A difficult two-day EU Summit with complex issues and sharp disagreements begins today in Brussels. Support for Ukraine, Enlargement, the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027), the situation in the Middle East and the security and defense of the EU are the issues that will concern the European leaders.

About the Ukrainethe point is to honor EU commitments and continue political, economic and military support.

European leaders are asked to agree to the provision 50 billion euros for the next four years to the country (17 billion euros in grants and 33 billion euros in loans) and to start the accession negotiations, sending the necessary political message to both Kiev and Moscow. Nineteen months after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, “bold decisions that require collective strength and determination” are needed, Charles Michel stresses in his letter of invitation to European leaders.

European leaders will discuss the accession process of all Enlargement countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Western Balkans). “We need to make important decisions for other prospective members while, at the same time, we work to make our Union fit for the future and ready to take on new members”, emphasizes the President of the European Council.

The position of Greece: Government sources report that our country is in agreement with the proposal of the European Commission and supports the start of EU accession negotiations. with Ukraine and Moldova, while he is in favor of granting candidate status to Georgia.

Greek “brake” on Albania’s accession process due to Beleri – The Greek government remains unmoved in its position, not to consent to the accession process of Albania, if there is no progress on the issue of the elected mayor of Heimara, Freddy Beleris.

Ignoring Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s veto threat to Ukraine, the European Council’s draft conclusions start with the assumption that the 27 leaders “decide to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.” For Georgia, the draft conclusions state that candidate country status will be granted on the condition that progress is made, while for Bosnia and Herzegovina that it will start accession negotiations once the necessary degree of compliance with the accession criteria is achieved.

The draft conclusions on enlargement make special reference to the rule of law, noting that “prospective members should step up their reform efforts, in particular in the area of ​​the rule of law, in line with the meritocratic nature of the accession process and with the assistance of the EU”. Regarding Euro-Turkish relations, no thorough discussion is expected at this Summit and in a separate paragraph of the draft conclusions it is stated that “the European Council notes the joint report of the High Representative and the European Commission on the state of EU-Turkey relations and will return on the issue at an upcoming session of the European Council”.

Besides, a critical point of contention of the Summit is the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (2021-2027). The new geopolitical challenges, due to the Russian war in Ukraine, the increase in migration flows to the EU, but also the new requirements for a green and digital transition require the revision of the MFF for the next four years (2024-2027). The European Commission, in the proposal it submitted in the summer, requested an increase in total funds by 66 billion euros, but in the latest compromise proposal submitted by Charles Michel, they are reduced to 22.5 billion euros. This amount is very small for the countries of the South and very high for the countries of the North, mainly Germany and the Netherlands. “I have noted all your concerns and priorities and submitted a proposal that seeks to reconcile the different positions around the table,” stresses Charles Michel in the letter of invitation to European leaders.

The position of Greece: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pointed out that a solution cannot only include funding for Ukraine and has underlined the need to foresee in the European budget increased resources for immigration – such a critical issue that concerns the entire EU – especially for the frontline countries.

Read about: The prime minister will ask for increased resources for migration and natural disasters at the Summit of 27 in Brussels

Another issue that will concern the European leaders is the security and defense. “We must continue to implement our ambition to build a stronger geopolitical union, based on the Declaration of Versailles and the Strategic Compass,” Charles Michel says in his letter, stressing that more needs to be done to increase the EU’s defense preparedness and “to work towards the creation of an internal defense market”.

Developments in the Middle East it will also be high on the agenda of European leaders. As before, it will demand the release of all hostages and the “disturbing humanitarian situation in Gaza”. “We must be strong in support of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself against Hamas, as well as unequivocally defend international and humanitarian law,” Charles Michel said in his letter. The 27 leaders will also discuss security and stability in the region and the prospects for lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

It is noted that there is no specific order in the agenda of the European Council’s work. The 27 leaders will begin talks with Ukraine, but all issues are expected to be discussed more or less over both days. Given the difficult issues the European Council has to deal with, no one is ruling out the possibility of an extension into the weekend, with the Brussels authorities and the Belgian police prepared for this scenario as well.