At the EU summit in Brussels, leaders decided to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova. They also agreed to start negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary conditions are met and granted Georgia candidate status.
EU leaders discussed continued support to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, enlargement and reforms, the mid-term review of the EU’s long-term budget for 2021-2027, security and defence, migration, hybrid attacks, the fight against antisemitism, racism and xenophobia, and the EU strategic agenda 2024-2029.
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
EU leaders reiterated their resolute condemnation of Russia’s war and their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
Since the start of the war, the EU and its member states have made available around €85 billion to Ukraine. They will continue to strongly support Ukraine for as long as it takes, including by economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic means.
Military and defence needs
The EU and its member states will continue to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs. The leaders stressed that reliable and predictable support is of key importance, including through:
- the European Peace Facility
- the EU military assistance mission
- direct bilateral assistance from member states
In this context, the leaders invited the Council to swiftly intensify work on the reform of the European Peace Facility and increase its financing.
They also stressed the urgent need to deliver missiles and ammunition, and to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems.
To deter acts of aggression and destabilisation efforts in the future, the EU will, together with its partners, also contribute to future security commitments to Ukraine.
Reconstruction of Ukraine
EU leaders reiterated that Russia is responsible for the massive damage it has caused in the wake of its war and expressed their full commitment to Ukraine’s recovery and its reconstruction, including support to the demining process and the psychosocial rehabilitation.
To that end, EU leaders called for decisive progress to determine how extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from Russia’s frozen assets could be used to support Ukraine in its recovery and reconstruction, consistent with contractual obligations and in accordance with EU and international law. They welcomed the recent agreement by the Council and the Parliament on an EU law on asset recovery and confiscation.
Sanctions against Russia
The EU is determined to further weaken Russia’s ability to wage its war, including through strengthened sanctions. In this regard, the leaders emphasised the importance of ensuring the full implementation of sanctions and of preventing their circumvention, especially for high-risk goods.
In this context, the leaders welcomed the 12th package of sanctions, which includes measures to ban the import, purchase or transfer of diamonds from Russia and to strengthen cooperation with third countries to impede the circumvention of sanctions. They also welcomed the agreement reached on the directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of the EU’s restrictive measures.
Accountability of perpetrators
EU leaders stressed that Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging its war and for other serious crimes under international law. In this respect, they encouraged efforts to establish:
- a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression against Ukraine
- a future compensation mechanism
The leaders called for all states to sign and ratify the Ljubljana-Hague convention, a treaty that covers international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of rimes under international law such as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
They also called for the immediate safe return of Ukrainian civilians, including children, who have been unlawfully deported to Russia and Belarus.
Belarus, Iran and North Korea
EU leaders condemned the continued military support for Russia provided by Belarus, Iran and North Korea. They also urged all countries not to provide material or other support for Russia’s war.
In this context, the EU will intensify its work with partners to counter false Russian narratives and disinformation about the war.
Global food security
A secure and stable Black Sea is vital for Ukraine’s sustainable grain exports and to ensure their capacity to reach world markets. In this regard, EU leaders stated that they would support all efforts to facilitate exports of Ukraine’s grain and other agricultural products to countries most in need, notably in Africa and the Middle East.
They also underlined the importance of using the EU’s solidarity lanes to their full potential and invited the Commission to speed up work with member states to further develop the capacity of the solidarity lanes on all routes.
Middle East
EU leaders held an in-depth strategic debate on the Middle East.
At their last meeting in October, EU leaders called for continued, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access and aid to reach those in need. They also stressed the need to cooperate with partners in the region to avoid regional escalation.
Following Hamas’s brutal and indiscriminate attack against Israel and the unfolding tragic scenes in the Gaza strip, the EU has:
- condemned Hamas in the strongest possible terms
- recognised Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law
- expressed its grave concerne over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza
Enlargement and reforms
Recalling the Granada Declaration, which outlines key priorities and actions to make Europe a strong, dynamic and competitive power, EU leaders discussed enlargement policy. In the preparation for an enlarged union, both aspiring members and the EU need to be ready and must advance work in parallel.
To this end, EU leaders called for:
- aspiring members to step up reform efforts, notably on the rule of law, with assistance from the EU
- the EU to lay down the necessary internal groundwork and address key questions related to priorities, policies and its capacity to act
The leaders also endorsed the Council’s annual conclusions on enlargement.
Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
EU leaders decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Once the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendations of 8 November 2023 have been taken, they invite the Council to adopt the respective negotiation frameworks.
The leaders also granted candidate status to Georgia, on the understanding that the relevant steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation of 8 November 2023 are taken.
EU ministers meet Ukraine MFA Dmytro Kuleba
|
Western Balkans
EU leaders reaffirmed their full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and called for accelerating their accession process.
The European Council will open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the country has achieved the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria. In this regard, the leaders invited the Commission to report to the Council on progress at the latest in March 2024, with a view to making a decision.
The leaders are also ready to complete the opening phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia, as soon as it has completed the constitutional changes referred to in the Council conclusions of July 2022.
The leaders also took note of the growth plan for the Western Balkans, which aims to enable faster integration into the EU and socio-economic convergence, based on strict conditionalities. It was presented by the Commission in November 2023.
Internal reforms
As the EU becomes larger, successful European integration requires that EU institutions continue to function effectively and that EU policies are:
- fit for the future
- financed in a sustainable manner
- based on the EU’s founding values
Against this background, leaders committed to addressing internal reforms at upcoming meetings, with a view to adopting conclusions in the summer of 2024.
Mid-term review of the EU’s long-term budget
The leaders held an in-depth discussion on the mid-term review of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
The mid-term review, as set out in a document outlining the details of the negotiating box, covers support for Ukraine, migration and the external dimension, the strategic technologies for Europe platform, Next Generation EU interest payments, special instruments, new own resources and elements that reduce the impact on national budgets. It is firmly supported by 26 EU heads of state or government.
The negotiating box provides for an additional financial envelope of €64.6 billion, which should be spent on the following new priorities:
- €50 billion for the Ukraine Facility (€17 billion in grants and €33 billion in loans)
- €2 billion for migration and border management
- €7.6 billion for the neighbourhood and the world
- €1.5 billion for the European Defence Fund under the new instrument, STEP
- €2 billion for the flexibility instrument
- €1.5 billion for the solidarity and emergency aid reserve
EU leaders will discuss the mid-term review again early next year.
Security and defence
Amidst global instability, strategic competition and security threats, it is crucial for the EU to strengthen its security and defence and increase its capacity to act autonomously.
Recalling previous conclusions, the Versailles Declaration and the Strategic Compass, EU leaders underlined that more needs to be done to strengthen the EU’s operational readiness and enhance its defence investment and capability development. In this regard, they called for:
- existing measures to be urgently implemented to facilitate joint procurement and to increase the European defence industry’s production capacity
- a European defence industrial strategy to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base
- intensified work on military mobility, space security and the fight against cyber and hybrid threats
- an enhanced role for the European Investment Bank
- continued work to strengthen the new civilian compact in the framework of the common security and defence policy
The leaders underlined the importance of further developing an integrated market for defence to reinforce cross-border supply chains, ensure critical technologies and improve competitiveness. They also stated that a stronger and more capable EU is complementary to NATO and will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security.
Migration and hybrid attacks
EU leaders held a strategic discussion on migration. In this context, they underlined the importance of pursuing a strategic approach to migration that combines:
- increased external action
- partnerships with countries of origin and transit
- addressing root causes of migration
- opportunities for legal migration
- effective control of EU external borders
- resolutely fighting organised crime, human trafficking and smuggling
- stepping up returns
They also strongly condemned all hybrid attacks, including the instrumentalisation of migrants by third countries for political purposes. To this end, they expressed their determination to:
- ensure effective control of the EU’s external borders
- counter the ongoing hybrid attacks launched by Russia and Belarus
More information: European Council
Leave a Reply