The European Council adopted the conclusions on Defense

The European Council adopted the conclusions on Defense, welcoming the Commission’s proposal to activate the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact, as an immediate measure, to facilitate significant defense expenditures at the national level “in all member states”.

The conclusions highlight that the EU will accelerate the mobilization of the necessary means and financing to enhance the EU’s security and protect its citizens. Specifically, it states that “the EU will boost its overall defense readiness, reduce its strategic dependencies, address its critical capability gaps, and strengthen the European defense technological and industrial base accordingly across the Union, to better equip with the required quantities and pace. This will also contribute to enhancing the European industrial and technological competitiveness”.

The European Council emphasizes the need to continue the substantial increase in spending on Europe’s security and defense, and among others: “welcomes the Commission’s intention to propose to the Council the activation, in a coordinated manner, of the national escape clause within the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact as an immediate measure and calls upon the Commission to explore further measures, taking into account the Council’s views while ensuring debt sustainability, to facilitate significant national-level defense spending in all member states”. The intention of the Commission to propose a new EU instrument providing member states with loans supported by the EU budget of up to 150 billion euros is also welcomed, and the Council is urged to consider this proposal urgently.

Similarly, the recent letter of the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and plans to enhance the Bank’s support to the European security and defense industry while preserving its functions and financing capacity are welcomed, and the EIB Board of Governors is urged to urgently continue adapting EIB’s practices for lending to the defense industry, in the area of security and defense. Meanwhile, the importance of mobilizing private financing for the defense industry is underscored, and the Commission is called upon to consider related measures.

The European Council identifies the list of priority areas for action at the EU level, taking into account the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, in accordance with work already done within the European Defense Agency and in full coherence with NATO: air and missile defense, artillery systems, including precision deep strike capabilities; missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, strategic enablers, including concerning space protection and critical infrastructure, military mobility, cyberspace, artificial intelligence, and electronic warfare.

It is also emphasized that the protection and defense of all land, air, and sea borders of the EU contribute to Europe’s security as a whole, particularly concerning the eastern borders of the EU, considering the threats posed by Russia and Belarus.

Furthermore, the European Council takes into account the threats to the remaining borders of the European Union and emphasizes the importance of their defense.

The European Council also recalls that a stronger and more capable EU in the field of security and defense will positively contribute to global and transatlantic security and be complementary to NATO, which remains, for the states that are members, the foundation of their collective defense. It calls on EU member states that are NATO allies to coordinate before the NATO Summit in June 2025. The European Council emphasizes the importance of cooperation with like-minded partners outside the EU.

It is also noted that the above does not affect the specific nature of security and defense policy of certain member states and considers the security and defense interests of all member states, in accordance with the Treaties.

The European Council emphasizes that it “looks forward to the White Paper on the future of European defense”, to be presented by the European Commission around mid-March, and notes that it will revisit the subject of Defense in the March and June Summits.

M. Aroni

 The text of the conclusions of the 26 member states, the disagreement of Hungary, and the security guarantees

A text of the 26 member states of the European Union on Ukraine and not a common European stance was formulated after the end of the extraordinary European Council, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not approve the text. The background of the consultations was intense, with leaders arriving at a conclusion text, which was agreed upon by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, as the Council adopted a paragraph that references the intensification of efforts by Slovakia and Ukraine in finding a solution to the natural gas transit issue.

More specifically, the leaders of the 26 EU member states, after exchanging views with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussed the latest developments regarding Ukraine and arrived at a conclusion text that was “strongly supported by 26 heads of states and governments”, emphasizing in the text that the European Council will revisit this issue at its next meeting.

In its conclusions, the European Council reiterates the position that the EU Institution representatives and EU leaders have expressed throughout this period, stating that there can be no negotiations without Ukraine, or Europe. More specifically, the text states that “in light of the new dynamics of negotiations that should lead to such a comprehensive, fair, and lasting peace, the European Council underscores the importance of the following principles: a) there can be no negotiations on Ukraine without Ukraine, b) there can be no negotiations affecting European security without the participation of Europe. The security of Ukraine, Europe, the transatlantic and global security are interconnected, c) any cease-fire or suspension of hostilities should only occur as part of the process leading to a comprehensive peace agreement, d) any such agreement must be accompanied by strong and reliable security guarantees for Ukraine contributing to deterring future Russian aggression, and e) peace must respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

Sanctions on Russia, economic and military support to Ukraine

The leaders of the 26 EU member states agreed to increase pressure on Russia through further sanctions and, in parallel, decided on the regular and predictable economic support for Ukraine. “Achieving ‘peace through strength’ requires Ukraine to be in the strongest possible position, with its own strong military and defense capabilities as an essential component. This is valid before, during, and after negotiations to end the war. Toward this end, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to provide enhanced political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people and to increase pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and by strengthening the enforcement of existing measures, in order to weaken its ability to continue its aggressive war”, the text states.

The European Union will continue the regular and predictable economic support of Ukraine. In 2025, it will provide Ukraine with 30.6 billion euros, with disbursements from the Ukraine facility expected to reach 12.5 billion euros and 18.1 billion euros, which will emerge from extraordinary profits derived from frozen Russian assets.

Regarding the provision of military support to Ukraine, the Council “welcomes the readiness of member states to urgently step up efforts to meet Ukraine’s pressing military and defense needs, particularly the delivery of air defense systems, ammunition, and missiles, providing the necessary training and equipment for Ukrainian brigades, as well as other needs Ukraine may have. It highlights in this regard the significant role of the European Union’s military assistance mission to support Ukraine”. At the same time, it calls for these initiatives to advance rapidly and urges the EU High Representative “for the coordination of increased EU military support to Ukraine”.

Security Guarantees

The 27 EU leaders agreed that Ukraine’s defense capability constitutes an integral part of future security guarantees. In this context, the European Union and member states “commit to assist in the training and equipping of Ukrainian armed forces and to intensify efforts to further support and develop Ukraine’s defense industry and deepen its cooperation with the European defense industry”. Meanwhile, the European Union and its member states are ready to further contribute to security guarantees “based on respective competences and capabilities, in accordance with international law, including by exploring the possible use of common security and defense policy means. Security guarantees should be made jointly with Ukraine, as well as with like-minded NATO partners”.

Regarding the issue of security guarantees and military support for Ukraine, the European Council emphasizes that “they will be provided with full respect for the security and defense policies of certain member states and taking into account the security and defense interests of all member states”, while highlighting “Ukraine’s inherent right to choose its destiny, under the UN Charter and international law”.

Consultations with Slovakia

“The European Union will intensify its support for Ukraine’s reform efforts on its path to EU accession,” as the text states, while the conclusions added the paragraph that overcame Slovakia’s resistance concerning its agreement to the conclusions text, as consultations for finding a solution concerning the natural gas issue, between the two countries, Ukraine, and Slovakia, moved forward with the European Council urging “the Commission, Slovakia, and Ukraine to intensify efforts to find operational solutions to the gas transit issue, taking into account the concerns raised by Slovakia”.

Eleni Apostolidou

(7/3/2025)