EU Ministers of Employment, Social Affairs, Consumer Protection, Health and Equal Opportunities (EPSCO) meet on 13 October 2016 in Luxembourg to reach a political agreement on a directive on the work in fishing Convention of the International Labour Organisation. The Council is also discussing the implementation of the recommendation on long-term unemployment. It is taking note of a Commission report on the implementation of the Youth guarantee/Youth employment initiative.
EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs meet in Luxembourg on 13-14 October 2016. Justice ministers are examining the state of play and discussing the way forward concerning the regulation establishing a European public prosecutor's office (EPPO) and the directive on the fight against fraud to the Union's financial interests (PIF) by means of criminal law.
EU Finance ministers meet in Luxembourg on 11 October 2016 to discuss the financing aspects of climate change, ahead of a UN conference in November, as well as health care systems and fiscal sustainability. The October G20 and IMF meetings and the European Semester process are also on the agenda.
At the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate deal. The EU Member States will ratify the Paris Agreement individually, in accordance with their national parliamentary processes.
EU Finance Ministers of the eurozone meet in Luxembourg on 10 October 2016 to the review the progress achieved by Greece in implementing the milestones agreed during the first review of Greece's economic adjustment programme. Thematic discussions on growth and jobs, health and long-term care systems, current fiscal issues and the outcome of the G7 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors are also on the agenda.
EU Ministers of Agriculture and Fisheries meet in Luxembourg on 10 September 2016 to discuss the 2017 fishing opportunities in the Baltic sea, the EU-Norway annual consultation, the ICCAT annual meeting and the Omnibus regulation.
Contractual relations between the European Community and Andorra are based on an Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Principality of Andorra in the form of an exchange of letters, which was signed on 28 June 1990 and entered into force on 1 July 1991.
On 6 October 2016 the European Border and Coast Guard Agency was officially launched. The European Border and Coast Guard provides a missing link in strengthening Europe's external borders, so that people can continue to live and move freely within the European Union – helping to meet Europe's commitment to get back to the normal functioning of the Schengen area and the lifting of temporary internal border controls.
On 5 October, the EU and Afghanistan co-host the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan. For the international community, it is the opportunity to signal sustained political and financial support to Afghan peace, state-building and development. Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, High Representative Federica MOGHERINI and Neven MIMICA, European Commissioner for Development Cooperation, represent the European Union. President Ashraf GHANI and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Abdullah ABDULLAH represent Afghanistan.
Georgia is a priority country within the Eastern Partnership initiative and the wider European Neighbourhood Policy, launched in 2004 with the objective of bringing the enlarged EU and its neighbours closer to each other and to enhance prosperity, stability and security of all of those concerned. It has helped to build ties in new areas of cooperation and encouraged Georgia’s objective of further approximation with European structures.
EU-Kazakhstan relations are based in the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy. Kazakhstan is also part of the EU and Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership.
Informal meeting of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Ministers on 3 and 4 October 2016, in Bratislava.
EU Ministers for Environment meet in Brussels on 30 September 2016 to discuss the ratification of the Paris Agreement. Ministers are expected to agree on the EU conclusion of the Paris Agreement. The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on the preparations for the upcoming UN climate change conference (COP 22) set to take place in Marrakech.
Donald TUSK, President of the European Council, visits Ukraine, on 28 and 29 September 2016.
EU-Tunisia relationship emphasises close cooperation on democratic reform, economic modernisation, and migration issues, under the European Neighbourhood Policy. Tunisia and the EU are bound by the legally binding treaty in the form of an Association agreement.
EU Ministers of European Affairs, Industry, Research and related areas meet in Brussels on 29 September 2016 to hold debates on the development of the collaborative economy, on the situation of the steel industry and on access to finance for EU companies.
On 26 and 27 September, Bratislava hosts an informal meeting of the defence ministers of the EU’s 28 Member States. The key topic is a discussion on the implementation of the defence aspects of the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy.
Donald TUSK, Preisdent of the European Council, attends the summit on migration along the Balkan route, taking place on 24 September 2016 in Vienna.
Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Trade) takes place on 23 September 2016 in Bratislava.
EU relations and cooperation with the Dominican Republic are carried out both on bilateral and regional and basis, the latter within the framework of the on-going EU-CELAC and EU-CARIFORUM dialogues.