Preparation for the European Council meeting (24-25 March 2011)

The Council prepared the European Council meeting in March 2011. The meeting shall focus on the following

• economic policy: (i) conclusion of the first phase of the European Semester (annual monitoring of budgetary policies and structural reforms); (ii) adoption of a decision amending the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union with regard to the future European Stability Mechanism (ESM); (iii) finalisation of work on the ESM and on the strengthening of the European Financial Stability Facility; (iv) finalisation of work by the Council on legislative proposals on economic governance, and (v) a decision on economic policy coordination in the euro area;
• developments in the EU's southern neighbourhood and follow-up to the 4 February European Council declaration on Egypt.