Thewesternbalkans
Leaders of the European Union and its Member states had a regular meeting on 27-28 June in Brussels. During the meeting they discussed main challenges and priorities of the EU and how to address them.
In the Conclusions of the meeting there are main leaders decisions as follow:
- Three top jobs.
“The leaders decided on three top jobs for the upcoming institutional cycle. In line with the European Council’s role as set out in the Treaty on European Union, the leaders:
- elected António Costaas President of the European Council
- proposed Ursula von der Leyenas candidate for President of the European Commission;
- considered Kaja Kallasto be the appropriate candidate for High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;
The proposed candidate for President of the European Commission will need to be elected by the European Parliament by a majority of its component members”.
The formal appointment of the high representative requires the agreement of the president-elect of the European Commission.
The Commission president, the high representative and the other Commissioners will, as a body, be subject to a vote of consent by the European Parliament before their formal appointment by the European Council.
- Strategic agenda 2024-2029.
EU leaders adopted the strategic agenda 2024-2029, a policy plan that establishes the EU’s directions and goals.
The main goal is to make Europe more sovereign and better equipped to deal with future challenges in the face of a new geopolitical reality. It is based on three pillars:
- a free and democratic Europe;
- a strong and secure Europe;
- a prosperous and competitive Europe.
The new geopolitical reality underscores the importance of enlargement as a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity. There is new dynamism in the enlargement process. Both the EU and aspiring members now have a responsibility to make the most of this opportunity and communicate this clearly. The European Union will follow a merit-based approach to accession with tangible incentives. It will support aspiring members in meeting the accession criteria through appropriate instruments and will use all possibilities to further advance gradual integration. It will also encourage reform efforts, notably with regard to the rule of law, as well as regional integration, good neighbourly relations, reconciliation and the resolution of bilateral disputes. In parallel, the European Union will undertake the necessary internal reforms to ensure that our policies are fit for the future and financed in a sustainable manner and that the EU institutions continue to function and act effectively
- Ukraine.
EU leaders strongly condemned the recent escalation of hostilities by Russia, and they also reiterated the EU’s unwavering commitment to continue to provide political, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensively as needed.
As Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defence, it urgently needs air defence systems, ammunition and missiles. The leaders called for the stepping up of the delivery of military support for Ukraine and reviewed where further efforts were needed.
Following the adoption of the legal acts to use extraordinary revenue from Russia’s frozen assets to benefit Ukraine, including for military support, its defence industry capacity and its future reconstruction, leaders are looking forward to the first disbursement of that revenue this summer.
They invited the Commission, the high representative and the Council to take forward work, while addressing all relevant legal and financial aspects, on providing additional funding by the end of the year. This funding will be in the form of loans backed and repaid by the revenue from the frozen assets, including future flows. The aim is to achieve a total of around € 50 billion, together with G7 partners.
EU leaders welcomed the adoption of the 14th package of sanctions against Russia and the agreement on further sanctions against Belarus. They stressed that the full and effective implementation of those sanctions was essential.
4. Middle East.
EU leaders discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and stressed that they deplored all losses of civilian lives.
The European Council notes with utmost concern the unacceptable number of civilian casualties, especially children, as well as the catastrophic levels of hunger and imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza.
In that regard, they called on all parties to take every feasible step to protect civilian lives. The leaders expressed deep concern about the consequences on the civilian population of the ongoing ground operation in Rafah.
The leaders welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2735, which outlines a comprehensive three-phase ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. They called for the full implementation of the proposal, without delay or preconditions.
EU leaders reaffirmed the urgent need for full, rapid, safe and unhindered access to humanitarian aid at scale for Palestinians in need and for allowing and facilitating humanitarian workers and international organisations to operate effectively inside Gaza.
The EU is committed to a lasting and sustainable peace in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and on the basis of the two-state solution between Israel and an independent and democratic Palestine.
5. Competitiveness.
The leaders reviewed progress on initiatives to:
- enhance competitiveness;
- secure economic resilience;
- achieve the full potential of the single market.
In that context, EU leaders called on the Council and the Commission to speed up work on all identified measures to create integrated markets. They reiterated the importance of the capital markets union to mobilise the necessary private investments to meet future challenges.
6. Migration.
The European Council held a strategic discussion on migration and took note of the recent letter from the president of the Commission.
- Foreign policy. Accession negotiations.
EU leaders welcomed the adoption of the respective negotiation frameworks for Ukraine and Moldova, as well as the holding of the first intergovernmental conferences with those two countries on 25 June 2024. The EU will continue to work closely with both countries and support their reform efforts on their path towards becoming EU member states.
8. Black Sea.
EU leaders reaffirmed the importance of security and stability in the Black Sea. To that end, they invited the Commission and the high representative to prepare a joint communication on how to establish a strategic approach to the Black Sea.
9. Moldova.
The EU will continue to provide all relevant support for Moldova to address the challenges it faces as a consequence of Russia’s war against Ukraine. This includes support for strengthening Moldova’s resilience, security and stability in the face of Russia’s destabilising activities, not least in view of the upcoming elections and referendum this autumn.
The leaders welcomed member states’ bilateral commitments to support the EU partnership mission to Moldova to enhance the resilience of the security sector.
10. Georgia.
The European Council expressed its serious concerns regarding recent developments in Georgia, particularly in view of the adoption of the foreign agents law. This law represents a back-sliding on the steps set out in the Commission’s recommendation for Georgia’s candidate status, de facto leading to a halt of the accession process.
In that regard, the leaders called on the Georgian authorities to:
In view of Georgia’s future EU path, the leaders recalled that respect for the EU’s founding values and principles were essential for any country aspiring to become a member.
11. Hybrid threats.
EU leaders strongly condemned all types of hybrid activities targeting the EU, its member states and partners. They also highlighted the fact that Russia has intensified its campaign with new active operations on European soil.
The EU and its member states will meet any such actions with a united and determined response.
In response to Russia’s destabilising actions abroad, EU leaders called on the Council to establish a new sanctions regime. The EU will also continue to work with its partners to detect and counter hybrid activities by third countries, including false narratives and disinformation.
12. Internal reforms.
EU leaders adopted a roadmap on future work on internal reforms. It outlines the reforms the EU should undertake in order to fulfil its long-term ambitions and addresses key questions on priorities and policies in the face of a new geopolitical reality.
EU leaders invited the Commission to present, by the spring of 2025, in depth policy reviews including operational elements with regard to the following four strands:
- values, including tools and process to protect the rule of law;
- policiesto ensure the EU’s long-term competitiveness, prosperity and leadership on a global stage and strengthen its strategic sovereignty;
- budget, also with a view to negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget;
- governance.
In June 2025, the leaders will review progress on the four strands and will give further guidance as needed.
The work on internal reforms will run in parallel with the EU’s enlargement process, to prepare both the EU and future member states at the time of accession.
Comments: European leaders are again bringing the war in Ukraine to the fore, as a challenge and as a priority, with a decision already in place to use the proceeds of Russian frozen assets to cover loans to Ukraine. The last point of the conclusions on the internal reform of the EU deserves special attention from the point of view of the Western Balkans, because without this reform there will be no enlargement. One of the EU’s major problems remains the need to change the decision-making procedure on CFSP issues. And in order for this to happen, changes should be made to the EU Treaty, which may turn out to be quite a difficult task. The isolation of Italy and other countries from the decision-making on the three top EU Jobs is also a serious undersea rock because there are important decisions ahead that require consensus and it is not clear in which of them Italy will decide to show that it is an important member of EU.
