27 Jun
Chapter News

European Council, 23-24 June 2022

On 23-24 June 2022, the European Council adopted conclusions on Wider Europe, Ukraine, the membership applications from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, Western Balkans, economic issues, Conference on the Future of Europe and external relations.

Ahead of the European Council meeting, EU and Western Balkan leaders met in the morning of 23 June 2022 in Brussels.

Main results

Wider Europe

The European Council held a strategic discussion on ‘Wider Europe’, concerning the EU’s relations with its partners in Europe. In this context, EU leaders also discussed a proposal to launch a European political community.

The discussion was guided by the questions ‘what, who and how?’. The aim of ‘Wider Europe’ is to offer a platform for political coordination to countries in Europe with which the EU has close relations. This will help foster cooperation and address issues of common interest to strengthen security, stability and prosperity in Europe.

Such a framework would not replace existing EU policies and instruments, including EU enlargement, and will fully respect the EU’s decision-making autonomy.

EU leaders will return to this issue.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine

The European Council reiterated that it stands firmly with Ukraine and that the EU will continue to provide strong support for Ukraine’s overall economic, military, social and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid.

Safety of civilians and war crimes

EU leaders resolutely condemned Russia’s indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reiterated that international humanitarian law must be respected.

Leaders stressed that Ukrainians, notably children, who have been forcibly removed to Russia, must immediately be allowed to return safely.

They underlined that Russia, Belarus and all those responsible for war crimes and the other most serious crimes will be held to account for their actions in accordance with international law.

Sanctions against Russia

The European Council said that the work on sanctions will continue, including efforts to strengthen implementation and prevent circumvention.

EU heads of state or government called on all countries to align with EU sanctions, in particular countries that are candidates for EU membership. They also stressed that work on the Council decision adding the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes should be swiftly finalised.

Solidarity with Ukraine

EU leaders highlighted that the EU remains strongly committed to providing further military support to help Ukraine exercise its inherent right of self-defence against Russian aggression and defend its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

To this end, they called on the Council to swiftly work on a further increase of military support.

The European Council noted that the European Commission would soon present a proposal to grant Ukraine new exceptional macro-financial assistance of up to €9 billion in 2022.

EU heads of state and government called on the Commission to swiftly present its proposals on EU support for the reconstruction of Ukraine, in consultation with international partners, organisations and experts.

Food security

The European Council addressed the global food crisis. EU leaders urged Russia to immediately stop targeting agricultural facilities and to unblock the Black Sea ports to permit the export of Ukrainian grain and enable commercial shipping operations to resume. Leaders supported the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to this end.

Russia, by weaponising food in its war against Ukraine, is solely responsible for the global food security crisis it has provoked.

European Council conclusions, 23 June 2022

EU leaders underlined that EU sanctions against Russia allow the free flow of agricultural and food products and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Leaders expressed strong support for the ongoing work on the solidarity lanes, which are facilitating food exports from Ukraine via land routes and EU ports.

Building on the FARM initiative as well as UN and G7 initiatives, they called on the Commission and EU member states to step up efforts to:

  • help developing countries reorient their supply chains, where necessary
  • accelerate work on the Team Europe initiatives aiming to support Africa’s sustainable agri-food production capacities
  • support the development of input manufacturing capacity in developing countries, in particular sustainable fertilisers

EU membership applications

The European Council recognised the European perspective of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia and reiterated that the future of these countries and their citizens lies with the EU.

EU leaders granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. In this context, the leaders invited the European Commission to report to the Council on the fulfilment of the conditions specified in the Commission’s opinions on the respective membership applications. The Council will decide on further steps once all of these conditions are fully met.

The European Council has just decided EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. This is a historic moment. Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU. Our future is together.

European Council President Charles Michel, 23 June 2022.

The European Council is ready to grant candidate status to Georgia once the priorities specified in the Commission’s opinion on Georgia’s membership application have been addressed.

Each country’s progress will depend on its own merits in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, and also on the EU’s capacity to accept new members.

Western Balkans

Ahead of the European Council, EU leaders met Western Balkan leaders in the morning of 23 June 2022. During the meeting the leaders discussed:

  • progress on EU integration
  • how to advance the EU enlargement process
  • the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in the region
  • geostrategic issues

The leaders also took stock of progress on key investments under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans.

Accelerated enlargement process

The European Union expresses its full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and calls for the acceleration of the accession process.

European Council conclusions, 23 June 2022

Building on the revised enlargement methodology, the European Council invited the European Commission, the High Representative and the Council to further advance the gradual integration between the EU and the Western Balkans during the enlargement process in a reversible and merit-based manner.

In this regard, the European Council recalled the importance of reform in the following areas:

  • rule of law
  • independence and functioning of judiciary
  • the fight against corruption

The European Council also called on the partners to guarantee the rights and equal treatment of minorities.

Political dialogues and agreements

The European Council was informed of the latest developments on the discussions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia and called for a swift resolution of the last remaining issues so that accession negotiations can be opened without delay.

The European Council reaffirmed the urgency of making tangible progress in resolving outstanding bilateral and regional disputes, particularly the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue on the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo*.

The European Council welcomed the political agreement reached on 12 June 2022 by the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is vital for the stability and full functioning of the country. It called on all political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to swiftly implement the commitments set out in the agreement and finalise the constitutional and electoral reform in order to allow the country to advance on its EU path in line with the priorities outlined in the Commission’s opinion.

The European Council is ready to grant candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina. To that end, EU leaders invited the European Commission to report without delay to the Council on the implementation of 14 key priorities set out in its opinion in order for the European Council to revert to decide on the matter.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 

Economic issues

European Semester 2022: country-specific recommendations endorsed

The European Council endorsed the country-specific recommendations, thus allowing the 2022 European Semester to be concluded.

Enlargement of the euro area: Croatia

The European Council welcomed the fulfilment by Croatia of all of the convergence criteria as set out in the Treaty. It endorsed the Commission’s proposal that Croatia adopt the euro on 1 January 2023 and invited the Council to adopt the relevant Commission proposals without delay.

The euro is the monetary expression of our shared destiny and has been part of our European dream. Now the dream comes true for Croatia.

European Council President, 24 June 2022

Energy prices

Referring to the Versailles Declaration and recent European Council conclusions, EU leaders reiterated the invitation to the Commission to explore with international partners ways in which to curb rising energy prices, including the feasibility of introducing temporary price caps where appropriate.

In the face of the weaponisation of gas by Russia, the European Council invited the Commission to urgently pursue efforts to secure energy supply at affordable prices.

The European Council also invited the Council, together with the Commission, to take any appropriate measures to ensure closer energy coordination between EU member states.

Conference on the Future of Europe

EU leaders took note of the proposals outlined in the final report of the Conference on the Future of Europe, which was presented to the three co-Presidents during the closing ceremony on 9 May 2022.

The Conference has been a unique opportunity to engage with European citizens, and the EU institutions should ensure that there is an effective follow-up to the final report, each within the institutions’ own spheres of competence and in accordance with the Treaties.

The European Council took note of the work already undertaken and recalled the importance of ensuring that citizens are informed on the follow-up to the report.

External relations

Eastern Mediterranean

The European Council expressed deep concern about recent repeated actions and statements by Turkey. Turkey must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all EU member states. Recalling its previous conclusions and the statement of 25 March 2021, the European Council expects Turkey to fully respect international law, to de-escalate tensions in the interest of regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, and to promote good neighbourly relations in a sustainable way.

Belarus

Leaders reiterated that the Belarusian people have a democratic right to new, free and fair elections.

In this regard, EU leaders stressed the importance of:

  • upholding human rights
  • democracy
  • rule of law

The European Council reiterated its call to end repression and release political prisoners.

Euro Summit

On 24 June 2022, EU leaders met in Brussels for a Euro Summit in inclusive format. They discussed the current economic situation and efforts for further strengthening the banking union and the capital markets union.

Compliments of the European Council.