On Tuesday 25 June, the Council of the European Union approved the EU’s security commitments to Ukraine, paving the way for their signature by European and Ukrainian representatives. The signing is due to take place this Thursday in Brussels, in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to a draft text seen by Agence Europe, the EU should reiterate its determination to continue to provide Ukraine and its people with all necessary political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support “for as long and as intensively as necessary”.
Building on existing support, detailed in the document, “the European Union’s security commitments include predictable, long-term and sustainable support for Ukraine’s security and defence, in particular through Common Security and Defence Policy missions, as well as broader security commitments, which should be taken into account in a holistic manner”. Support for security, resilience and defence, as well as macrofinancial, humanitarian, reconstruction and reform assistance, will be mutually reinforcing, the document adds.
For its part, Ukraine should commit to continue undertaking reforms, notably in its path towards the EU and in the field of security, intelligence and defence. “This includes the civilian control of security and defence forces, the efficiency and transparency of defence institutions and the strengthening of the defence industry, building on the European Defence Industrial Strategy”, the document states. Kyiv also promises to strengthen transparency measures concerning the aid received and to contribute positively to the security of the Union and its Member States, in particular by sharing information and lessons learned, where appropriate.
In concrete terms, the Europeans are committed to a “predictable, efficient, sustainable and long-term supply of military equipment”, military training and defence reform, and cooperation between the European and Ukrainian defence industries. Other priorities include work on resilience, cyber and hybrid threats, mine action, reform of the civil security sector and support for law enforcement agencies, preventing and combating the diversion of firearms and small arms and light weapons, support for energy security, the energy transition and nuclear safety and security, and the sharing of intelligence and satellite imagery.
The EU is also promising to support Ukraine’s progress in the EU accession and reform process, as the country officially opened its accession negotiations on Tuesday 25 June (see other news). Predictable financial support for reconstruction and modernisation is emphasised, as is Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU single market and continued protection for those who have fled the war.
The EU also says it is prepared to maintain and impose new restrictive measures to keep up the pressure on Russia, and to press ahead with work on using the income from frozen assets.
The Europeans will also continue their ongoing diplomatic support for Kyiv and global advocacy for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, support accountability mechanisms for international crimes, “including a tribunal for the crime of aggression”, and finally, further strengthen regional cooperation, notably in the framework of the Eastern Partnership and in the Black Sea region. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)