Michel to EU leaders in invitation letter to summit: We must make ‘bold’ decisions, fulfill commitments on Ukraine
President of the European Council, Charles Michel, calls on the leaders of the European Union to make "bold decisions" and agree to start membership negotiations with Ukraine, as well as to continue financial and military support.
He wrote about this in an invitation letter to the heads of state and government of the European Union member states, the text of which was published in Brussels on Wednesday on the eve of the summit, which will be held in Brussels on December 14-15.
“February 24, 2022 marked a turning point in Europe’s history. Since the outbreak of war on our continent, we have taken a number of unprecedented decisions in support of Ukraine and to strengthen in parallel Europe’s sovereignty. Nineteen months on, we are faced once again with the need to take bold decisions. They require our collective strength and determination, and the audacity to make the right choices. We need to live up to our commitments on Ukraine and continue to be a reliable and strong partner. We must provide Ukraine with continued and sustainable political, financial and military support and, in particular, come to an agreement on providing EUR 50 BN for its long term stability. We also have to agree to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, thereby giving it a necessary signal and bringing it yet closer to our European family,” the President of the European Council said.
In addition, he noted that EU leaders also take during the European Council meeting “significant decisions for other aspiring members while, in parallel, working to make our Union fit for the future and ready to take on new members.”
“New challenges bring new obligations. The revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework has proceeded intensively and unabatedly. I have taken good note of all your concerns and priorities and have put forward a proposal that seeks to reconcile the differing positions around the table. As with any compromise solution, I appeal to your readiness to build compromise for the sake of unity. Achieving consensus will indeed require a decisive joint effort and strong political commitment from you all,” Michel said.
The President of the European Council also touched upon the issue of security and defense. “On security and defence, we will continue implementing our ambition of building a stronger geopolitical union, giving guidance on key strands of work and building on the Versailles Declaration and the Strategic Compass. More needs to be done to swiftly fulfil the Union’s objectives of increasing defence readiness. We must also work on creating an internal market for defence, which is crucial to strengthening our Union in this area,” he detailed.
In addition, Michel said that events in the Middle East will be another important issue on the agenda. “A pivotal European Council lies ahead of us. Now is the time for decision-making. I call on you all to come equipped with a spirit of compromise, a sense of collective responsibility, with the Union’s interests and values at the forefront of your minds,” the European Council President concluded.
