Nicosia: The European Council will convene an informal meeting of Heads of State or Government on 23rd-24th April in Nicosia, Cyprus, to deliberate on the escalating Middle East crisis and the future framework of the European Union's long-term budget.
According to Emirates News Agency, European Council President Ant³nio Costa has extended an invitation to leaders from the bloc's 27 member states. The summit's opening day will feature a video address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, focusing on Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine, followed by discussions on Iran and broader Middle Eastern issues.
President Costa emphasized that the meeting aims to tackle the challenging geopolitical environment and outline Europe's strategic response. Additionally, the summit will provide a platform to offer political guidance for negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, with hopes of reaching an agreement by year-end.
Key topics will include Europe's role in fostering de-escalation and peace in the Middle East, ensuring freedom of navigation, and mitigating the impact of high fossil fuel prices on citizens and businesses. The readiness of the EU to respond to the challenging geopolitical and security environment will also be assessed, potentially involving considerations related to Article 42(7) TEU.
On the second day of the summit, discussions will turn to the next MFF, a topic previously scheduled for March but postponed. Costa highlighted the urgency of matching ambitions with appropriate financing levels and discussed the significance of New Own Resources and the EU long-term budget's contribution to the competitiveness agenda.
Following the summit, EU leaders plan to engage with regional partners to discuss Middle Eastern developments and explore avenues for cooperation. Costa underlined the importance of the Cyprus meeting as a pivotal moment for revisiting decisions from the March European Council, particularly concerning energy, and for coordinating responses to the Middle East crisis and its economic repercussions on Europe.