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Council of the European Union 14/12/2018 Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the consultations in Sweden between the representatives of the Yemeni parties and the Stockholm Agreement After years of stalemate in which thousands of civilians have suffered the devastating consequences of the conflict, diplomacy has a chance in Yemen, with the recent consultations in Sweden between the representatives of the Yemeni parties, under the auspices of the United Nations. The agreement on a ceasefire in Hodeidah is particularly important. The Stockholm Agreement also includes elements on the exchange of prisoners and an understanding on Ta'iz.  The progress made in Stockholm is the result of a collective engagement by the parties, the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, the European Union and the whole international community. Continued attention and support from the international community, including UN Monitoring on its implementation, will be crucial. The European Union has been supporting the relentless work of UNSE Griffiths by consistently pushing the parties in conflict and the regional stakeholders to open the way to a credible and sustainable political process, for the sake of a population that has suffered and is suffering beyond imagination. While contributing to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation the EU and its Member States have always had Yemen as a priority of their diplomatic action including through E4 regional dialogue with Iran chaired by the EU and engagement with the Coalition, with the aim of addressing also the situation in Yemen. The European Union will keep its engagement in the ongoing diplomatic work within the UN Security Council to build on the progress made in Stockholm and to respond to humanitarian needs. We stand ready to do our part in the implementation of the outcome of the consultations in Stockholm, in full coordination with the UN Special Envoy.   We expect now that the momentum will be kept with the continuation of the political talks in early 2019 and that all sides remain fully committed to achieve a lasting and sustainable political settlement to the conflict in Yemen, and bring an overdue peace to all Yemenis. European Council 14/12/2018  Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council and Eurosummit meetings on 14 December 2018 A year ago, we promised concrete steps to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union. Today, leaders delivered on this promise. First, with an agreement to create a common backstop for the Single Resolution Fund. And second, we agreed to give the European Stability Mechanism stronger powers to prevent and manage financial crises. These two decisions — which mean changing the ESM Treaty as soon as possible — significantly strengthen the monetary union. Additionally, Finance ministers will accelerate work on a Euro area budgetary instrument. Importantly, it will be adopted in an inclusive format, by all the Member States, in the context of the long-term EU budget. Today leaders also adopted conclusions on the Single Market, climate change, migration, disinformation and the fight against racism and xenophobia. On disinformation, I want to highlight the concern among leaders that this threat to our democracies is deliberate, large-scale, and systemic. And it is not going away, but rather growing. We are determined to counter this threat. The actions proposed by the Commission and the External Action Service should be implemented immediately by the appropriate authorities, well-ahead of the European elections. I want to close by thanking Chancellor Kurz for a very energetic and delivery-focused Austrian presidency. Your achievements speak for themselves, like the continued reduction of illegal migration to Europe, the start of talks with Egypt and the League of Arab States, the progress on internal security or the Banking Package. Vielen DankSebastian! European Council     12/12/2018  Invitation letter by President Donald Tusk to the members of the European Council ahead of their meetings on 13 and 14 December 2018 We will meet on Thursday and Friday for the last European Council this year. Given the seriousness of the situation in the UK, let me start with Brexit. The intention is that we will listen to the UK Prime Minister's assessment, and later, we will meet at 27 to discuss the matter and adopt relevant conclusions. As time is running out, we will also discuss the state of preparations for a no-deal scenario. Apart from Brexit, we will have a discussion about the EU's budget for 2021-2027 (the Multiannual Financial Framework). Over the past months work has progressed speedily, and I propose that we aim for a deal next autumn. As regards the Euro Summit we must deliver the concrete decisions we promised last June. Building on the outcome of the Eurogroup meeting we should endorse the decisions on ESM reform and the Banking Union. In order to keep strengthening the EMU, I propose we instruct finance ministers to work on a euro area budgetary instrument. After the exchange of views with European Parliament President Tajani at 15.00 on Thursday, Chancellor Kurz will give an overview of progress in implementing conclusions. We will then discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework and adopt conclusions. At the end of the afternoon session, Prime Minister May will update us on Brexit. Following the break to brief the press we will discuss external relations and adopt foreign policy conclusions, including on the escalation in the Sea of Azov and the EU-League of Arab States summit. Chancellor Merkel and President Macron will report on the implementation of the Minsk Agreements with a view to rolling over the sanctions. After dinner, we will meet in the Article 50 formation to adopt Brexit conclusions. On Friday, we will resume as EU28 to adopt the conclusions on the Single Market, climate change, migration, disinformation, the fight against racism and xenophobia, and citizens' consultations. Finally, we will be joined by European Central Bank President Draghi and Eurogroup President Centeno for the Euro Summit in an inclusive format. European Council 14/12/2018 Remarks by President Donald Tusk after the European Council meetings on 13 December 2018 I will start with Brexit. Today Prime Minister May informed the leaders about the difficulties with ratifying the deal in London and asked for further assurances that would, in her view, unlock the ratification process in the House of Commons. After discussing the Prime Minister's intervention among 27 leaders, and bearing in mind our full respect for the parliamentary process in the United Kingdom, we have agreed the following: "1. The European Council reconfirms its conclusions of 25 November 2018, in which it endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement and approved the Political Declaration. The Union stands by this agreement and intends to proceed with its ratification. It is not open for renegotiation. 2. The European Council reiterates that it wishes to establish as close as possible a partnership with the United Kingdom in the future. It stands ready to embark on preparations immediately after signature of the Withdrawal Agreement to ensure that negotiations can start as soon as possible after the UK’s withdrawal. 3. The European Council underlines that the backstop is intended as an insurance policy to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and ensure the integrity of the Single Market. It is the Union’s firm determination to work speedily on a subsequent agreement that establishes by 31 December 2020 alternative arrangements, so that the backstop will not need to be triggered. 4. The European Council also underlines that, if the backstop were nevertheless to be triggered, it would apply temporarily, unless and until it is superseded by a subsequent agreement that ensures that a hard border is avoided. In such a case, the Union would use its best endeavours to negotiate and conclude expeditiously a subsequent agreement that would replace the backstop, and would expect the same of the United Kingdom, so that the backstop would only be in place for as long as strictly necessary. 5. The European Council calls for work on preparedness at all levels for the consequences of the United Kingdom’s withdrawal to be intensified, taking into account all possible outcomes." On foreign policy, we discussed the recent escalation in the Sea of Azov. The European Council is united in the conviction that there is no justification for the use of military force by Russia. Therefore, we request the immediate release of all detained Ukrainian seamen. Russia must not limit the freedom of navigation through the Kerch Strait. While the EU continues to follow developments in the Sea of Azov, we will provide additional assistance to the affected regions. This evening, Chancellor Merkel and President Macron also presented the state of implementation of the Minsk Agreements, and we decided to renew our economic sanctions against Russia, given that no progress has been made. We also discussed the ongoing preparations for the first EU-League of Arab States summit, to take place next February in Egypt. Euro Summit 14/12/2018  Main results - Euro Summit, 14/12/2018 EU leaders adopted a statement endorsing all elements of the Eurogroup report on EMU deepening, including a term sheet on the ESM reform, the terms of reference of the common backstop to the SRF and a way forward on the banking union. Leaders also gave a mandate to the Eurogroup for further work on a budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area, in the context of the MFF. Main results EU leaders discussed the reform of the Economic and Monetary Union on the basis of a report by the Eurogroup. They adopted a statement endorsing all elements of the Eurogroup report, including: a term sheet on the ESM reform the terms of reference of the common backstop to the SRF a way forward on the banking union Infographic - How to resolve a bank See full infographic Leaders also gave a mandate to the Eurogroup for further work on a budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area, in the context of the multiannual financial framework.  A year ago, we promised concrete steps to strengthen the Economic and Monetary Union. Today, leaders delivered on this promise. Donald Tusk, President of the Euro Summit Euro Summit statement, 14/12/2018 Eurogroup report to Leaders on EMU deepening European Council, 13-14/12/2018 Deepening Europe's Economic and Monetary Union (background information) Glossary - EMU reform Euro Summit 14/12/2018 Statement of the Euro Summit, 14 December 2018 Following the mandate given in June 2018 to the Eurogroup, the Euro Summit endorses all the elements of the Eurogroup report to Leaders on EMU deepening, which was prepared in an inclusive format. This comprehensive package paves the way for a significant strengthening of the EMU. In particular, the Euro Summit agreed today on the following. We endorse the terms of reference of the common backstop to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF), which set out how the backstop will be operationalised, and anticipated provided sufficient progress has been made in risk reduction, to be assessed in 2020. We also endorse the term sheet on the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) reform. On that basis, we ask the Eurogroup to prepare the necessary amendments to the ESM Treaty (including the common backstop to the SRF) by June 2019. We look forward to the final adoption of the Banking Package and the non-performing loans (NPL) Prudential Backstop preserving the balance of the Council compromises. We call to advance work on the Banking Union and for ambitious progress by Spring 2019 on the Capital Markets Union, as outlined in the Eurogroup report to Leaders. In the context of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), we mandate the Eurogroup to work on the design, modalities of implementation and timing of a budgetary instrument for convergence and competitiveness for the euro area, and ERM II Member States on a voluntary basis. It will be part of the EU budget, coherent with other EU policies, and subject to criteria and strategic guidance from the euro area Member States. We will determine its size in the context of the MFF. The features of the budgetary instrument will be agreed in June 2019. The instrument will be adopted in accordance with the legislative procedure, as foreseen by the Treaties, on the basis of the relevant Commission proposal to be amended if necessary. The Euro Summit takes note of the communication of the Commission on a stronger international role of the euro and encourages work to be taken forward to this end.