EU summit in Brussels: No drama this time – but productive

The meeting of EU heads of state and government passed relatively quietly. This was also due to the large number of topics. From relief for farmers to military aid for Ukraine – the list was long.

There were many topics that the 27 heads of state and government discussed in Brussels over the past two days.

In the end, they send a message to Vladimir Putin: “He has miscalculated and he cannot rely on us no longer continuing our support at some point,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the end in Brussels.

Military aid to Ukraine

There was a lot of calculation, for example how much money the European Union is now scraping together to buy military equipment for Ukraine. Interest on frozen Russian assets should also be used for this purpose.

Even if Hungary and Austria, for example, still have legal headaches. The process has started and if everything goes according to plan, the first money should be able to be spent in the summer.

The money is one thing – but where do you get the ammunition for it? The Chancellor made it clear: “We have decided that weapons can also be purchased outside Europe with EU money.” A defeat for France, which would have liked to spend EU money only on European arms companies. But these cannot deliver enough at the moment.

unification of credit rules

The complicated word “capital market reform” was also about money. It was on the agenda in the morning. For the Chancellor and former Finance Minister, the matter is actually quite simple: In short, the ability to borrow or invest money should be standardized across the EU.

Until now, each EU country has its own credit rules. This makes it difficult for companies to get money and is therefore a brake on growth, said the Chancellor in Brussels.

Facilitations for farmers

There were so many topics at this summit that each participant was able to choose a focus at the end. For Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, it was relief for farmers.

“We are satisfied with the summit because it has put agriculture on the agenda, relief for farmers and the fight against unfair competition,” said Meloni. Among other things, she is referring to the high tariffs that have been decided on grain from Russia.

Bottom line: satisfied participants

The two most important political decisions were mentioned by almost all heads of government at the end. The joint declaration on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the go-ahead for accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

This marks the end of a rather unspectacular but productive summit. No tricks, no showdown with Hungary, but overall very satisfied participants. The problems in the world have not become any smaller. But the EU has shown a few ways in which it wants to deal with this.