EU holds security summit in Brussels

EU will hold a security summit in Brussels

The European Council will discuss the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029 over a two-day meeting beginning today. The meeting aims to address issues in Ukraine, the Middle East, and overall security and defense.

The summit is likely to focus on Ukraine as EU leaders discuss their financial and military support to the country while also addressing Ukraine’s path to EU membership. Overall, the summit intends to increase Europe’s security with sound defense preparedness and capabilities in the face of traditional and hybrid threats.

The main outcome of the summit will likely be the signing of a security agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Such an agreement is expected to increase military aid while utilizing Russia’s frozen assets’ interest to fund Ukraine. Until March 2024, the EU had provided over €143 billion in aid to Ukraine, with only €33 billion in military support. In the short term, the summit will likely provide the EU with greater tools for increasing the region’s overall defensive capabilities. In the long term, regional security through the integration of new strategic allies is likely to face resistance in the EU parliament due to the rise of nationalist parties.