Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2022-23 (2. samling)
UPN Alm.del Bilag 11
Offentligt
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European Council
Brussels, 15 December 2022
(OR. en)
EUCO 34/22
CO EUR 29
CONCL 7
NOTE
From:
To:
Subject:
General Secretariat of the Council
Delegations
European Council meeting (15 December 2022)
– Conclusions
Delegations will find attached the conclusions adopted by the European Council at the above
meeting.
EUCO 34/22
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
I.
1.
UKRAINE/RUSSIA
The European Council reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression
against Ukraine.
2.
It reaffirms the Union’s full support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial
integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as well as for Ukraine’s inherent right
of self-defence against the Russian aggression.
3.
The European Union remains committed to providing political and military support to
Ukraine, notably through the European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission
in support of Ukraine, and by stepping up the bilateral provision of support, in particular air
defence capacities and demining assistance.
4.
Russia’s ongoing campaign of systematic missile strikes against Ukrainian civilians, civilian
targets, energy infrastructure and other utilities, to inflict even more suffering on the
Ukrainian people, is a crime for which there can be no impunity. It must stop. The European
Council calls on all international partners to make similar calls and exert their influence to this
end. The European Council also calls on Russia to immediately cease actions endangering the
safety and security of civilian nuclear facilities and underlines the European Union’s full
support for the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
5.
The European Union will urgently intensify the provision of humanitarian and civil protection
assistance to Ukraine, including in kind, and assist in the restoration of Ukraine’s critical
infrastructure to help Ukraine get through the winter. In this regard, the European Council
invites the European Investment Bank, in close cooperation with the Commission and
International Financial Institutions, to step up its support for Ukraine’s most urgent
infrastructure needs. The European Council also invites the Commission to intensify
coordination with European industry and international partners to provide a sustainable supply
of priority equipment to Ukraine such as mobile heating stations, power generators, power
transformers, and high-voltage and lighting equipment. In this context, the European Council
welcomes the outcome of the Paris conference on Ukraine’s resilience and reconstruction on
13 December 2022.
6.
The European Union will also maintain its support for displaced persons, both within and
outside Ukraine. The European Council invites the Member States to intensify contingency
planning, with the support of the Commission.
7.
The European Union remains committed to providing, along with partners, financial relief to
Ukraine, and supporting its resilience and long-term reconstruction. In that context, the
European Union has agreed to provide EUR 18 billion of assistance to Ukraine in 2023. The
European Council welcomes the G7 agreement to establish a multi-agency Donor
Coordination Platform.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
8.
The European Council welcomes and encourages further efforts to ensure full accountability
for war crimes and the other most serious crimes in connection with Russia’s war of
aggression against Ukraine, including ways to secure accountability for the crime of
aggression. It underlines the Union’s support for the investigations by the Prosecutor of the
International Criminal Court. The European Council also took stock of the options to use
frozen assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction and for the purposes of reparation. It invites
the Commission, the High Representative and the Council to take work forward, in
accordance with EU and international law, stressing that the prosecution of the crime of
aggression is of concern to the international community as a whole.
9.
The European Council reiterates that it is ready to support Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace.
To date, Russia has not shown any genuine willingness regarding a fair and sustainable peace.
10.
The European Council discussed how to further increase collective pressure on Russia to end
its war of aggression and to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. It welcomes the reinforcement
of EU restrictive measures against Russia, including through the EU’s ninth package of
restrictive measures and the international oil price cap, while ensuring a global level playing
field. The European Union stands ready to continue to reinforce the restrictive measures. The
European Council underlines the importance of ensuring effective implementation and
preventing circumvention and its facilitation. It reiterates its call for all countries to align with
EU sanctions.
11.
The European Council reiterates its condemnation of the military support to Russia’s war of
aggression provided by the Iranian authorities, which must stop. In this regard, the European
Council welcomes the EU sanctions adopted on 12 December 2022.
12.
The European Union will continue to provide all relevant support to the Republic of Moldova
as it deals with the multifaceted impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, notably
as regards energy security.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
13.
In the context of bolstering global food security, the European Council also underlines the
importance of the Solidarity Lanes, using their full potential, and of the UN Black Sea Grain
Initiative and the Grain from Ukraine programme, stressing the need to continue to ensure the
availability and affordability of agricultural products and fertilisers.
II.
14.
ENERGY AND ECONOMY
The European Council reviewed progress on the implementation of its October 2022
conclusions.
15.
The European Council welcomes the progress made and calls on the Council to finalise on
19 December 2022 its work on the proposals for a Council Regulation enhancing solidarity
through better coordination of gas purchases, notably through the EU Energy Platform,
exchanges of gas across borders and reliable price benchmarks, a Council Regulation laying
down a framework to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and a Council
Regulation establishing a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy
against excessively high prices.
16.
In view of the next storage filling and heating seasons, the European Council underlines the
importance of strengthening coordination. In particular, work should continue on the
following strands:
a)
speedy operationalisation of gas demand aggregation and of the joint purchasing
mechanism through the EU Energy Platform, as well as acceleration of the discussion
with reliable partners to secure the supply of gas in view of winter 2023/2024 with a
view to concluding long-term contracts;
b)
c)
d)
efficient filling of gas storage and close monitoring of filling trajectories;
close monitoring of gas demand reduction objectives;
early preparation of contingency plans for winter 2023/2024.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
17.
The European Council calls for the swift finalisation of discussions on the Renewable Energy
Directive, the Energy Efficiency Directive and the Energy Performance of Buildings
Directive.
18.
The European Council reiterates the importance of stepping up investment in innovation,
infrastructure and interconnections, storage, renewable energy and energy efficiency projects,
in order to phase out the Union’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels, accelerate the green
transition and ensure security of supply.
19.
The European Council looks forward to the proposal and impact assessment on the structural
reform of the EU’s electricity market, including on the effect of gas prices on electricity
prices, making it fully fit for a decarbonised energy system and facilitating the uptake of
renewable energy, to be submitted by the Commission in early 2023.
20.
In light of the impact of high energy prices in Europe, the European Council underlines the
importance of safeguarding Europe’s economic, industrial and technological base and of
preserving the global level playing field. It underlines in particular the importance in the
current global context of an ambitious European industrial policy to make Europe’s economy
fit for the green and digital transitions and reduce strategic dependencies, particularly in the
most sensitive areas, while ensuring a level playing field. The European Council recalls in
that context the need for a coordinated response to enhance Europe’s economic resilience and
its global competitiveness while preserving the integrity of the Single Market. In this respect
and to respond to the impact of high energy prices, the European Council invites the
Commission to conduct an analysis and to make proposals by the end of January 2023 with a
view to mobilising all relevant national and EU tools as well as to improving framework
conditions for investment, including through streamlined administrative procedures.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
21.
The European Council stresses the importance of close coordination and of common
European level solutions, where appropriate, and invites the Council and the Eurogroup to
closely monitor economic developments and further reinforce coordination, in order to deliver
a determined and agile policy response.
22.
In addition to short-term measures, the European Union must take on the long-term
challenges, in particular the growth and innovation gap between Europe and its global
competitors. In this respect, the European Council invites the Commission to present, in early
2023, a strategy at EU level to boost competitiveness and productivity.
III. SECURITY AND DEFENCE
23.
In line with recent European Council conclusions and following previous decisions, the
European Union is taking more responsibility for its own security and, in the field of defence,
pursuing a strategic course of action and increasing its capacity to act autonomously.
Strengthening the industrial and technological base of the European defence sector will
contribute to this.
24.
The European Council underlines the importance of the transatlantic bond as reflected in both
the EU’s Strategic Compass and the NATO Strategic Concept.
25.
The European Council took stock of work carried out to implement its previous conclusions,
the guidance provided in Versailles on 10 and 11 March 2022, the Strategic Compass as well
as the findings and recommendations of the joint communication on ‘the Defence Investment
Gaps Analysis and Way Forward’. This work needs to be accelerated. In this context, the
European Council:
a)
calls on the European Parliament and the Council to swiftly adopt the European
Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA);
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
b)
calls on the Commission and the European Defence Agency to intensify ongoing efforts
to identify needs and to facilitate and coordinate joint procurement, in particular to
replenish stocks, notably in light of the support provided to Ukraine;
c)
calls on the Commission to rapidly present a proposal for a European Defence
Investment Programme to reinforce the capacity and resilience of the European defence
technology and industrial sector, including SMEs, and to fill strategic gaps and reduce
technological and industrial dependencies;
d)
calls for the implementation of military mobility infrastructure projects, including dual-
use infrastructure projects, to be further accelerated;
e)
reiterates the commitment to invest in the capabilities necessary to conduct the full
range of missions and operations, including a rapid deployment capacity, and calls on
the Member States to make full use of collaborative instruments and frameworks to this
effect;
f)
calls for investment in strategic enablers, such as cybersecurity and space-based
connectivity, as well as in the resilience of critical infrastructure;
g)
calls for a strong EU Policy on Cyber Defence, building on the recent joint
communication of the Commission and the High Representative;
h)
calls for the swift implementation of the EU Hybrid Toolbox, thereby strengthening the
Union’s ability to counter hybrid threats and campaigns effectively;
i)
calls for civilian CSDP to be strengthened, with a view to the adoption of a new Civilian
CSDP Compact by May 2023.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
26.
The European Council reaffirms the importance of the Union’s commitment to support its
partners in the field of security and defence, especially through instruments such as the
European Peace Facility and CSDP missions and operations. Reiterating the global dimension
of the European Peace Facility, the European Council welcomes the agreement in the Council
ensuring its financial sustainability.
IV.
27.
SOUTHERN NEIGHBOURHOOD
The European Council held a strategic discussion on relations with the Southern
Neighbourhood.
V.
28.
VI.
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS
The European Council held a strategic discussion on transatlantic relations.
OTHER ITEMS
Croatia
29.
The European Council welcomes Croatia’s entry into the Schengen area as from 1 January
2023.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
30.
The European Council endorses the Council conclusions of 13 December 2022 on
Enlargement and Stabilisation and Association Process, and agrees to grant the status of
candidate country to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Conclusions – 15 December 2022
Iran
31.
Recalling the Council conclusions on Iran of 12 December 2022, the European Council
strongly condemns the recent death penalty sentences pronounced and carried out in the
context of the ongoing protests in Iran. It calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately end
this practice and to annul without delay the recent sentences. The European Union strongly
opposes the use of the death penalty at all times and in all circumstances, as an unacceptable
denial of human dignity and integrity. The European Council reiterates its call on the Iranian
authorities to halt the unjustifiable use of force against peaceful protestors, particularly against
women.
*
*
*
The European Council recalls the European Union’s determination to have both Pillar 1 and
Pillar 2 implemented as agreed in October 2021 and calls on the Commission to monitor
ongoing negotiations of the multilateral convention (MLC) on Pillar 1 and to put forward if
appropriate a proposal by the end of 2023 in case of absence of agreement on a Pillar 1
solution.
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