Germany will hold the Presidency of the EU Council

The German Presidency's programme with their priorities on climate policy, biodiversity, the circular economy and the common agricultural policy is available online and can be downloaded from the website.

On 1 July 2020, the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union took office in Brussels. The German programme sets out the priorities for the next six months, is published in several languages and is available online in the German Presidency's website.

The program lists all priorities in more than 20 pages. Among the most ambitious objectives, the German Presidency is required to approve and adopt the financial economic instruments to help Member States reconstitute economic and social activities, weakened by the COVID-19 crisis. Known as the EU Recovery Fund "Next Generation EU", the fund should disburse grants and loans to give a new input to the economy.

Ministers of the Federal Republic of Germany

  • Will talk with Member States’ Ministers to approve some binding policy recommendations to be forwarded to the European Commission. The recommendations will cover the Action Plan for the Circus Economy, The Biodiversity Strategy and the Fork Farm Strategy,
  • Will start negotiating the 8th environmental action programme,
  • Will vote on the Commission's proposal on Climate Law and discuss with the Member States’ Ministers how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030,
  • Will act through international diplomacy so that all countries adopt goals and targets to prevent, mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The German Presidency will continue to lead negotiations to reform the Common Agricultural Policy by seeking to give more responsibility to Member States in planning and ensuring the development of their rural areas.