- The leaders in Brussels will besides consider organising the EU-US summit proposed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- — This will be the beginning of a fresh chapter in the defence union book that we are starting to write,” said the EU source
- One of the diplomats did not regulation out that unless Hungary withdraws the veto, the another leaders would adopt the conclusions without their participation
- More crucial information can be found on the Onetu homepage
The Heads of State and Government will meet in Brussels on Thursday at an extraordinary summit, at which, as the EU origin put it, they will take account of changes in the United States' approach to the Russian attack on Ukraine. Since the last gathering of the leaders of ‘27’ on 3 February, Washington has started talks with Moscow without the participation of Kiev and European allies and announced a halt to military aid for Ukraine.
The change in American policies towards the Kremlin did not affect Europe's approach to the United States. “The European Union wants to show that the US is inactive a friend and that it takes Washington’s calls for increased defence spending seriously,” stressed the EU source.
The relation with Washington did not change Donald Trump's quarrel with Zelenski in the White House. “Transatlantic relations are unchanged. It takes much more than just screaming to change European policy,” said a diplomat from 1 of the leading associate States in discussions about Ukraine.
The leaders in Brussels will besides consider organising the EU-US summit, which was proposed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and has already been supported by respective leaders. It is unofficially said that specified a gathering would be convened by the host of EU summits, president of the European Council Antonio Costa. However, it is not known whether he would be invited to it.
Key elements of the EU Plan
The Thursday summit is besides intended to show that the EU is ready to invest in its own safety and become independent of the US as a safety guarantor. To this end, the leaders are to give the green light to the European alignment plan presented on Tuesday by the European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen. A key component of the plan is the EUR 150 billion loans that will be granted according to the needs of the associate States.
The EC besides wants to loosen the budgetary rules so that states can increase their defence spending without compromising the excessive deficit procedure. In turn, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is, as PAP announced on Tuesday as the first, ready to extend the scope of financing to non-offensive military investments, meaning military bases, for example, but not ammunition or weapons. To date, the EIB has financed only dual-use projects.
As PAP heard from EU sources, most associate States responded positively to the von der Leyen plan. Although the EU will be able to cover only part of its needs of EUR 150 billion and the anticipation for the EC to increase spending of EUR 650 billion will depend solely on the will of the capitals, Brussels is convinced that the plan is only a first step towards a defence union.
— This will be the beginning of a fresh chapter in the book of the Defence Union that we are beginning to write,” said the EU source. The von der Leyen plan will be clarified on 19 March in the alleged White Paper. Then they're expected to start working on it.
The policy of future German Chancellor Friedrich Merz can encourage further initiatives in the field of defence, among which the most far-reaching thought would be Eurobonds. Its fresh government aims to loosen the rule of the brake on debt enshrined in the German law, which would exclude defence spending. “This is simply a clear indication for us that much more can happen in this regard,” said the diplomat in Brussels.
Conclusion without Hungarian participation?
A message from the summit on support for Ukraine is much little clear. In the conclusions, leaders will confirm their support, but without specifics. “The situation is besides dynamic for present to find what safety guarantees will be, although many countries are already declaring themselves ready to give them. The EU wants to support Ukraine to make its position as strongest as possible in peace talks," stressed the EU source.
In its conclusions, the leaders are to call for the work on further support for Ukraine, including the initiative of the EU advanced typical for abroad and Defence Kai Kallas. Estonia has proposed that the EU should finance fresh military support for Ukraine by the end of this year. The money would come from contributions from associate States proportional to their national income.
Hungary disagrees with the conclusions on Ukraine. Slovakia wants the paper to contain a evidence guaranteeing further transit of Russian gas through Ukraine (Kijów stopped it at the beginning of the year). 1 diplomat did not regulation out that unless Hungary withdraws the veto, the another leaders would adopt the conclusions without their participation.
