Spring European Council to focus on economy, climate and EU-Africa relations.

The General Affairs Council prepared the upcoming European Council meeting, which will take place on 20 and 21 March.

The upcoming meeting of the EU heads of state or government will focus on two main topics:
   -growth, competitiveness and jobs
   -external relations.

Under the first topic, the European Council will conclude the first phase of the 2014 European Semester: it will assess the progress made on implementing the country-specific recommendations that were given to the member states in 2013 and will provide them with guidance on preparing their 2014 Stability programmes or their Convergence programmes and their National reform programmes.

In addition, the leaders will highlight a number of issues relating to industrial competitiveness, such as the cost of energy in industrial production, the skills mismatch, infrastructure development, patenting, global value chains.

They will also hold a policy debate on a framework for climate and energy in 2020-2030.

Discussion on external relations will focus on preparations for the upcoming EU-Africa summit, which will take place on 2 and 3 April. The leaders will hold an in-depth debate on EU relations with Africa.