 - Informal Meeting of Justice Minister for Home Affairs and National Key areas: and Home Affairs Ministers Security Asylum February 23 (possibly) - Justice and Home External dimension of migration Dr Owen Bonnici Affairs Council Legal migration Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Migration Government Specific measures: Strengthen and streamline the February 23 - Ministerial conference on Dr Stefan Buontempo Common European Asylum System, LGBTIQ Road Map
Parliamentary Secretary for Local the 2nd Migration Package and the March 6 - Foreign Affairs Council Government European Agenda on Migration Migration
Revise the Dublin Regulation Terence Sacco EURODAC Proposal March 27/28 - Justice and Home Affairs Technical Attaché- Justice Transform the European Asylum Council [email protected] Support Office (EASO) into a fully- Reform of the Common European
fledged EU Agency for Asylum Asylum System David Ciliberti Better implementation of the migrant ETIAS, SIS, EES, visa policy Technical Attaché- Home Affairs Relocation Scheme, the hotspots and [email protected] Legal Migration (Blue Card) the deployment of experts EPPO, Eurojust Follow-up of the Valletta Summit Brussels IIa Holistic and Global Approach to migration April 7 - Online Hate Speech Conference Partnership Frameworks with third countries May 15 - Foreign Affairs Council Complete the work on the European Counter-terrorism (external aspects)
External Investment Plan to promote May 16 - General Affairs Council sustainable investment in Africa and Rule of Law Dialogue the Neighbourhood and to tackle the root causes of migration May 18 - Justice and Home Affairs Council Legal migration and visas - Blue Card Migration Directive Fight against organised crime and
smuggling Human rights: Protection of migrants and in May 24/25 - European Migration Network particular migrant children Conference Civil Society Space/Human Rights Defenders June 8/9 - Justice and Home Affairs Council Implementing equal treatment and EPPO, ECRIS, Eurojust the prevention of violence between Money laundering, freezing and persons irrespective of religion or confiscation belief, gender, disability, age or Brussels IIa sexual orientation Reform of the Common European Protect the rights of minorities and Asylum System vulnerable groups such as LGBTIQ Migration EU’s accession to the Istanbul ETIAS, SIS, EES Convention Legal Migration (Blue Card) Schengen Fight against organised crime Counter-terrorism Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Security: June 19 - Foreign Affairs Council External border management (Development) Smart Borders Migration Combatting terrorism Tackling serious and organised crime through the EU Policy Cycle Renewed Internal Security Strategy Roadmap to enhance information exchange and information management Tackling Terrorist Financing, fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) Entry/Exit System ETIAS SIS Increasing Cyber Security Awareness Cyber Space and Cyber Hygiene
Drugs: EU Drugs Strategy 2013-2020 and mid -term assessment Drugs Action Plan 2017-2020 New Psychoactive Substances legislation Proposal amending the EMCDDA
Visa: Bring forward visa liberalisation, particularly with Ukraine Recast of the Visa Code Visa Facilitation Agreements, particularly with China
Other actions: Fight against fraud European Public Prosecutor’s Office Revision of the Eurojust Decision Business Insolvency Regulation on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the EU institutions and bodies “Brussels IIA” Regulation EU’s accession to the European Court of Human Rights Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Employment, Social Dialogue, Youth
Mr Evarist Bartolo Social Inclusion: February 17 - Education, Youth, Culture and Minister for Education and Employment Promotion of active labour market Sports Council policies Youth Initiative Lorenzo Vella Reduction on benefit dependency Technical Attaché– Employment Policy March 3 - Employment, Social Policy Council [email protected] Other measures: Social security systems Labour mobility package European Semester 2017 Dr Helena Dalli Posting of Workers Directive Upscaling the skills of women and Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer European Accessibility Act men in the EU labour market Affairs and Civil Liberties Blue Card Directive Tripartite Social Summit Dr Michael Farrugia General Approach on a second batch Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity of carcinogens March 23/24 - European Social Fund: Past, Participation of women in the labour Present and Future Conference Dr Justyne Caruana market April 3/4 - Informal meeting of Employment Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons Advance gender equality and combat Ministers with Disability and Active Ageing gender-based violence
Women on Boards Directive Antonella Gatt April 26/27/28 - OHSA – Tripartite Revision of the coordination of social Conference on OHS Technical Attaché- Social Policy security [email protected] European Pillar of Social Rights May 15/16 - European Youth Conference Work-life balance Mr Chris Agius
Parliamentary Secretary for Research, May 22/23 - Education, Youth, Culture and Youth: Innovation, Youth and Sport Sports Council ‘Inclusion in Diversity’ EU Youth Strategy Janelle Camilleri Mid-term Review of the Youth Role of youth work in addressing the Policy Officer - Youth and Sports Strategy skills challenge [email protected] June 14/15 - Social Inclusion through Grassroots Conference and Awards
June 15 - Employment & Social Policy Council Equal treatment Posting of workers Social security systems Exposure to carcinogens and mutagens at work Work Life Balance Initiative European Semester 2017 Making work pay Pillar of Social Right Working Time Directive Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Environment and Climate
Dr Jose A. Herrera Promote a competitive, resource-efficient February 28 - Environment Council Minister for Sustainable Development, the and low-carbon economy within the 2030 2030 Agenda Environment and Climate Change Sustainable Development Agenda Greening the European Semester and the EIR Edward Vernon Build on the Paris Agreement and COP22 in ETS - Aviation Technical Attaché- Environment - Unit Marrakech Birds and Habitats Fitness Check Coordinator Circular Economy [email protected] Revision of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) March 6 - Foreign Affairs Council Anton Spiteri Shaw Emissions from aviation Energy and climate diplomacy Technical Attaché- Environment Effort Sharing Regulation [email protected] April 25/26 - Informal meeting of Inclusion of the LULUCF into the 2030 Environment Ministers Energy and climate framework Cheryl Micallef Borg Climate change adaptation Advance the Circular Economy Technical Attaché- Climate Change Ocean governance agenda by amending the six Waste [email protected] Marine litter/ Plastic strategy Directives. Sustainable growth/ circular Other proposals to be amended: economy
Restriction of Hazardous Substances April - Union for the Mediterranean Directive Ministerial Meeting Recast of the Persistent Organic Water Strategy for the Pollutants Regulation Mediterranean Fitness Check of the Birds and June 19 - Environment Council Habitats Directives Cost-effective emission reductions Environmental Implementation and low-carbon investments Review Non-ETS sectors Waste Package Birds and Habitats Fitness Check
Energy
Dr Konrad Mizzi Clean Energy for all Europeans February 27 - Energy Council Minister within the Office of the Prime Revision of the Energy Efficiency Security of gas supply Minister Directive Ocean Energy Strategic Roadmap Revision of the Energy Performance March 6 - Foreign Affairs Council Ronald Mizzi of Buildings Directive Energy and climate diplomacy Permanent Secretary (Energy and Projects) Electricity Market Design reform [email protected] Strengthening security of energy May 18/19 - Informal meeting of Energy
supply Ministers and Euro-Med Conference on Clive Gerada Security of Gas Supply Regulation cooperation for Energy Efficiency Policy Officer - Energy [email protected] Revision of the Renewable Energy May 29 - Competitiveness Council Directive Energy Intensive Industries Robert Portelli Revision of the Energy efficiency Policy Officer - Energy labelling Regulation June 26 - Energy Council [email protected] Energy Union Governance Energy Efficiency and EPBD The Mediterranean dimension Clean energy for all Europeans External energy relations Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Agriculture and Fisheries
Mr Roderick Galdes Agriculture: January 23 - Agriculture and Fisheries Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Organic production and labelling of Council Fisheries and Animal Rights organic products Trade-related agricultural issues Climate change and agriculture Milk package Stephanie Mamo Emergency preparedness for Plant February 13/14 (possibly) - Agriculture and Technical Attaché- Agriculture, SCA and Animal Health Representative Fisheries Council Progress on the Veterinary package [email protected] March 6 - Agriculture and Fisheries Council
Fisheries: Richard Bilocca Agriculture market situation Technical Attaché- Fisheries Same conditions for all EU fishermen Future of the CAP [email protected] Prioritise artisanal fishermen who Food supply chain operate by small vessels Small pelagic species in the Adriatic Regulation of technical measures of fisheries 29/30 March - Ministerial Conference on Framework of data collection Sustainable Fisheries in the Mediterranean
April 3 Agriculture and Fisheries Council Ecological Focus Areas
April 27 - Ministerial Meeting of the EU and Mediterranean Water Ministries
May 11 (possibly) - Agriculture and Fisheries Council
May 21/22/23 - Informal meeting of Agriculture Ministers
June 12 - Agriculture and Fisheries Council Fishing opportunities for 2018 Trade-related and market-related agricultural issues
Transport, Infrastructure, Tourism
Mr Joe Mizzi Road transport February 20 - Competitiveness Council Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Review of the Directive on the initial Motor vehicles and their trailers training qualifications and periodic Christopher Farrugia training for professional drivers February 24 (possibly) - Transport Council
Senior Policy Officer- Land and Intermodal Initiative to improve the safety of March 28 - Road safety Ministerial Transport road infrastructure and tunnels [email protected] conference
Rail transport March 29 - Transport Ministerial Godfrey Galea Revision of the Regulation on rail Conference Technical Attaché– Aviation passenger rights [email protected] April 20 - The Blue Growth Initiative; Aviation:
Revision of European Aviation Safety Nautical and Maritime Tourism David Kerr Technical Agency Basic Regulation Attaché– Maritime – Unit Coordinator May 25/26 - Ministerial Conference on [email protected] Kick off discussions on Unfair Pricing Tourism Regulation Dr Edward Zammit Lewis Progress on air transport agreements May 29 - Competitiveness Council Minister for Tourism negotiations Motor vehicles and their trailers “Gibraltar issue” Joseph Vella June 8 - Transport and Telecommunications Maritime: Senior Policy Officer– Tourism, Consumer Council Affairs and Competition Passenger Ship Safety legislation Road Safety [email protected] Port Reception Facilities Directive EU Maritime Strategy 2009 - 2018 Professional Qualifications in Inland Digitalisation of maritime services Waterways Aviation: unfair practices Review of the EU Maritime Transport Port Reception Facilities Strategy 2018 Rail Passengers Rights Training of drivers Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
GHG emissions from global shipping EU Integrated Maritime Policy Innovative research and commercial activities & the Blue Growth Initiative International Ocean Governance Western Mediterranean Sea Basin Initiative
Research and Innovation, Space
Mr Chris Agius Partnership for Research and February 21 (possibly) - Competitiveness Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation in the Mediterranean Council (Research) Innovation, Youth and Sport (PRIMA) May 4 - Ministerial Conference on Streamlining the Research and Strengthening Euro-Mediterranean Omar Cutajar Innovation Monitoring and Reporting Cooperation through Research and Technical Attaché– Research Landscapes Innovation [email protected] Revised financial framework for ITER
Preparatory work on the interim May 30 - Competitiveness Council Roberta Gatt evaluation of Horizon 2020 (Research) Policy Officer – Research and Space [email protected] Space Strategy for Europe PRIMA Space Strategy for Europe
Telecommunications and
Information society Dr Emmanuel Mallia Enhance the Digital Single Market: February 20 - Competitiveness Council Minister for Competitiveness and Digital, Remove trade barriers with regard to Cross-border portability of online Maritime and Services Economy the sale of Digital Content and the content services Online Sales of Goods March 27/28 - Justice and Home Affairs Andrew Camilleri Helping consumers with access to Council Senior Policy Officer– Telecoms services and protection Digital Agenda [email protected] Audio-Visual Media Services Directive Criminal justice in cyberspace Ending Roaming charges Mariella Galea Roberts Promote cross-border sales and tackle April 7 - Online Hate Speech Conference Policy Officer – Telecoms geo-blocking [email protected] May 29 - Competitiveness Council Promoting free Wi-Fi Copyright Package Create a ‘Gigabit society’: Conclude Digital Single Market discussions on the use of 470-790MHz frequency for 5G June 8/9 - Justice and Home Affairs Council European Electronic Communications Digital Agenda Code Data Protection Advancing the Data economy package e-justice Increasing Cyber Security Awareness Criminal justice in cyberspace Cyber Space and Cyber Hygiene June 9 - Telecommunications Council European Electronic Communications Code European Regulators for Electronic Communications Data localisation Cross-border parcel delivery services e-privacy Wholesale roaming markets DSM Strategy
June 14-16 - Digital Assembly
June 16 - Economic and Financial Affairs Council VAT for cross border e-commerce Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Culture and Education, Sport
Dr Owen Bonnici Strategic Approach to International Cultural Education Week - 16-22 January Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Relations January 16/17: conference on Government “Leadership Policy for Equity and Education: Learning: Take it to the students” Ilaria Flores Martin Inclusion and diversity, promoting January 19/20: conference on “The Technical Attaché– Culture and Audiovisual equity, skills and values State of Digital Education: Engaging [email protected] Innovation in teaching and training of with connected, blended and open workers primarily through the digital learning” Mr Evarist Bartolo agenda Minister for Education and Employment Re-visit the provision of lifelong February 17 - Education, Youth, Culture and learning Sports Council Jean Micallef Grimaud New Skills Agenda Contribution of education in the Senior Policy Officer- Education- Unit context of European Semester 2017 European qualification Framework Coordinator Youth Initiative Europass [email protected] Inclusion in diversity through a high The contribution of education to the quality education for all Jeanette Fava European Semester 2017 Policy Officer - Education March 8/9 - European Youth Sport Forum [email protected] Sport: Volunteering in sport as a catalyst to March 9 - Conference: Cultural Diplomacy Mr Chris Agius foster social inclusion Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, May 22/23 - Education, Youth, Culture and Youth and Sport Sports Council Europass Janelle Camilleri European Qualifications Framework Policy Officer - Youth and Sports for lifelong learning [email protected] Volunteering and social inclusion EU Work Plan for Sport Strategic approach to international cultural relations
Health
Mr Chris Fearne Structured cross-border cooperation: January 30/31 - Conference on HIV Minister for Health Cross-border healthcare February 14/15 - CANCON Joint Action Accessibility and affordability of Conference Stephen Mifsud medicines Technical Attaché- Health - Unit Coordinator Cross-border post-graduate training March 19/20 - Informal Meeting of Health [email protected] for doctors Ministers
Improve access to innovative health Yanica Barbara technologies for rare diseases March 21 - Ministerial Conference on Senior Policy Officer EU health workforce challenges ‘Developing Medicines for Rare Diseases’ [email protected]
May 10-12 - eHealth week, Malta eHealth: Digital innovation - eHealth apps June 16 - Health Council Big data and patients’ rights Childhood obesity Co-operation between health Childhood obesity: systems Procurement of healthy food for consumption in schools Mid-term evaluation report on the EU Action Plan on Childhood Obesity
HIV/AIDS Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Foreign Affairs
Dr George Vella Foreign policy: January 16 - Foreign Affairs Council Minister for Foreign Affairs Stabilise Europe’s neighbourhood, Egypt EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, Libya Syria Ann Marie Borg and Tunisia MEPP Senior Policy Officer– RELEX Ensuring the democratic transition in Libya [email protected] Tunisia and the continuation of trade negotiations February 6 - Foreign Affairs Council Ritienne Bonavia Support EU and international efforts Syria (strategy) Senior Policy Officer– Development Issues & for the resumption of the Middle East Ukraine CODEV Peace Process between Israel and [email protected] Libya Palestine
Contributing to EU and international February 8/9 - Joint Valletta Action Plan: Robert Micallef efforts to address the Syrian conflict Senior Officials’ Meeting (Malta) Senior Policy Officer– ACP Deepening the relationship between [email protected] February 20 - Competitiveness Council the EU and the League of Arab States European Defence Action Plan Revitalise relations with the Gulf
Cooperation Council March 6 - Foreign Affairs Council Engagement with the Eastern EU Global Strategy Neighbourhood Ensuring cooperation with Russia on April 3 - Foreign Affairs Council issues of global and regional concern Pakistan Reinforcing rule of law and public administration reform pillars in April 26/27 - Informal meeting of Defence enlargement process Ministers
Support to Cyprus reunification talks April 28/29 - Informal meeting of Foreign Mainstreaming of counterterrorism Affairs Ministers Contributing to Global Compacts for Refugees and Migrants April 29 - Conference on Southern Supporting the consolidation and Neighbourhood development of the revised European Neighbourhood Policy May 15 - Foreign Affairs Council Supporting the development of EU- EU-Africa Iran relations Counter-terrorism (external aspects)
Preparation for the 5th EU-Africa May 18 - Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) Summit (November 2017) Security and defence Preparations for the EU-CELAC NATO Summit (second semester of 2017) CSDP Ensuring continued implementation
of the EU-Turkey Statement May 19 - Foreign Affairs Council (Development) Defence: Post-Cotonou Supporting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda EU Global Strategy and the preparation of the first Report (due in June 14/21 - ACP-EU Conference June 2017) Support linking the internal and June 19 - Foreign Affairs Council external security dimensions with (Development) engagement of CSDP missions and EU Global Strategy operations Eastern Partnership Facilitating the dialogue on the Afghanistan implementation of Capacity Building for Security and Development (CBSD)
Policy Area / Useful Contacts Work Programme Key Dates
Development cooperation: Ensuring coherence between the internal and external policies on the Sustainable Development Goals Bringing about a new European Consensus for Development Launch of the new European External Investment Plan (EIP) Preparations for the formal negotiations on future relations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Promoting better coordination between humanitarian aid and development cooperation
Trade
Dr Christian Cardona Trade defence instruments March 2/3 - Informal Meeting of Trade Minister for the Economy, Investment and Ministers Small Business Free trade agreements: CETA – Ratification April 27/28 - High Level Seminar on Customs Jan Micallef EU – Vietnam FTA Ratification Technical Attaché- Trade DCFTA with Tunisia May 11 - Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) [email protected] EU – Japan FTA Protection against dumped imports Australia and New Zealand FTA negotiations with Japan,
TiSA Singapore and Mercosur