He opened today in Brussels, just before lunch, the European Council in the presence of the leaders of the 27 member countries. Not even 24 hours after the end of the NATO Summit At the AIA, where the minimum expenditure threshold of 5% of the GDP in the defense was formally accepted, European leaders started the work with an informal coordination meeting.
The theme was that of migrations, very dear to Italy. A note of Palazzo Chigi He says that they took part in the Austria meeting, Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden and Hungary. The President of the Commission, Ursula von der leyen“He illustrated the main widespread widespread widespread widespread widespread, focusing in particular on the progress of the negotiations relating to the most recent legislative proposals in the migratory field starting from the new” Returns regulation “”.
The summit, which will end tomorrow, has opened with the now usual exchange of opinions with the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsolawhich said that Ukraine and Moldova “have already satisfied the conditions to open the initial series of negotiations – the so -called ‘fundamental’ cluster. The ball is now in our field “.
Defense and Ukraine
In the afternoon the 27 approved the conclusions of the Council on the part relating to the defense, in which It “underlines the need to continue to substantially increase the expense for the defense and safety of Europe“And to” invest better together, taking note of the commitment taken to the summit born by the Member States who are also NATO members “. In fact, nothing new to what has already been established in the top of the age
Subsequently, it was the turn of the safety and defense session, followed by the discussion in the Middle East during lunch, where the Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez requested the cancellation of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, complaining about the union inaction for what happens in Gaza. In the afternoon the work session on Ukraine, with an adjoining videoconference together with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Although the President of the European Parliament has encouraged the Council to proceed with the Formal process of adhesion of Ukraine to the EUthis does not seem to have begun yet, also by virtue of the strong opposition of Hungary and Slovakia.
Duties
At dinner it will be competitively and EU in the world, and it is here that it will probably hold the counter the theme of commercial relations with the United States and duties. “We are currently being discussed with the United States,” said the European Commissioner for Industry, Stéphane Séjourré. «I will not enter into details, but it is clear that a balanced agreement is needed, capable of protecting the interests of the European industry and having a positive impact on our economy. We are working intensely, even if on the other side of the Atlantic there is no lack of irrational attitudes. I hope that an agreement can soon come: today the signals are more encouraging than in the past ».
Also the Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof He expressed himself, underlining the objective of a reset of the duties: “Now it is up to the United States and to the Commission finding a solution together”. However, according to diplomatic sources, the convergence point seems to be oriented towards the introduction of mutual duties of 10%to prevent negotiations too long, they further stiffen the position of the White House.
The German chancellor echoed him, Friedrich Merz: «We will discuss a whole series of other topics that should prepare the European Union to the future. I support the Commission, I support the President of the European Commission in his efforts to progress in terms of competitiveness. I support the European Commission also in all its efforts to quickly reach a commercial agreement with the United States. I want us to take the mercosur off and conclude further commercial agreements ».
