European Council, Brussels, 9-10 March 2017

This European Council summit was held on 9-10 March 2017. The agenda included the following topics:

+ Discussion on the economic situation in the European Union, focusing on jobs, growth and competitiveness. Trade policy, the single market strategy and the first phase of the 2017 European Semester were also among the discussed items;

+ Review of the progress on implementing decisions taken at the informal meeting of EU leaders held in February 2017;

+ Assessment of the implementation of the European Council conclusions on external security and defence;

+ Discussion on the situation in the Western Balkans;

+ Election of the president of the European Council for the period from 1 June 2017 to 30 November 2019; Donald Tusk was re-elected for a second term.

+ Note on the absence of consensus on the European Public Prosecutor's Office, allowing for the mechanism of enchanced cooperation to be triggered.

On 10 March 2017, an informal meeting of the 27 EU leaders was held to prepare for the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 06.03.17: Mogherini to debrief EU leaders on external threats to Western Balkans http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/mogherini-to-debrief-eu-leaders-on-external-threats-to-western-balkans/

EPRS: Briefing: Pre-European Council Briefing, 04.03.17: Outlook for the 9 March 2017 European Council, and the Informal meeting of the 27 Heads of State or Government on 10 March 2017 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/598606/EPRS_BRIE(2017)598606_EN.pdf

EurActiv, 09.03.17: EU to recommit support to Balkan candidate countries http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-to-recommit-support-to-balkan-candidate-countries/

EUObserver, 09.03.17: EU 'perspective' for 'fragile' Western Balkans https://euobserver.com/foreign/137161

Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2017: Quest for right path at EU summit in Brussels http://www.eurotopics.net/en/175758/quest-for-right-path-at-eu-summit-in-brussels

EU: EEAS: Remarks, 09.03.17: Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini upon arrival at the European Council https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/22416/

EurActiv, 10.03.17: EU leaders concerned over ‘return of Balkan demons’ http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-leaders-concerned-over-return-of-balkan-demons/

European Council: Statement, 09.03.17: Remarks by President Donald Tusk on the European Council meeting of 9 March 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/09-tusk-remarks-european-council/

European Council: Press Release, 10.03.17: Conclusions by the President of the European Council, 9 March 2017 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/09-conclusion-pec/

EUObserver, 09.03.17: EU leaders discuss Libya migrant plans https://euobserver.com/migration/137175

EUObserver, 10.03.17: EU alarmed by Russian meddling in Balkans https://euobserver.com/foreign/137194

Politico, 10.03.17: EU summit concludes with unusual disclaimer http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-summit-concludes-with-unusual-disclaimer-donald-tusk-poland-president-council-eu/

Politico, 10.03.17: EU reaches out to Balkans (again) but leaders aren’t listening http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-reaches-out-to-balkans-again-but-leaders-arent-listening/

EP: EPRS: Briefing: Post-European Council Briefing, March 2017 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/598607/EPRS_BRI(2017)598607_EN.pdf

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/17/626: Speech by President Juncker at the European Parliament on the European Council of 9 March and of the Informal Meeting of 27 Heads of State or Government http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-17-626_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 15.03.16: Summit conclusions and future of the EU headline Wednesday’s plenary debates http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20170308IPR65669/

European Council: Press Release, 15.03.17: Report by President Donald Tusk to the European Parliament on the European Council of 9 March and the informal meeting of the 27 heads of state and government of 10 March http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/15-tusk-report-european-parliament/

European Council: Statement, 10.03.17: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/03/10-tusk-remarks-informal-meeting/

ESO: Key Source: European Council http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-council/

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