ATHENS

The European Council summit will convene Thursday in Brussels for a two-day meeting.

During the summit, to be participated by the heads of state and government of the 27 member states, as well as EU Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, several critical topics reflecting current geopolitical and economic priorities are expected to be discussed.

On Thursday, the first day of the session, a working lunch will be held with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss preparations for the third UN Conference on Oceans and the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.

The summit comes after a busy period of diplomacy, with the EU leaders aiming to respond to shifting transatlantic dynamics and regional challenges.

The agenda includes discussions on the ongoing war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the bloc's continued support for Ukraine, especially amid heightened tensions and the need for security guarantees.

European defense will also be a key point, with leaders likely to explore ways to boost capabilities and address funding, possibly in light of a forthcoming EU White Paper on defense.

The EU’s economic competitiveness and the next multiannual financial framework, including new resources, are slated for review, alongside migration policies and the latest developments in the Middle East.

Other foreign policy issues, such as EU-UK relations and global environmental policies, may also arise, as will topics like oceans and energy security, given recent ministerial preparatory meetings.

Competitiveness

The EU aims to address various challenges by boosting its competitiveness, autonomy, and resilience to ensure prosperity and global leadership. Building on past conclusions, such as those from April 2024, the Budapest declaration, and recent commission proposals on the Competitiveness Compass, clean industrial deal, and simplification packages.

EU leaders will prioritize three areas in their competitiveness debate: simplification, energy, and the savings and investment union. They will also address industrial innovation, renewal, and decarbonization, alongside skills development and key industries like automotive, steel, and metals.

Ukraine

The EU advocates that Ukraine must be in the strongest possible position before, during, and after negotiations to end the Moscow-Kyiv war.

In this context, EU leaders are expected to take stock of recent related developments, boosting economic and military support to Ukraine, and the ceasefire proposal by the US.

Some recent media reports argue that the bloc is preparing for a scenario where the conclusions of the March 20-21 summit on Ukraine can be approved without the support of Hungary, which had previously publicly opposed them.

The EU, which so far provided €138.2 billion ($150.6 billion) to Ukraine, announced it will contribute €30.6 billion this year, including funding from the Ukraine Facility and the G7 extraordinary revenue acceleration loan.

Defense

The EU is intensifying its efforts to enhance its defense capabilities in response to both current and emerging threats as the US switches its focus to Indo-China.

This push for "defense readiness" involves preparing the EU to respond effectively to security challenges, such as geopolitical tensions, technological advancements in warfare, and potential conflicts.

At the most recent European Council meeting, EU leaders emphasized the need to accelerate the processes and secure funding to bolster defense capabilities.

The leaders also outlined specific "priority areas for action" at the EU level, ensuring these efforts align with NATO’s objectives. This coherence with NATO underscores the EU’s commitment to complementing, rather than duplicating, the alliance’s work.

The leaders, in the upcoming summit, are also expected to discuss the White Paper on the Future of European Defense that outlines the bloc's vision for defense integration, investment needs, and capability development and decide on concrete next steps, indicating an ongoing process of refining and implementing these defense priorities.

Following the conclusion of the summit on Friday evening, the EU leaders will hold a defense-related meeting with the leaders of Türkiye, the UK, Canada, Iceland, and Norway, as well as New Zealand, Australia, and Japan, via video conference.

Middle East

EU leaders will also address the situation and latest developments in the Middle East, notably in Gaza, where Israel violated the ceasefire on Tuesday and killed over 400 Palestinians, as well as the situation in Syria.

The EU expressed regret over Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza following the collapse of the ceasefire and urged restraint and the restoration of humanitarian aid access.

EU Council President Antonio Costa said he was "shocked and saddened" by the civilian casualties caused by the Israeli airstrikes.

As for Syria, the bloc on Monday hosted the 9th donors conference and announced a multi-billion-euro aid package for the country.