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The long-term budget battle is not really on the agenda when the heads of state and government of the 27 member states meet for the last summit of the year at lunchtime on Thursday.
However, it is the budget that dominates and, above all, the veto threat that Poland and Hungary have made against the agreement that will guarantee that all member states comply with the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democracy.
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Germany has reached a compromise and received positive feedback from the Member States.
– We’re just an inch apart. Today we are fighting for the unity of our common continent and for common sense, says Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, on his way to the meeting.
Riksdag Green Light
Thumbs are being given up from Sweden too.
Germany’s new compromise can be accepted, according to the government and the EU Riksdag committee, which had an additional called telephone meeting on Thursday morning.
– The prime minister received support for the government line to accept the compromise, says Vice President Annika Qarlsson (C) to TT.
Löfven acknowledges that the battle is over.
– I do not hear anyone say that this is absolutely unacceptable. Now I assess that with the effort made by the German Presidency we can achieve our goal now, says the Prime Minister at a press conference in Brussels.
“The text applies”
The compromise, which the Prime Minister just wants to call for clarification, is, among other things, that a statement must be requested from the Court of Justice of the European Communities before the new rule of law comes into force. Thus, the introduction will be delayed, which has been interpreted as a concession to the two veto-threatening countries, which have parliamentary elections in the coming years.
However, Löfven emphasizes that there will be no changes to the rules that Hungary and Poland have so strongly opposed.
– That text applies. Orbán opposed that text, as did Poland, but it applies. He’s still there. It has not been modified for your purpose. That is why I say that Poland and Hungary there have had to accept this text that Parliament and the Council of Ministers have agreed.
“Historical”
Even if there is a trial in court, everything that happens since the turn of the year is also covered.
– What is important to establish is that all commitments from January 1, 2021 will be subject to review under this new mechanism, says the Prime Minister.
That the Hungarian government is trying to proclaim the compromise that has been made as a victory, it takes relatively lightly.
– That’s probably what you can expect. The way each one handles their national political movements and debates is up to each individual to decide. I can only say that this statement does not change anything in the text agreed between the Council of Ministers and Parliament. This is historical. This is something completely new. In the long term, I am convinced that this instrument will make a difference and is an important step in the development of the EU, says Löfven in Brussels.
What does Parliament say?
The budget dispute has been included as an additional point of discussion at the beginning of Thursday’s summit.
The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, later spoke in favor of a solution that would allow Parliament to give its final approval.
– I hope that a solution will be found tomorrow that will allow us to vote on the long-term budget and the rule of law next week. Of course, we must examine the conclusions of the summit in detail and hope that they are in line with the spirit and letter of the compromise reached, Sassoli told EU leaders at the summit, according to a press release from his press service. .
Climate and Turkey
Other topics at the summit itself are a climate discussion on the new emissions targets for 2030 and the topic of increased sanctions against Turkey, including over criticized oil and gas exploration outside of Cyprus.
A review of the Brexit situation is also expected during Thursday night’s dinner, when the President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will give an account of the dinner she held with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday at night.
Victor Nummelin / TT
Maria Davidsson / TT
The EU heads of state and government met in Brussels on Thursday for the final summit of the year.
The agenda initially includes the EU’s next long-term budget, followed by discussions on climate change, in hopes of agreeing on new emissions targets for 2030, as well as the situation in the corona pandemic. Thursday night’s working dinner is dominated by foreign affairs, mainly relations with the United States, Turkey and Russia, but also information on the Brexit situation.
Friday begins with talks on relations with the EU’s southern neighbors, North Africa and the Middle East, followed by the fight against terrorism. The meeting then concludes with economic discussions on the situation in the eurozone.
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