Another – can we say umpteenth? – EU summit with a lot on the table but with poor operational results that will then all be channelled into the various streams of regulations and directives according to the best European tradition. A summit on defense, Ukraine e competitiveness that lets the words of the Prime Minister run over him as if they were "fresh water" Giorgia Meloni against the Ventotene manifesto which even brought tears to the eyes of the Honorable Fornaro.
EU Summit: How Many Government Positions on Ventotene?
But they would be, at this point, at least three positions on Europe within the same government coalition. There is the leader of the League and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini lined up together with the “patriots” Orbán and Le Pen that reward his sovereign passion. Then there is the Forza Italia Foreign Minister Tajani who gets by with the Europe of De Gasperi and Schumann without remembering that that too was, in essence, the daughter of the "Ventotene manifesto". The one targeted by the prime minister who, however, does not say what she wants (third position).
In an evening press briefing, Meloni made a “strategic backtracking” explaining that she only wanted to criticize the political use that the left has made of the “Ventotene manifesto” and said she was astonished by the “illiberal and nostalgic” attitude of the opposition to her statements. The controversy that arose from the prime minister's words would however have been one of the topics of discussion during the dinner last night, in the restaurant of a hotel in Brussels, between Meloni and the delegation of MEPs of FdI. An informal meeting, in which reference would have been made also to the reaction of the Democratic Party and the other oppositions to Meloni's speech. But yesterday the prime minister denied the reconstructions according to which she would have defined the statements to the Chamber as "a trap for the left".
EU Summit, Meloni and Rearmament
On defense, Meloni claimed that the conclusions of the summit also included, on an Italian proposal, the EU Invest guarantee to finance Rearm EU with private capital. On the competitiveness dossier, the Prime Minister welcomed the decision of reduce bureaucratic obstacles by 25% and 35% in small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the capital market union to implement greater private investments. Also “good news” is the suspension of sanctions for companies in theautomotive that do not meet commitments to emissions reductions and the review of the timetable for technological neutrality. On his next trip to Washington he confirmed that he will be there soon but without indicating dates.
EU Summit: 26-member format consolidated, without Hungary
The fact remains that the summit has now, in fact, consolidated the 26-member format with the exclusion of Orbán's Hungary. The conclusions on Ukraine were indeed adopted without the consent of Hungary. Recalling its previous conclusions, the Council reiterated its continued and unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.
And while the Kremlin announces that the Russia-US summit to be held in Riyadh on March 24, the European Union maintains its “peace through strength” approach, which requires Kiev to be in the strongest possible position, with its robust military and defence capabilities as an essential component. In line with this approach, the European Union remains committed, in coordination with like-minded partners and allies, to “provide further comprehensive support to Ukraine and its people, as it exercises its inherent right to self-defense against Russia's war of aggression.”
EU Summit: Here's What Was Decided
The European Council reiterates its support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law and welcomes all efforts to achieve such peace. It recalls the principles established on 6 March 2025 that should guide the peace negotiations. The European Council welcomes the joint statement by Ukraine and the United States following their meeting in Saudi Arabia of 11 March 2025, including proposals for a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian efforts and the resumption of intelligence sharing and US security assistance. The European Council calls on Russia to demonstrate real political will to end the war, the XNUMX EU leaders said.
The EU remains ready to step up pressure on Russia, including through further sanctions and strengthening the implementation of existing measures, including further means and measures to counter their circumvention, in order to weaken its ability to continue to wage its war of aggression. Russia's assets frozen (300 billion dollars in European banks, 200 of which in Brussels alone) should remain immobilized until Russia ceases its war of aggression against Ukraine and compensates it for the damage caused by this war. The European Union and its Member States will contribute to the peace process and help secure a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, which is in the interest of both Ukraine and Europe as a whole.
EU Summit: What Zelensky Said
The Ukrainian president Zelensky thanked the European heads of state and government in a video conference. “I would like to thank those who are working with us on future security guarantees for Ukraine, and in turn for the entire eastern flank of Europe and the continent as a whole,” the Ukrainian president said. “For those who have not yet joined this effort, I invite you to do so. We all need to be as efficient as possible in this work on security guarantees, and as quickly as possible.”
EU Summit: The Migrant Issue
Progress has also been made on decisions relating to theimmigration such as the new regulation on repatriations and the commitment to create a list of so-called safe countries. In the Belgian delegation to the Council today there were 14 representatives of EU countries at the so-called "Hawks' table on migration” led by Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, which met on the sidelines of the European Council. The meeting was attended by Italy, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and Hungary. The Prime Minister of Finland was unable to attend. Peter Orpo. The Belgian Prime Minister Bart DeWever joined the meeting for the first time. De Wever, leader of N-Va in the European Parliament sits in the group Ecr, the European family of Brothers of Italy. The meeting was also attended, as in the past, by the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
EU Summit: Gaza and the Middle East
The UN Secretary General was also present in Brussels Antonio Guterres. The 27 reaffirm the European Union's "firm commitment" to "effective multilateralism and a rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its heart". The leaders of the Twenty-seven ensure that the EU "will continue to be a predictable, reliable and credible partner" and welcome the opportunity to work with the United Nations. The European Council then deplores the breaking of the ceasefire in Gaza, which has caused a large number of civilian casualties in recent air strikes and deplores the refusal to Hamas to hand over the remaining hostages". This is what we read in the chapter of the conclusions approved by the Council dedicated to the Middle East.
The European Council also calls for a return to full implementation of theCeasefire agreement and hostage release. It stresses the need to progress towards its second phase, with a view to its full implementation leading to the release of all hostages and a definitive end to hostilities.
The Council also welcomes the end of theimpasse politics in Lebanon and expresses the European Union's willingness to work with the new authorities to stabilize the economic and security situation in the country.
