Post-Summit Briefing 2018-07-02

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Jul 02, 2018

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.

European Migration and Diversity

The European Migration and Diversity (EMD) Programme provides independent expertise on European migration and asylum policies. The EMD Programme's analyses seek to contribute to sustainable and responsible policy solutions and are aimed at promoting a positive and constructive dialogue on migration and mobility. The Programme follows the policy debate and conducts analysis taking a multidisciplinary approach, examining both the legal and political aspects shaping European migration policies. EMD analysts focus, amongst other topics, on the reform of the Common European Asylum System; the management of the EU’s external borders and the Schengen governance; cooperation with countries of origin and transit; the integration of beneficiaries of international protection and mobile persons into host societies; the links between migration and populism; the development of resettlement and legal pathways; and the EU''s free movement acquis. The EMD team benefits from a strong network of academics, NGO representatives and policymakers, who contribute regularly to publications and policy events.

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Alberto-Horst Neidhardt

Head of European Migration and Diversity Programme

European Politics and Institutions

The European Politics and Institutions Programme covers the EU’s institutional architecture, governance and policymaking to ensure that it can move forward and respond to the challenges of the 21st century democratically and effectively. It also monitors and analyses political developments at the EU level and in the member states, discussing the key questions of how to involve European citizens in the discussions over the Union’s future and how to win their support for European integration. The Programme has a special focus on enlargement policy towards the Western Balkans, questions of EU institutional reform and illiberal trends in European democracies.

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Corina Stratulat

Head of European Politics and Institutions Programme

Europe’s Political Economy

The EPC’s Europe’s Political Economy Programme (EPE) focuses on EU economic governance, the single market, and digital, industrial, energy, trade, and economic security policies amid significant geo-economic and technological shifts. In a world of rising geopolitical competition and a fragmenting economy, the EPE has been at the forefront of research on Europe’s competitiveness agenda, the "triple" green, digital and economic security transitions and "wartime economy". The EPE's cross-programme flagship initiative, the Brussels Economic Security Forum, examines EU-US-China dynamics, changing international economic rules and statecraft, as well as related EU policy challenges. As fast-advancing components of economic security, critical emerging technologies in clean tech, semiconductor and AI value chains and quantum are priority areas of focus. Using its convening power and multistakeholder taskforce model, the Programme aims to provide in-depth analysis and actionable recommendations to tackle key policy challenges. The EPE team comprises a diverse group of analysts with backgrounds from government, the private sector, academia, and journalism, bringing a broad range of expertise to its work.

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