Files found under ‘Departures’ status are expected initiatives of the European Commission – in principle legislative – which contribute to the implementation of the Commission’s priorities.
These files are announced either in the Political Guidelines (of the incoming Commission), the annual State of the Union speech and accompanying letter of intent, or in the yearly Commission work programme. They may also be planned legislative proposals announced in a strategy, communication or action plan adopted by the Commission, sometimes with an anticipated date of publication.
A few non-legislative files (communications from the European Commission) can also be found with this status. These either announce future legislative activity or are of major political importance.