Relations with Turkey at the top of Special European Council
Agenda highlights
On 1 and 2 October, EU leaders will meet in Brussels to discuss foreign affairs, in particular relations with Turkey and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. The leaders are also expected to address relations with China, the situation in Belarus and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. The single market, industrial policy and digital transformation are also on the agenda.
The summit, initially planned for 24 and 25 September, has been postponed as President Michel is in quarantine.
Letter of invitation by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of the Special European Council on 1-2 October 2020
EU-Turkey relations and the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean
The European Council will hold a strategic discussion on Turkey. During the EU leaders’ video conference of 19 August 2020, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean and relations with Turkey were raised by some member states. The leaders expressed their concern about the growing tensions and stressed the urgent need to de-escalate. The members of the European Council expressed their full solidarity with Greece and Cyprus and recalled and reaffirmed previous conclusions on the illegal drilling activities.
“We agreed to come back to these issues during our meeting in September. All options will be on the table”.
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
On 15 and 16 September, President Charles Michel travelled to Greece, Cyprus and Malta as part of the preparations for the summit discussions. He also had several phone calls with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
President Michel travels to Greece, Cyprus and Malta
EU-China
Following the EU-China summit on 22 June 2020 and the meeting with President Xi on 14 September 2020, both by videoconference, the European Council will discuss EU-China relations.
Video conference of the members of the European Council, 19 August 2020
Foreign Affairs Council, 21 September 2020
Single market, industrial policy and digital transition
In July, the European Council agreed an unprecedented recovery package to counter the effects of COVID-19 on the economies and societies of the EU member states. The two pillars of such a recovery, the green transition and the digital transformation, coupled with a strong single market, will foster new forms of growth and strengthen the EU’s resilience.
EU-China leaders’ meeting via video conference, 14 September 2020
EU-China summit via video conference, 22 June 2020
Belarus and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny
The European Council will also discuss other foreign affairs, including the poisoning of Alexei Navalny and the situation in Belarus, as a follow-up to their discussion on 19 August 2020.
“This agreement was a major step to our vital objective: European strategic autonomy. (…) The strategic independence of Europe is our new common project for this century. It’s in all our common interest.”
Charles Michel, President of the European Council
The European Council will look at ways of deepening and strengthening the single market, developing a more ambitious industrial policy, and pressing ahead with the digital transformation.
EU leaders will focus on:
going back to a fully functioning single market as soon as possible
making the EU’s industries more competitive globally and increasing their autonomy
accelerating the digital transition.
