EU leaders will meet at the European Council on 20-21 March to discuss the European Semester, industrial competitiveness, climate and energy, the EU-Africa summit and Ukraine.

Day one

Starting on Thursday afternoon the spring European Council will dedicate its first working session to growth, competitiveness and jobs.

Leaders will start by reviewing progress on this year's European Semester monitoring exercise and assess the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy. They will then turn to the issue of industrial competitiveness.

The European Council should also evaluate results of legislative work and the Intergovernmental Conference in regard to the Single Resolution Mechanism and return to the issue of savings taxation.

Over dinner, leaders will turn to the most prominent issue on the agenda, Ukraine and Europe's Eastern neighborhood. 

Τhe Tripartite Social Summit will take place in the morning before the Council. The Summit will be co-chaired by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Prime Minister of Greece.

Live broadcast will be available here from 08:00 (CET)

Read also: Opening remarks by President Herman Van Rompuy at the European Council

and: Statement by President Herman Van Rompuy on savings taxation