Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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119. To ask the Taoiseach the agenda of the December 2017 European Council meeting. [51714/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The European Council will meet in Brussels on 14 and 15 December.

The draft agenda for the main meeting consists of security and defence - including Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) - and social, educational and cultural matters - where we expect a report on the recent Gothenburg Social Summit, and the proclamation of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Foreign policy issues might also be raised.

President Tusk will also chair further discussions on the Future of Europe as part of his 'Leaders' Agenda'.The first discussion, on education and culture, took place in Gothenburg where we discussed how to deepen cooperation in these areas, while respecting the limits of the Union's competence. Next week we will discuss migration.

In addition, we will discuss the future of Economic and Monetary Union in a meeting of the Euro Summit in an inclusive format, with all 27 remaining Member States represented.

Ireland is very supportive of President Tusk's efforts to drive forward the debate on the Future of Europe, and I look forward to a constructive exchange of views.

The European Council will also meet in Article 50 format, on 15 December, to consider progress in the Brexit negotiations, including whether sufficient progress has been achieved to move to the second phase of the negotiations, in which the framework of the future relationship between the EU and the UK will be considered along with possible transitional arrangements.