A Union created for citizens

Luxembourg will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the twelfth time in the second semester of 2015. The Luxembourg Presidency is the first to take place under the auspices of the Lisbon Treaty which has given new competences to the Union and established a new institutional balance.

A Union for the citizens

The Luxembourg Presidency has outlined an open approach:

• Listen to the citizens,
• Supporting businesses,
• Cooperating with partners and institutions in order to act in the interests of Europe.

LUX presidency will seek to enable better interinstitutional cooperation.

The priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency for the second semester of 2015 are based on seven pillars:

1. Stimulating investment to boost growth and employment
2. Deepening the European Union's social dimension
3. Managing migration, combining freedom, justice and security
4. Revitalising the single market by focusing on its digital dimension
5. Placing European competitiveness in a global and transparent framework
6. Promoting sustainable development
7. Strengthening the European Union's presence on the global stage

Selected key messages relevant to water

1 - Stimulating investment to boost growth and employment

• The Luxembourg Presidency will pursue efforts to implement a real European industrial policy which will especially focus on the space industry, a sector in which Europe already plays a leading role. The Luxembourg Presidency will develop the future outline of an integrated and comprehensive EU strategy on space.
• The Luxembourg Presidency will promote sustainable development initiatives based on research and innovation, which seek to enhance competitiveness and increase the rate of employment, while promoting social cohesion and environmental welfare.

 2-Deepening the European Union's social dimension

• Particular attention will be paid to increasing the rate of female employment and to a balanced representation of women and men in political and economic decision-making as factors of competitiveness.
• In terms of public health, patients and innovation will be at the core of discussions. These priorities will be reflected in the efforts aiming to implement a strong regulatory framework providing citizens with quick access to safe and high-quality products.

4- Revitalising the single market by focusing on its digital dimension

• The Luxembourg Presidency will ensure that the 'Think Small First' principle is applied systematically so that all European Union policies encourage the development of SMEs.  The revision of the 'Small Business Act' will be treated as a priority.
• Within the context of the European energy policy, the Luxembourg Presidency will take into account the ambitious objective the EU has set itself, namely to be a low-carbon economy by 2050. The Energy Union as proposed by the Commission promotes the emergence of a horizontal energy strategy based on an ambitious action plan and targets the implementation of a new form of governance.
• The Luxembourg Presidency will undertake all the legislative work required in the field of gas supply, which is both economically and strategically important, as well as in labelling appliances, which is key to the EU's ambitions in terms of reducing energy consumption.

6-Promoting sustainable development

• The Luxembourg Presidency will make every effort to accelerate the transition towards a green economy with low greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Presidency will also encourage the emergence of an innovative, circular and competitive economy which is energy-efficient and respectful of biodiversity and natural resources, minimises waste and encourages cost-effective recycling, in particular by handling ongoing legislative matters, such as those relating to air quality and reducing CO2 emissions.
• One of the cornerstones of the Strategy on climate change will be the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
• The EU Biodiversity Strategy will undergo a mid-term review during the second semester of 2015.
• The Luxembourg Presidency will continue working on the revision of the Europe 2020 strategy by 'greening' the European Semester to integrate better environmental viability into the wider cycle of economic governance.
• This requirement for sustainability will also be at the heart of the Presidency's actions concerning the various international negotiations that will dominate the global agenda on sustainable development: the Special Summit on Sustainable Development in New York in September or the 21st Conference of Parties at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris in December.
• Sustainability must also be the fundamental principle for the future development of European agriculture. A new regulatory framework on organic farming adapted to new challenges, thereby enabling harmonious development in this sector.
• The principle of sustainability will also guide the actions of the Luxembourg Presidency in the policy area of fisheries.
• Consumer interests will be further protected by work to improve consumer information, in particular in relation to the labelling of fats.

7-Strengthening the European Union's presence on the global stage

• The main priorities will be a new foreign policy strategy, developing existing relations with the European Union's closest partners, without jeopardising the fundamental principles of European integration which lie at the heart of the single market: the uniform application of the European Union acquis and the free movement of persons.
• The Presidency will host the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the ministerial meeting for dialogue, in Luxembourg in November 2015.

Download the full programme of the Luxembourg Presidency, and the indicative calendar of meetings.

More information:

http://www.eu2015lu.eu/en/la-presidence/a-propos-presidence/programme-et-priorites/index.html