EU leaders call for "immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza The European Council president, Charles Michel, said European leaders have agreed on a unified statement on the Middle East. “The EU calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire. Full & safe humanitarian access into Gaza is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance in a catastrophic situation in Gaza,” he said. In the text agreed by the EU’s 27 heads of state and government, the leaders declare: The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The statement also condemns Hamas “in the strongest possible terms for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel on 7 October 2023, recognising Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law, and calling for the immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.” It adds: The European Council is deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza. Full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip via all routes is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance and basic services at scale. The conclusions also note that “immediate measures should be taken to prevent any further population displacement and provide safe shelter to the population to ensure that civilians are protected at all times.” Summary of the day Heads of state and government from the EU’s 27 members met in Brussels for the first day of their summit. Addressing the situation in the Middle East, the leaders called “for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance.” The leaders condemned Hamas and said they are “deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza.” The leaders also discussed the issue of using windfall profits of frozen Russian assets. Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, “there is a strong support to use” the profits “for military purposes for Ukraine.” The EU leaders agreed that “further to the submission of the draft negotiating frameworks for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the European Council invites the Council to swiftly adopt them and to take work forward without delay.” They also decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Von der Leyen said there is a proposal “to increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports of cereals, oil seeds and derived products.” The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, addressed EU leaders via videoconference, calling for more help with air defences and ammunition, as well as progress on Ukraine’s path toward European integration. The Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán, broke ranks with his European counterparts and congratulated Vladimir Putin on his “re-election”. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said that she is glad leaders opened the way to using some of the revenue from frozen Russian assets to provide funding for military equipment for Ukraine. “We can expect to collect around €3bn for 2024, and similar amounts in the future years,” von der Leyen said. She later noted in response to a question that “there is a strong support to use” the profits “for military purposes for Ukraine.” “I told the leaders that if we are swift now in concluding the proposal, we could disperse the first billion to Ukraine on 1 July,” she said. The Commission chief also said that there is a proposal “to increase tariffs on Russian and Belarusian imports of cereals, oil seeds and derived products.” Addressing the issue of European defence, von der Leyen said member states have already boosted spending “but we have to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base.” “We do not only need to spend more – we need to spend better, and we need to spend European,” she stressed. On the Middle East, she said “we are on the verge of famine, a catastrophic humanitarian situation. Full rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza via all routes is essential. 500 trucks or equivalent a day need to enter Gaza on land or by air and sea.” She added: “I think the unity was very strongly felt: acknowledgement that Israel has the right to do everything possible that 7 October will never happen again within the boundaries of international law and international humanitarian law but it has also the duty to do everything possible to protect civilian life. If you look at the conclusions, they are explicit on that one.” "There is a humanitarian tragedy," Michel says Speaking of the Middle East, Charles Michel said that “it was extremely important to send a very powerful and united message on this important question and challenge.” He reiterated that “we condemn in the strongest possible terms” the October 7 attack on Israel. “We are also absolutely determined to support all possible efforts to allow the humanitarian access,” Michel said. He added: There is a humanitarian tragedy. We believe in the international law, we believe in the international humanitarian law, and that’s why that everything must be done to convince, to make sure that there is a real possibility for more humanitarian access,” the European Council chief said. Michel said we take note of decisions made regarding the financing of UNRWA and that leaders agree on the “essential” role of the organisation. He also said that “we call on the government of Israel not to launch a ground operation in Rafah.” Speaking to reporters, the European Council president, Charles Michel, said leaders made very important decisions, pointing to a text agreed on the issue of using windfall profits from frozen Russian assets. It shows that we are determined to bring more support to Ukraine, he said. Speaking of European defence, Michel said we have a paradigm shift. Leaders looked at various options for funding, and there is very broad support for the idea of working with the European Investment Bank to mobilise more resources, he said. We want to invest more and better, and reduce fragmentation, Michel stressed. And here is the text on security and defence, agreed following talks among EU leaders: Charles Michel, the European Council president, has said that the EU “must increase our defence readiness and put economies on a war footing to match the urgency of the threat.” “We have 3 goals: Support Ukraine right now; Spend better and faster together; Easier access to public & private financing for the defence sector,” he added. Here’s the text agreed by leaders on Ukraine: A press conference is expected soon. Stay tuned. Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina, writing: “the European peace project is growing - a clear sign in favour of a strong Europe.” And here is the text agreed on enlargement. The EU leaders agreed that “further to the submission of the draft negotiating frameworks for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, the European Council invites the Council to swiftly adopt them and to take work forward without delay.” EU leaders call for "immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire" in Gaza The European Council president, Charles Michel, said European leaders have agreed on a unified statement on the Middle East. “The EU calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire. Full & safe humanitarian access into Gaza is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance in a catastrophic situation in Gaza,” he said. In the text agreed by the EU’s 27 heads of state and government, the leaders declare: The European Council calls for an immediate humanitarian pause leading to a sustainable ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and the provision of humanitarian assistance. The statement also condemns Hamas “in the strongest possible terms for its brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel on 7 October 2023, recognising Israel’s right to defend itself in line with international law and international humanitarian law, and calling for the immediate release of all hostages without any precondition.” It adds: The European Council is deeply concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and its disproportionate effect on civilians, particularly children, as well as the imminent risk of famine caused by the insufficient entry of aid into Gaza. Full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout the Gaza Strip via all routes is essential to provide the civilian population with life-saving assistance and basic services at scale. The conclusions also note that “immediate measures should be taken to prevent any further population displacement and provide safe shelter to the population to ensure that civilians are protected at all times.” Roberta Metsola, the president of the European parliament, has congratulated Bosnia and Herzegovina. Leaders decide to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina Charles Michel, the European Council president, has announced that “the European Council has just decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.” “Today’s decision is a key step forward on your EU path. Now the hard work needs to continue so Bosnia and Herzegovina steadily advances, as your people want,” he added. The changes in the draft conclusions on Ukraine and security and defence are minor, according to sources. Wording on use of windfall profits from frozen Russian assets has been changed. Earlier text said: “The European Council reviewed progress on the next concrete steps towards directing extraordinary revenues stemming from Russia’s immobilised assets for the benefit of Ukraine, including possibly for funding military support”. Now, the last clause of the paragraph reads: “including the possibility of funding military support”.