Concrete decisions are not expected at the Versailles meeting and hopes are pinned on the European summit to be held on March 24 and 25 in Brussels.
The Heads of State and Government of the European Union (EU) meet this Thursday in Versailles, France, in an appointment in which they will deal with the war in Ukraine and which will be marked by differences on how to deal with energy dependence and its cost in energy prices and defense spending. Concrete decisions are not expected at the Versailles meeting and hopes are pinned on the European summit to be held on March 24 and 25 in Brussels.
Two weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the leaders of the Twenty-seven will discuss the next steps in terms of sanctionswith the option of redoubling restrictions on the financial system, exports or the Russian maritime sector, although no concrete decisions are expected.
Leaders will talk about reducing Russia’s energy dependencywhich imports 40% of the gas consumed by the EU, and will also address rising electricity prices and a redesign of the energy market.
On the other hand, the summit will be the moment in which the leaders hold an in-depth debate on the Ukraine’s application to join the EU. There are Member States that defend accelerating the process as soon as possible, while others ask to continue the normal course. As it is an issue that generates deep divisions among the Twenty-seven, no great progress can be expected, although the key will be that the leaders manage to agree on an “adequate wording” to recognize Ukraine as part of the “European family”, but without compromising a process which in itself is “long” and complex.
Increase defense spending
Likewise, it is expected that European leaders will record their renewed commitment to increase defense spending and to coordinate military investments among the Twenty-seven in the face of the new security situation caused by the crisis in Ukraine. The leaders will ask Brussels to draw up defense plans and will discuss the adaptation of the defense strategy, scheduled for the end of the month, to the situation in Ukraine.
Source: Eitb
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