The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell commented on several issues, including Ukraine, and the situation in Palestine and Gaza.
Borrell opened his remarks: "The European Council today has a lot of issues related to foreign and security policy. I know that there is the enlargement question, the financial question but also the war in Ukraine and the situation in Palestine and Gaza.
I think that we have to stick to supporting Ukraine, as much as we can, from the enlargement perspective, with the military support, the financial support."
On the EU support for Ukraine, Borell highlighted: "I will debrief the leaders about the work we have been doing on security commitments with Ukraine, and I will continue asking them to understand – I am sure they understand - that it is an existential issue for Europe. That our support to Ukraine has to be continuing and increased, because it is not a war against Ukraine, it is also for our security."
He continued: "I know that enlargement will take an important part of the discussion. Enlargement is the most important foreign policy. It is the strongest stabilisation capacity that we have – not only with Ukraine, but also with other candidates in the Balkans and in the Caucasus.
So, it is very much important to take the right decisions and I hope I will get guidance in order to continue developing the European Peace Facility military support. Member States have been discussing. We went to Kyiv, we work with the Ukrainians. Now, it is time to get political guidance from the European Council’s leaders."
Regarding the situation on Gaza, the EU official said: "We will discuss also the situation in Gaza. We will have to take into account the vote in the United Nations General Assembly. The situation requires certainly a humanitarian stop in the fight in order to free the hostages and avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. And we have to start thinking about how do we deal with the problem in a political approach.
The Arab countries have already said that they will not participate in rebuilding Gaza, unless there is a strong commitment from the international community to build a two-states solution. We have to focus on that. We have to focus on a political solution to the problem once and for all. This is something that - I am sure - the leaders will discuss."
Next, Borell was asked about the possibility of the Council voting on the enlargement package only.
He responded: "You know what is on the agenda today. Certainly, they will be discussing about the enlargement, in particular the case of Ukraine. I think that Ukraine has done an incredible effort to fulfil the conditions. We – at the [European] Commission – presented a positive assessment, and we will continue defending our positive assessment for the opening of negotiations with Ukraine."
After that, he was asked on the insistence of the word ceasefire, answering: "I do not know which is going to be the result of the discussions because as you know, the Member States in the United Nations, they voted [based on] different approaches – yes, no, and abstention. I am supposed to represent a common position but there is not a common position, there are different approaches. But there are more Member States today supporting the ceasefire than in the previous votes, this is a fact. More and more people are leaning to the side of asking for a ceasefire, but the leaders will have to discuss."
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