EUCO 2nd Day Starts After Little Progress On Energy Last Night

The second day of the European Council summit in Brussels is underway, after it seems little progress was made on the main topics of discussion on day one: energy prices/security, and the rule of law.

• The conclusions of the first day's discussions can befound here. At the behest of the Czech gov't, the Council agreed to investigate the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme as a potential factor behind high energy prices. The Council agreed to call on the Commission to "...study the functioning of the gas and electricity markets, as well as the EU ETS market [...]Subsequently, the Commission will assess whether certain trading behaviours require further regulatory action"
• The discussions on rule of law in Poland lasted longer than had been hoped by EUCO Pres Charles Michel and others seeking to avoid conflict on the issue, but it seems that the discussions were relatively calm in nature. Crucially, there was no formal indication from the Council to the Commission to begin Art.7 infringement proceedings against Poland.
• Today leaders are due to discuss migration and digital transition. The former risks more of a political backlash. Member states have stark disagreements on how to deal with migrant crisis on bloc's eastern border with Belarus, where the Lukashenko regime is facilitating mass migration from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to the borders of Poland and Lithuania.