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Versailles How to help Ukraine resist a Russian invasion, of course, but also and above all Impact of the war on the European Union in terms of defense and energy security, reducing dependence on Russian hydrocarbons by 2027. “This is a defining moment for the European Union, it is a test of the resilience of our democracy,” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said upon her arrival in. The informal summit in Versailles, where on Thursday EU leaders, at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in charge of the current EU presidency, discussed European defense relations, energy, Kiev and the EU until late.

“We want to rethink our defense capacity and our energy, to achieve independence from Russian hydrocarbons with huge investments in renewables, because they give us independence and security,” said von der Leyen, while European Council President Charles Michel explained. “It’s a strategic summit, it’s very important. There is no point in turning around.” “Europe must prepare itself for all scenarios” and thus “be independent of Russian gas and be independent in ensuring its defense” because “We discovered that our democracy and our values ​​are under threat” The French President, Emmanuel Macron, said before the start of the meeting, explaining that “We have different positions between us, this is Europe, but the key is to be able to defend the common interest” Bypassing “certain positions”.

On Friday they will discuss how to build a strong economy (Reform the Stability Pact but not only). And the frugal countries are already at war against a new common debt hypothesis. Entering the summit, Macron explained that “We need a European investment strategy. To start, private investments will be required, and to strengthen them, a coordinated national investment strategy and a common European investment strategy will be required. We can start with the part of the recovery plan for 2020, for the part that is not used yet, but depending on the goals that we will set, it will be necessary to see if it is transformed and make new decisions.” His idea is two hundred billion new defense and energy. So far only Austria opened among the economy.

Prime Minister Mario Draghi When he arrives, repeat it “Italy and France are allied with the rest of the European Union, both in response to the sanctions and in the support of our countries that these sanctions will necessarily entail.”. Nobody has any illusions about the duration of the war: “I am pessimistic,” said President Macron, “I do not see a ceasefire in the next few days.” Draghi noted that “we have asked President Putin several times together Ending hostilities, especially the bombing of civilians“. On the table of EU leaders there are new sanctions against Russia.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell He explained that at the summit, “we have to work in two directions: we have to continue.” To pressure Putin to stop this aggressive war, With diplomatic action but also with sanctions; We will have to increase the EU’s flexibility with energy independence and military capacity.”

If the EU leaders are so Agreeing to condemn “unjustified and unjustified” aggression Ukraine holds “full responsibility for Russia and its partner Belarus”, It took longer to find a common language in the final statement to describe Kyiv’s relationship with the unionFollowing the formal application for EU membership by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Because if it is obvious, as von der Leyen points out, that Ukraine is “part of our European family”», about the ways in which attitudes differ between EU countries, with Poland and the Baltic states pushing. sincere Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte: “There is no doubt that the Netherlands and Ukraine stand side by side but there is no fast track to joining the European Union”. On Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi Kyiv is part of the European family and Italy is committed to a sanctions agreement with other leaders. Now it is Germany and the Netherlands, along with Austria-Hungary, who insist not to penalize the energy sector.

EU leaders discussed the war in Ukraine over dinner at the Gallery of Mirrors, which began at 9:30 p.m. with an hour delay from the schedule. The confrontation continued until late at night. The first part of the meetinghosted at the Salone d’Ercole, focus instead on how to do it Making the European Union independent of Russian gas, oil and coal Come here How to strengthen defense (decision postponed to last March’s summit).. The commission’s proposal, codenamed “RepowerEu”, which aims to cut the consumption of gas imported from Moscow by two-thirds this year, has won support from leaders. In the field of defense, the demand is to significantly increase national spending, develop joint projects, and accelerate the strategic compass. EU leaders also discussed whether to engage the Commission.