Two days of the European Council all focused on the Ukraine dossier. In particular on the question of the speed of delivery of weapons and ammunition to Kiev. The problem of migrants will not be touched upon, except for a few hints where the problem is placed at the center of future debates, asking the Commission to deal with the issue quickly. On the other hand, the eco-sustainable energy transition and the question of thermal engines are central. Late yesterday evening Meloni and Macron had a bilateral meeting.
War
The heads of state and government of the European Union reiterated their support for Ukraine, having already approved two billion in aid in favor of Kiev, through joint purchases. For the first time, a joint arms purchase plan to supply one million rounds of ammunition to Ukrainian fighters. In the part of the conclusions about the war in Ukraine, the renewed call for Russia to end the aggression and withdraw its troops, but also to allow the deported Ukrainians to return home.
Ecological transition
On the table was also the new industrial strategy for the ecological transition, following the Net Zero Industry Act of the EU Commission.
Member States do not appear to be fully aligned on this issue. France would like to include thenuclear energy in the sectors affected by incentives and facilitations, while other governments oppose it. Particularly contrary has been said Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg: "Nuclear power is not quick to develop, it is not cheap and it is not even climate friendly. Point. I've been saying this for years. Everyone has the energy mix they prefer, but replicating it at European level would be a mistake ”.
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Thermal engines
Another item not on the agenda concerns the ban on the sale of cars with combustion engines from 2035. There In this regard, Germany requests an exemption for synthetic fuels, Italy for biofuels.
"Without prejudice to the objectives of the transition, which we share, we do not believe that the Union should also be concerned with establishing which technologies are used to achieve those objectives" said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon her arrival. "We do not believe that the EU should establish with which technologies to achieve the objectives of the ecological transition"
"Also because there are technologies in which Italy, and therefore Europe, are potentially at the forefront and deciding to link up with technologies that are actually held by nations outside the Union, in my opinion is a choice that does not favor the competitiveness of our system. It seems to me a thesis of common sense: and therefore we trust that it will also pass for what concerns biofuels".
Migrants
The President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen presented to leader le measures undertaken or to be undertaken to govern the phenomenon. Verification of the effectiveness of these measures will be assessed at the next European Council at the end of June.
Our Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni on migrants said: “I expect steps forward. I can say that I am satisfied with the draft conclusions, which I ask the Commission to proceed expeditiously. I would say that we can confirm the fact that the issue of emigration is considered central today, something unthinkable until a few months ago, and which is being followed step by step by the Council. This is great news.".
The Italian government is trying to obtain the support of the Commission for a decided intervention in tunisia, especially to try to unlock the maxi-loan of 1,9 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fundand the Commissioner ylva johansson confirmed that he will go to Tunis with Matteo Piantedosi. But it is not yet clear whether his French colleague will also be there, writes La Stampa.
In the evening, on the sidelines of the meeting, the atmosphere at the table of the European Council was heated. For Giorgia Meloni there is the risk that a collapse of Tunisia could lead to one "humanitarian catastrophe with over 900 refugees". Then he spoke in Dutch Mark Rutte, who said he agreed with Meloni on the need to protect the external borders and to fight against traffickers, but insisted once again on respect for the Dublin rules. “We must avoid a rift between the countries of first entry and those that receive them” warned the Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez, while the Bulgarian president Romanian Radev he reiterated his request for EU funds to finance the construction of the barrier on the border with Turkey, but also to purchase surveillance systems. The Polish Mateusz Morawiecki, in great agreement with Meloni, underlined that the most exposed countries should have more funds, while for Viktor Orban the mantra is "No migrants, no gender and no war".
Stability pact
Sul Stability pact Meloni argued as follows: “there are always quite different visions but I think the EU must learn from its mistakes, from the past. Today everyone is being asked for important investments for the ecological, digital transition, for strategic supply chains. It cannot be thought that the investments necessary to make our system competitive are not taken into account in governance. It would be tragic for us to go back to the previous parameters, we need governance that is more attentive to growth".
UN and EU and the tribunal on the "crime of aggression"
The UN secretary general was also hosted at the important meeting of the Union Anthony Guterres, who commented: "This visit shows the excellent cooperation between the UN and the EU: we are at a crucial moment, in many countries there is a perfect storm and we are going backwards because we see more poverty, more hunger, less education and our international system finance is not fit to meet the challenge”. “We count on the EU to lead the progress of the 2030 agenda”.
Estonian premier Kaja kallas he reported upon his arrival that “today with the UN secretary we will talk about court on the crime of assault. The arrest warrant of the International Criminal Court, says Kallas, it is a good sign, it shows that no leader is immune to crimes, but the ICC deals with war crimes and crimes against humanity, not with crimes of aggression and we need the UN for this”.