COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 27 February 2025

● European Council   27/02/2025 08:31 | Press release | Invitation letter by President António Costa to the members of the European Council   I would like to invite you to a Special European Council on 6 March, which will be dedicated to European Defence and to Ukraine.  On European defence, my aim is to follow-up on our informal retreat of 3 February with a view to taking first decisions for the short-term, in order for Europe to become more sovereign, more capable and better equipped to deal with immediate and future challenges to its security. As far as Ukraine is concerned, there is a new momentum, which should lead to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. It is therefore important for us to exchange on how to further support Ukraine and on the principles that should be respected going forward. The EU and its member states are ready to take more responsibility for Europe’s security. We should therefore be prepared for a possible European contribution to the security guarantees that will be necessary to ensure a lasting peace in Ukraine. I have invited President Zelenskyy to come to Brussels on the occasion of the meeting of the European Council to discuss with us the latest developments. We will start our meeting at 12:30 with our traditional exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, followed by a discussion with President Zelenskyy over lunch. We will then focus on European Defence, followed by a discussion on Ukraine. I look forward to our meeting on 6 March. Invitation letter ● European Council   28/02/2025 13:57 | Press release | President Costa to travel to London, Chișinău and Cairo (2-4 March 2025)   The President of the European Council, António Costa, will travel to the United Kingdom, Moldova and Egypt from 2 to 4 March 2025 to engage in high-level discussions on European security, support for Ukraine and Moldova, and the current situation in Gaza. Following the leaders’ informal meeting on Ukraine and Europe’s security in Paris on 17 February and the international summit on the support of Ukraine in Kyiv on 24 February, President Costa will take part in a leaders’ meeting in London on 2 March 2025. He will join UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, and other European leaders to build on the growing momentum in enhancing support for Ukraine amidst Russia’s invasion and strengthening Europe’s security and defence. These talks will contribute to the discussions that EU leaders will hold during the Special European Council meeting convened by President Costa on 6 March.  The following day, the President will visit Chișinău, where he will engage with President Maia Sandu, to reaffirm the EU’s full support for Moldova’s government and its European integration process. Given the challenging political context and security concerns in the region, this visit underscores the EU’s commitment to Moldova’s sovereignty and European future. The meeting will also address Moldova’s progress in implementing reforms necessary for EU accession and the next steps in the enlargement process. On Tuesday, 4 March, President Costa will be participating in the emergency summit of the League of Arab States in Cairo on behalf of the EU to discuss the latest developments in Gaza. The summit will focus on plans for the safe return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip [and its future governance], in the context of the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The president will use this opportunity to further reiterate the EU’s commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the region based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN resolutions where Israel and Palestine live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders. President Costa will also have a series of bilateral meetings with regional leaders. Speaking ahead of the visit to Cairo, President of the European Council, António Costa said: “I am travelling to Cairo to emphasise that the EU will be present on the “day after” to work with partners on a lasting and sustainable peace based on the two-State solution. We will support early recovery and reconstruction efforts of Gaza as an essential part of the future Palestinian state, in line with UN resolutions and international law.” — António Costa, President of the European Council Special European Council, 6 March 2025 (meeting page) EU solidarity with Ukraine (background information) EU action in support of Ukraine (factsheet) EU security and defence (background information) EU defence in numbers (background information) EU position on the situation in the Middle East (background information) Moldova (background information)

● Council of the EU

28/02/2025 14:28 | Press release | European Peace Facility: Council adopts first-ever assistance measure in support of the Armed Forces of Montenegro   The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth €6 million under the European Peace Facility. Its aim is to strengthen the capacities of the Armed Forces of Montenegro to enhance the national security, stability and resilience in the defence sector, as well as to strengthen the country’s capacities with respect to its participation in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy operations and missions, and in any international coalitions. This assistance measure is a concrete deliverable of the continued EU engagement in the area of security and defence with Montenegro in particular and the Western Balkans in general. It also reflects Montenegro’s full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. Concretely, the European Peace Facility will provide to the Armed Forces of Montenegro real life support equipment (for extreme cold weather), equipment for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence operations (CBRN), and equipment for the helicopter-borne search and rescue units. It will also provide, where needed, related supplies and services, including technical training. Background and next steps The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 for the financing of actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy to prevent conflicts, preserve peace and strengthen international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of third States and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. European Peace Facility (background information) EU cooperation on security and defence (background information)