Europaudvalget 2021-22
Ekstraordinær Det Europæiske Råd 30-31/5-22 Bilag 3
Offentligt
2583462_0001.png
European Council
The President
Brussels, 27 May 2022
Dear colleagues,
We gather for a special meeting of the European Council on 30-31 May to take forward
our discussions on Ukraine, energy, food security, and defence.
Ukraine is showing incredible courage and dignity in the face of the Russian aggression
and atrocities. From the very first day, we have been unwavering in our humanitarian,
financial, military and political support to the Ukrainian people and their leadership. We
will continue putting pressure on Russia. Our unity has always been our strongest asset.
It remains our guiding principle.
We will address the situation in
Ukraine
at our first working session, and President
Zelenskyy will join us via video link at the beginning of this discussion. One of our most
pressing concerns is assisting the Ukrainian state, along with our international partners,
with its liquidity needs. We will also discuss how best to organise our support for
Ukraine's reconstruction, as a major global effort will be required to rebuild the country.
We will come back to the issue of
energy
including high prices, which are hitting hard
on our homes and businesses. We must accelerate our energy transition if we are to
phase out our dependency on Russian fossil fuels as soon as possible. Building on our
decisions taken in Versailles, we will discuss the best ways to take work forward.
Russia's military aggression risks having a dramatic effect on global
food security.
Food
prices have spiked and we are facing serious risks of famine and destabilisation in many
parts of the world. At our meeting, we will discuss concrete ways to help Ukraine export
its agricultural produce using EU infrastructure. We will also see how to better
coordinate multilateral initiatives in this regard. Given African countries' acute
vulnerability to food insecurity, African Union Chairperson Macky Sall will join us via
video link to discuss the topic.
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 - B-1048 Bruxelles/Brussel - Belgique/België
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/european-council/
1/2
 Ekstraordinært Det Europæiske Råd 30.-31. maj 2022 - Bilag 3: Hyrdebrev forud for ekstraordinært møde i Det Europæiske Råd 30-31/5-22
2583462_0002.png
Russia’s war against Ukraine has further bolstered our ambition for a strong,
coordinated European
defence.
In March, we tasked the Commission, in coordination
with the European Defence Agency, with putting forward an analysis of the defence
investment gaps and proposing any further initiatives to strengthen the European
defence industrial and technological base. Our most urgent priority is to coordinate
Member States' efforts to replenish stocks and build a European industrial base. We will
discuss how to address these two issues.
In terms of timing, our meeting will start on Monday at 4 p.m. with the
traditional exchange of views with European Parliament President, Roberta
Metsola.
I look forward to seeing you in Brussels.
Charles MICHEL
2/2