The Heads of State or Government are expected to discuss EU foreign policy quickly on Thursday 12 December, at the end of dinner.
Russia/Ukraine. As is ‘tradition’ at the June and December European Council, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron are expected to inform their counterparts on progress in the implementation of the Minsk agreements, just days after the ‘Normandy’ format summit in Paris (see EUROPE 12387/22).
While the statement issued at the end of the meeting is full of promise, a senior diplomat predicted on 11 December an agreement to extend economic sanctions against Russia for 6 months. “The duration of economic sanctions is linked to the full implementation of Minsk. I expect the sanctions to be extended again”, he said.
The day before, in Paris, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, had explained that the EU’s “relations with Russia [were crucially dependent] on finding a solution to the conflict with Ukraine” and that, “without this, there would be no change in the sanctions established by the EU against Russia”.
Turkey. Leaders are expected to discuss relations with Ankara once again, but this time due to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Turkey and Libya on the delimitation of maritime jurisdictions in the Mediterranean Sea (see EUROPE 12387/33), which is of concern to Greece and Cyprus. They are expected to adopt conclusions on this subject.
According to draft conclusions, the European Council should give its “unequivocal” support to Athens and Nicosia regarding Turkey’s actions, including illegal drilling activities. The leaders should also warn that the Turkish-Libyan agreement “infringes the sovereign rights of third States, [that it] is not in conformity with the law of the sea and cannot have any legal consequences for third States”. Libya and Turkey are not members of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Africa. After the Foreign Ministers on 9 December, it will be the turn of the Heads of State or Government of their countries to discuss the EU-Africa partnership. “This is a very important issue for the President of the European Council. It will remain on the agenda in the coming years”, explained a senior official.
Thus, a “strategic” discussion is planned for the June European Council, ahead of the EU-Africa summit. According to a draft set of conclusions, “given the importance of the EU-Africa partnership”, the European Council is also expected ask the Commission and the High Representative to provide it with a strategy on relations with Africa as a “necessary basis” for such a debate in June.
Crisis at the WTO. In their conclusions, the leaders will reiterate their concern about the challenges facing the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is affected in its trade dispute resolution function. Since Wednesday 11 December, its Appellate Body has effectively broken down, as the United States has not allowed the minimum number of judges to be maintained to ensure its functioning (see EUROPE 12387/23). The Heads of State or Government call on the EU to pursue different avenues to address this situation and ensure the defence of European interests. This involves the WTO, where the Commission is promoting an interim arbitration system, but also the adjustment of a 2014 implementing regulation (No 654/2014), which would provide the Union with the legal tools to act in an appeal situation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with editorial staff)