EU Summit reveals deep divisions over policy

A highly contentious two-day summit of the 27 EU leaders ended with an ever-widening gap between certain members of the bloc regarding topics ranging from relations with Russia and how to handle Hungary’s LGBT laws.

A plan by Germany and France to restart talks with Vladimir Putin was rejected by several Eastern European countries, including Poland and the Baltic states, which resulted in a decision to explore economic sanctions against Moscow.

The proposal to meet directly with Putin, following US President Joe Biden’s recent summit with the Russian leader, came directly from France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Angela Merkel. The two caught other European leaders by surprise with the offer, with many from the former Eastern Bloc nations saying the move was a concession to Putin and would not change the Kremlin’s belligerent behavior.

In the final summit communique, Europe’s leaders stressed: “the need for a firm and coordinated response by the EU and its member states to any further malign, illegal and disruptive activity by Russia, making full use of all instruments at the EU’s disposal”.

Merkel, who was attending her last EU summit before elections in September, said the fractious discussions and confrontational tone ultimately contributed to ending the summit without an agreement. “We defined again under what conditions we are prepared to work and communicate more closely with Russia. There was no agreement today on an immediate leaders’ meeting.”

Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi said the Franco-German proposal “was very long, controversial and basically it came as a surprise for many…but the attempt to be able to have a meeting in the European Union-Russia format had to be done,” he added. “Rather than being doubtful about their own importance and power, European countries must be proud of the show of strength they give when they speak together.”