Laatste toppen van het Deense voorzitterschap (en)

Met dank overgenomen van Deens voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2012 i, gepubliceerd op vrijdag 8 juni 2012.

On 10-11 June the Ministers for European Affairs will meet in Aarhus and Horsens for the last informal ministerial meeting during the Danish Presidency. The ministers will continue the negotiations on the EU’s multiannual budget and prepare the upcoming meeting of the European Council on 28-29 June, where the EU Heads of State and Government will discuss a growth strategy for the EU.

The meeting is the last ministerial meeting in Denmark during the Danish Presidency of the Council. The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and ways of promoting growth and employment is the main issues at the meeting, which covers several aspects of the work in the General Affairs Council.

Green Growth in Aarhus

The two eventful days kick off in Aarhus where Minister for European Affairs, Nicolai Wammen, will meet with the EU’s candidate countries and the Commission for an informal dialogue on the enlargement process and how to best create job-rich growth in Europe.

In the afternoon the 27 EU ministers will attend an event on Green Growth at the Headquarters of the Danish Wind Energy Company. Together with Vestas CEO Ditlev Engel and Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard they will discussion how green growth is best promoted in Europe.

Minister Nicolai Wammen says:

"A transition to a green economy is an investment in the future and in new growth and jobs. Vestas is one of the world’s largest wind energy companies. They show that thinking green and promoting growth are not opposites. On the contrary they go hand in hand. I therefore look forward discussing the great potential of green growth in Europe in my hometown Aarhus.”

Discussions on MFF and Boosting Growth in Europe

On day two the Ministers will meet in Horsens. There will be negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework on the basis of the “negotiating box” (framework for an agreement) drafted by the Presidency over the last five months. It is the ambition of the Presidency to present to the European Council a box identifying all the relevant elements for a final deal, but without figures. It is this document that will form the basis for the further negotiations in the latter half of 2012.

The negotiation box will be presented at the meeting of the European Council on 28-29 June, where the EU’s Heads of State and Government will have a first discussion with a view to reach an agreement on the MFF by the end of 2012. In addition to the MFF the EU leaders will also discuss joint efforts for promoting growth in Europe at the European Council.

To give this discussion a solid footing the Ministers for European Affairs will conclude their meeting with a working lunch, where the different growth initiatives to be discussed at the European Council will be at the center of attention, including the role of the MFF as a tool to promote growth and jobs in the EU.

"During the last five months the Danish Presidency has worked hard to promote growth and employment. Now we need to put in the finish. I am therefore glad to see the strong determination to put growth at the very top of the agenda in Europe. We all agree on the final objective, so in Aarhus and Horsens we need to figure out the details in order to create a sustainable path for growth,” says Minister Nicolai Wammen.