President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, holder of the rotating Council Presidency, Robert Fico, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, signed the first ever Joint Declaration setting out the EU's objectives and priorities for the legislative process in 2017.

In addition to the EU's commitment to the ongoing work on all legislative proposals already tabled, the Presidents of the three Institutions set out in the Joint Declaration six specific areas in which proposals should be fast-tracked. The Presidents of the Parliament, Council and Commission commit to streamlining the efforts of their Institutions to ensure swift legislative progress on these priority initiatives and, where possible, delivery before the end of 2017.

1. Giving a new boost to jobs, growth and investment – through the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI 2.0), revamped Trade Defence Instruments, the Banking Union, the Capital Markets Union, and the improvement of waste management in the circular economy;

2. Addressing the social dimension of the European Union – through the Youth Employment Initiative, improved social security coordination, the European Accessibility Act and the European Solidarity Corps;

3. Better protecting the security of our citizens – through the Entry-Exit System, Smart Borders and the European Travel  Information Authorisation System (ETIAS), the control of firearms, instruments to criminalise terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing, and the European Criminal Records Information Systems (ECRIS);

4. Reforming and developing our migration policy in a spirit of responsibility and solidarity – through the reform of the Common European Asylum System (including the Dublin mechanism), the Legal Migration package and the External Investment Plan to help to address the root causes of migration by enhancing investment and job creation in partner countries;

5. Delivering on our commitment to implement a connected Digital Single market – through the EU telecoms and copyright reforms, the Union of the 700 MHz band, preventing unjustified geo-blocking, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and common data protection rules;

6. Delivering on our objective of an ambitious Energy Union and a forward looking climate change policy - through the 2030 climate and energy framework, the Paris Agreement and the Clean Energy for all Europeans package.

In addition, the three Presidents highlight four fundamental issues which need particular attention and further progress in 2017: (i) commitment to common European values, the rule of law and fundamental rights; (ii) tackling tax fraud, evasion and avoidance; (iii) preserving the principle of free movement of workers; and (iv) contributing to stability, security and peace.

Read more in English and Czech.