At lunch on Thursday 19 December, the leaders of the countries of the European Union will debate the place of ‘Europe in the world’.
In his invitation letter, the new President of the European Council, António Costa, called for “a comprehensive and strategic discussion, without written conclusions, on the way forward regarding our global engagement and (Europeans’) priorities in a multipolar landscape marked by geopolitical tensions”.
According to Mr Costa, the Union can best consolidate its role on the international stage “by weaving a wider and deeper network of partners around the world, by being more aware of their specific interests – and exploring the potential for common interests”.
The President of the European Council pointed out that one of the aspects was to determine how to forge a transatlantic link while defending the interests of the EU, but also to develop a mutually beneficial strategic relationship with the United Kingdom.
According to a European source, the aim is to build a common understanding. “The idea is to engage with our partners, to effectively defend our interests and also to find points of common interest with third countries”, the source explained on Wednesday 18 December. “At the start of this (institutional) cycle, it is interesting to ask what Europe’s foreign policy is in the broad sense, vis-à-vis the United States and China and all its partners, with its values, its interests and its instruments”, added one diplomat.
Resilience and crisis preparedness
The leaders will also discuss the ‘Niinistö’ report on strengthening Europe’s civil and military preparedness (see EUROPE 13515/1).
They should ask the EU Council, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and the European Commission to continue work, including on a future European strategy on crisis preparedness, “taking into account the specificities of different types of crises and respecting Member States’ responsibilities and competences”.
See Mr Costa’s invitation letter: https://aeur.eu/f/evf and the draft EU Council conclusions dated 17 December: https://aeur.eu/f/ev7