EU leaders meet to discuss Ukraine situation and decide on bloc’s future leaders – Europe Live | Europe

Daniel Freunda German Green MEP, sent a letter with 20,000 signatures to the President of the European Council calling for the suspension of the next Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU.

“Together with 20,000 citizens, we, the undersigned Members of the European Parliament, call on you to officially suspend the Hungarian Presidency of the Council, which is currently scheduled to begin on July 1, 2024,” he wrote.

Hungary is set to take over the presidency on July 1, despite long-standing concerns about democratic backsliding at home and the government’s friendly ties with Moscow and Beijing.

In the letter, seen by the Guardian, Freund writes:

It would be extremely damaging to the reputation of our Union if the current Hungarian government represented us, Europeans, in any capacity immediately after the European elections. The EU has officially frozen funds under the rule of law conditionality mechanism due to high levels of corruption in Hungary. Over the years, the Orbán government has also undermined elections, the rule of law and media freedom in Hungary.

At the European level, the Orbán government has compared the European Union to a dictatorship. They posted posters across the country with bombs bearing the EU flag when sanctions against Russia were adopted. At a time when the imperialist dictator Putin is bombing Ukraine, a candidate country for the EU, Orbán went to China just to shake his hand.

It is time for the EU to stand up against the bullying of a government which clearly struggles to adhere to the most fundamental European principles and values. Hungary, in its current state, would never meet the criteria for EU membership. Its criminal leaders should therefore not be allowed to represent the Union.

Ireland Simon Harris said upon arriving at the summit that when it comes to the European Council’s choice of the next president of the European Commission, “there is absolutely no doubt, there is a clear consensus that it will be Ursula von der Leyen”.

He said the name of Ireland’s next commissioner was “determined”.

In the Middle East, Harris did:

I don’t think we are using all the levers we have as the European Union to exert maximum pressure to create an immediate ceasefire.

Simon Harristhe Irish leader, said he was “very happy that today we are taking a historic step in the sense that the European Council will of course discuss Ukraine’s accession to the European Union, after the intergovernmental conference of these last days”.

“I look forward to welcoming President Zelenskiy here to Brussels today as well, as another symbol of the continued solidarity that the European Union will continue to show with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”

Harris also stressed that he looked forward to discussions on competitiveness.

He also said that today he believes that “we will bring purpose – from the Council’s point of view – to the three highest positions within the European institutions for the next period.”

“We will sign three security agreements, including one with the EU as a whole,” Volodymyr Zelensky » he announced as he arrived for a summit with European leaders in Brussels.

“For the first time, this agreement will enshrine the commitment of all 27 member states to provide Ukraine with considerable support, regardless of internal institutional changes. Every step we take brings us closer to our historic goal of peace and prosperity in our common European home,” he said.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyarrived at the top.

Alongside Charles Michel, he declared:

Thank you and of course all EU leaders for this historic result. We waited this long time, yes. And everyone – civilians and of course our heroes on the battlefield – knows how we want to be in the EU.

Today we are witnessing this great historic step forward. And thank you very much for this support and for this result, the opening of negotiations. This is very important for all of us, for all of Ukraine, believe me.

And of course we have to work on the next steps.

You always say we are too fast! But we need… we will discuss it today with the leaders, our next steps.

He also spoke of “urgent matters,” stressing the need for strengthened air defenses.

EU leaders will discuss the latest developments in Ukraine this afternoon with Volodymyr Zelenskythe Ukrainian president.

In his letter of invitation to the 27 EU heads of state and government, Charles Michelthe President of the European Council, wrote:

Concretely, our meeting will begin on Thursday June 27 at 2 p.m. with an exchange with President Zelensky. This will be an opportunity to discuss the situation on the ground, but also to take note of some achievements since our last meeting.

This European Council will notably be an opportunity to welcome the adoption of negotiation frameworks and the holding of intergovernmental conferences with Ukraine, Moldova and Montenegro. These are historic steps to support these countries’ respective journeys towards European membership.

Furthermore, we have been ambitious and bold in channeling extraordinary revenues from stranded Russian assets to support Ukraine this year. Over the coming years, we will, together with our partners, guarantee loans to Ukraine worth an additional €50 billion.

It is also imperative that we step up our military support for Ukraine, focusing on air defense, munitions and missiles. Furthermore, we must continue to mobilize broad international support for a just peace in Ukraine, based on the United Nations Charter.

Hello and welcome to a special edition of the Europe blog, brought to you from the summit of the European Council in Brussels.

Today, the EU’s 27 heads of state and government are expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine and make a decision on the bloc’s next leaders.

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