Programme des Pays-Bas pour la présidence du Conseil de l'UE

Programme of the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1 January – 30 June 2016 Programme of the Netherlands Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1 January – 30 June 2016 Contents Introduction PART I Priorities of the Presidency A comprehensive approach to migration and international security Europe as an innovator and job creator Sound, future-proof European inances and a robust eurozone Forward-looking policy on climate and energy Finally PART IICouncil conigurations General Afairs Foreign Afairs (including Defence, Trade and Development) Economic and Financial Afairs Justice and Home Afairs Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Afairs Competitiveness Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Agriculture and Fisheries Environment Education, Youth, Culture and Sport 6 8 9 9 10 10 10 12 13 13 15 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 |6| Introduction The European Union is being severely put to the test. It is facing a huge inlux of people who have led war and oppression. Geopolitics appears to be making a comeback, and within the EU itself, the threat of fragmentation looms. Terrorists are atacking our way of life, in an atempt to spread fear and sow divisions in our societies. There are no quick and easy ways to resolve these issues. As the next holder of the Council Presidency, it is incumbent on the Netherlands to help the EU ind common solutions in these turbulent times.