European Council, Brussels, 19-20 December 2013

Author (Corporate)	European Council
Publisher	EU
Publication Date	19/12/2013
Content Type	News
	Previews, reports and analysis of the European Council, Brussels, 19-20 December 2013. The agenda includes: + the EU's common security and defence policy + economic and Monetary Union and economic and social policy + enlargement, migration and energy. For the first time since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Council held a thematic debate on defence. It identified priority actions for stronger cooperation. This debate was preceded by a meeting with the NATO Secretary-General. He presented his assessment of current and future security challenges and welcomed the ongoing efforts and commitments by the EU and its Member States as being compatible with, and beneficial to NATO. The European Council welcomed the general approach reached by the Council on the Single Resolution Mechanism, which will be a cornerstone of the Banking Union. The European Council reviewed the economic situation and the progress in implementing the Compact for Growth, Jobs and Competitiveness. The European Council also identified the main features of the Partnerships for Growth, Jobs and Competitiveness to support structural reform, with a view to concluding discussions by October 2014.
Source Link	Primary Source https://europa.eu/globalstrategy/sites/globalstrategy/files/about/council_conclusions_dec_2013.pdf
Related Links	ESO: Background information: EU common defense strategy still long way off http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-common-defense-strategy-still-long-way-off/ Notre Europe: Tribune, 17.12.13: 'Solidarity that unites' and 'cooperation that strengthens' http://www.notre-europe.eu/media/entretienprconseilavitorinodec2013en.pdf European Council: Background note, 18.12.13: Background note on the European Council meeting, Brussels, 19 and 20 December 2013 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140172.pdf European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/959: Invitation letter by President Herman Van Rompuy to the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140138.pdf ESO: Background information: Letter by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy to the members of the European Council http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-letter-by-president-of-the-european-council-herman-van-rompuy-to-the-members-of-the-european-council/ EU summit live: Defence, growth and jobs http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-summit-live-defence-growth-jo-news-532460 EurActiv, 19.12.13: Central African Republic failures loom large over EU defence summit http://www.euractiv.com/future-eu/central-african-republic-symbol-news-532481 EurActiv, 19.12.13: Summit to put finishing touches on scheme to close failing banks http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/summit-put-final-touch-banking-u-news-532480 EUObserver, 18.12.13: No 'giant leap' on EU defence at summit http://euobserver.com/foreign/122542 European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/1184: Discussion on the Defence Communication in the Competitiveness Council – the Commission’s contribution to the European Council of December http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1184_en.pdf Deutsche Welle, 19.12.13: Common European policy needs new impetus http://dw.de/p/1AcWY Spiegel Online International, 18.12.13: Brussels Summit: EU to Refocus on Stalled Defense Initiatives http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/brussels-summit-eu-to-refocus-on-stalled-defense-and-security-initiatives-a-939766.html European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/600: Opening remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy at the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140209.pdf ESO: Background information: European Council, Brussels, 19-20 December 2013. Presidency Conclusions - Common Security and Defence Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council-brussels-19-20-december-2013-presidency-conclusions-common-security-and-defence-policy/ European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/1083: Statement by President Barroso following the first session of the European Council, 19-20 December 2013 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-1083_en.pdf European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/605: Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the first session of the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140239.pdf ESO: Background information: Council agrees general approach on Single Resolution Mechanism http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-agrees-general-approach-on-single-resolution-mechanism/ ESO: Background information: Germany revives EU treaty change debate http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-revives-eu-treaty-change-debate/ European Council: Press Release, EUCO 217/13: European Council - 19/20 December 2013 - Conclusions http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140245.pdf European Council: Press Release, PRES/13/611: Remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy following the European Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/140244.pdf European Commission: RAPID: Speech, SPEECH/13/1084: Statement by President Barroso following the European Council, 19-20 December 2013 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-13-1084_en.pdf
Subject Categories	Politics and International Relations
Countries / Regions	Europe