Leaders of the 27-member European Union concluded Friday their two-day summit after discussing the economic situation in the EU and voicing satsifaction at the banking sector status.
“We discussed the economic and financial situation. Our economies entered 2023 on a healthier footing than previously expected, despite high inflation and energy prices,” said the Euro summit in its conclusion.
The Euro summit includes leaders of 20 countries that use the euro as a common currency, but today all 27 EU leaders took part in the meeting.
“The Banking Union has significantly strengthened the resilience of the EU banking system. Our banking sector is resilient, with strong capital and liquidity positions,” they said and called for continued efforts to complete the EU Banking Union.
On Thursday, the European Council discussed the Ukraine war, trade economic, energy issues and external relations.
“Whilst the energy situation in the European Union has improved, the European Council calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure preparedness and contingency planning in view of the next gas storage filling and heating seasons,” the conlcusion statement said.
The EU leaders took stock of the action taken to address high energy prices, reduce gas demand, ensure security of supply and phase out dependency on Russian fossil fuels.
Moreover, on external relations the European Council welcomed the outcome of the Donors’ Conference held in Brussels on Monday in support of the people in Turkiye and Syria and called for quick and effective disbursement of the assistance pledged following the tragic earthquake of 6 February, Further, the European Council welcomed the recent Agreement on the path to normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia its reached in the EU-facilitated dialogue .
The European Council strongly condemned the sentencing of prominent representatives of the Belarusian democratic opposition to long and unjustified prison sentences. It called on the Belarusian authorities to uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law, to end repression, to release political prisoners and to respect minorities.
The European Council held an exchange of views with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday.
Source: Kuwait News Agency