By BRUSSELS. Oct 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Union will continue to support Ukraine’s reform efforts to move closer to the EU.
This is discussed in the conclusions of the European Council, approved by EU leaders, whose meeting was held on October 26-27 in Brussels.
“The European Union will continue to work closely with Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia and support their reform efforts on their European paths,” the document notes.
The European Council welcomes the extension of the temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine until March 2025. “The European Union remains committed to supporting displaced persons, both in Ukraine and in the European Union, including through adequate and flexible financial assistance to the Member States who carry the largest burden of the medical, education and living costs of refugees,” the conclusions state.
In addition, EU leaders raised the issue of food security in light of Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the destruction of the Ukrainian grain infrastructure by the Russian Federation. “Russia’s unilateral decision to terminate the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and its deliberate attacks on Ukraine’s grain storage and export facilities, as well as its actions to hinder the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea, show that Russia continues to weaponise food and undermine global food security. The European Council stresses the importance of security and stability in the Black Sea, vital for sustainable grain exports,” the conclusions state.
“The European Council supports all efforts, including those of the UN, to facilitate exports of Ukraine’s grain and other agricultural products to the countries most in need, notably in Africa and the Middle East. The European Council calls for the capacity of the EU’s Solidarity Lanes to be further enhanced to facilitate transit and export to these countries and invites the Commission to propose new measures to that end,” the conclusions state.
Conclusions of the summit: work on the revision of the EU budget will continue so that a decision is made before the end of the year.
