General Affairs Council (GAC) - Montesquieu Instituut

The Council will try to reach, in public deliberation, a partial general approach on further elements of the Cohesion Policy legislative package, which would complement the two general approaches agreed on April and June.

A general approach is a political agreement of the Council pending the first-reading position of the European Parliament. It is partial when it only applies to parts of the proposed legislative act. The new partial general approach is expected to cover inter alia the following elements:

information and communication, technical assistance;

European territorial cooperation;

territorial development;

financial issues not included in the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020.

These general approaches do not prejudge the outcome of negotiations on other elements of cohesion policy or on the MFF 2014-2020.

Furthermore, the Council will finalise preparations for the European Council meeting on 18-19 October, examining draft conclusions and will start the preparation of the special European Council of 22-23 November, on the basis of an annotated draft agenda.

The Council meeting will be preceded by a ministerial breakfast meeting with the European Parliament delegation on the MFF, starting at 8.00.

A press conference will take place at the end of the meeting.