Outcome of the EU leaders' meetings of 18-19 December 2024
The focus of the December 2024 European Council meeting lay on two main issues: Ukraine and the European Union in the world. On Ukraine, the main message was that the EU will give full support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. In that context, EU leaders condemned Russia and those who support its war, and also discussed the path to peace. Regarding the EU in the world, EU leaders first examined developments in the Middle East, with a strong focus on the situation in Syria, and, over dinner, held a strategic discussion on the EU's global engagement in the current geopolitical context. Notably, they discussed EU relations with the United States after the US elections, as well as the current 'new positive energy' in relations between the EU and the United Kingdom. Additionally, based on the report by former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, EU Heads of State or Government considered ways of increasing EU resilience, preparedness and crisis prevention. They also discussed migration, reviewing progress in the implementation of past conclusions and calling for legislation with a migration component to be given priority. In addition, they endorsed the 'strategic guidelines for legislative and operational planning within the area of freedom, security and justice' for the 2024-2029 period. Finally, EU leaders discussed enlargement, developments in Moldova and Georgia, and the situation in Venezuela. The European Council meeting, which was the first one chaired by its new President, António Costa, was preceded by an EU-Western Balkans summit on 18 December.
Briefing