Well, today the Leaders will discuss and - I hope – they will endorse the Strategic Compass. It will be the last step in order to have this important document approved and provide more security and more defence capabilities to the European Union.
#Russia #Ukraine #Energy #OIL #Embargo #sanctions #Putin
You know that the Strategic Compass is about investing more in defence, being a stronger partner – with NATO certainly, [and] with other partners around the world - to provide more security to for the people, and to be more able to act. And, certainly, these days require more action capacity from the part of the European Union.
I hope that the Leaders will endorse it and [that] we can start working and implementing it.
Thank you.
EU leaders meet on 24 and 25 March 2022 in Brussels. On day 2, the European Council discusses security and defence, building on the Versailles declaration and taking into account the new security situation in Europe, and sustained high energy prices and its impact on citizens and businesses, also in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The European Council also continues its discussion on how to build a more robust economic base, discusses coordination efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and takes stock of international cooperation on global health governance and solidarity, including through roll-out of vaccines.
US President Joe Biden is joining EU leaders during the first day of the European Council for a discussion on support for Ukraine and its people and on strengthening transatlantic cooperation in response to Russia’s aggression.
Regarding to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the European Council assesses the latest developments on the ground, including the humanitarian situation and refugees.
Furthermore, The European Council discusses security and defence, building on the Versailles declaration and taking into account the new security situation in Europe. In this context, EU leaders exchange views on how to enable the EU to act more quickly and decisively when facing crises, while also securing its interests and protecting citizens. They also discuss defence investment and funding instruments. The European Council is also expected to endorse the Strategic Compass, an initiative aiming at strengthening the Union’s security and defence policies around the themes of crisis management, defence capabilities, resilience and partnerships.
Following the agreement in Versailles to phase out dependency on Russian gas, oil and coal imports, they discuss sustained high energy prices and its impact on citizens and businesses, also in the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. The European Commission provides a basis for the discussion by putting forward options for ensuring affordable energy prices and security of supply.
The European Council continues its discussion on how to build a more robust economic base, as laid out in the Versailles declaration, notably by reducing strategic dependencies in sensitive areas like critical raw materials, semi-conductors, health, digital and food. EU leaders address how to further strengthen the single market to accelerate the green and digital transitions, as well as how to strengthen the resilience of the EU economy.
Finally, they focus on coordination efforts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and take stock of international cooperation on global health governance and solidarity, including through roll-out of vaccines, and discuss the work, under the guidance of the WHO, on a future instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.
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