The leaders of the member states of the European Union will gather in Brussels today, April 17, 2024, for the start of a two-day European Council.
His subjects European Council are the EU’s economy and competitiveness, the war in Ukraine, EU-Turkeybut also the combustible situation that prevails in Middle Eastafter the Iranian attacks against him Israel last weekend.
Today, the first day of the work of the European Council is expected to start at 7 pm. (Greece time). After the usual discussion with the President of the European Parliament, the European leaders will discuss, during the dinner, all matters concerning foreign policy.
Ukraine
The debate will begin with the war in Ukraine and the intervention of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, via video conference, who is expected to appeal for support for Kiev, mainly with anti-aircraft means and Patriot missiles. Afterwards, the discussion of the European leaders on Ukraine will focus on the critical situation in the military field and the efforts to support the country’s defense mainly with anti-aircraft means on the one hand and on the other hand its energy infrastructure which has been damaged by the ongoing air and missile attacks of Russia.
The draft conclusions emphasize the need to provide Ukraine with energy generators and transformers, as well as the need “to urgently provide Ukraine with air defense equipment and to accelerate and intensify the provision of all necessary military assistance, including artillery ammunition and missiles.” . European leaders will also discuss further progress and a swift conclusion to the process of using the profits from Russia’s frozen assets in the EU for the benefit of Ukraine.
Middle East
As for the Middle East, there are three axes of discussion: the Iran-Israel crisis after the Iranian attacks, the dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
Regarding the Iran-Israel crisis, according to the European Council’s draft conclusions, European leaders condemn Iranian attacks against Israel, reiterate their full solidarity with the Israeli people and their commitment to Israel’s security and regional stability.
The “27” leaders are expected to call on Iran and its “satellites” to stop all attacks. The “27” also urge all sides to show “maximum possible restraint” and refrain from any action to avoid further escalation in the region. The EU is also ready to take further restrictive measures against Iran, especially in relation to unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles.
Regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, European leaders are expected to call for an “immediate ceasefire” to increase humanitarian aid to Palestinians in need and the immediate release of hostages.
The third axis of discussion is the protracted crisis in Lebanon concerning political and economic instability, insecurity conditions and the large numbers of refugees it hosts from neighboring countries.
At a time when Cyprus is facing a significant influx of Syrian refugees from Lebanon, European leaders are expected to reaffirm the EU’s strong support for Lebanon, especially for refugees and their host communities. “The EU is ready to work with all partners to avoid further escalation of tensions in the region, especially in Lebanon,” the draft conclusions state.
Turkey
The topic of Euro-Turkey relations will be discussed during the working dinner of EU Heads of State and Government. A strategic discussion (in-depth discussion) is expected to take place on the current state of EU-Turkey relations, both political and economic and commercial sector, based on the Borrell (EU High Representative) report presented last November.
“The EU has a strategic interest in a stable and secure environment in the Eastern Mediterranean, as well as in developing a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey,” the draft European Council conclusions state. However, this is set in the context of previous conclusions of European Councils and under discretion, i.e. in a “gradual proportional and reversible” manner.
At the same time, the European leaders will remind that the EU attaches great importance to the resumption of negotiations to resolve the Cyprus problem, based on the UN resolutions, which would facilitate EU-Turkey rapprochement and cooperation.
Economy
The second day of the Summit is dedicated to the issue of the economy and specifically to the new European competitiveness agreement. Work will begin at 10.30am. (Greece time) with the presentation to European leaders of the report on the single market prepared by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta.
According to iefimerida, it is a document of around 150 pages, which emphasizes the importance of own resources in the EU budget to strengthen the internal market and to finance pan-European initiatives and investments. European leaders agree to the idea of launching a “new European competitiveness pact”, an initiative they are expected to call for in the European Council conclusions.
On the other hand, the “27” are divided on the possibility of joint borrowing to cover the EU’s defense needs and more generally on the amount of funding required for the next multiannual financial framework. Some member states are calling for massive investment to enable the EU to compete with the US and China.
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