UPN, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 110: Rådssekretariatets konklusioner vedrørende møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 29.-30. juni

Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2022-23 (2. samling)
UPN Alm.del Bilag 110
Offentligt

European Council

Brussels, 30 June 2023

(OR. en)

EUCO 7/23

CO EUR 5

CONCL 3

NOTE

From:

To:

Subject:

General Secretariat of the Council

Delegations

European Council meeting (29 and 30 June 2023)

–

Conclusions

Delegations will find attached the conclusions adopted by the European Council at the above

meeting.

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Conclusions

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29 and 30 June 2023

The European Council held an exchange of views with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg on

EU-NATO cooperation and Euro-Atlantic security, in particular following the signature of the third

joint declaration on 10 January 2023.

UKRAINE

The European Council reiterates its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of

aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter,

and recalls the European Union’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence,

sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders and its

inherent right of self-defence against the Russian aggression. The European Union will

continue to provide strong financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic

support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes.

The European Council reconfirms

the EU’s readiness to provide sustainable military

support to Ukraine for as long as it takes, notably through the EU Military Assistance

Mission and the European Peace Facility. It took stock of the progress in the delivery

and joint procurement of one million rounds of artillery ammunition and missiles for

Ukraine. It

underlines the importance of Member States’ continued efforts to

help meet

Ukraine’s pressing military

and defence needs, without prejudice to the specific

character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and taking into

account the security and defence interests of all Member States.

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Conclusions

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29 and 30 June 2023

The European Union and Member States stand ready to contribute, together with

partners, to future security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine defend

itself in the long term, deter acts of aggression and resist destabilisation efforts. In this

regard, they will swiftly consider the modalities of such contribution. These

commitments will be taken in full respect of the security and defence policy of certain

Member States and taking into account the security and defence interests of all Member

States. The European Council will remain seized of the matter.

The European Council condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate destruction of the

dam at the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant, which has devastating humanitarian,

ecological, agricultural and economic repercussions and puts at risk the safety and

security of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The European Union and its Member

States stand ready to provide further support to Ukraine, in addition to the emergency

assistance for relief efforts provided via the Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The

European Union fully supports the International Atomic Energy Agency’s

work

strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.

The European Union and its Member States will intensify their diplomatic outreach

efforts and continue to cooperate with Ukraine and other countries to ensure the widest

possible international support for the key principles and objectives

of Ukraine’s Peace

Formula, including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit. Any initiative for a

comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine must be based on full respect for its

independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised

borders.

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The European Council underlines the need to ensure, together with partners, stable,

predictable and sustainable financial support for Ukraine for the years to come. The

European Council reiterates its call for 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 Union also

remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in

coordination with international partners, including in the areas of psychological and

psychosocial rehabilitation and demining assistance. Moreover, the European Council

took stock of the work done regarding Russia’s immobilised assets, and invites the

Council, the High Representative and the Commission to take work forward, in

accordance with EU and international law, and in coordination with partners.

The European Union remains firmly committed to ensuring that Russia is held fully

accountable for its war of aggression against Ukraine. The European Council welcomes

the fact that the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression

against Ukraine (ICPA) is ready to start its support operations. The European Council

took stock of efforts to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of aggression

against Ukraine, including work done in the Core Group, and calls for the work to

continue. The tribunal should enjoy the broadest cross-regional support and legitimacy.

The European Council welcomes the adoption of the Ljubljana-The Hague Convention

on International Cooperation in the Investigation and Prosecution of the Crime of

Genocide, Crimes against Humanity, War Crimes and other International Crimes, and

calls on all countries to become parties to the Convention as soon as possible. The

European Council

also welcomes the establishment of the Council of Europe’s Register

of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against Ukraine and

calls for work to continue.

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Conclusions

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The European Council condemns in the strongest terms

Russia’s

unlawful deportation

and transfer to Russia and to Belarus of Ukrainian children and other civilians. It calls

on the Russian Federation and Belarus to immediately ensure their safe return.

The European Council discussed efforts to further increase pressure on Russia in order

to weaken its ability to wage its war of aggression, including through sanctions, their

full and effective implementation and the prevention of their circumvention. In this

context, it welcomes the adoption of the 11

package of sanctions. The European

Council calls on the co-legislators to swiftly finalise work on the proposed Directive

approximating criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union restrictive

measures.

10.

The European Council

condemns the continued military support for Russia’s war of

aggression provided by Iran and Belarus. Belarus must stop allowing Russian armed

forces to use its territory, including for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons. Iran

must stop providing drones to Russia.

11.

The European Council acknowledges

Ukraine’s commitment and substantial efforts to

meet the required conditions in its EU accession process. It encourages Ukraine to

continue on its path of reforms. The European Union will continue to work closely with

Ukraine and support its efforts to fully meet all conditions.

12.

The European Union will continue to support the Republic of Moldova in addressing

the challenges it faces as a consequence of the Russian aggression against Ukraine and

in reform efforts on its European path. The European Council acknowledges the

Republic of Moldova’s commitment and substantial efforts to meet the required

conditions in its EU accession process. It welcomes the recently presented support

package and launch of the civilian EU Partnership Mission. It commends the Republic

of Moldova for the successful organisation of the second European Political Community

Summit on 1 June 2023.

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Conclusions

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13.

The European Council takes note of the steps recently taken by the Georgian authorities.

The European Union will continue to work closely with Georgia to support it in meeting

the required conditions to advance on its European path.

14.

Russia continues to weaponise food, thus undermining global food security. The

European Council is deeply concerned by the continued slowdown in the

implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and calls for the swift and full

resumption of its operations. The EU’s Solidarity Lanes remain instrumental in

bolstering global food security.

15.

The European Union reiterates its commitment to reinforce support for displaced

persons, both in Ukraine and in the European Union, including through adequate and

flexible financial assistance to the Member States who carry the largest burden of the

medical, education and living costs of refugees.

II.

ECONOMY

16.

17.

The European Council held an exchange of views on the current economic situation.

Following reporting by the Council Presidency and the Commission, the European

Council took stock of progress in enhancing

Europe’s

long-term competitiveness and

productivity, with a particular focus on deepening the Single Market, preserving its

integrity, its four freedoms and its openness, ensuring a level playing field and creating

a growth-enhancing regulatory framework that reduces administrative burden, while

strengthening industrial policy and reducing strategic dependencies, in particular in the

most sensitive areas.

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Conclusions

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18.

Recalling its conclusions of March 2023 and in light of

the acceleration of the Union’s

twin transitions towards a green and digital economy, the European Council:

invites the co-legislators to accelerate work on the proposals for a Net Zero

Industry Act and a Critical Raw Materials Act with a view to reaching an

agreement before the end of the current legislative cycle and calls for work to be

taken forward on the development of strategic technologies and strengthening

their value chains;

stresses the importance of the European Union becoming a prime location for the

development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need to rapidly seize the

opportunities and address the risks of specific uses of AI with a view to fostering

innovation and trust, promoting investment and uptake, and contributing to setting

global standards, and calls on the co-legislators to promptly finalise work on the

AI Act;

invites the Commission to propose an initiative for urgent measures to ensure

sufficient production and availability of the most critical medicines and

components in Europe and to diversify international supply chains, while inviting

the co-legislators to continue and accelerate work on the proposed reform of the

pharmaceutical legislation, including as regards access to medicines and an

innovative and competitive pharmaceutical sector;

welcomes the entry into force of the Unified Patent Court Agreement for the

participating Member States, and the consequent entry into operation of the

unitary patent, which will help boost innovation and competitiveness;

looks forward to the first annual

progress review on enhancing the Union’s

competitiveness and increasing productivity and growth at its March 2024

meeting;

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calls for an independent High-Level Report on the future of the Single Market to

be presented at its meeting of March 2024 and invites the incoming presidencies

of the Council and the Commission to take this work forward, in consultation with

the Member States;

invites the Commission to present a toolbox to address demographic challenges

and notably their impact on

Europe’s

competitive edge.

19.

The Commission reported on the discussions with the United States on the effects of the

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The European Council invites the Commission, with the

support of the Member States, to assess the impact of the IRA on investment and the

effectiveness of measures taken in response by the European Union and its Member

States, and to continue its work on monitoring and improving investment conditions.

20.

The

European Council stresses the need to enhance the Union’s economic resilience

and

security in order to defend the Union’s interests

globally while preserving an open

economy. It calls for an approach that provides proportionate, precise and targeted

answers to security challenges on the basis of a risk assessment.

21.

The European Council held a discussion on the integrated country-specific

recommendations as discussed by the Council, thus allowing the conclusion of the 2023

European Semester.

22.

The European Council invites the Council to take work forward on the Economic

Governance Review, with a view to concluding legislative work in 2023.

23.

The European Council takes note of the proposed revision of the Multiannual Financial

Framework. The European Council will remain seized of the matter.

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III. SECURITY AND DEFENCE

24.

The European Council took stock of work carried out to implement its previous

conclusions, the March 2022 Versailles Declaration and the Strategic Compass.

25.

The European Council recalls the need to strengthen the technological and industrial

base of the European defence sector and to make it more innovative, competitive and

resilient, in particular in a new strategic environment which requires defence readiness

and a significant increase in Europe’s long-term strategic capacity to take more

responsiblity for its own defence.

26.

In this regard, the European Council:

calls for work to be taken forward on all strands of action for the delivery and

joint procurement of ammunition and missiles, notably on the Act in Support of

Ammunition Production (ASAP) with a view to its swift adoption;

welcomes the agreement reached on the European Defence Industry

Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA);

calls on the Commission to present a proposal for a European Defence Investment

Programme (EDIP) to reinforce the capacity and resilience of the European

defence technological and industrial base, including SMEs.

27.

The European Council welcomes the decision to further increase the financial ceiling of

the European Peace Facility by EUR 3.5 billion in order to preserve the global

geographical scope of the Facility, to continue providing military support to Ukraine

and to maintain

the Union’s ability

to prevent and swiftly respond to crises and conflicts

and to build capacity through its training missions.

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Conclusions

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28.

The European Council welcomes the progress in the implementation of the Strategic

Compass, including as regards cyber security and defence, hybrid threats, military

mobility, space and maritime security. It also welcomes work undertaken to strengthen

Civilian CSDP, in particular the recent approval of the new Civilian CSDP Compact.

29.

The European Council welcomes the work on the EU Policy on Cyber Defence and on

the review of the EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox to strengthen the ability to prevent,

deter and respond to cyberattacks.

IV.

CHINA

30.

The European Council continued its strategic discussion on the

EU’s relations with

China and

reaffirmed the EU’s multifaceted policy

approach towards China, where it is

simultaneously a partner, a competitor and a systemic rival. Despite their different

political and economic systems, the European Union and China have a shared interest in

pursuing constructive and stable relations, anchored in respect for the rules-based

international order, balanced engagement and reciprocity.

31.

The European Union will continue to engage with China to tackle global challenges and

encourages China to take more ambitious action on climate change and biodiversity,

health and pandemic preparedness, food security, disaster reduction, debt relief, and

humanitarian assistance.

32.

The European Union and China continue to be important trade and economic partners.

The European Union will seek to ensure a level playing field, so that the trade and

economic relationship is balanced, reciprocal and mutually beneficial. In line with the

Versailles agenda, the European Union will continue to reduce critical dependencies and

vulnerabilities, including in its supply chains, and will de-risk and diversify where

necessary and appropriate. The European Union does not intend to decouple or to turn

inwards.

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33.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has a special responsibility

in upholding the rules-based international order, the United Nations Charter and

international law. Hence, the European Council calls on China to press Russia to stop its

war of aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops

from Ukraine.

34.

The East and South China Seas are of strategic importance for regional and global

prosperity and security. The European Union is concerned about growing tensions in the

Taiwan Strait. The European Council opposes any unilateral attempts to change the

status quo by force or coercion. It

reconfirms the EU’s consistent ‘One China policy’.

35.

The European Union remains firmly committed to the promotion of respect for human

rights and fundamental freedoms. The European Council welcomes the resumption of

the Human Rights Dialogue with China. It reiterates its concerns regarding forced

labour, the treatment of human rights defenders and persons belonging to minorities, the

situation in Tibet and Xinjiang, as well as the honouring of China’s previous

commitments related to Hong Kong.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

36.

The European Council discussed preparations for the EU-CELAC Summit. It will be an

opportunity to renew and strengthen a partnership based on shared values, history and

culture, and to agree on a positive and forward-looking agenda. Regular and structured

bi-regional dialogue will ensure the follow-up and implementation of concrete actions

in areas of common interest, including trade and investment. The European Council

underlines the importance of addressing together the global climate and environmental

crises, rising inequalities, the opportunities of digital transformation and the need to

diversify supply chains, as well as unprecedented threats to global security and the

rules-based order.

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Conclusions

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37.

The European Council held a strategic discussion

on the European Union’s relations

with partners in the Southern Neighbourhood. In this context, the European Council

welcomes work done on a mutually beneficial comprehensive partnership package with

Tunisia, building on the pillars of economic development, investment and trade, the

green energy transition, migration and people-to-people contacts, and supports the

resumption of political dialogue in the context of the EU-Tunisia Association

Agreement. It underlines the importance of strengthening and developing similar

strategic partnerships between the European Union and partners in the region.

38.

Recalling the EU-Western Balkans Thessaloniki Summit Declaration of 21 June 2003,

the subsequent Sofia, Zagreb, Brdo and Tirana Declarations and its previous

conclusions, notably those of 23-24 June 2022, the European Council reiterates its full

and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the Western

Balkans and its support for the acceleration of the merit-based accession process and the

related reforms.

39.

The European Council condemns the recent violent incidents in the north of Kosovo

and calls for an immediate de-escalation of the situation, based on the key elements

already outlined by the European Union on 3 June 2023. The parties should create the

conditions for early elections in all four municipalities in the north of Kosovo. Failure to

de-escalate the tensions will have negative consequences. It is essential that the EU-

facilitated dialogue led by the High Representative and the swift implementation of the

Agreement on the path to normalisation and its Implementation Annex continue. This

includes the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb Majority

Municipalities.

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.

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40.

In line with commitments on multilateralism made at the European Union-African

Union Summit of 17-18 February 2022, the European Council supports the African

Union’s

reinforced presence in international forums, notably in the G20.

VI.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN

41.

Recalling its previous conclusions, the European Council remains fully committed to a

comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the UN framework, in

accordance with the relevant UNSC resolutions and in line with the principles on which

the EU is founded and the acquis. The European Union calls for the speedy resumption

of negotiations and is ready to play an active role in supporting all stages of the UN-led

process, with all appropriate means at its disposal.

42.

Recalling its previous conclusions

on the EU’s relations with Türkiye,

including those

of June 2021 and the March 2021 Statement, and in light of the recent elections in

Türkiye, the European Council invites the High Representative and the Commission to

submit a report to the European Council on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations,

building on the instruments and options identified by the European Council, and with a

view to proceeding in a strategic and forward-looking manner.

VII. OTHER ITEMS

43.

The European Council acknowledges the challenges posed by cross-sectoral and cross-

border crises and natural and human-made disasters, many of which are exacerbated by

climate change and the evolving security landscape in Europe and globally. It

underlines the importance of strengthening resilience in strategic areas through an all-

hazards approach to preparedness and response using relevant mechanisms, including

the Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

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