Det Udenrigspolitiske Nævn 2023-24
UPN Alm.del Bilag 78
Offentligt
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European Council
Brussels, 15 December 2023
(OR. en)
EUCO 20/23
CO EUR 16
CONCL 6
NOTE
From:
To:
Subject:
General Secretariat of the Council
Delegations
European Council meeting (14 and 15 December 2023)
– Conclusions
Delegations will find attached the conclusions adopted by the European Council at the above
meeting.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
I.
1.
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 reaffirms 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.
2.
The European Council recalls its previous conclusions and confirms the European Union’s
unwavering commitment to continue to provide strong political, financial, economic,
humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes.
3.
The European Union and its Member States will continue to address Ukraine’s pressing
military and defence needs. In particular, the European Council insists on the importance of
timely, predictable and sustainable military support for Ukraine, notably through the
European Peace Facility and the EU Military Assistance Mission, as well as through direct
bilateral assistance by Member States. The European Council stresses the urgent need to
accelerate the delivery of missiles and ammunition, notably under the one million rounds of
artillery ammunition initiative, and to provide Ukraine with more air defence systems.
The European Council invites the Council to intensify work on the reform of the European
Peace Facility and the further increase of its financing, building on the proposal of the High
Representative.
The European Union and its Member States remain committed to contributing, for the long-
term and together with partners, to security commitments to Ukraine, which will help Ukraine
to defend itself, resist destabilisation efforts and deter acts of aggression in the future.
Following the report by the High Representative, the European Council discussed the EU’s
future security commitments to Ukraine. It invites the High Representative and Member
States to take work forward in the Council. The European Council will remain seized of the
matter.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
Military support and security commitments will be provided 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.
4.
In the face of continued Russian attacks against Ukraine’s civil and critical infrastructure, the
European Union and its Member States will intensify the provision of further humanitarian
and civil protection assistance to Ukraine, as well as assistance to ensure the resilience of its
energy sector through the winter. Moreover,
the European Union remains committed to
supporting Ukraine’s repair, recovery and reconstruction, in coordination with international
partners, including the demining process and psychosocial rehabilitation.
5.
The
European Union and its Member States will continue their intensive global outreach
efforts and cooperation with Ukraine and partners from all regions of the world to ensure the
widest possible international support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and the key
principles and objectives of Ukraine’s Peace Formula, with a view to a future Global Peace
Summit.
6.
The European Council reiterates its call for decisive progress, in coordination with partners,
on how extraordinary revenues held by private entities stemming directly from Russia’s
immobilised assets could be directed to support Ukraine and its recovery and reconstruction,
consistent with applicable contractual obligations, and in accordance with EU and
international law.
In this context, it takes note of the recent proposals on extraordinary
revenues stemming from immobilised Russian assets.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
7.
Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression
against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the
massive damage caused by its war. The European Council encourages further efforts,
including in the Core Group, to establish a tribunal for the prosecution of the crime of
aggression against Ukraine that would enjoy the broadest cross-regional support and
legitimacy, and a future compensation mechanism; it reiterates its support for the Council of
Europe’s Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression of the Russian Federation Against
Ukraine, as a first tangible step in this direction. It also calls on all states to sign and ratify
rapidly 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. The European Council also reiterates its support for
the work of the International Criminal Court and condemns Russia’s continued attempts to
undermine its international mandate and functioning.
8.
The European Council reiterates its urgent call on Russia and Belarus to immediately ensure
the
safe return to Ukraine of all unlawfully deported and transferred Ukrainian children and
other civilians.
9.
The European Union is determined to further weaken Russia’s ability to wage its war of
aggression, including by further strengthening its sanctions, and through their full and
effective implementation and the prevention of their circumvention, especially for high-risk
goods, in close cooperation with partners and allies. The European Council welcomes the
adoption of the 12
th
package of sanctions. It also welcomes the agreement reached on the
Directive on the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of Union
restrictive measures. The European Council condemns the continued military support for
Russia’s war of aggression provided by Iran, Belarus and the DPRK. It also urges all
countries not to provide material or other support for Russia’s war of aggression.
The
European Union will continue its intensive work with partners to counter false Russian
narratives and disinformation about the war.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
10.
The
European Council stresses the importance of security and stability in the Black Sea. It is
vital that Ukraine’s grain exports are sustainable and reach world markets. The European
Council supports all efforts to facilitate exports of Ukraine’s grain and other agricultural
products to the countries most in need, notably in Africa and the Middle East. The European
Council also underlines the importance of using the EU’s Solidarity Lanes to their full
potential, and invites the Commission to speed up work with Member States in order to
propose new measures with a view to further developing the capacity of the Solidarity Lanes
on all routes.
11.
The
European Union will continue to support the Republic of Moldova and Georgia in
addressing the challenges they face as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against
Ukraine.
II.
12.
MIDDLE EAST
The European Council held an in-depth strategic debate on the Middle East.
III. ENLARGEMENT AND REFORMS
13.
Recalling the Granada Declaration, the European Council underlines that enlargement is a
geo-strategic
investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity. It is a driver for
improving the economic and social conditions of European citizens, reducing disparities
between countries, and must foster the values on which the Union is founded. Looking ahead
to the prospect of a further enlarged Union, both future Member States and the EU need to be
ready at the time of accession. Work on both tracks should advance in parallel. Aspiring
members need to step up their reform efforts, notably in the area of rule of law, in line with
the merit-based nature of the accession process and with the assistance of the EU. In parallel,
the Union needs to lay the necessary internal groundwork and reforms, setting the Union’s
long-term ambitions and the ways to achieve them, and addressing key questions related to its
priorities and policies as well as its capacity to act. This will make the EU stronger and will
enhance European sovereignty.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
14.
The European Council endorses the Council conclusions on enlargement of
12 December 2023. Building on the Commission’s enlargement package of
8 November 2023, the European Council takes the following decisions:
Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova
15.
The
European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and with the
Republic of Moldova.
The European Council
invites the Council to adopt the respective negotiating frameworks
once the relevant steps set out in the respective Commission recommendations of
8 November 2023 are taken.
Georgia
16.
The European Council also decides to grant the status of candidate country to Georgia, on the
understanding
that the relevant steps set out in the Commission recommendation of
8 November 2023 are taken.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
17.
The European Council will open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, once
the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is achieved.
It invites the Commission to report to the Council on progress at the latest in March 2024,
with a view to making a decision.
North Macedonia
18.
The European Union is ready to complete the opening phase of the accession negotiations
with North Macedonia as soon as it has implemented its commitment to complete the
constitutional changes as referred to in the Council conclusions of 18 July 2022, in line with
its internal procedures. The European Council calls on North Macedonia to accelerate the
completion of these changes.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
Western Balkans
19.
Reaffirming its full and unequivocal commitment to the EU membership perspective of the
Western Balkans, the European Council calls for the acceleration of their accession process.
20.
The European Council takes note of the Commission’s Communication on a new growth plan
for the Western Balkans, which aims to accelerate the socio-economic convergence between
the Western Balkans and the European Union, based on strict conditionalities, and encourages
the region to step up the pace of EU-related reforms and to advance regional economic
integration through the Common Regional Market, based on EU rules and standards.
21.
The European Council remains committed to advancing the gradual integration between the
European Union and the region during the enlargement process itself in a reversible and
merit-based manner.
Reforms
22.
As the Union enlarges, successful European integration requires that Union policies be fit for
the future and financed in a sustainable manner, based on the values on which the Union is
founded, and that the EU institutions continue to function effectively.
23.
The European Council will address internal reforms at its upcoming meetings with a view to
adopting by summer 2024 conclusions on a roadmap for future work.
IV.
24.
MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK 2021-2027
The European Council discussed the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework
2021-2027 as set out in document EUCO 23/23, which was firmly supported by 26 Heads of
State or Government. The European Council will revert to the matter early next year.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
V.
25.
SECURITY AND DEFENCE
In
the context of global instability, strategic competition and security threats, the European
Council underlines the importance of strengthening European security and defence to deliver
an ambitious geopolitical Union. The Union needs to take more responsibility for its own
security and defence, pursue a strategic course of action and increase its capacity to act
autonomously.
26.
Having
taken stock of work carried out to implement its previous conclusions, the Versailles
Declaration and the Strategic Compass, the European Council underlines that more needs to
be done to fulfil the Union’s objectives of increasing defence readiness and increasing
defence expenditure in a collaborative way, including enhancing defence investment and
capability development, and to achieve an effective and integrated market for defence. In
particular, the European Council:
a)
calls for the existing measures to be implemented as a matter of urgency to facilitate and
coordinate joint procurement and to increase the European defence industry’s
interoperability and production capacity in order to replenish Member State stocks,
notably in light of the support to be provided to Ukraine;
b)
calls on the High Representative and the Commission, in coordination with the
European Defence Agency, to swiftly present a European Defence Industrial Strategy
(EDIS), including a proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP), in
light of the need to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base,
including SMEs, and to make it more innovative, competitive and resilient;
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
c)
underlines the importance of further developing an integrated market in the field of
defence to reinforce cross-border supply chains, ensure critical technologies and
improve the competitiveness of the European defence industry. To that end, the EU’s
regulatory framework for the defence industrial sector should be adapted to enhance
interoperability, standardisation, and harmonisation of certification processes and to
allow for faster and more flexible action, in particular with regard to public
procurement;
d)
in view of the next Annual Progress Report of the Strategic Compass and in line with
the commitments undertaken by the participating Member States in the framework of
the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), calls for work to be intensified to
increase the defence readiness, resilience and security of the Union, including through
defence investment, military mobility, regular live exercises, enhancing space security,
countering cyber and hybrid threats, addressing foreign information manipulation and
interference (FIMI) based on the recently established toolbox which includes the
possibility of exploring new restrictive measures, and reinforcing the collaborative
development of the capabilities necessary to conduct the full range of missions and
operations, in particular through the implementation of the EU Rapid Deployment
Capacity;
e)
calls for an enhanced role of the European Investment Bank Group in support of
European security and defence, building on the bank’s Strategic European Security
Initiative;
f)
calls for continued work to strengthen the new Civilian CSDP Compact, in light of the
Council conclusions on civilian CSDP of 11 December 2023.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
27.
A stronger and a more capable European Union in the field of security and defence will
contribute positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO,
which remains the foundation of collective defence for its members. This is without prejudice
to the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States, and
takes into account the security and defence interests of all Member States.
VI.
MIGRATION AND OTHER ITEMS
Migration
28.
The European Council held a strategic discussion on migration and took note of the recent
letter by the President of the European Commission.
29.
The European Union will continue to pursue a comprehensive approach to migration which
combines increased external action, mutually beneficial comprehensive partnerships with
countries of origin and transit, addressing the root causes of migration, opportunities for legal
migration, more effective protection of EU external borders, resolutely fighting organised
crime, human trafficking and smuggling, instrumentalisation of migration as a hybrid threat
and stepping up returns.
Hybrid attacks
30.
The European Council strongly condemns all hybrid attacks, including the instrumentalisation
of migrants by third countries for political purposes, and remains determined to ensure
effective control of the EU’s external borders. The European Union is determined to counter
the ongoing hybrid attacks at its external borders launched by the Russian Federation and by
Belarus.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
COP28
31.
The European Council welcomes the successful conclusion of the COP28 UN Climate
Conference and the first Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement, in particular the agreement
to accelerate emission reductions towards net zero by 2050 and the agreement on reducing
global emissions by 43 % by 2030 and 60 % by 2035 relative to the 2019 level, in line with
the best available science, to keep the 1.5 °C objective within reach. It also welcomes the
agreement by all parties to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
VII. EU-TÜRKIYE RELATIONS
32.
The European Council takes note of the joint report of the High Representative and the
European Commission on the state of play of EU-Türkiye relations, and will revert to the
matter at an upcoming European Council meeting.
VIII. FIGHT AGAINST ANTISEMITISM, RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA
33.
Seriously concerned about recent alarming incidents, the European Council reiterates its
condemnation in the strongest possible terms of all forms of antisemitism and hate,
intolerance, racism and xenophobia, including anti-Muslim
hatred. It recalls in this context the
European Union Anti-racism Action Plan and the European Strategy on combating
antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, the swift implementation of which is essential for the
security of Jewish communities.
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Conclusions – 14 and 15 December 2023
IX.
34.
STRATEGIC AGENDA
Following the informal meeting in Granada and subsequent consultations, and taking into
account the long-term objectives of making the Union stronger and ready to welcome new
members, the European Council will continue its work on the new Strategic Agenda, defining
the Union’s priorities and ways to achieve them in the coming years and providing guidance
for the Union during the next institutional cycle. It will adopt the next Strategic Agenda by
summer 2024.
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