Strasbourg, 22 January 2025
On Wednesday, MEPs debated the outcome of the December EU summit with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen, focussing on Ukraine, EU-US relations and the EU’s global role.
In his first plenary debate as president of the European Council, António Costa said EU heads of State and Government pledged “to strengthen Ukraine’s position for every scenario. Peace must be the peace chosen by Ukraine and by Ukrainians. For the sake of Ukraine’s security. For the sake of Europe’s security.” He reaffirmed the EU’s support for Ukraine “for as long as necessary, and whatever it takes, for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”
EU leaders are fully committed to enlargement, he said, which they consider “the biggest geopolitical investment for peace and security, for our people and our continent.” On transatlantic relations, Mr Costa said that he was looking forward to working closely with the new US administration “to advance a positive and fair economic cooperation and to work on our shared priorities for prosperity and security, while – naturally – protecting our own interests…a stable, balanced and predictable trade relationship” is in the interest of both the EU and the US, he said.
The EU needs to strengthen its bilateral relations with third countries to tackle climate action, sustainable development and reduce poverty, President Costa said. “It is a multipolar world that requires tailored approaches,” he stressed, adding that he will develop relations with South Africa, Central Asia, Brazil, Japan and India to address these challenges.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the need for Europe to change and adapt to a new era of harsh geostrategic competition. She said the EU’s new “Competitiveness Compass” will focus on closing the innovation gap with Europe’s competitors, fostering decarbonisation and competitiveness and strengthening economic resilience and security.
On transatlantic relations, she said that the EU will be ready to negotiate with the U.S. while standing by European principles.
Reactions by MEPs
MEPs welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, with some calling for a two-state solution. Several MEPs emphasised the need for the EU to maintain its geopolitical relevance in a world experiencing seismic shifts. Some MEPs stressed the importance of ensuring Europe is not excluded from any peace-making efforts in Ukraine, and others urged Europe to reinforce its defence capabilities. Meanwhile, a number of MEPs raised the importance of addressing illegal migration, especially by dealing with the issue outside the EU.
On EU-US relations, speakers warned that Europe is now a target under the Trump administration, while others welcomed the new US leadership. Several MEPs raised concerns about European democracy being threatened by external forces, while others defended the EU’s green policies in light of the US’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
Watch the debate again.
Source – EU Parliament
Report by European Council President António Costa at the EU Parliament Plenary
Strasbourg, 22 January 2025
(Unedited version)
In my first speech in the European Parliament as President of the European Council, I would like to address my greetings to all of you in this House, elected by the European citizens. I am looking forward to our close cooperation, to the debates and to the exchanges with you. To the debates after European Councils. To exchanges with President Metsola and the political group leaders in the Conference of Presidents. Because only together can we address the biggest challenges Europe is facing.
It was that sense of unity that presided over the first European Council I chaired in December. I took away three main messages from that meeting.
First, on Ukraine, the message was clear: the European Union reaffirmed its support to Ukraine for as long as necessary, and whatever it takes, for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. This is the message that we conveyed to President Zelenskyy, who joined us for an important exchange. We pledge to strengthen Ukraine’s position for every scenario. Peace must be the peace chosen by Ukraine and by the Ukrainians. For the sake of Ukraine’s security. For the sake of Europe’s security.
Second, on enlargement. We are fully committed to enlargement as the biggest geopolitical investment for peace and security, for our people and our continent. This was also a central topic in the Western Balkans summit I chaired the day before the European Council. The six Western Balkans countries, Ukraine and Moldova are working hard to deliver on their commitments. There is no doubt that the future of these countries is in our Union. It is time for us to deliver on our promises as they deliver on theirs.
Thirdly, the European Council had a strategic discussion on Europe’s role in the world.
We need to renew our relations with the United Kingdom, and work for a stronger transatlantic relationship, rooted in our common history and deep bonds with the United States and Canada. A partnership that has underpinned peace and economic growth for decades, based on our shared values and common interests. The European Union and the United States are each other’s largest trading and investment partners. It is in the interest of both to keep fostering a stable, balanced and predictable trade relationship. We are looking forward to working closely with the new US Administration to advance a positive and fair economic cooperation and to work on our shared priorities for prosperity and security while – naturally – protecting our own interests.
The world today is multipolar, and it opens new opportunities for Europe. The European Union needs to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral relationships with third countries, based on common interests, mutual prosperity and shared priorities like climate action, sustainable development, or poverty and disease reduction. Because the world is multipolar, expressions such as Global South and Global North make no sense. It is, in fact, a plural world which requires tailored approaches, and even more energy in our engagement. Therefore, I look forward to the upcoming summits during the current semester with South Africa, Central Asia, Brazil, and Japan and also to the visit of the European Commission to India to advance on those challenges collectively and more effectively.
The European Union is a pillar of the international rules-based order. Upholding the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders. Continuing to support an inclusive and multilateral system under the principles of the UN Charter and international law. We, the EU, remain committed to all our international engagements, to a comprehensive agenda to tackle climate change, inequality and the reform of the global financial institutions. We remain committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, the Pact for the Future and the Paris Agreement.
Our Union is a project for peace, that has been stable for decades because we value our alliances, our economic interdependency, our integrated societies. But to preserve peace, we need to assume greater responsibility for our own defence, our strategic autonomy, our sovereignty. This is why, since 2014, and especially after 2022, the Member States have been increasing their budgets for defence. Today, the twenty-three Member States that are also NATO allies, all together are expected to be spending above 2% for defence investment.
We have also taken major efforts together during the last years. We are implementing with determination the Strategic Compass. We fully use the new tools we have to ramp up our ammunition production and to acquire the most urgent and critical defence products. The Commission has also already put forward a Defence Industrial Programme, and the European Investment Bank has updated its policy on supporting dual-use technology. There is an overall sense of urgency and a strategic purpose among us. We are on the right track to build the Europe of Defence.
That sense of urgency and purpose has led me to invite European leaders for an informal meeting on defence on the third of February. This is the very first time the European leaders will get together in a meeting exclusively dedicated to defence to prepare the ground for the next decisions we will have to take, and to provide political guidance for the white paper on defence being prepared by the European Commission and the High Representative. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will join us for parts of our discussions, because Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and our resilience from hybrid attacks are shared priorities.
It is in our interest to do more in the field of defence. To become more resilient, more efficient, more autonomous, and a more reliable security and defence actor. This way, the European Union will also become a stronger transatlantic partner, including in the context of NATO.
The European Union is an economic and trade power. Yes, there are important challenges to our competitiveness, but Europe is home to world-class research and industry and high-skilled workers, critical for our economic growth and strength in the years ahead. We owe to the future generations the ambition to build a strong and vibrant Europe that brings shared prosperity for all and ensures a just and inclusive climate and digital transitions.
The European Council in March will turn to the economy, energy and competitiveness. We made it clear in the Budapest Declaration that we all agree with the analysis of Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi. We must now decide on the right policies, and deliver. I am looking forward to the Commission’s proposals on the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, and bureaucracy reduction. I will work closely with President Von der Leyen to advance on these fronts.
Finally, defence and competitiveness go hand in hand. Investing in defence in an integrated way, while building a safe European supply chains network, energy autonomy and an innovative industry, can boost our economies and job creation, as well as adopting a modern and reinforced European Union budget that is up to the challenges Europe is facing. A budget that invests in our collective security. A budget that fosters competitiveness and innovation and promotes a twin transition that works for citizens and businesses. Leaving no one behind. No region forgotten. No problem without solution.
Unity is the core element of our Union. United we are stronger. Stronger we are greater.
Thank you for your attention.