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PRESS European Council      10/7/2018  Remarks by President Donald Tusk on EU-NATO cooperation We have just signed a joint EU-NATO declaration, which brings the cooperation between the European Union and NATO to the next level. The aim is clear. We want to protect European citizens with all possible means available, and there is no better partner than NATO. That is why we have agreed today to strengthen EU-NATO ties in crucially important areas. They include improving the military mobility of troops and equipment, common preparedness for cyber and hybrid attacks, fighting terrorism and stopping migrant smugglers in the Mediterranean. The fullest possible involvement in our activities of EU Member States that are not NATO members will be encouraged and facilitated in an all-inclusive, non-discriminatory manner, without any artificial obstacles. Speaking on the eve of the NATO summit here in Brussels, I would like to address President Trump directly, who for a long time now has been criticising Europe almost daily for, in his view, insufficient contributions to the common defence capabilities, and for living off the US. Dear President Trump: America does not have, and will not have a better ally than Europe. Today Europeans spend on defence many times more than Russia, and as much as China. And I think you can have no doubt, Mr President, that this is an investment in common American and European defence and security. Which can't be said with confidence about Russian or Chinese spending. I would therefore have two remarks here. First of all, dear America, appreciate your allies, after all you don't have that many. And, dear Europe, spend more on your defence, because everyone respects an ally that is well-prepared and equipped. Money is important, but genuine solidarity is even more important. Speaking about solidarity, I want to dispel the American President's argument, which says that the US alone protects Europe against our enemies, and that the US is almost alone in this struggle. Europe was first to respond on a large scale when the US was attacked, and called for solidarity after 9/11. European soldiers have been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with American soldiers in Afghanistan. 870 brave European men and women sacrificed their lives, including 40 soldiers from my homeland Poland. Dear Mr President, please remember about this tomorrow, when we meet at the NATO summit, but above all when you meet president Putin in Helsinki. It is always worth knowing: who is your strategic friend? And who is your strategic problem? European Council      10/7/2018 Joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation Joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation by President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg. EU-NATO joint declaration - Brussels, 10 July 2018 Joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation by President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, and Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg. EU-NATO joint declaration - Brussels, 10 July 2018 Download as pdf Council of the European Union      9/7/2018  Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on President Al-Bashir's visits to Djibouti and Uganda Based on the information we received, on 5-7 July President Omar Al-Bashir visited Djibouti and Uganda. The European Union and its Member States regret that Djibouti and Uganda, both States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), did not comply with their obligations under international law and as State Parties to the ICC and did not surrender President Al-Bashir to the Court. The EU calls upon all Member States of the United Nations to abide by and implement the resolutions adopted by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, notably UNSCR 1593(2005). The European Union remains a strong supporter of the ICC and is committed to enforcing international criminal law and to ending impunity. European Council      9/7/2018  Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the EU-Ukraine summit We have just finished the 20th EU-Ukraine Summit, which was a good moment to re-affirm the strong partnership and friendship between the European Union and Ukraine and to discuss how to take it further. Our partnership is built on solid foundations. Our Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area entered fully into force a year ago. The result is clear and positive. And Ukraine's economy is recovering with renewed positive growth. Likewise on visa-free travel. Half a year after visa liberalisation entered into force, more than half a million Ukrainians have made use of this new opportunity. Today we reaffirmed our commitment to advancing the political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the European Union on the basis of our common values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The same values that people once fought for on the Maidan and millions of Ukrainians have been fighting for since. The European Union recognises the substantial progress Ukraine has made in its reform process. In the past year the Government has taken on a number of reforms, such as pensions and health care, that will be difficult in the short-term but make Ukraine stronger in the long-term. We welcome the recent establishment of the High Anti-Corruption Court and look forward to the swift adoption of the amendments necessary to make it function properly. Anti-corruption reforms must remain high on the agenda. The EU continues its unwavering support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence. Our non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol remains firm and our visa ban list has been expanded following the conduct of Russian Presidential elections on the peninsula and the building of the Kerch bridge without Ukraine's consent. We continue to demand the full implementation of the Minsk agreements, underlining Russia's responsibility for the war in eastern Ukraine. A few days ago, the EU leaders agreed unanimously to prolong - once again - our economic sanctions against Russia by another six months. Since 2014, the United Nations has recorded more than 10,250 people killed ad 24,600 injured so far in this conflict. This is happening in Europe. Today we also remembered the tragic downing of flight MH-17, just like European leaders did two weeks ago in Brussels. We pay tribute to the victims, call on Russia to accept its responsibility and look forward to the effective prosecution of those responsible for this tragedy. Let me conclude by recalling that our Summit last year was held on the birthday of the illegally imprisoned Ukrainian film maker and writer Oleh Sentsov. I am sorry to say that he remains in prison and on hunger strike for more than 50 days. Let me end with a renewed call for his release and for the release of all those illegally detained in Crimea and in Russia. The independence of Ukraine and the security of Poland and the whole region are dependent to a great extent on the relationship between Kiev and Warsaw. The recent tensions demonstrate that not everyone has done their history homework. Only full solidarity between Ukraine and Poland can save us from a repeat of tragic history in future. I call on the authorities in both countries for a new approach to the question of our relations and positive thinking. Only our adversaries or political fools would want to see conflict between us. Thank you. (delivered in Ukrainian and Polish) European Council      9/7/2018  20th EU-Ukraine summit joint statement At the 20th summit between the European Union and Ukraine, leaders discussed next steps in the implementation of the Association Agreement and the EU's support for Ukraine's ambitious reform agenda. Following the summit, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, issued the following statement. 20th EU-Ukraine summit joint statement - Brussels, 9 July 2018 Council of the European Union      6/7/2018  EU-Japan: Council adopts decision to sign trade agreement On 6 July, the Council adopted a package of decisions on the economic partnership agreement with Japan (EPA), including: a decision on the signature of the agreement; a decision to request the consent of the European Parliament for theconclusion of the agreement. The Council adopted a decision on the signing and provisional application of a strategic partnership agreement (SPA) between the EU and Japan on 26 June 2018. The EU and Japan are expected to sign both agreements at a summit on 11 July 2018 in Brussels.