COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Tuesday, 21 January 2025

● General Secretariat of the Council   21/01/2025 12:30 | Press release | New Director-General appointed in the Council’s General Secretariat   The Council today appointed Preben Aamann as the new Director-General for Communication and Information (COMM). He will start in his new post on 1 February 2025. Preben Aamann, a Danish national, is currently head of the Council’s press office. Between 2012 and 2019 he worked as deputy spokesperson of the European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and as spokesperson of the European Council President Donald Tusk. Prior to that, he worked in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in various positions, including as spokesperson at the Danish Permanent Representation to the European Union and later as chief spokesperson and head of the communication team during the Danish EU Presidency (in 2012). Throughout his career, he has acquired deep and broad experience in a range of sectors of European affairs and a thorough knowledge and understanding of the Council and European Council. Biography of Preben Aamann COMM communicates and provides information about the role and activities of the European Council and the Council, acting as the interface between the public and these institutions. It offers factually accurate, impartial and timely information about their role and activities and about EU policies, aimed at a variety of audiences. It also provides services and infrastructure for media professionals, manages the archives and is responsible for transparency and public access to documents.

● European Council

22/01/2025 09:41 | Speech | Report by President António Costa to the European Parliament plenary session   In my first speech in the European Parliament as President of the European Council, I would like to address my greetings to all of you in this House, elected by the European citizens. I am looking forward to our close cooperation, to the debates and to the exchanges with you. To the debates after European Councils. To the exchanges with President Metsola and the political group leaders’ in the Conference of Presidents. Because only together can we address the biggest challenges Europe is facing. It was that sense of unity that presided over the first European Council I chaired in December. I took away three main messages from that meeting. First, on Ukraine, the message was clear: the European Union reaffirmed its support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, and whatever it takes, for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. This is the message that we conveyed to President Zelensky, who joined us for an important exchange. We pledge to strengthen Ukraine’s position for every scenario. Peace must be the peace chosen by Ukraine and by the Ukrainians. For the sake of Ukraine’s security. For the sake of Europe’s security. Second, on enlargement: We are fully committed to enlargement as the biggest geopolitical investment for peace and security, for our people and our continent. This was also a central topic in the Western Balkans summit I chaired the day before the European Council. The six Western Balkans countries, Ukraine and Moldova are working hard to deliver on their commitments. There is no doubt that the future of these countries is in our Union. It is time for us to deliver on our promises as they deliver on theirs. Thirdly, the European Council had a strategic discussion on Europe’s role in the world. We need to renew our relations with the United Kingdom, and work for a stronger transatlantic relationship, rooted in our common history and deep bonds with the United States and Canada. A partnership that has underpinned peace and economic growth for decades, based on our shared values and common interests. The European Union and the United States are each other’s largest trading and investment partners. It is in the interest of both to keep fostering a stable, balanced and predictable trade relationship. We are looking forward to working closely with the new US Administration to advance a positive and fair economic cooperation and to work on our shared priorities for prosperity and security, while – naturally – protecting our own interests. The world today is multipolar, and it opens new opportunities for Europe. The European Union needs to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral relationships with third countries, based on common interests, mutual prosperity and shared priorities like climate action, sustainable development, or poverty and disease reduction. Because the world is multipolar, expressions such as Global South and Global North make no sense. It is, in fact, a plural world. Which requires tailored approaches. And even more energy in our engagement. Therefore, I look forward to the upcoming summits during the current semester with South Africa, Central Asia, Brazil, and Japan and also the visit of the European Commission to India to advance on these challenges collectively and more effectively. The European Union is a pillar of the international rules-based order. Upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders. Continuing to support an inclusive, multilateral system under the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We, the EU, remain committed to all our international engagements, to a comprehensive agenda to tackle climate change, inequality and the reform of the global financial institutions. We remain committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Pact for the Future and the Paris Agreement. Our union is a project for peace, that has been stable for decades because we value our alliances, our economic interdependency, our integrated societies. But to preserve peace, we need to assume greater responsibility for our own defence, our strategic autonomy, our sovereignty. This is why, since 2014, and especially after 2022, the Member States have been increasing their budgets for defence. Today, the twenty-three Member States that are also NATO allies, all together are expected to be spending above two per cent for defence investment. We have also taken major efforts together during the last years. We are implementing with determination the Strategic Compass. We fully use the new tools we have to ramp up our ammunition production and to acquire the most urgent and critical defence products. The Commission has also already put forward a Defence Industrial Programme. And the European Investment Bank has updated its policy on supporting dual-use technology. There is an overall sense of urgency and a strategic purpose among us. We are on the right track to build the Europe of Defence. That sense of urgency and purpose has led me to invite European Leaders for an informal meeting on defence on the third of February. This is the very first time the European Leaders will get together in a meeting exclusively dedicated to defence. To prepare the ground for the next decisions we will have to take, and to provide political guidance for the White Paper on defence being prepared by the European Commission and the High Representative. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will join us for parts of our discussions. Because Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and our resilience from hybrid attacks are shared priorities. It is in our interest to do more in the field of defence. To become more resilient, more efficient, more autonomous, and a more reliable security and defence actor. This way, the European Union will also become a stronger transatlantic partner, including in the context of NATO.   The European Union is an economic and trade power. Yes, there are important challenges to our competitiveness, but Europe is home to world-class research and industry and high-skilled workers, critical for our economic strength in the years ahead. We owe to the future generations the ambition to build a strong and vibrant Europe that brings shared prosperity for all and ensures a just and inclusive climate and digital transitions. The European Council in March will turn to the economy, energy and competitiveness. We made it clear in the Budapest Declaration that we all agree with the analysis of Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi. We must now decide on the right policies and deliver. I am looking forward to the Commission’s proposals on the Competitiveness compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and bureaucracy reduction. I will work closely with President Von der Leyen to advance on these fronts. Finally, defence and competitiveness go hand in hand. Investing in defence in an integrated way, while building a safe European supply chains network, energy autonomy and an innovative industry, can boost our economies and job creation. As well as adopting a modern and reinforced European Union budget that is up to the challenges Europe is facing. A budget that invests in our collective security. A budget that fosters competitiveness and innovation and promotes a twin transition that works for citizens and businesses. Leaving no one behind. No region forgotten. No problem without solution. Unity is the core element of our Union. United we are stronger. Stronger we are greater. Thank you for your attention.