European Council, 15 December 2022 Main results
EU leaders met in Brussels for a one-day summit. They adopted conclusions on Ukraine/Russia, energy and economy, security and defence, the Southern Neighbourhood, transatlantic relations and other items, covering Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iran.
Russia's military aggression against Ukraine
The European Council reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and reaffirmed its full support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Helping Ukraine get through the winter
EU heads of state or government resolutely condemned Russia’s indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, which is inflicting even more suffering on the Ukrainian people.
To help Ukraine get through the winter, the EU will urgently intensify the provision of humanitarian aid and civil protection assistance and support the restoration of the country's critical infrastructure.
Support for the investigation and prosecution of war crimes
The European Council welcomed and encouraged further efforts to ensure full accountability for war crimes and the other most serious crimes in connection with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.
Sanctions against Russia
The European Council discussed how to further increase collective pressure on Russia to end its war of aggression and withdraw its troops from Ukraine. It welcomed the reinforcement of EU restrictive measures against Russia, including through the EU’s ninth package of sanctions and the international oil price cap.
Food security
In the context of bolstering global food security, the European Council underlined the importance of the:
- EU-Ukraine solidarity lanes
- UN Black Sea Grain Initiative
- Grain from Ukraine programme
Coordinating measures to face the energy crisis
EU leaders reviewed progress on EU measures to tackle the energy crisis, in particular with reference to the European Council conclusions of October 2022.
- enhancing solidarity through better coordination of gas purchases, exchanges of gas across borders and reliable price benchmarks
- accelerating the deployment of renewable energy
- establishing a market correction mechanism to protect citizens and the economy against excessively high prices
Enhancing the EU's economic resilience
In light of the impact of high energy prices in Europe, the European Council underlined the importance of safeguarding Europe’s economic, industrial and technological base and of preserving the global level playing field.
Strengthening security and defence
EU leaders are committed to taking more responsibility for the EU's own security and, in the field of defence, pursuing a strategic course of action and increasing the EU's capacity to act autonomously. Strengthening the industrial and technological base of the European defence sector is of key importance in this respect, as is the transatlantic bond in the EU’s Strategic Compass and NATO’s Strategic Concept.
External relations
EU leaders held a strategic discussion on transatlantic relations and key aspects on EU-US relations.
The leaders also discussed the EU's Southern Neighbourhood.
Schengen
The European Council held a political debate on the Schengen area and welcomed Croatia’s entry into it as of 1 January 2023. In this context, it also discussed Bulgaria's and Romania's accession to Schengen.
EU candidate status for Bosnia and Herzegovina
EU leaders agreed to grant EU candidate status to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in line with the Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process adopted on 13 December 2022. In line with the Commission’s recommendation, Bosnia and Herzegovina must strengthen the rule of law, the fight against corruption and organised crime, migration management and fundamental rights.
Human rights violation in Iran
Recently the Council approved new conclusions on Iran, focusing in particular on the unacceptable repression of the ongoing protests. In the face of the escalating violence and human rights situation, the European Council strongly condemns the recent death penalty sentences pronounced and carried out in this context. It calls on the Iranian authorities to immediately end this practice and to annul without delay the recent sentences.
International taxation
EU leaders recalled the determination to have Pillars 1 and 2 of the OECD tax framework implemented, as agreed in October 2021. In this context, they called on the European Commission to monitor ongoing negotiations of the multilateral convention on Pillar 1 and put forward an appropriate solution by the end of 2023 in case no agreement is reached.