EU reform, union enlargement and aid to Ukraine are key topics of the EU summit

The leaders of about 50 EU countries are holding a summit on October 5-6 in the Spanish city of Granada. This is the third meeting within the European Political Community.

Focus on Russian aggression against Ukraine and aid to Kyiv

The Spanish Presidency of the EU described the key priorities of the summit.

“The focus of this meeting will be on the current conflicts on the continent to maintain unity in the face of Russian aggression against Ukraine in the presence of most European leaders. That discussions within the ENP will take place in four working groups: digitalization; energy, environment and green transformation; multilateralism and geostrategy,” the statement said.

Ukraine will be discussed in a group on multilateralism and geostrategy. It will have two subgroups, one of which will reflect the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the other will focus on the possible reform of the role of specific international organizations and institutions in resolving the conflict.

The Spanish presidency stated it also wanted to make progress on the EU pact on migration, which is a critical challenge for the EU, as this is the last full semester of the current European parliament.

Energy, AI technology and environment on the agenda

European leaders will also consider the development of artificial intelligence technologies in the EU and beyond and discuss regulatory rules for its use.

As for energy, the meeting is scheduled to continue the discussion on energy development with due regard to environmental protection needs.

On October 6, an informal summit of the European Union will be held in Granada, during which EU heads of state and government will focus on the further development of the community.

In particular, EU leaders will discuss how to reform the 27-nation community to accommodate new members, starting the process of preparing the EU for enlargement by 2030.

Zelenskyy invited to Granada summit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit in Granada. Zelenskyy told Sky TG24.

“I was invited to Granada by Prime Minister Sanchez to an informal summit of the 27 EU countries,” Zelenskyy said.

But the Ukrainian President noted that he is unlikely to be able to attend in Granada, as his “presence in Ukraine is necessary.”

EU membership is the best security guarantee for Ukraine – Borrell

At an informal meeting of the European Union’s foreign ministers in Kyiv, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that membership is the best security commitment the EU can offer Ukraine.

Josep Borrell has proposed a new bilateral, multi-year program within the framework of the European Peacekeeping Fund for 5 billion euros for Ukraine aid over the next few years.

European Political Community

The European Political Community was established on May 9, 2022, at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron during his then-French presidency of the EU.

It is a platform for political and strategic discussions on the future of Europe. Granada will host the third meeting in this format to discuss the most critical issues of concern to Europeans across the continent. The previous two ENP summits were held in the Czech Republic and Moldova.