EUCO Finishes As Leaders Gear Up For Jan Summit On Ukraine Funding

The European Council has published its conclusionsfollowing the 14-15 Dec leaders' summit in Brussels. In line with headlines that have emerged over the past 24 hours, the document confirms the approval of the EU starting accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

• It also confirms the Hungarian veto on amending the EU's long-term budget in order to provide EUR50bn to Ukraine over the coming years, stating "The European Council discussed the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 as set out in document EUCO 23/23, which was firmly supported by 26 Heads of State or Government." In his exit doortstep interview, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that he expected an extraordinary EUCO summit 'at the end of January.'
• Speaking to reporters, Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez stated that he was 'convinced' that all 27 EU members would come to an agreement on funding for Ukraine during the Belgian presidency of the Council of the EU running from 1 Jan to 30 Jun.
• Getting a deal in H124 could prove critical for funding Kyiv, given that Hungary takes over the CofEU presidency in H224 and is unlikely to prove inclined to push the issue of support for Ukraine up the agenda.
• French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that the EU could get around Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's vetoes, stating “We have the institutional procedures that were developed (to circumnavigate a veto) when [former UK PM] David Cameron was amongst us. We are prepared to use them again if needed.”