“Russia must pay for what it does.” The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke at the end of the summit which brought together yesterday and today the 27 heads of state and government of the EU countries in Brussels. A two-day event devoted primarily to discussing foreign policy, obviously starting with the situation in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine. On the latter point in particular, European leaders reached agreement on the use of additional profits from sanctioned and immobilized Russian assets. A mechanism which according to Michel could be put into action quickly. “We are not intimidated by Russia. The profits from Russian assets will go to Ukraine, victim of Moscow's aggression,” declared Charles Michel, President of the European Council, after the Brussels summit.
New sanctions for Navalny's death
In short, this time too, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is the most discussed subject of the European Council. As European leaders met in Brussels, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow “is at war because Western participation turns a special military operation into war.” Ursula von der Leyen responded to him at today's press conference: “Russia has been at war with Ukraine since 2022 and today's comment shows that Moscow has betrayed the Russian people, hiding the made for two years and denying that there was a war. on.” And still on the subject of Russia, the European Council today reached an agreement to impose new sanctions and restrictive measures against 33 people and two entities linked to the sudden death of opponent Alexei Navalny.
Capital Markets Union
Among the other topics on the table of the European Council is the question relating to the Capital Markets Union, which, according to Brussels' intentions, should make the European economy more resilient and competitive and accelerate investments for the green transition and digital. On this level, however, the substantive discussion is postponed to the next summit. “We will discuss our capital markets integration strategy at our special European Council in April,” Michel sur X announced at the end of the Euro summit.
Cover photo: EPA/Olivier Matthys | European leaders posing on the second day of the European Council in Brussels (March 22, 2024)
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