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The President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen REUTERS Francois Lenoir / Pool / File Photo

Ursula von der Leyen presented her "Green Pact" to MEPs on Wednesday. Today, it is the heads of state of the European Union who seize the file. The first Council of the new full team begins this afternoon, chaired by Charles Michel.

This European Council coincides with the elections in the United Kingdom and Brexit will undoubtedly be addressed, but the main issues of this European Council are the budget and especially the climate.

On this point, the Council should validate progress, with the goal of 2050 carbon neutrality. The Council's third attempt may well be the right one. The European Union would thus show the way to the rest of the world, this is the wish of the President of the European Commission .

Financial points to be specified

The three countries that are missing the call would be about to subscribe to this goal according to sources close to the council. Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, very dependent on coal, expect financial guarantees. The transition fund is now valued at 100 billion euros. But it will be necessary to specify it, like other points, in particular on how to protect the competitiveness and the respect of the energy choices of each one and to specify finally and especially where to find the money.

The multiannual budget will be the second major issue of the Council, but there is still no agreement in sight. The proposal of the Finnish presidency certainly makes it possible to advance in the discussion, one says at the Élysée, but the consensus is far. There is no question for Paris, in particular, of a reduction of the defense budget.

Finally this Council opens the day of elections in the United Kingdom. For France, it is time to move to the second phase of Brexit that Paris seems to take for granted, the subject will be discussed Friday. It will be a question of defining the framework of the future bilateral relationship, but the discussions are much more risky for the cohesion of the Twenty-Seven vis-à-vis London.

► EU: Von der Leyen presents 'Green Pact' to climate challenges