European Council of Vienna, 11-12/12/1998

The European Council met in Vienna on 11 and 12 December 1998 to examine the major issues and challenges facing the EU.
The Council outlined the “Vienna Strategy for Europe”, which set out a work program for the European Union in 1999 and includes four areas of primary importance for European citizens. Specifically, the first area concerns promoting employment, economic growth and stability, the second improving safety and quality of life, the third reforming the Union’s policies and institutions, and the fourth promoting stability and prosperity throughout Europe and the world.
By approving the employment guidelines for 1999, it decided to strengthen the process of convergence of employment policies with the aim of developing a European employment pact. It also decided to strengthen the coordination of both economic and fiscal policy and set the terms for the external representation of the euro. Furthermore, it approved an action plan for the implementation of the provisions of the Amsterdam Treaty with the aim of creating an area of freedom, security and justice and identified the issues that need to be addressed in terms of establishing the first common strategies regarding external relations after the entry into force of the Amsterdam Treaty.
In addition, the European Council expressed its gratitude to Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, for his great contribution to the development of the EU and decided to award him the title of “Honorary Citizen of Europe”.
Finally, a meeting was held with the Heads of State and Government and Foreign Ministers of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus, in the context of the accession process