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Council of the European Union      20/2/2018 | COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS Council sets its priorities for the 2019 EU budget As part of the annual budgetary procedure, the Council today adopted its guidelines for the 2019 EU budget. The guidelines set out the Council's priorities for the preparation of the EU budget for next year. They serve as input for the Commission before it presents its draft budget, which will serve as the basis for negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament. Council conclusions on the budget guidelines for 2019 20/2/2018 | MEETING Main results - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20/02/2018 Ministers discussed the recommendations of a high-level group of experts on sustainable finance, and approved guidelines for the 2019 EU budget and a recommendation on a 2016 budget discharge. The Council also issued a recommendation confirming Main results Ministers discussed the recommendations of a high-level group of experts on sustainable finance.  The EU's sustainable finance strategy will contribute to implementing the UN's 2015 climate change agreement. It is also part of the EU's plan to develop a capital markets union by the end of 2019.  The Commission is due to present an action plan in March 2018. "The Paris agreement marked a milestone for the global economy and the EU is leading the shift towards a low-carbon society", said Vladislav Goranov, minister for finance of Bulgaria, which currently holds the Council presidency. "I believe that the views expressed today will provide food for thought to the Commission when finalising its action plan", he said. Final report of the High-Level Expert Group on Sustainable Finance (European Commission) The Council adopted guidelines for the 2019 EU budget, stressing that a transparent and effective use of the budget will bolster the EU's credibility with its citizens.  The guidelines call for prudent budgeting, with adequate resources to support priorities whilst leaving sufficient margins to deal with unforeseen circumstances. The focus should be on programmes and actions with EU added value. Ministers also recommended that the European Parliament grant discharge to the Commission for implementation of the 2016 EU budget. Council conclusions on the budget guidelines for 2019 EU annual budget (background information) The Council issued a recommendation confirming the nomination of Luis de Guindos as vice-president of the European Central Bank.  The recommendation will be submitted to the European Council for a decision on 22-23 March 2018. The European Parliament and the ECB's governing council will meanwhile be consulted. ECB Executive Board appointment procedure (infographic) Meeting information Meeting n°3597   Brussels   20/02/2018 Preparatory documents Background brief Provisional agenda, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20 February 2018 List of A items, non-legislative activities, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20 February 2018 Outcome documents List of participants, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 20 February 2018 Outcome of the Council meeting Coming up in committees 20-02-2018 08:54 AM CET EU aid for education: hearing. Debt sustainability: committee vote DEVE - 19-02-2018 - 09:14 The Committee on Development will hold a hearing on education and training, focusing on using EU aid to support youth, on 19.02.18. The Committee will then vote on, amongst others, the non-legislative report on enhancing developing countries’ debt sustainability and an oral question on conflict minerals on 20.02.18. This will be followed by a discussion on the reform of the UN Development System to deliver on the Agenda 2030 and the EU's role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Further information Hearing on education and training, programme DEVE meeting agenda and documents Fact sheet on development policy UN report: Repositioning the United Nations development system to deliver on the 2030 Agenda European Strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems: committee vote TRAN - 19-02-2018 - 09:14 The Committee on Transport and Tourism will vote on a non-legislative report regarding the Commission’s Communication on a strategy for the deployment of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS), as from 2019. The report focuses on four areas: data protection, cybersecurity, communication technologies and interoperability of systems. The meeting will be held on 20.02.18. Further information TRAN meeting agenda and documents Procedure file: European Strategy on Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems  European Commission - Cooperative, connected and automated mobility (C-ITS) Fact Sheets on transport policy - 3.4 Gender equality in the media sector in the EU: committee vote FEMM - 19-02-2018 - 09:14 The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality will vote on a report analysing the media sector in terms of increasing participation and access of women to media, and achieving a balanced, non-stereotyped portrayal of women in the media. The extent to which women are represented in top positions in the industry, and the nature of state or company policies and measures put in place for improving gender balance is looked into. The vote will take place on 20.02.18. Further information FEMM meeting agenda and documents Defence programme, clean energy, buildings energy performance: committee votes ITRE - 20-02-2018 - 08:52 The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy will vote on amendments to the proposed European Defence Industrial Development Programme, on 21.02.18. It will also vote on the provisional agreement on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and on legislative reports which are part of the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package, namely on the electricity market design, on risk preparedness in the electricity sector and on the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators. Further information ITRE meeting agenda and documents Procedure file: European Defence Industrial Development Programme Subject file: Energy Performance of Buildings Subject file: Internal market for electricity Subject file: Risk preparedness in the electricity sector Subject file: European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators Post-2020 outlook for EU budget: committee votes BUDG - 20-02-2018 - 08:52 The Committee on Budgets will look into the draft compromise amendments on two reports in the framework of the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), on 21.02.18. These are namely the report on Parliament’s position on the MFF post-2020, and the report on the reform of the EU system of own-resources. The Committee will vote on both reports on 22.02.18. They will then be voted on by the entire Parliament during its March plenary session in Strasbourg. Further information BUDG meeting agenda and documents Procedure file: Next MFF - preparing the Parliament’s position on the MFF post-2020 Fact Sheet on the MFF Procedure file: Reform of the European Union’s system of own resources Fact Sheet on EU revenue Transparent and predictable working conditions: committee debate EMPL - 20-02-2018 - 08:52 The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will look into the Commission’s proposal on transparent and predictable working conditions in the EU, on 21.02.18. The meeting will take place with the participation of Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility. Further information EMPL meeting agenda and documents Fact Sheets on employment and social policy - 2.3