The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, decided, on Tuesday 22 September, to postpone to Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October the extraordinary European summit originally scheduled for Thursday 24 and Friday 25 September.
“He learned today that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact earlier last week, tested positive for Covid-19”, said his spokesman, Barend Leyts, via Twitter. He added that Mr Michel, who tested negative on Monday, went into quarantine as of Tuesday, in accordance with the Belgian rules in force.
The summit was convened to discuss the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean, and in particular to reaffirm the EU’s position on the tensions caused by Turkey. It will also look at trade negotiations with the United Kingdom as the UK government challenges the Orderly Brexit Agreement (see other news). Conclusions on deepening the Single Market, including digital, will also be adopted.
See the latest draft conclusions of the European Council, dated 21 September, which the General Affairs Council of the EU discussed on Tuesday: https://bit.ly/3cmmlTp (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)