Brussels, 25 February 2025
The Council started by commemorating the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine with a minute of silence. Then, ministers discussed the preparations for the March European Council and held an exchange of views, based on the Commission’s 2025 work programme, on annual and multiannual legislative programming.
The Polish presidency is determined to make the EU more secure and more competitive in the current extremely challenging geopolitical context. It cannot be ‘business as usual’ anymore. We must shift up the gear and this is exactly what we are doing.
Adam Szłapka, Minister for the European Union of Poland
March European Council preparation
The Council started preparations for the European Council meeting of 20-21 March 2025 by discussing an annotated draft agenda. EU leaders are expected to discuss:
- Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
- latest developments in the Middle East
- EU’s competitiveness
- the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and new own resources
- migration,
- oceans, and
- other specific foreign policy issues
The preparatory work will continue at the next General Affairs Council on 18 March 2025.
Legislative programming: Commission’s 2025 work programme and annual and multiannual programming
In public session, the Commission presented its work programme for 2025 titled “Moving forward together: a bolder, simpler, faster Union”. Ministers held an exchange of views on this programme and, more broadly, on annual programming for 2025 and multiannual programming for 2025-2029.
The ministerial discussion provided an opportunity to identify policy areas and themes that, from the Council’s perspective, should be included in the joint conclusions on policy objectives and priorities for 2025-2029 and in the joint declaration on legislative priorities for 2025 to be approved by the Council (General Affairs) of 18 March and signed on the margins of the March 2025 European Council.
- Work programme 2025 ‘Moving forward together: a bolder, simpler, faster Union’, Commission communication, 11 February 2025
- Commission work programme 2025 (background information)
Future of Europe
Over an informal lunch and with a view to presenting the progress report on the future of Europe in June, ministers held an exchange of views on fundamental values focusing on possible future reforms on the tools and processes to ensure and promote their respect in the EU and its neighbourhood.
Any other business
The presidency presented a preliminary summary of discussions held at the informal meeting of EU ministers for European affairs on 17-18 February in Warsaw and drew the Council’s attention to possible further steps in respective areas.
The Hungarian delegation also raised the issue of transparency in EU funding to NGOs.
Preparatory documents
Outcome documents
Source – EU Council