On 1 January 2020, Croatia took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Finland. In January 2020, the European Chemical Society dedicated an article on Croatia’s strategic agenda (see our Brussels News Updates article here).

 ‘A strong Europe in a world of challenges’ was the motto chosen by Croatia before starting its Presidency, and what a challenge Covid-19 has been. The six-months agenda was disrupted by the pandemic and forced Croatia to adapt it to the worldwide crisis: the Council is currently analysing and assessing the Recovery plan for Europe proposal issued by the European Commission. What is more, this Presidency was the first for Croatia since the country joined the European Union in 2013.

The European Green Deal remained an important item on Croatia’s agenda. Among the many actions taken, the Council adopted the EU’s submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on the long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy.

In the meantime, the Council also worked on EU space policy matters. On 29 May, Ministers discussed solutions to enhance space-based technologies in order to include them in the sustainable development of the European Union. It was stressed that these space applications can offer solutions to the challenges on the on-going crisis and help the EU to reach its European Green Deal ambitious objectives. You can learn more about this meeting here.

More recently, Coreper* confirmed full agreement on the draft Council conclusions on shaping Europe’s digital future, during the online event held on 5 June 2020.

Croatia will lead the Council of the European Union until 30 June 2020. On 1 July, Germany will take over the position for the fall semester of 2020.

*Coreper stands for the ‘Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union’.

Sources: here.