Debate: Preparation of the European Council meeting of - October
Date: WEDNESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2021
Speaker: Anže Logar
Language: EN

The meeting will, of course, start with the usual exchange with the European Parliament. Leaders will discuss the current state of play on COVID—19. The vaccination rollout in the EU has been largely successful, but more needs to be done, especially regarding vaccination hesitancy and disinformation. Further coordination is also needed with regard to free movement and travel to the EU. Given the global nature of the pandemic and the emergence of new variants, international solidarity remains important. The rapid removal of obstacles hampering the global rollout of vaccines is crucial to allow Member States to speed up delivery of vaccines to countries most in need. COVID—19 has taught us that we need to be better prepared for the pandemics of the future. In this context, leaders are expected to call for the conclusion of the negotiation on the health union legislative package. Member States continue to support the strong and central role of the WHO in global health governance, as well as the creation of an international treaty on pandemics. The hike in energy prices is, without a doubt, one of the most pressing issues for our citizens and industry today. Following their informal dinner in Brdo in Slovenia, leaders will discuss recent developments in energy prices and possible measures at EU and national level, taking into account the recent Commission communication. The Commission has identified various measures that are at their disposal at national level to mitigate the effect of soaring energy prices. In addition to that, we also expect the leaders to take a closer look at what could be of help at European level, both in the short term and in the medium and long term, to reduce our dependency on fossil fuel. At a more strategic level, leaders are expected to have an open discussion on trade. When it comes to the EU’s global influence, trade remains the most effective instrument in our toolbox. Leaders will discuss how to make the best use of this instrument in light of recent experiences. Leaders will also assess the implementation of the June European Council conclusions on the external dimension of migration. Eight action plans for countries of origin and transit have been presented. Now these plans need to be made operational and implemented without delay. Leaders are expected to call on the Commission to present proposals for financing action on all migratory routes and to report regularly to the Council in this regard. Europe’s digital transformation is also on the agenda, as it is an important driver of economic growth, job creation and competitiveness. Leaders will take stock of progress on the digital agenda, including cybersecurity and connectivity, and give a political push to work on existing and future proposals and initiatives. Inclusive and sustainable digital policies and digital connectivity remain important. With regard to external relations, leaders will discuss the preparation for the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in November and the Eastern Partnership Summit in December. The prime objective of the Eastern Partnership Summit is to demonstrate the importance of the relationship with Eastern partners. A united EU position is essential if we want to engage these partners successfully. The leitmotif of resilience, recovery and reform should guide the way. In view of the upcoming COP26 summit, leaders are expected to call for an ambitious global response to climate change, urging major economies that have not yet done so to set ambitious, nationally-determined contributions in time for COP26, to present a long—term strategy for reaching net zero emissions by 2050, and to meet their commitments on climate finance. We will come back to COP26 in our next debate. Leaders will also call for an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework ahead of next year’s COP15 meeting on biodiversity in Kunming. I very much look forward to hearing your opinions on these important matters.