10 Dec 2024, 11:00
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EU

What’s next in Europe? – Agenda of European climate and energy policy

EU
Journalists! Mark your calendars – or rather let us do it for you. Europe is complicated and even journalists from EU member states sometimes struggle to understand how climate and energy policy is made, and when institutions take key decisions. This timeline flags key European energy and climate reporting events and developments and includes concise background information necessary to jump-start your coverage.

You can find additional information on European climate and energy events and developments in the European Parliament’s European Green Deal legislative train schedule, in the event calendar of the Polish Council presidency, and in the Council’s press site.

2024

 

Date 1 July
Event

Hungary takes over EU Council presidency

Subject

In an interview with French Le Point, Orban laid out the five priorities for the Hungarian presidency: migration, the war in Ukraine, the green transition, defence, and the "demographic crisis". He said: "The European Union has long claimed that the green transition was not in contradiction with European competitiveness, but would actually increase it. Clearly, the opposite is true. We need to rethink this green transition before it kills our industry." The official programme was presented on 18 June.

However, as the EU will likely need almost the entire 6 months of the Hungarian presidency to establish the Parliament and then elect a new Commission, there is set to be little chance for policymaking and legislative work.

The Council represents the executive governments of member states, and the presidency rotates among EU member states every six months. It is not only responsible for setting policy priorities and planning and chairing meetings among ministers and heads of government, but must also try and reach agreement on laws with the EU’s other legislative bodies – the Commission and the Parliament. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. Preceding presidencies Spain and Belgium cooperate with Hungary. [More on the presidency]

Press contact  sec.beu[at]mfa.gov.hu (Hungary's perm rep to the EU)

 

Date 5 December
Event EU transport minister meeting
Subject

EU member state transport ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Dimosthenis Mammonas (EU Council)

 

Date 9 - 10 December
Event EU agriculture and fisheries minister meeting
Subject

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Miruna Georgescu (EU Council)

 

Date 16 December
Event EU energy minister meeting
Subject

EU member state energy ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 17 December
Event EU environment minister meeting
Subject

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 19 - 20 December
Event European Council - meeting of EU heads of state and government
Subject

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ecaterina Casinge (European Council)

 

 

2025

 

Date 1 January
Event

Poland takes over EU Council presidency

Subject

"Security, Europe!" is the motto of Poland's Council presidency. "The Polish presidency will support activities strengthening European security in all its dimensions: external, internal, economic, information, energy, food and health," said Adam Szłapka, minister for European Union affairs.

The Polish Presidency said it will promote actions aimed at a full withdrawal from imports of Russian energy sources. It will undertake steps with a view to reduce energy prices in the EU and revise the EU's energy security framework to enhance the physical security and cybersecurity of energy infrastructure in the EU and its neighbourhood and ensure a level playing field for the development of each clean energy source in the EU. It will also focus on agriculture.

The Council represents the executive governments of member states, and the presidency rotates among EU member states every six months. It is not only responsible for setting policy priorities and planning and chairing meetings among ministers and heads of government, but must also try and reach agreement on laws with the EU’s other legislative bodies – the Commission and the Parliament. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. Poland will cooperate with the following presidencies Denmark and Cyprus.

Press contact media.communication@kprm.gov.pl, or contact relevant ministry

 

Date 15 January
Event European Commission presents "Competitiveness Compass" (+ Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report)
Subject

Commission president von der Leyen has announced a "Competitiveness Compass" as her first major initiative and something that will frame the next five years of the Commission’s work. This will be developed based on the three pillars of the Draghi report: closing the innovation gap with the U.S. and China; the need for a joint plan for decarbonisation and competitiveness; and increasing security and reducing dependencies.

The Commission will also present the Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report.

Press contact Lea Zuber, European Commission

 

Date 11 February
Event European Commission presents 2025 work programme
Subject The Commission will lay out its plans for its first year in office.
Press contact Paula Pinho, European Commission

 

Date 19 February
Event European Commission presents Vision for Agriculture and Food
Subject

Commission president von der Leyen has said that she would present a "Vision for Agriculture and
Food" in the first 100 days, as a follow up to the Strategic Dialogue on Agriculture which had presented its
report in 2024. Building on these recommendations, the vision would look at how to ensure the long-term competitiveness and
sustainability of Europe's farming sector within the boundaries of the planet.

Press contact Maciej Berestecki, European Commission

 

Date 24 February
Event EU agriculture and fisheries minister meeting
Subject

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Miruna Georgescu (EU Council)

 

Date 26 February
Event European Commission presents Clean Industrial Deal
Subject Re-elected European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has promised to table a strategy within the first 100 days of her Commission taking office to strengthen the EU's industrial competitiveness and help it decarbonise. The union risks being outpaced in the global clean tech race, while traditional industries, like steel and chemicals, are struggling to keep up with competitors. This factsheet answers key questions on the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.
Press contact Lea Zuber, European Commission

 

Date 6 March
Event EU competitiveness minister meeting (internal market and industry)
Subject

EU member state ministers responsible for industry and the internal market come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ferran Tarradellas Espuny (EU Council)

 

Date 16 March
Event EU energy minister meeting
Subject

EU member state energy ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 20 - 21 March
Event European Council - meeting of EU heads of state and government
Subject

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ecaterina Casinge (European Council)

 

Date 24 March
Event EU agriculture and fisheries minister meeting
Subject

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Miruna Georgescu (EU Council)

 

Date 27 March
Event EU environment minister meeting
Subject

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 28 April
Event EU agriculture and fisheries minister meeting
Subject

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Miruna Georgescu (EU Council)

 

Date 22 May
Event EU competitiveness minister meeting (internal market and industry)
Subject

EU member state ministers responsible for industry and the internal market come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ferran Tarradellas Espuny (EU Council)

 

Date 26 May
Event EU agriculture and fisheries minister meeting
Subject

EU member state agriculture ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Miruna Georgescu (EU Council)

 

Date 5 June
Event EU transport minister meeting
Subject

EU member state transport ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Dimosthenis Mammonas (EU Council)

 

Date 16 June
Event EU energy minister meeting
Subject

EU member state energy ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 17 June
Event EU environment minister meeting
Subject

EU member state environment ministers come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Peristera Dimopoulou (EU Council)

 

Date 26 - 27 June
Event European Council - meeting of EU heads of state and government
Subject

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ecaterina Casinge (European Council)

 

Date 1 July
Event

Denmark takes over EU Council presidency

Subject

The Council represents the executive governments of member states, and the presidency rotates among EU member states every six months. It is not only responsible for setting policy priorities and planning and chairing meetings among ministers and heads of government, but must also try and reach agreement on laws with the EU’s other legislative bodies – the Commission and the Parliament. Member states holding the presidency work together closely in groups of three, called 'trios'. Preceding presidency Poland and following presidency Cyprus cooperate with Denmark. [More on the presidency]

Press contact  

 

Date 23 - 24 October
Event European Council - meeting of EU heads of state and government
Subject

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ecaterina Casinge (European Council)

 

Date 18 - 19 December
Event European Council - meeting of EU heads of state and government
Subject

EU member state heads of state and government come together for one of several regular annual meetings.

Press contact Ecaterina Casinge (European Council)
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