The war in Ukraine, the Middle East crisis, the Multiannual Financial Framework and the likelihood of a member state invoking Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty are included in European Council President António Costa's priorities for the informal Summit which will take place in Cyprus, on 23 and 24 April.
The focus of our informal European Council meeting will be twofold: we will address the challenging geopolitical environment and Europe's response to it, and we will also provide political guidance for the work on the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034, to prepare the ground for an agreement by the end of this year," Costa writes in a letter inviting EU leaders.
The working dinner on 23 April will open with an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy via videoconference on Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, before leaders turn to the conflict in Iran and the Middle East.
Costa describes the issue as multi-layered, noting that "we must discuss our response to this rapidly evolving situation. This includes Europe's contribution to de-escalation and peace in the region, as well as to the freedom of navigation."
Particular attention is paid to the impact of high fossil fuel prices. "The effects of high fossil fuel prices are already visible in the everyday lives of our citizens and companies," he writes, flagging a discussion on the instruments at the EU's disposal, building on decisions taken at the March European Council and on measures already proposed by the Commission in their follow-up.
The letter also raises the possibility of invoking Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the mutual assistance clause. "The Union's readiness to respond to the challenging geopolitical and security environment will also be part of this discussion. This could include aspects related to Article 42(7) TEU, in light of ongoing work," Costa states.
On the morning of Friday 24 April, leaders will turn to the MFF, a discussion postponed from last March Summit. Costa points out that "we need to have an open discussion about how we can match our ambitions with the appropriate level of financing, including about the importance of new Own Resources."
He explicitly links the new long-term EU budget to the bloc's competitiveness agenda, calling it "the main instrument at our disposal for common strategic action."
Later that day, following the meeting of the 27, leaders will sit down with key regional partners for an informal working lunch on the Middle East.
"Our meeting in Cyprus comes at a crucial moment for the European Union's agenda," Costa writes, describing it as a milestone both for implementing the March decisions on energy and for coordinating the EU's response to the economic fallout of the Middle East crisis.
(Source: CNA)
