COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Thursday, 06 March 2025

● European Council   06/03/2025 23:18 | Press release | Special European Council, 6 March 2025   European Council conclusions, 6 March 2025 Ukraine (EUCO 10/25)

● European Council

06/03/2025 22:02 | Press release | Ukraine   I. UKRAINE 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Council discussed the latest developments as regards Ukraine. The text set out in document EUCO 10/25 was firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government. 3. The European Council will revert to the issue at its next meeting. EUCO 10/25 - extract 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Union has from the very beginning stood by Ukraine as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, and it will continue to stand by Ukraine and its people. The European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. 3. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. From the onset of the war, the European Union and its Member States have, with their partners and allies, underlined the need to put an end to it through a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. The European Council welcomes all efforts towards achieving such a peace. 4. In view of the new momentum for negotiations that should lead to such a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the European Council underlines the importance of the following principles: a) there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine; b) there can be no negotiations that affect European security without Europe’s involvement. Ukraine’s, Europe’s, transatlantic and global security are intertwined; c) any truce or ceasefire can only take place as part of the process leading to a comprehensive peace agreement; d) any such agreement needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine that contribute to deterring future Russian aggression; e) peace must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 5. Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraine’s own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component. This applies before, during and after negotiations to end the war. To that end, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people, and to stepping up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, in order to weaken its ability to continue waging its war of aggression. 6. The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support. In 2025, it will provide Ukraine with EUR 30.6 billion, with disbursements from the Ukraine Facility expected to reach EUR 12.5 billion, and EUR 18.1 billion under the G7 ERA initiative repaid by the windfall profits stemming from immobilised Russian assets. The European Council calls on the Commission to swiftly take all necessary measures to frontload financing under the above instruments. It also urges the Commission and Member States to use all options under the Ukraine Facility to increase financial support to Ukraine. 7. The European Council reviewed work done on the delivery of military support to Ukraine. In addition to the funds already committed for Ukraine for this year, it welcomes the readiness of Member States to urgently step up efforts to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs, in particular the delivery of air defence systems, ammunition and missiles, the provision of necessary training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades, and other needs that Ukraine may have. It highlights in that regard the important role of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The European Council calls on the Council to advance work swiftly on initiatives, notably that of the High Representative, to coordinate increased EU military support to Ukraine, including the military needs component of the G7 ERA initiative. 8. A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees. In this context, the European Union and Member States are committed to contributing to training and equipping the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to intensifying work to further support and develop Ukraine’s defence industry and deepen its cooperation with the European defence industry. 9. In the light of negotiations for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the European Union and Member States are ready to further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law, including by exploring the possible use of common security and defence policy (CSDP) instruments. Security guarantees should be undertaken together with Ukraine, as well as with like-minded and NATO partners. 10. The European Council recalls that all military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. 11. The European Council underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny, based on the UN Charter and international law. The European Union will intensify support for Ukraine’s reform efforts on its path towards EU membership. 12. The European Council calls on the Commission, Slovakia and Ukraine to intensify efforts towards finding workable solutions to the gas transit issue, while taking into consideration the concerns raised by Slovakia. 13. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting. ● European Council   06/03/2025 21:28 | CONCLUSIONS | European Council conclusions on Ukraine, 6 March 2025   I. UKRAINE 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Council discussed the latest developments as regards Ukraine. The text set out in document EUCO 10/25 was firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government. 3. The European Council will revert to the issue at its next meeting. EUCO 10/25 - extract 1. The European Council held an exchange of views with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. 2. The European Union has from the very beginning stood by Ukraine as it exercises its inherent right to self-defence against Russia’s full-scale war of aggression, and it will continue to stand by Ukraine and its people. The European Council reaffirms its continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. 3. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has wider implications for European and international security. From the onset of the war, the European Union and its Member States have, with their partners and allies, underlined the need to put an end to it through a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law. The European Council welcomes all efforts towards achieving such a peace. 4. In view of the new momentum for negotiations that should lead to such a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the European Council underlines the importance of the following principles: a) there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine; b) there can be no negotiations that affect European security without Europe’s involvement. Ukraine’s, Europe’s, transatlantic and global security are intertwined; c) any truce or ceasefire can only take place as part of the process leading to a comprehensive peace agreement; d) any such agreement needs to be accompanied by robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine that contribute to deterring future Russian aggression; e) peace must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. 5. Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with Ukraine’s own robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component. This applies before, during and after negotiations to end the war. To that end, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to providing enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people, and to stepping up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, in order to weaken its ability to continue waging its war of aggression. 6. The European Union will continue to provide Ukraine with regular and predictable financial support. In 2025, it will provide Ukraine with EUR 30.6 billion, with disbursements from the Ukraine Facility expected to reach EUR 12.5 billion, and EUR 18.1 billion under the G7 ERA initiative repaid by the windfall profits stemming from immobilised Russian assets. The European Council calls on the Commission to swiftly take all necessary measures to frontload financing under the above instruments. It also urges the Commission and Member States to use all options under the Ukraine Facility to increase financial support to Ukraine. 7. The European Council reviewed work done on the delivery of military support to Ukraine. In addition to the funds already committed for Ukraine for this year, it welcomes the readiness of Member States to urgently step up efforts to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs, in particular the delivery of air defence systems, ammunition and missiles, the provision of necessary training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades, and other needs that Ukraine may have. It highlights in that regard the important role of the European Union Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The European Council calls on the Council to advance work swiftly on initiatives, notably that of the High Representative, to coordinate increased EU military support to Ukraine, including the military needs component of the G7 ERA initiative. 8. A Ukraine capable of defending itself effectively is an integral part of any future security guarantees. In this context, the European Union and Member States are committed to contributing to training and equipping the Ukrainian Armed Forces and to intensifying work to further support and develop Ukraine’s defence industry and deepen its cooperation with the European defence industry. 9. In the light of negotiations for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, the European Union and Member States are ready to further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities, in line with international law, including by exploring the possible use of common security and defence policy (CSDP) instruments. Security guarantees should be undertaken together with Ukraine, as well as with like-minded and NATO partners. 10. The European Council recalls that all military support as well as security guarantees for Ukraine will be provided in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member States. 11. The European Council underlines the inherent right of Ukraine to choose its own destiny, based on the UN Charter and international law. The European Union will intensify support for Ukraine’s reform efforts on its path towards EU membership. 12. The European Council calls on the Commission, Slovakia and Ukraine to intensify efforts towards finding workable solutions to the gas transit issue, while taking into consideration the concerns raised by Slovakia. 13. The European Council will revert to this issue at its next meeting.   ● Council of the EU   06/03/2025 17:57 | Meetings | Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, 10 March 2025   Background brief - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council of 10 March 2025     06/03/2025 20:44 | CONCLUSIONS | European Council conclusions on European defence, 6 March 2025   II. EUROPEAN DEFENCE 1. Recalling the Versailles Declaration of March 2022 and the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, the European Council stresses that Europe must become more sovereign, more responsible for its own defence and better equipped to act and deal autonomously with immediate and future challenges and threats with a 360° approach. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security in a changing environment constitute an existential challenge for the European Union. 2. In this context, the European Union will accelerate the mobilisation of the necessary instruments and financing in order to bolster the security of the European Union and the protection of our citizens. In doing so, the Union will reinforce its overall defence readiness, reduce its strategic dependencies, address its critical capability gaps and strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base accordingly across the Union so that it is in a position to better supply equipment in the quantities and at the accelerated pace needed. This will also contribute to boosting European industrial and technological competitiveness. 3. Building on its previous conclusions and in line with the respective competences conferred by the Treaties, and in light of the recent letter by the President of the Commission, the European Council stresses the need to continue to substantially increase expenditure on Europe’s security and defence, and: a) welcomes the intention of the Commission to recommend to the Council the activation, in a coordinated manner, of the national escape clause under the Stability and Growth Pact as an immediate measure, and calls on the Commission to explore further measures, taking into account the views of the Council, while ensuring debt sustainability, to facilitate significant defence spending at national level in all Member States; b) calls on the Commission to propose additional funding sources for defence at EU level, including by means of additional possibilities and incentives offered to all Member States, on the basis of the principles of objectivity, non-discrimination and equal treatment of Member States, in the use of their current allocations under the relevant EU funding programmes, and to swiftly present relevant proposals; c) takes note of the intention of the Commission to put forward a proposal for a new EU instrument to provide Member States with loans backed by the EU budget of up to EUR 150 billion, and invites the Council to examine this proposal as a matter of urgency; d) welcomes the recent letter by the President of the European Investment Bank Group and the plans therein to step up its support for Europe’s security and defence industry while safeguarding its operations and financing capacity, and calls on the Board of Governors of the European Investment Bank (EIB) to urgently continue to adapt the EIB’s practices for lending to the defence industry, notably by re-evaluating the list of excluded activities and by increasing the volume of available funding in the field of security and defence; e) underlines the importance of mobilising private financing for the defence industry and invites the Commission to consider measures in this regard, including by signalling to private investors the importance of the defence industry for Europe at large; f) identifies the following first list of priority areas for action at EU level in the field of capabilities taking into account the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, in accordance with the work already done in the framework of the European Defence Agency and in full coherence with NATO: air and missile defence; artillery systems, including deep precision strike capabilities; missiles and ammunition; drones and anti-drone systems; strategic enablers, including in relation to space and critical infrastructure protection; military mobility; cyber; artificial intelligence and electronic warfare; g) underlines that the defence of all EU land, air and maritime borders contribute to the security of Europe as a whole, in particular as regards the EU’s eastern border, considering the threats posed by Russia and Belarus; h) in addition, considering the threats on the rest of the EU borders, stresses the importance of their defence; i) stresses the importance of more systematic aggregation of demand, harmonisation of requirements and joint procurement with the aim of reducing overall costs, ensuring standardisation and interoperability and offering European industry, including SMEs and mid-caps, greater predictability, as well as contributing to a well-functioning market for the defence industry that would better mobilise private and public investments and ensure cross-border access to defence supply chains; j) invites the European Defence Agency, with the High Representative, the Commission and Member States, to swiftly review the appropriate processes to that end; k) invites the co-legislators to conclude the negotiations on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) as soon as possible; l) underlines the importance of continued support for research, innovation and development through the European Defence Fund; m) calls on the Commission and the co-legislators to swiftly take work forward on simplifying the legal and administrative framework, in particular for public procurement, industry cooperation, permitting and reporting requirements, in order to address all obstacles and bottlenecks hindering a rapid ramping up of the defence industry, including for SMEs and mid-caps. In this context, the European Council invites the Commission to prioritise a defence-specific simplification omnibus. 4. The European Council also recalls that a stronger and more capable European Union in the field of security and defence will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO, which remains, for those States that are members of it, the foundation of their collective defence. It invites the Member States that are also NATO allies to coordinate ahead of the NATO Summit in June 2025. The European Council underlines the importance of working together with like-minded non-EU partners. 5. The above is without prejudice to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States, in accordance with the Treaties. 6. The European Council looks forward to the White Paper on the Future of European Defence, including further elements and options therein that aim to substantially boost financing for European defence and to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base. 7. The European Council will revert to this issue at its March and June meetings.   ● European Council   05/03/2025 20:05 | Meetings | Special European Council, 6 March 2025   Background brief - Special European Council, 6 March 2025   ● Council of the EU   06/03/2025 16:04 | Meetings | Agenda highlights - Economic and Financial Affairs Council, 11 March 2025   Ministers will hold a policy debate on competitiveness and regulatory burden reduction and the Commission will present the omnibus package. The Council aims to reach a political agreement on the Directive on Administrative Cooperation in the Field of Taxation (DAC9).Ministers will take note of the state of play of the economic and financial impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Ministers will be briefed on the main outcomes of the G20 and will mandate the EFC to prepare for the next G20 meeting. The Council will adopt implementing decisions approving amended recovery and resilience plans. ● Council of the EU   05/03/2025 19:22 | Meetings | Main results - Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs), 5 March 2025   Ministers of home affairs met in Brussels to discuss the external dimension of migration and the EU’s internal security and to take stock of its actions against drug trafficking and organised crime. The presidency also reached a common member states’ position on a regulation about a progressive start of operations of the Entry/Exit System. ● Council of the EU   05/03/2025 18:48 | Press release | Jordan: Council adopts its negotiating position for further EU assistance of €500 million in loans   The Council adopted its mandate, setting out its position for negotiations with the European Parliament, on a decision to provide up to €500 million in macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Jordan. The EU assistance will bolster Jordan’s economic stability and support its ongoing reform agenda in the face of mounting internal and external challenges. It will help the country meet its outstanding external financing needs while creating the fiscal space necessary to sustain reform efforts. The assistance, provided in response to Jordan’s request for additional support in October 2023, will be available for two and a half years and will be provided in the form of long-term loans, disbursed in three instalments. New support under strict conditions The assistance will be subject to a memorandum of understanding (MoU), to be agreed by Jordan with the Commission. The disbursement of instalments will be strictly linked to Jordan’s progress with the reforms outlined in the MoU. Furthermore, Jordan must continue to respect democratic mechanisms, the rule of law, and human rights throughout the programme's duration. The Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) will monitor the fulfilment of this precondition for the duration of the macro-financial assistance. Economic pressures and regional instability Despite stable economic growth of around 2% over the past five years (excluding the COVID-19 contraction in 2020), Jordan continues to face high unemployment, chronic external deficits, and public debt reaching 88.7% of GDP in 2023. Regional instability in the Middle East have further strained Jordan’s public finances and trade routes. Since 2013, the EU has provided Jordan with €1.08 billion under three previous MFA programmes. The latest MFA-III programme (2020-2023) was initially set at €500 million and topped up by €200 million to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds supported key reforms in public finance management, social and labour policy, and governance. Next steps The presidency of the Council will start negotiations with the European Parliament as soon as the latter has defined its position. Background On 8 April 2024, the Commission submitted the macro-financial assistance proposal to the Council. The EU and Jordan have been linked by an Association Agreement since 2002. In 2022, they signed the Partnership Priorities, which aim to strengthen cooperation further and will guide the partnership until 2027. The EU's support to Jordan assists the country in mitigating the impact of the war in Syria and the resulting large number of refugees. Overall, the EU has already mobilised around €4 billion for Jordan since the beginning of this crisis in 2011. Macro-financial assistance (MFA) is a form of financial aid extended by the EU to partner countries experiencing a balance of payments crisis. It is available to enlargement and EU neighbourhood countries experiencing severe balance-of-payments problems. The implementation of the proposed operation is further complemented by EU bilateral cooperation under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe (NDICI-GE). Council decision on macro-financial assistance to Jordan, 4 March 2025 EU’s Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) EU-Jordan Partnership Priorities

• Council of the EU

­ 05/03/2025 | Press release | Presidency press release - Informal meeting of transport ministers EU ministers responsible for cybersecurity (TTE Telecom) convened today at an informal ministerial meeting in Warsaw, focusing on bolstering the EU’s digital resilience. Ministers endorsed the 'Warsaw Call on Cybersecurity Challenges', a declaration urging the adoption of the revised EU Blueprint for cybersecurity crisis management (Cybersecurity Blueprint), closer civilian-military cooperation, stronger protection of the submarine cable infrastructure and actions towards investments in cybersecurity. This ministerial meeting emphasizes cybersecurity as a key priority of Poland’s EU presidency, reflecting growing concerns over emerging digital threats and the need for a coordinated European response. ‘The Warsaw Call on cybersecurity challenges’ Acknowledging that preparedness and cooperation are indispensable for cybersecurity, we, the ministers in charge of cybersecurity, unanimously:  1. Call for a timely adoption of the EU Blueprint for cybersecurity crisis management (Cybersecurity Blueprint), a necessary tool to address the current challenges and complex cyber threat landscape, strengthen existing networks, enhance cooperation, and break silos between organisations, utilising to this end first and foremost existing structures. Emphasise the need to exercise the Cybersecurity Blueprint after its adoption.    2. Highlight the need to further enhance cooperation and information exchange on cybersecurity between Member States and the EU entities through existing structures.    3. Recall the need to enhance the civilian-military cooperation in the cyber domain, in particular covering strategic areas such as situational awareness and crisis management, including EU-NATO cooperation, while fully respecting the principles of inclusiveness, reciprocity, and the decision-making autonomy of both organisations.    4. Call for the continuation and further development of cybersecurity risk assessments, including risk scenarios at the EU level for all essential sectors, initiated by the Nevers Call and the Council conclusions on the development of the European Union's cyber posture.    5. Underline the need for the sustained and strategic use of the full spectrum of measures within the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox and the enhancement of links with the Hybrid and FIMI toolboxes, when appropriate, in order to prevent, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities from state and non-state actors.    6. Reiterate that the NIS 2 Directive should be the main horizontal legislation on cybersecurity and strongly caution against fragmentation, duplication or overlap of cybersecurity legislation across the EU by sector-specific initiatives or lex specialis.    7. Stress the need to focus on the harmonised and innovation friendly implementation of cybersecurity legislation and to find ways for simplification and burden reduction, such as establishing single entry points for notifications.    8. Underline the need to engage in a regular dialogue and strengthen the EU’s cyber foresight expertise in order to better anticipate and be prepared for future cyber threats.    9. Stress the need for a roadmap on new technologies impacting cybersecurity that would address opportunities and risks, taking into account the Roadmap for the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography.    10. Emphasise the importance of further harmonising actions towards investments in cybersecurity, and of supporting the mission of the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) to create a strong and competitive European ecosystem of cybersecurity companies. Underline the benefit of creating synergies between defence and civilian investments and between the research, investment and business sectors in cybersecurity to achieve the greatest benefits.    11. Call for increased efforts to combat the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in the EU, for example under the umbrella of the Cybersecurity Skills Academy, including by promoting implementation of the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework, developed by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) and by involving Member States through the ECCC and the NCC Network. 12. Recognise ENISA’s key supportive role for improving the level of cybersecurity in the EU and the Member States and the need for a strengthened, clearly-defined and focused ENISA’s future mandate.    13. Encourage stronger and more concerted efforts to enforce the protection of the submarine cable infrastructure against threats, both physical and cyber, with due respect to Member States’ exclusive competences in particular on national security. We take note of the Cable Security Action Plan presented by the Commission and High Representative, and look forward to its implementation across the whole EU in light of the recent incidents, notably in the Baltic Sea. The presidency press release about the Warsaw Call is available is in PL. The full press release from today's discussions is available in EN.

● Council of the EU

05/03/2025 14:48 | Media advisory | Press briefing - Economic and Financial Affairs Council of 11 March 2025   The press briefing ahead of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will take place on Friday, 7 March at 16.30. This briefing will be "off the record". The press briefing will take place in a hybrid format: EU accredited journalists will be able to participate and ask questions either remotely or in person at the Europa building press room. To attend the event remotely, please use this link to register and have the possibility to ask questions. Those who already registered for previous press events of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council do not need to do it again. Deadline for registration: Friday, 7 March 2025 at 15.30 Further instructions will be sent to all registered participants shortly after the deadline.

● European Council

07/03/2025 00:09 | Statements and remarks | Remarks by President António Costa at the press conference following the Special European Council meeting of 6 March 2025   Today marks a defining moment for Europe. For the security of Europeans. A month ago, we had a strategic brainstorming to guide our common action on defence. And today, we are delivering – we are moving decisively towards a strong and more sovereign Europe of Defence.  Since 2022, in Versailles, we have been assuming greater responsibility for our defence. But today, we have decided to aim much higher, guided by a new sense of urgency. I thank the Commission, and especially Ursula von der Leyen, for presenting a first package of proposals ahead of the White Paper on defence. On that basis, we have taken concrete decisions to provide new resources, new tools, new instruments for our defence capabilities. That means, to invest in our economy and to protect our citizens.  First, we have decided to invest in priority areas already defined by the European Defence Agency, reflecting the lessons learnt from the war in Ukraine, and in full coherence with NATO: air and missile defence, artillery systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, strategic enablers, military mobility, artificial intelligence, cyber and electronic warfare. Second, we have decided to mobilise additional public and private funds for our defence. We will create a new European instrument, up to €150 billion, to support member states in boosting the defence capabilities that are urgently needed. On top of that, Leaders were today clear that we need flexibility within the Stability and Growth Pact. Because member states will invest much more in defence – and our common fiscal rules need to allow them to do so. In a sustained and sustainable way. Flexibility in channelling existing European funds to defence will also be important – for those member states that choose to do so. Also, the European Investment Bank’s initiative to broaden its mandate – for more loans to the defence sector – will improve access to private financing. And have a positive effect on private banks. Third, we decided to invest better and more efficiently together. With joint procurement. Through standardisation and simplification.  Our decisions today send a clear message: We are putting our money where our mouth is. We are delivering on what we promised. To build our deterrence. To strengthen the security of our citizens. And, in the process, to boost Europe’s competitiveness and our technological and industrial base.  A stronger European defence also provides deterrence for Ukraine. Our efforts to strengthen European defence will also benefit Ukraine. Because Ukraine’s security is at the core of Europe’s security. We have been with Ukraine since day one. We have already provided more than €135 billion in support to Ukraine since 2022. Our support is unwavering. If the war continues. In any future peace negotiations. In reconstruction. In accession to the European Union.  And we have now committed to increasing our support even more. Immediately, member states can increase their support thanks to the increased fiscal space. Several member states have already announced their pledges up to €15 billion. Today, we have also tasked the Council to work urgently on further initiatives to address Ukraine’s pressing military and defence needs. At the same time, we are preparing to support Ukraine for when it decides to engage in negotiations. To help it reach a positive outcome, that means a just and lasting peace. This is a tipping point for Europe. And today, we have shown that the European Union is rising to the challenge. Building the Europe of Defence and standing with Ukraine, shoulder to shoulder. Because, at the end of the day, what we all want, what we all deserve, what we are all working for, is peace and security. Thank you.