In an informal meeting of the European Council held in Granada today, various important issues were discussed in preparation for the regular European Council meeting in Brussels later this month, as announced by Minister-president of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, on his official Twitter account (@MinPres) on October 6, 2023.
The first significant topic addressed was migration. Minister-president Rutte emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue following the tragic events witnessed last month in Lampedusa. The distressing situation highlighted the importance of a coordinated European response to tackle migration challenges effectively.
“The dreadful situation we saw last month in Lampedusa shows how important it is to get to grips with migration. This situation demands a joint European response,” tweeted Minister-president Rutte.
The second issue on the agenda was the EU Strategic Agenda. The leaders discussed the need to shape a strong and resilient European Union that minimizes dependency on other countries and maintains competitiveness in the global market. The aim is to ensure a self-reliant and economically stable EU.
“We need to continue working to shape a strong and resilient EU, which limits our dependence on other countries and remains competitive on the global market,” stated Minister-president Rutte.
Enlargement of the European Union was the third point of discussion. The leaders acknowledged that several countries aspire to join the EU and emphasized the importance of providing them with genuine prospects of membership. Nonetheless, the process of enlargement must be carried out responsibly and through a condition-based approach, particularly in areas such as the rule of law.
“Various countries want to join the European Union, and it’s important that we give them a real prospect of membership. But we must do so in a responsible manner,” expressed Minister-president Rutte.
Finally, a reflection on the functioning of the EU in light of possible new member states was also deemed essential. The participating leaders engaged in constructive discussions on how the EU can ensure its continued effectiveness while accommodating new members.
“We also need to reflect on the effects of enlargement. So it’s useful to discuss how the EU can continue to function effectively when new member states would join,” added Minister-president Rutte.
The informal European Council meeting in Granada served as a valuable platform for leaders to address pressing issues such as migration, shape the EU’s strategic agenda. (*)