EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: 24-25 OCTOBER 2013

European Council Meeting Agenda: 24-25 October 2013

Topics: 1.Digital Economy, Innovation and Services; 2.Growth, Competitiveness and Jobs; 3. Economic and Monetary Union and 4. Eastern Partnership Summit.

1. Digital Economy, Innovation and Services

The European Council will hold a thematic discussion on the digital economy, innovation and services. In particular, the European Council will:

(a) discuss the state of play of the digital agenda, with a view to providing guidance towards the completion of the Digital Single Market by 2015;

(b) assess progress reached in the area of innovation following its discussions in February 2011 as well as, where necessary, set further orientations for the completion of the European Research Area by 2014 and the future development of the Innovation Union;

(c) focus on the follow up to the peer review of the Services Directive, following the contribution submitted by the Commission, and look forward to the outcome of the Licences for Europe process.

2. Growth, Competitiveness and Jobs

The European Council will take stock of efforts to foster growth, jobs and European competitiveness and, where appropriate, set new orientations in particular as regards :

(a) implementation of the Investment Plan for Europe agreed last June, notably on the basis of the Commission and EIB report on the implementation of measures for the financing of the economy;

(b) stock-taking of progress in the area of the Youth Employment Initiative with the aim of making it fully operational by January 2014;

(c) assessment of the progress in simplification of regulation as well as reduction of its burden at EU and national levels on the basis of work undertaken by the Commission and Member States.

3. Economic and Monetary Union

The European Council will assess on-going work on all the building blocks of a reinforced EMU. It will look at the framework of a strengthened economic policy coordination and at the social dimension of the EMU, with a view to taking decisions on these issues in December.

Bearing in mind the stringent legislative calendar the European Council, in the presence of ECB President Draghi, will assess the state of play in the completion of the Banking Union, in particular the implementation of the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the remaining pending proposals to complete the Banking Union.

4. Other Items

The Lithuanian President will inform the European Council about the state of play on preparations for the Eastern Partnership Summit (Vilnius, 28-29 November 2013). The European Council may also address specific external relations issues in the light of developments on the international scene.