EU leaders meet on Thursday 15 December for a marathon summit where many foreign policy issues will be discussed.
Once again, EU leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine, starting with a video conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenzky.
Leaders are expected to debate on how to respond quickly to the needs of Ukrainian civilians, who have been left without electricity, heat and running water due to Russian attacks on infrastructure, and how to ensure the sustainability of military and financial support to Ukraine (see other news).
According to draft conclusions, the European Council will reaffirm, among other things, the EU’s commitment to provide political and military support to Ukraine, including by stepping up the bilateral provision of support, “in particular air defence capacities and demining assistance”. “The EU will urgently intensify the provision of humanitarian and civil protection assistance to Ukraine, including in kind, and assist in the restoration of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure to help Ukraine get through the winter”, the draft conclusions promise.
The issue of sanctions could be raised by EU leaders on Thursday. While the aim was for the ninth package to be adopted before the summit, at the time of going to press on Wednesday, discussions were continuing between Member States.
The issue of fertiliser exemptions is still divisive. According to an EU source, while a “very large group of Member States say that the UN Secretary General’s request to facilitate the export and transit” of Russian fertilisers needed by African countries should be listened to, two Member States believe that Russian oligarchs should not be financed. “It’s not an easy decision”: should there be more openness to allow fertiliser from a company owned by a Russian oligarch to alleviate food insecurity in Africa?, a source summarised.
The European Council is expected as well to agree to the renewal of economic sanctions for six months.
EU leaders will reportedly also encourage further efforts to ensure full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including “ways to secure accountability for the crime of aggression”.
United States. Beyond Ukraine, the leaders will discuss transatlantic relations. “Exactly two years after our last exchange on EU-US relations, we will hold a strategic discussion, particularly in the light of the changing global context. The discussion will cover a wide range of issues, in particular our security and economic cooperation”, says the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in his invitation letter, published on Tuesday 13 December.
The debate is expected to focus in particular on the European response to the US Inflation Reduction Act (see EUROPE 13084/1).
The European Council will also discuss the “multifaceted aspects” of the relationship with the southern neighbourhood, including migration.
Iran. Leaders could quickly address the situation in Iran (see EUROPE 13082/7). According to the draft conclusions, the European Council will strongly condemn the enforcement of death sentences in the context of the ongoing protests. It will also call on the Iranian authorities to immediately end the practice of sentencing protesters to death and to immediately annul the sentences already pronounced.
The leaders are also expected to reiterate their call on the Iranian authorities to end the “unjustified use of force” against peaceful demonstrators, “particularly against women”.
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, the European Council will reportedly endorse the conclusions adopted by the European Affairs Ministers on Tuesday 13 December, including the granting of candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina for EU membership (see EUROPE 13083/24). It could also be informed by the High Representative of the Union of the tensions in northern Kosovo (see EUROPE 13082/8).
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/4m1 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with the editorial staff)