The first day of the European Council meeting in Brussels yesterday was focused on foreign affairs and security policy. EU leaders adopted conclusions on Ukraine, security and defence, the Middle East, enlargement and reforms, migration, preparedness and crisis response.
Two issues dominated the conclusions: the support to Ukraine against Russia’s war of aggression, and the Israel-Hamas war and the Middle East conflict.
EU leaders stated that they were ever more steadfast in their support for Ukraine and that Russia must not prevail. As Ukraine exercises its inherent right to self-defense, it urgently needs air defense systems, ammunition and missiles. The EU and its member states should speed up and intensify the delivery of all the necessary military assistance.
In this regard, the leaders welcomed the initiative launched by Czechia to buy ammunition in non-EU countries. The initiative has been supported by some member states. The main procedure for providing ammunition is joint procurement from EU member states and Norway but this has proven insufficient until the European defense industry has increased its capacity.
As previously reported, the Commission proposed this week that most of the extraordinary revenues from the immobilised Russian Central Bank assets in the EU should be used for the benefit of Ukraine, in particular to finance the procurement of ammunition and weapons in 2024. They European Council decided to advance work on the proposal.
At their joint press conference after the meeting, Commission President von der Leyen and Council President Michel stressed that the work will be done quickly and that the first billion of euros can be disbursed by 1 July. As industry policy and internal market are EU competencies, von der Leyen added that the European defense industry needs the attention of a dedicated Commissioner for Defense Industry.
The EU also continues to close loopholes inside and outside the EU in the sanctions regime against Russia. This includes preventing the circumvention of the sanctions through third countries and ensuring their enforcement, including for subsidiaries of EU companies abroad. Further sanctions will be prepared against Belarus, North Korea and Iran.
EU leaders stated that reports on Iran’s possible transfer of ballistic missiles and related technology to Russia, after having supplied the Russian regime with unmanned aerial vehicles, are very concerning.
As regards Ukraine’s application for EU membership, the European Council welcomed the progress made of Ukraine in advancing on the necessary reforms on its EU path but did not specify if there are any outstanding issues. The content of the Commission’s oral report on Ukraine’s progress has not been disclosed.
The European Council also acknowledged the Commission’s submission of the draft negotiating framework for Ukraine. It invited the Council to swiftly adopt the framework and to take work forward without delay, without setting any date for the Intergovernmental Conference which opens the accession negotiations.
From humanitarian pause to sustainable ceasefire
As regards the Israel-Hamas war, the European Council calls as expected for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire”, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of more humanitarian assistance. The conclusions state that it is “appalled by the unprecedented loss of civilian lives and the critical humanitarian situation”.
The call for “an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire” amends the previous common EU position which was adopted after Hamas’s surprise terrorist attack on 7 October and has the support of all member states. The other elements in the common position remained more or less the same.
The safety and well-being of the hostages are of grave concern, the conclusions state. After a previous hostage deal, 134 hostages remain in the captivity of Hamas but many of them are not believed to be alive any longer. “Hamas and other armed groups must immediately grant humanitarian access to all remaining hostages.”
Another important issue is the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza. “The European Council is deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza.”
While welcoming the entry of aid by sea, land routes remain the main way to deliver the volumes needed, according to the conclusions. Additional land routes and crossings are therefore needed, especially from the Israeli side of the border. The European Council stresses that the services UNRWA (the UN agency for the Palestinian refugees), provides in Gaza and across the region are essential.
The future role of UNRWA is controversial as its facilities have been used by Hamas during the war. Some of its local staff has been accused of complicity with Hamas. The UN has launched investigations into UNRWA and their results are expected by late March. The Commission has also agreed with UNRWA on an audit by independent experts appointed by EU but the council conclusions do not mention the audit.
Right to defend itself, duty to protect civilians
The European Council urges also the Israeli government not to undertake a ground operation in Rafah. “Such an operation would worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and prevent the urgently needed provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance.” The US does also oppose a ground operation against Rafah, the last stronghold of Hamas.
Israel has not disclosed any plans for the safe evacuation of the civilian population from Rafah. For the time being, the ground operation is more of a threat to exert pressure on Hamas to release the hostages and will not be launched as long as the talks on a hostage-prisoner deal continue with the mediation of the US, Egypt and Qatar.
Such a deal requires the temporary cessation of hostilities and could lead to a sustainable or extended ceasefire as the European Council calls for. Both von der Leyen and Michel stressed that the EU is more united than before and can play a useful and active role in solving the conflict.
“Israel has the right to do everything possible to prevent that the atrocities on 7 October will never happen again,” Commission President von der Leyen summarized. “But it has also the duty to do everything possible to protect the civilian population and enable the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
The request in a joint Spanish-Irish letter to consider a possible suspension of the EU-Israel Association agreement seems off the agenda. With the amended EU position, it is easier for EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, to convene the EU-Israel Association Council to resume the political dialogue with Israel. However, it is doubtful that it will lead to anything with the current Israeli government.
For an overview of the main issues discussed on Thursday, click this link.
M. Apelblat
The Brussels Times
