The Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU. Unbreakable ties with the candidate countries
The Maltese Presidency of the Council of the EU. Unbreakable ties with the candidate countries

Author(s): Sena Marić
Subject(s): EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: Centar za Evropske Politike CEP
Summary/Abstract: 2016 will be remembered as a year that brought unexpected political outcomes and outrages in the Western hemisphere. Nevertheless, 2017 is promising to be more intense than the previous year. During the first half of this year, the Netherlands will have parliamentary elections, while both parliamentary and presidential elections will be held in France. Furthermore, the United Kingdom will have only local elections,and possibly Italy. The national elections and glooming political uncertainty will have a great impact on the EU and its institutions, especially on the election of the new president of the European Parliament who will replace Martin Schultz. It is also expected that the question regarding Brexit and whether it should be initiated by the UK parliament or government will be solved. On the other hand, the agreement between the EU and Turkey regarding the migrant crisis and its containment remainson shaky ground. Terrorist attacks in Europe have never been more frequent and the last attack in Turkey on New Year's Eve showed that security problems will still be Europe's main issue. The smallest EU member - Malta, finds itself in the midst of the upcoming events while holding the EU's rotating Council Presidency. Malta together with the Netherlands and Slovakia, is a part of the current governing 'trio', which means that its governing priorities will be reflecting the strategic program of the 'trio'. Thus, Malta will continue initiatives that were alreadyput in place such as migration, security, internal marketand the EU's neighbourhood. However, as a small Mediterranean country, one of its main national interests will be further development of the EU's maritime policies. This CEP Insight will be focusing on the priorities of the Maltese presidency which should be considered by Serbian authorities, since they will be affecting the issues in which Serbia is directly involved.

• Details
• Contents