Spain’s Secretary of State for European Affairs, Pascual Navarro Ríos, outlined the packed agenda for the European summit meeting in Brussels on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 October during a debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 18 October.

Meeting for the second time in October following the Granada summit (see EUROPE 13266/1), the Heads of State or Government of the countries of the European Union will discuss the revision of the 2024-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, the EU’s migration policy in light of the difficulties in establishing partnerships with neighbouring countries such as Tunisia, and economic competitiveness. In regards to foreign affairs, the EU’s political, economic and military support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression will be reaffirmed, while the crises in the Middle East and the Caucasus will inevitably be discussed.

With regard to Ukraine, Mr Navarro Ríos announced that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, would be taking part in a remote session, and he stressed the importance of Russia and its allies being held to account for the abuses committed against civilians in Ukraine. He also mentioned the mobilisation of ‘windfall profits’ generated by the frozen Russian public assets estimated at 280 billion dollars in the EU by the G7 countries (see EUROPE 13273/14).

Calling for “decisive progress” in this area while respecting international law, the European Council should explicitly ask the European Commission to submit “the necessary proposals”, according to draft conclusions of which EUROPE has received a copy.

With regard to the mid-term review of the EU budget, Mr Navarro Ríos said that the Heads of State or Government of the EU countries should set “guidelines” in order to facilitate the search for a unanimous agreement by the Member States as soon as possible. This package includes stable macro-financial aid to Ukraine of up to €50 billion over the period 2024-2027 (see EUROPE 13263/7).

At the end of October, the European Council will also take stock of work aimed at strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy, notably through investment in disruptive technologies capable of contributing to climate neutrality, access to cheap energy and critical raw materials, and reducing the administrative burden.

With a view to COP28, the EU27 should also call for “increased global action and ambition”, according to the draft conclusions.

During the plenary debate, Paulo Rangel (EPP, Portuguese) called for the EU to reiterate its support for Israel, which has the right to defend itself from terrorism in accordance with international law. For Malik Azmani (Renew Europe, Dutch), Europeans must not let the Americans shoulder all the responsibility in the search for peace in the Middle East. Nicola Procaccini (ECR, Italian) saw in the actions of Hamas vis-à-vis Israel and Russia vis-à-vis Ukraine the same desire to overturn established borders and Western values.

Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, German), for her part, hoped that European leaders would not abandon social issues.

Lastly, Jaak Madison (ID, Estonian) and Kinga Gál (NI, Hungarian) criticised the ‘migration and asylum’ Pact currently being negotiated between Parliament and the Council of the EU, which, in their view, will not be able to combat illegal immigration.

 See the European Council’s draft conclusions dated 17 October: https://aeur.eu/f/94e (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)