Brussels: Europe Arabs

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels today, Thursday, for two days to discuss the files of Ukraine, the EU's position in the world, the Middle East, resilience and readiness, migration and foreign policy issues.

At first, the EU-Western Balkans Summit will be held before the European Council meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also been invited to Brussels on the occasion of the European Council meeting.

Ukraine
EU leaders will discuss Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine in all its dimensions, including the latest developments on the ground, and continued comprehensive support for Ukraine and its people. To date, the EU and its member states have provided more than 130 billion euros to support Ukraine.

The EU is committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and the principle that no initiative on Ukraine can be taken without Ukraine.
“We need to stand with Ukraine for as long as possible and do whatever it takes to defeat Russia’s invasion and spread international law,” European Council President Antonio Costa said earlier.
On military support, leaders will review progress in delivering air defence systems, ammunition and missiles as well as providing training and equipment to Ukrainian soldiers.
To help prepare Ukraine for winter and beyond, leaders will discuss how to strengthen Ukraine’s energy sector and other civilian infrastructure, which Russia has increasingly targeted.
The EU stands ready to increase pressure on Russia and third countries supporting Russia, including by ensuring full and effective implementation of sanctions and through further measures to counter their circumvention.
Middle East
EU leaders will discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, including how the EU can better contribute to de-escalation efforts, the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon and the latest developments in Syria.
The EU institutions in Brussels said the EU is deeply disturbed by the dramatic military escalation in the Middle East and calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, end hostilities and commit to Fully compliant with international law and international humanitarian law.
The EU is also committed to continuing its needs-based assistance to the people of the Middle East, with particular attention to the most vulnerable, and to expanding its humanitarian engagement.
The European Union in the world
EU leaders will also hold a strategic discussion on how the EU can strengthen its role on the international stage, defend our interests and strengthen our positions.
Looking beyond our continent, we need to acknowledge the challenges and seize the opportunities offered by a multipolar and diverse world. As previously stated by the President of the European Council, António Costa
The discussion will focus on the way forward in a multipolar landscape and how to ensure mutually beneficial strategic relations. In this context, leaders will discuss:
How to strengthen a broader and deeper network of partners at the global level
EU-US relations
EU-UK relations

Resilience and preparedness
EU leaders will discuss how to strengthen the EU’s resilience, preparedness, crisis prevention and response capacities, based on the report prepared by Sauli Niinistö for the European Commission.
In this context, they will discuss the impact of the evolving threat landscape and the increasing number of natural disasters due to climate change.

Migration
EU leaders will assess progress in implementing previous conclusions on migration. When they meet on 17 October 2024, leaders will discuss how to:
Strengthen control of the EU’s external borders
Cooperate with third countries of origin and transit to address root causes, combat trafficking and smuggling, prevent loss of life and irregular departures
Increase and accelerate returns from the EU

Foreign Affairs
In light of specific events, EU leaders may address specific foreign policy issues, including developments in Georgia and Moldova.