COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION update

Council of the European Union
General Secretariat




ART - Analysis and Research Team

The Business of War – Growing risks from Private Military Companies

The activities of Wagner have highlighted the broader issue of the increase in the outsourcing by governments of military and security functions to private companies and organisations.

This trend encompasses a wide range of approaches and models. Our team has produced a paper which investigates this issue and draws attention to some of the challenges associated with the increasing privatisation of functions which have traditionally been regarded as the sole responsibility of the nation state.





Enjoy your reading.
Read the paper

Kind regards,
The Analysis and Research Team

Contact: ART@consilium.europa.eu

EU foreign ministers support a just peace for Ukraine and an African solution to restore democracy in Niger 31/08/2023 | Article EU foreign ministers support a just peace for Ukraine and an African solution to restore democracy in Niger During the informal ministerial meeting in Toledo, EU foreign ministers supported the search for a just peace in Ukraine and the plans drawn up by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to restore democracy in Niger.

Press material Friday 1 September 2023

● European Council   01/09/2023 12:31 | Statements and remarks | Statement by the spokesperson of Charles Michel, President of the European Council, regarding Armenia and Azerbaijan   President Michel has continued to be intensely engaged in advancing the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process. His efforts over the past weeks, supported by Toivo Klaar, EUSR for the South Caucasus, have focused as a priority on addressing the humanitarian situation of Karabakh Armenians. EUSR Klaar and President Michel’s team have been in frequent contact with Baku, Yerevan and representatives of Karabakh Armenians to work out a solution for unblocking access. The current humanitarian situation on the ground is deteriorating rapidly; it is imperative to take steps to address the needs of the local population. European Council President Charles Michel has proposed a step-by-step approach which would reflect a sequencing in the full-fledged operation of the Lachin corridor and the opening of the Ağdam route. Sequencing of these steps and the type of cargo that would be delivered by each of these roads, as well as attendant procedures, have been the core of the recent discussions. The EU strongly believes the Lachin corridor must be unblocked, in line with past agreements and the ICJ Order, and notes that the use of the Ağdam road to provide supplies can also be part of a concrete and sustainable solution to the provision of urgent and daily basic needs. Discussions on these elements had started following the last meeting of the leaders in Brussels on 15 July 2023. The EU side has also stressed the need for Baku to provide clarity to Karabakh Armenians in terms of procedures for their movements through Lachin corridor to and from Armenia. In parallel, exchanges have also focused on restoring electricity and gas supplies to Karabakh Armenians as soon as possible. Beyond the immediate situation, the EU side has stressed the need to address legacies of the conflict to facilitate a long-term sustainable resolution. Dialogue between Baku and representatives of Armenians living in the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast will be essential in this regard. The rights and security of Karabakh Armenians must be guaranteed and discussions on specific modalities should start as soon as possible. The dialogue between Baku and the Karabakh Armenians needs to strengthen confidence and trust. To this end the EU has provided various suggestions for international support to this process, as well as for engagement on the ground to underpin the implementation of agreements reached. All the above efforts have only one goal: ensure irreversible normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan for the benefit of all populations on the ground. It is now time for courageous compromise solutions, also in light of today's escalation. The EU has been engaged with other international actors in these efforts, through regular personal contacts and exchanges of views on how best address the current unsustainable situation.

Press material Friday 1 September 2023

● European Council   01/09/2023 15:13 | Press release | Read out of meeting between President Michel of the European Council and President Zourabichvili of Georgia, 1 September 2023   President Michel had a meeting with President Zourabichvili of Georgia on 1 September 2023 in Brussels. The leaders discussed EU-Georgia relations as well as broader developments in the region and the consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine for Georgia and the South Caucasus. President Michel highlighted the European Council’s decision to grant Georgia the European perspective as a historic opportunity which is not to be missed. He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to support Georgia in advancing on its European path. He equally highlighted the need for the country to further deepen the necessary reforms notably in the areas of justice, deoligarchisation and anti-corruption and media pluralism which are now essential; depolarisation and building an inclusive political culture are also of priority importance. President Michel praised the Georgian President’s personal commitment to advancing the European perspective of Georgia. The role she played in terms of contributing to legislative scrutiny, exercising her right to pardon individuals, which has contributed to depolarisation, and her strong political focus on the EU-Georgia agenda were particularly appreciated. President Michel reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia within its international recognised borders. He stressed the EU remained committed to increasing Georgia’s resilience.