Brussels – The European Union’s participation in discussions that “shape Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future” must “be organised in such a way as to enable it to convey a clear and unified message, to defend its own interests and to support Ukraine”. This is what the President of the European Council, António Costa, wrote yesterday (6 November) in a letter addressed to the President of the Italian Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, in response to the letter in which the Prime Minister had asked him to decide “once and for all” who should represent the European Union in the negotiations concerning the end of the war in Ukraine. “The interests of the European Union must be represented by its institutions, in accordance with the Treaties,” Costa agreed.
In her letter to Costa, Meloni not only called for “a decision to be made once and for all as to who sits at the negotiating table on behalf of the European Union,” but also “with what mandate.” According to the Prime Minister, “proceeding in a disorganised manner, with initiatives that follow one another and overlap,” such as the one held two days ago in Brussels with only the delegations from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom representing the EU, “will not help us, neither with our partners nor with those we need to convince to stop a senseless act of aggression.” At the end of the letter, she also requested “formally that the matter be discussed at the forthcoming informal European Council in Dublin, so that the December European Council is in a position to formalise a decision on the matter, following consultation with the United Kingdom, Norway and the other European partners concerned.” Otherwise, “I fear we risk condemning Europe to irrelevance in the negotiation process,” she added. In doing so, she hopes that Costa will make “this issue one of his priorities,” knowing that “he can always count on her support.”
After thanking the Italian Prime Minister for her letter and “for setting out your concerns so clearly,” the President of the European Council stated that he agreed with her “that Europe must act with consistency, unity, and determination.” This is particularly true “in light of the immense human suffering caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and its profound implications for Europe’s security,” he emphasised. Costa also agreed with the view “that the European Union must be properly involved in the discussions shaping Europe’s security and Ukraine’s future.” The President confirmed that he had taken “note of your request to explore this issue further during the upcoming informal meeting of the European Council in Dublin; we will certainly find a way to discuss it,” he concluded the letter, stating: “I am convinced that it is in our common interest to ensure that the European Union contributes effectively to a just, lasting, and sustainable peace, in close cooperation with Ukraine and our other partners.”
In addition to Costa, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, also received Meloni’s letter. This was confirmed today by the chief spokesperson for the European Commission, Paula Pinho, during a press briefing: “All members of the European Council, and therefore also President von der Leyen, have received the letter.” Pinho also stated that “we fully agree that Europe must be involved in the negotiations aimed at achieving a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine and ensuring the country’s security” and that “we are in complete agreement on the need to remain united, consistent, and determined in defending our interests and supporting Ukraine.” On the specific point raised by Costa concerning the Treaties, the chief spokesperson clarified that “it is in the EU’s interest for its interests to be represented by its institutions, in line with the Treaties.”
Prime Minister Meloni was satisfied with the response. On Ukraine, “we must act swiftly because it would be good news if there were a push towards a negotiating process, but we can facilitate that process if we know clearly what we are going to say,” she stated on her arrival today (6 November) at Fieracavalli in Verona. “I am pleased that President Costa responded immediately to this request with a letter he sent yesterday, in which he announced that he would find an opportunity at the forthcoming informal European Council in Dublin to open this discussion, because our aim must be to reach the December meeting, that is the Council that can decide with a process that enables us to deliberate and find a solution,” Meloni emphasised.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
