The European Council will discuss Russia again at their dinner, as regards sanctions against Russia or tensions in the Sea of Azov.
Thus, according to the invitation letter from the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, the European Council should adopt conclusions on the escalation of tensions in the Sea of Azov. On Wednesday afternoon, these conclusions were still being negotiated. According to a diplomatic source, Member States would differ on how to react. While Member States seem to agree to condemn the situation, the issue of sanctions is still under debate.
As traditionally at the June and December Council, the German Chancellor and the French President will take stock of (the lack of) progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, and leaders should agree to extend economic sanctions against Russia for a further six months.
According to a diplomatic source, the situation in the Western Balkans - including the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina - could be raised by several European leaders.
The summit between the EU and the Arab League, scheduled for 24-25 February 2019 in Cairo, will be discussed.
Leaders should also discuss security and defence issues. This could be an opportunity for the Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, to put on the table the question of extending the operation in the Mediterranean EUNavforMed Sophia (see EUROPE 12157).
According to a draft of the summit conclusions of 10 December, the European Council should welcome the "significant” progress made in the field of security and defence, whether in the implementation of permanent structured cooperation, military mobility, the European Defence Industrial Development Programme and the negotiations on the European Defence Fund. The leaders could also take over the pact on the Common Civil Defence and Security Policy, agreed by their heads of diplomacy in November (see EUROPE 12141). These initiatives "contribute to strengthening the EU's strategic autonomy and ability to act as a security provider, while complementing and strengthening NATO's activities and EU-NATO cooperation", according to the text. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)