Due to the adverse impact of the current geopolitical context on global supply chains, energy security, and energy and fuel prices — with particular regard to households and industry — the members of the European Council, meeting in Brussels, stressed the critical importance of addressing high energy prices.
In the competitiveness chapter of the concluding statement, published in the early hours of Friday and recording the outcome of discussions held on the first working day of the European Council’s planned two-day meeting, the heads of state and government declared that the current situation requires a coordinated European response with targeted and temporary measures, taking into account the specific circumstances of member states and the protection of the single market.
The European Council called on the European Commission to examine and, where necessary, propose measures to address energy prices in the short term, taking into account the specific circumstances of member states, including differences in electricity prices.
“Given the EU’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets, the energy transition remains the most effective way to achieve Europe’s strategic autonomy, strengthen its resilience, reduce energy prices, and power the economy of the future,” the statement read.
According to the document, urgent and decisive progress must be made in deepening and integrating the single market, including through simplification, reduction of administrative burdens, affordable energy prices, European industrial renewal, promotion of innovation, reduction of dependencies, and mobilisation of investments.
In this context, the European Council called on the European Commission to put forward initiatives to simplify and accelerate planning and permitting procedures, avoid over-regulation, and reduce administrative and regulatory burdens.
It also called on the co-legislators to take appropriate steps to avoid unnecessary bureaucratic burdens during the legislative process.
Regarding the next seven-year EU budget, members of the European Council expressed the view that an agreement reached before the end of 2026 would allow the relevant regulations to be adopted in 2027, which is necessary to ensure that EU funding reaches beneficiaries without interruption from January 2028.
In their concluding declaration, the member state leaders emphasised that enlargement remains a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity.
They highlighted that both candidate countries and the Union must prepare for further enlargement, that countries seeking accession must continue the required reforms — particularly in the area of the rule of law — while the EU must also advance its internal reforms and clarify its long-term objectives and policy priorities.
“The progress of the accession process must continue to be merit-based, and candidate countries may advance in accession negotiations on the basis of their individual achievements,” they stated.
They welcomed the work under way on drafting Montenegro’s accession treaty, and took note of the fact that the rotating Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is seeking to provisionally close the remaining negotiating chapters, provided Montenegro implements the necessary reforms.
On the final day of the EU summit on Friday, the member state leaders are discussing the war in Ukraine and the support packages earmarked for Kyiv, as well as the migration situation.
Artificial intelligence was used for the translation of parts of the original Hungarian text.