At the EU summit starting in Brussels on Thursday, support for Ukraine and illegal migration will be at the center of talks between the 27 EU heads of state and government, including Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP). The formulation of future security commitments by the European Union to Ukraine propelled the neutrals into action ahead of the summit. Austria, Ireland and Malta insist on their neutrality.
The neutrals therefore included a passage in the draft of the summit emphasizing “full respect for the security and defense policies of certain member states” – an indication of the neutrals’ status, according to EU Council circles. Cyprus is also part of the EU but not NATO, while all other EU member states are also part of the Western Defense Alliance.
Nehammer explained in Parliament’s main EU committee on Wednesday that he had asked for Austria’s neutrality to be explicitly taken into account in the summit’s conclusions when it came to military decisions for Ukraine. According to the draft of the summit, the EU summit aims to reaffirm the EU’s readiness to “provide viable military assistance to Ukraine for as long as necessary”.
Security commitments to Kiev not yet defined
Security commitments to Kiev are not specified at this time. The summit’s draft statement reads: “The European Union and its member states stand ready to contribute with partners to future security commitments to Ukraine that will help Ukraine to defend itself in the long term, prevent aggression and facilitate destabilization efforts. to resist.” The nature of these contributions needs to be investigated quickly. According to reports, France has been campaigning for such security promises.
Ukraine is seeking to join NATO. However, NATO does not want to invite Ukraine to participate in the summit in Lithuania in July, as President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped. Instead, a new NATO-Ukraine Council will be established, meeting for the first time in Vilnius with Selenksyj.
Wagner putsch behind the scenes probably also a problem
Although not officially on the agenda, the EU summit is also likely to discuss the possible consequences of the Wagner mercenary group’s uprising in Russia for Europe.
Intensive debates are expected on migration, because not everyone is satisfied with the breakthrough reached in mid-June on the central asylum issue. Poland and Hungary had already announced that they would not take in those seeking protection and would not pay compensation. Nehammer urged the most recent asylum agreement to be put into practice, for example through agreements with North African countries on processing centers. On Friday we will continue with the topics of the economy and China.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
