Informal meeting of EU leaders: Remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival

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Good morning. 

Well, today we continue discussing about our security and prosperity. I think that both things have to be more interlinked. The sources of our prosperity - which are related to the energy prices – have to go with our security which has a lot to do with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. 

I will ask the [EU] leaders to support the proposal for a new tranche for the European Peace Facility to continue providing military support to Ukraine, also to [for] the [EU] Training Mission. I hope that for the next Foreign Affairs Council, we will have a proposal on both things. 

And, certainly, the issue of energy will dominate this [informal meeting of the European] Council.  

We have to decrease the price of energy, but it is an economic issue as much as a security issue. Russia is playing games with the price of gas, certainly. Look at the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) with their decision to decrease the supply of oil, which is a clear answer to our proposal to cap the price of oil. Until now, the oil market has been dominated by an oligopolistic side on the supply [side]. Now, we want to limit the prices and their immediate answer has been to decrease quantities. It means that energy is becoming the most important geostrategic issue today – related with the war, but also with the balance of power in the world. That is what we will discuss today. 

Q&A 

Q. How would you evaluate yesterday’s meeting of the [European] Political Community – their first meeting, here – and the importance of this format? 

Well, you know, I think it is very important to send the message that from the border with Russia towards the West, [everyone] in the European continent – members or non-members of the European Union – stand together. There is the EU – some are ‘U’ (Union) and others are still ‘E’ (Europeans). Some want to become members of the ‘U’ (Union), others do not want, others have been – they are no longer – but all of them are sitting, and discussing, and presenting a united front against Russia. This is the most important message. The first step to build a great coalition of people in Europe facing Russia. 

Q. How should Member States protect their infrastructures against sabotage – like Nord Stream? 

We do not know exactly who has done it but someone did. 

Q. Les manifestants içi réclament plus d’armes pour l’Ukraine. Qu’est-ce que vous leur répondez? 

Je suis engagé à pour ça, bien sûr. 

 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-231387