On 28-29 June, EU leaders met for a much-anticipated European Summit. The European Council focused on a number of major issues, including migration, security and defence, as well as economic and financial affairs. Following the political impasse in recent years, the heads of state or government were expected to discuss the internal and external dimensions of migration policy, including the reform of the Common European Asylum System. With respect to security and defence and following increased pressure on the EU to assume more responsibility, EU leaders discussed EU-NATO cooperation ahead of the NATO summit in July.
The European Council also addressed military mobility, the European Defence Fund, the European Defence Industrial Programme and Civilian Common Security and Defence Policy. In terms of economic and financial affairs, the Summit was expected to adopt conclusions on several issues recently debated under the Leaders' Agenda such as taxation, innovation and digital. The European Council also endorsed the country-specific recommendations under the 2018 European Semester and discussed the future handling of the multi-annual financial framework, including a timeline. It was also expected that leaders would discuss trade, as well as some of the heavily contested issues related to reform of Economic and Monetary Union.
On the second day of the Summit, the European Council met in an EU27 format (Article 50) to take stock of the progress made so far in the Brexit negotiations. The Commission's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, provided an update on the state of play and the subsequent discussion focused on the completion of work on withdrawal issues, the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland and the framework for the future relationship with the UK.
At this Post-Summit Briefing, Brussels Financial Times Bureau Chief Alex Barker, EPC Director of Studies Janis A. Emmanouilidis and EPC Chief Executive Fabian Zuleeg analysed the outcome of the June Summit and addressed the challenges ahead, as well as potential next steps.