European Union leaders have gathered in Granada, Spain, for an informal summit focusing on critical issues within the 27-member bloc. The discussions include matters related to enlargement, disagreements over migration policies, and economic competitiveness.
The summit follows a gathering of leaders from the European Political Community, a forum comprising over 40 European countries, who pledged their continued support for Ukraine, particularly in the face of political turmoil in the United States that could potentially affect aid to the country amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A recent disagreement between Ukraine and Poland over Ukrainian grain exports has raised questions about the EU’s support for Kyiv, but EU leaders have reassured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the bloc’s ongoing commitment.
Enlargement of the EU is a key topic under discussion. Eight countries currently hold official EU candidate status, with two additional potential candidate countries. While some leaders propose welcoming new member countries by 2030, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizes that accession should be merit-based, with progress in aligning laws with EU standards dictating the pace.
The summit also addresses migration challenges as southern EU nations seek solutions to refugee arrivals and increasing deaths at sea. Recent changes to handle irregular immigration during high arrival periods have sparked disagreements, particularly between Poland, Hungary, and other EU members.
Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, criticized Europe’s asylum and migrant rules overhaul as a “diktat” from Brussels and Berlin, while Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban described the proposed legislation as being “legally raped.” These disagreements highlight the complexities of reaching a compromise on migration policies within the EU.
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