site.btaHeads of State and Government from EU Member States to Discuss War in Ukraine, Middle East Conflict

Heads of state and government from EU member states will meet here on Thursday to discuss the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, energy prices, and the EU single market, according to the meeting’s agenda. Bulgaria will be represented by caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov.

Participants in the meeting will discuss EU actions related to the geopolitical and economic consequences of military operations in Iran, including energy security, options for protecting European citizens and companies, and efforts to de-escalate tensions. They are also expected to address the situation in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been invited to join this part of the meeting.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to join the discussion on the war in Ukraine via video conference. EU representatives have expressed hope that Hungary will be convinced to lift its veto on decisions to provide a loan to Kyiv, that substantive negotiations with Ukraine on EU accession will begin, and that sanctions against Russia will be expanded. Budapest has linked its decision to the possibility of resuming oil supplies from Russia, which were cut off following the attacks on the Druzhba pipeline.

The agenda also includes discussions on the EU’s next multiannual budget, security, defence, and migration, as well as on European strategic autonomy. The European Council is expected to endorse the One Europe, One Market agenda with guidelines and timelines for deepening the single market, further simplifying bureaucratic rules, ensuring affordable energy and achieving the energy transition, revitalizing European manufacturing, reducing dependencies, and attracting investment to the EU.