On Thursday 22 June in Brussels, European heads of state and government demonstrated their unity in strongly reaffirming their commitment to the swift and full implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement. They also agreed to cooperate more closely with all the different parties to this universal agreement, particularly with the countries most vulnerable to climate change (see EUROPE 11811).
The draft conclusions on the table also show how the European Council is expected to highlight how important the EU sees its continued cooperation with all non-governmental actors and by taking full advantage, for example, of the global climate action programme.
On Wednesday 21 June, a senior European official emphasised that “The message is going to be very clear”. This message will be the European Council’s response to the unilateral disengagement of the Trump Administration from this universal agreement concluded in Paris on 12 December 2015 and which has already been signed by the US.
The subject will be discussed at dinner on Thursday evening, after the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, has given his report to the EU28 on his meeting with Mr Trump and his most recent EU/China Summit (see EUROPE 11802). In his summit invitation letter, Mr Tusk wrote on Wednesday that, “I would like to point out that we are all united behind the Paris Agreement”. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang and editorial staff)