Member State leaders are expected to reaffirm their support for Ukraine at their European Council on 15-16 December, calling for ongoing efforts to be continued.
According to draft guidelines for conclusions dated 29 November from the Secretariat-General of the Council to Member State delegations, the European Council will, among other things, confirm its continued commitment to providing political and military support to Ukraine. The Secretariat-General proposes that it be specified that this could be done “through an enhanced European Peace Facility”. The Member States are currently considering an increase in the allocation of this Facility, of which more than 85% of the funds have already been used up, although it runs until 2027 (see EUROPE 13063/2).
In view of the winter season, the European Council will also confirm that “the Union stands ready to provide urgent humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine and to contribute to the rehabilitation of its essential infrastructure”, the draft adds. Leaders will also reaffirm their commitment to support, with their partners, the financial assistance, resilience and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine.
The European Council will also revisit the latest EU initiatives, including efforts to hold to account those responsible for the most serious war crimes, EU support for investigations by the International Criminal Court prosecutor or the possibilities of using frozen assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and for reparations (see other news).
See the project: https://aeur.eu/f/4dg (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Damien Genicot)