Fri. Oct 18th, 2024
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Agenda of the European Council, 17-18 October 2024

17 October - 18 October

EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine, the Middle East, competitiveness, migration and foreign affairs.

Ahead of the European Council meeting, EU leaders and leaders from the Gulf region will meet in the first EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit on 16 October 2024.

EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit, 16 October 2024

 

Ukraine

EU leaders will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in all its dimensions, including developments on the frontline, and continued comprehensive support for Ukraine and its people. The EU is committed to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, based on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

With regard to military support, the leaders will review progress on the delivery of air defence systems, ammunition and missiles, as well as assistance measures under the European Peace Facility and bilateral assistance from EU member states.

They will also discuss progress on the use of extraordinary revenue from Russia’s frozen assets to benefit Ukraine.

To help Ukraine prepare for the winter and beyond, the leaders will discuss how to strengthen Ukraine’s energy sector and its critical infrastructure, which has been the target of persistent shelling by Russia.

The EU is ready to increase pressure on Russia, including by ensuring the full and effective implementation of sanctions and through further measures to counter their circumvention.

EU response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (background information)

 

Middle East

EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in the Middle East, in particular the critical escalation of violence in the region.

The EU condemns in the strongest terms Iran’s attack against Israel and urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and respect international humanitarian law. The EU is fully committed to lowering tensions and contributing to de-escalation in order to avoid a dangerous regional conflict.

The deadly escalatory spiral in the Middle East must stop now. A regional war is in no one’s interest.

European Council President Charles Michel, 1 October 2024.

In this context, EU leaders will discuss the most pressing needs, including:

– an immediate ceasefire along the withdrawal line on the Lebanese-Israeli border (the ‘Blue Line’) to end all cross-border threats

– support to the state institutions of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces

– an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the deployment of urgent humanitarian assistance

– the unconditional release of all hostages

The leaders are also expected to discuss the escalation in the West Bank following the latest military operation, increasing settler violence and the expansion of illegal settlements, as well as the security situation in the Red Sea.

The EU is committed to a lasting and sustainable peace on the basis of the two-state solution between Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestine.

 

Competitiveness

The EU is determined to strengthen its long-term competitiveness and to improve citizens’ economic and social well-being. As set out in the strategic agenda 2024-2029, EU leaders have identified several priorities to reduce dependencies in strategic sectors and make Europe an industrial and technological powerhouse.

At the Special European Council meeting on 17 and 18 April 2024, EU leaders also agreed on the need for a new competitiveness deal and outlined some means to achieve it. In this context, leaders will take stock of progress on enhancing EU competitiveness.

The reports ‘Much more than a market’, by Enrico Letta, and ‘The future of European competitiveness’, by Mario Draghi, will feed into the leaders’ discussion.

Strategic agenda 2024-2029 (background information)

Special European Council, 17-18 April 2024

‘Much more than a market’, report by Enrico Letta 

‘The future of European competitiveness’, report by Mario Draghi (European Commission) 

 

Migration

EU leaders will hold an in-depth discussion on migration and take stock of the implementation of the comprehensive approach on migration, which they agreed on at the special European Council meeting on 9 February 2023. In this context, they will focus on:

– external action

– strengthening control of the EU’s external borders

– increasing and accelerating returns

– the fight against the instrumentalisation of migrants, human trafficking and smuggling

EU migration and asylum policy (background information)

Special European Council, 9 February 2023

 

European Semester

EU leaders are expected to endorse the country-specific recommendations, thereby concluding the 2024 cycle.

European Semester in 2024 (background information)

 

Climate change and biodiversity

The European Council will take stock of preparations for the meetings of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November 2024, and of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 11 to 22 November 2024.

UN biodiversity conference, 21 October – 1 November 2024 

COP29, 11-22 November 2024 

 

Foreign affairs

In the light of events, EU leaders may address specific foreign policy issues, including developments in GeorgiaMoldovaVenezuela and Sudan.

Practical information
  • Location: Brussels
Preparatory documents

 

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Details

Start:
17 October
End:
18 October
Event Categories:
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Venue

European Council

Organizer

European Council